I really appreciated receiving this ARC. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Multiple times throughout the book, I felt like people should just be honest and the dishonesty/miscommunication to further the plot is not my cup of tea. I also felt like there were a lot of diff and characters and I struggled to finish.

I thought this was going to be similar to Four Weddings and a Funeral but actually it was so much better!!

The first thing I appreciated about this book was how grief was portrayed. I loved that it showcased in so many different ways, because that’s how it is in real life. It felt like it was a character in the story itself, but in a well done way.

Next, THE BANTER!!! I was giggling and kicking my feet so much. I understood the dynamics and why there needed to be so much conflict, but of course loved when there wasn’t.

Definitely will be recommending this one! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this eARC <3

This rom-com is funny and brought some serious chemistry between its main characters Alison and Adam. They are brought together by the unfortunate passing of a friend/ex whose apartment and possessions they help pack up and sort through. What was really unique is how Alison is also dealing with her recovery from a double mastectomy due to a BRAC genetic mutation. Reading about this experience really set this apart from other books in this genre. Otherwise I found the romance, while well written, to be incredibly predictable and somewhat implausible.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

At the funeral of her ex-boyfriend Sam, Alison Mullally finds out that he didn’t tell anyone that they were broken up. And she goes along with the role of Girlfriend for the sake of his grieving family. This then leads to Ali offering to help pack up all of Sam’s things at his apartment with his best friend, Adam Berg. Only thing is: Adam doesn’t want Ali around. It’s only for four weekends though, so it shouldn’t be too bad…

We love forced proximity!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The premise is so different from anything I’ve read, which made me so excited to read it. Ali and Adam were extremely likeable, and the banter was SO good! I found myself smiling and laughing throughout the story.

However, aside from the fun, witty parts of the book, there are also some heavier topics addressed, which I thought was done so well. Ali is a BRCA 1 carrier and chose to have a mastectomy because of that. Throughout the book, you really get to witness all of the emotions that Ali experiences and struggles with daily due to that knowledge and procedure. It really helped me as a reader to try to empathize with what she was feeling at times as she tried to navigate through multiple situations.

I really think you should add this one to your TBR!! It’s one of my favorites that I’ve read this year so far!

Ellie Palmer, you have a new fan!

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️

“Guilt demands action”. As a person who struggled for years with immense feelings of guilt over every perceived mistake or error I found in myself, this book was a heavy hitter for me. As I am typing this review, I am holding back tears over the feelings it unlocked in me. Books that change you or help you don’t always have to be designed to do so, there is much to be found in ‘silly’ little fiction books, perhaps more so than the ones intending to change your life. I love this book, it’s as much about self-discovery and growth as it is about love and romance. 5 stars. !!!! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, I will be purchasing a physical copy.

Great rom-com! It was silly, romantic, fun. While packing up her dead ex-boyfriend apartment (when family thinks they’re still TOGETHER) she bumps heads with his best friend - bumps heads over and over - irritation - yet… chemistry? A super fun read!

[Thank you Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons, Ellie Palmer, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]

This is such a complex story about guilt and grief and how to move forward and find happiness. Palmer handles tough topics with such tenderness.

After Alison's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, both Alison and her sister get tested for the BRCA1 gene mutation. Alison tests positive for it and before the story starts she has a double mastectomy. After her recovery, thanks to survivor's guilt, she tries to live the life she thinks she should be living versus the life she wants.

We meet Alison at the funeral of her ex-boyfriend, Sam, who unexpectedly died. Sam was a very outdoorsy, "live life to the fullest" kind of guy, which is the kind of person Alison wants to be. Sam never told his parents that he and Alison had broken up so they still think she's his girlfriend. She volunteers to pack up his apartment, along with his best friend, Adam.

For the next few weekends after the funeral, Alison and Adam are forced into close proximity. Alison and Adam are truly sweet together. Adam sort of reminds me of a Ron Swanson type (from Parks & Rec) because he's stoic and loves woodworking. As time goes on, they begin to form a friendship and open up to each other. Not only is the banter great, but there's clearly a lot of tension between the two of them. Unfortunately, they're both struggling and need to work on some of these issues on their own before things can work out between them.

I think it's worth mentioning Alison's friendships with Mara and Chelsea. They're all so different but supportive of each other. Honestly, it's refreshing to read about such strong female friendships and this is one aspect of the book I really loved.

There are 90's rom-com references sprinkled throughout the book so I think this book will be well received by millennials. The ending put a smile on my face. I suspected this would be how it ended when a piece of it was mentioned earlier but actually reading it was so satisfying!

I have conflicting feelings about this book! The overall story was really cute and I found myself looking forward to picking this book up. I think the characters were hard for me to relate to. Adam’s whole personality just confused me. I couldn’t follow his hot and cold moods and I know that was part of the story but it just left me with a lot of questions. Like I said I truly loved the story - the forced proximity, grumpy sunshine vibes were fun - it just didn’t completely hit the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the advance reader copy of Four Weekends and a Funeral!

I told myself no new netgalley books until I’d gotten caught up but my goodness I am so happy I broke my self-imposed rule and clicked on the widget for this book! I absolutely devoured it!

Allison attends the funeral of her former boyfriend, Sam, who had broken up with her six weeks prior. At the funeral, Allison discovers from Sam’s sister Rachel that he hadn’t yet told his family they’d broken up. Rachel asks Allison to continue to pretend that her and Sam had still been together. Allison, along with Sam’s friend, Adam, end up helping to pack up his condo. Over the course of their weekends working together, Adam and Allison, in their new forced proximity, end up growing closer. Amidst the romance, the characters are dealing with grief and Allison is facing additional life decisions as a BRCA 1 carrier.

The love story between Allison and Adam will give you all the feels!! I absolutely adored how their relationship progressed, especially when it started to extend beyond working together. I ADORED their texts back and forth. As the tension builds in their relationship, there are simply so many great and memorable moments that play out between these two. Keeping this spoiler free, Duluth, sandwiches, and pizza is all I will say. I also love how Sam, though we never really get to meet him, continued to be a vital part in Allison and Adam’s stories throughout the book.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Putnam Books for the chance to read this book as an ARC. This has a very interesting premise. Allison's mother had breast cancer. She is a survivor, but Allison has tested positive for the BRCA1 mutation. Allison has elected to have a double mastectomy . She is still at risk and is being bombarded by information from her mother regarding a preventative surgery to remove her ovaries. Allison had been dating a man named Sam. Sam was adventurous and outdoorsy- something Allison is not. However, Allison is trying to be like that for him. Six weeks ago, Sam broke up with Allison. They seem to have stayed friends, but at the start of the book, Sam has just died. Allison goes to the funeral, and is asked by Sam's sister( Rachel) to pretend that she and Sam were still dating- Rachel thinks it will help her mother cope. Allison agrees, after all how hard can it be? Sam's mother asks Allison and Adam, Sam's best friend, to clean out Sam's apartment. Adam does not live in the same town, but agrees to come in the next 4 weekends to clean and sort and do some repairs. As they clean, sparks fly and soon Allison and Adam begin to have feelings for each other.Ok, that is the bare bones. Now, this book is stuffed, almost overstuffed , with plots and people. We meet Allisons family, her mother, father, pregnant sister and sister's wife. We meet Allison's work friends, briefly- although a possible job promotion is a key storyline, I do not feel like I really understood it. We meet Allisons best friends, Chelsea and Mara and get to know their bar team trivia quest for a win.We meet Sam's family and friend Russell( I am still trying to figure out Russell). We meet Adams sister, brother in law and nephew. Truly, my head was spinning. The opne person we do not get to know is Sam. He is only sketched in the barest kind of way. This is a man who was almost able to convince Allison that hiking in Patagonia in January was a good idea- but we do not get a sense at all of him. I really needed a little more.Anyway, I liked the premise and over all it was well written. This is a debut by Ellie Palmer, and I really want to read more of her work

Alison got dumped by Sam, but when she goes to the funeral, Sam's sister asks her to pretend the relationship was still on, and that it was serious to ease the family's mind. Alison and Sam's friend Adam are tasked with cleaning out his apartment and getting it ready to sell.
Underlying the rom-com plot, there's a lot of educational content about the BRCA1 gene. There's witty dialogue and fun chaos. This is a great debut and light summer read.

Goodness, this was just what I needed to get out a book slump that has lasted weeks!

The characters were so endearing they felt like my own friends. I could understand Alison’s torn feeling of having the BRCA1 mutation and a preventative mastectomy, and feeling like she had to live her life MORE to compensate. How much pressure can one person take?

The feelings and conversations were real and the love was adorable, combined with laugh out loud moments. I’ll be buying and adding this book to my bookshelf come August when it’s released.

Thank you to Ellie Palmer for including me on the ARC train for this book, I can’t wait to send it onto the next book lover! Cheers on your debut novel! A big thank you to Putnam for the advanced ebook copy as well.

Alison's ex broke up with her, but never told his parents. When he unexpectedly dies, his sister asks Alison just to play along with having been happy and still dating him. This leads to Alison volunteering to clean out her ex's apartment with his best friend, Adam. Over four weekends' time, the two find a real connection, but Alison doesn't know how to tell him that she wasn't dating his friend anymore. This was a sweet love story. Related but unrelated, Alison has the BRCA gene and has had a mastectomy. This seemed kind of thrown in to me, and it didn't do much to move the story forward.

This book was a DELIGHT! I loved the banter and humor and heartfelt romance. I'll be following this author moving forward!

"Thirty-year-old post-double-mastectomy BRCA 1 carrier and reluctant thrill-seeker Alison Mullally arrives at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral to find that no one knows he dumped her, she agrees to play the grieving girlfriend for the sake of the family and pack up Sam’s apartment with his prickly best friend, Adam Berg. After all, it’ll only take four weekends . . ."

This is where one will find love while grieving for ex and the life you may of had. The characters in the book are fantastic. Everything is perfectly written and all melts together. Adam and Alison are struggling after a loss. Their lives intertwine with each other. This leads to a bit of confusion, tension and laughs. After being forced together because of grief
Alison starts to have feeling for Adam, he ex’s best friend. But it is hard as people still think of her being with her ex.
Life isn’t always what we think it will be but when it gives you lemons you make lemonade. I really enjoyed this book and the struggles that Adam and Alison have while trying to start a anew again with each other..

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer is an engaging and heartfelt story that navigates the complexities of identity, grief, and unexpected romance. The protagonist, Alison Mullally, is a thirty-year-old BRCA 1 carrier who has undergone a preventative double mastectomy. When she arrives at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral, she finds herself pretending to be his grieving girlfriend for the sake of his family.

Alison teams up with Sam’s prickly best friend, Adam Berg, to clear out Sam’s apartment over the course of four weekends. Despite Adam’s initial hostility and monosyllabic demeanor, a tenuous friendship with incredible chemistry and tension develops between them. Palmer beautifully captures Alison’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance, as she grapples with survivor’s guilt and the pressure to be someone she’s not.

The dynamics between Alison and Adam are compelling, filled with moments of humor, awkwardness, and emotional depth. As Alison learns to embrace her true self and confronts her feelings, the story unfolds into a touching narrative about love, loss, and the importance of being enough just as you are. A thoroughly enjoyable read that balances heartache and hope, making it a solid 4-star book.

I just reviewed Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer. Thank you to NetGalley for a complimentary ebook.
This book definitely falls into chic lit, the ps I love you genre. It’s quite lovely, funny, sappy and made me lay awake in bed several mornings and evenings before getting up or going to sleep.
The characters are not sappy sweet, they are quite realistic and I rooted for each of them, even the dead one who seemed like a bit of a pillock, but he was integral to the story so that’s ok.
A great wee bit of escapism in between my world war ll genre.
I’m eagerly awaiting the authors next literary contribution.

Love both characters , this books had me laughing, choked up and feeling a lot . Enjoyed . A book to keep a eye out for .

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC. Fun little RomCom from a new author. Enjoyed it and looking forward to what she writes in the future.

This was a fun read. Not too heavy and perfect for a summer day on the beach. Predictable story line, but still entertaining.