A rom-com with a twist. Hallmark movie vibes in the non-cheesiest way. This reminded me of an Abby Jimenez book, as we had health issues, both mental and physical, as a plot point in a sweet and funny story. As a carrier of the BRCA1 gene herself, the author was able to share candidly and realistically through Alison. I’ve been a hype girl in the friend group as my own best friend traversed these waters, and it hit close to home, but in an authentic way.

I loved the witty banter between Alison and Adam, the secondary characters, the pop-culture nods, and the many references to pub trivia. Well-written, fun, swoon-worthy, and real, this one should be on your list to read this fall.

*I was honored to read an ARC of this book via
NetGalley and the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.*

I really enjoyed this first book by debut author Ellie Palmer and would gladly read another by her in the future. While rom-comm-ish, it also dealt with some serious issues such as grief and health concerns. Alison must deal with health concerns that cause her to want to become someone else in her gratitude. Someone who deserves life. Adam is also looking for his place in the world but has a hard time moving forward. Somehow, neither can see past their own insecurities and must try to forge ahead, throwing roadblocks along the way.

Thanks to Putnam and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

This was so adorable, perfect for people who like Abby Jimenez and not just because this is a Twin Cities love story, but because of all the feels. This book does such a good job of handling grief and unexpected people and I loved how Alison and Adam figure out their path while dealing with a lot of other things in their lives. While there was actually a good deal of conflict in this book, I appreciated that Palmer wrapped things up as we went and didn't do one magical wrap up in the last chapter. This felt more real, like people were dealing with consequences and then moving on. I wish I hadn't started the book, put it down for awhile, and picked it up, but had consumed it in one go. It would have been worth a late night of reading. I'm excited to read more!

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer is a heartwarming and charming contemporary romance that takes readers on an emotional journey through love, loss, and second chances. The story follows Rosie, a woman who finds herself at a crossroads in life after a sudden family tragedy. As she navigates the grief and complications that arise, she also embarks on a surprising romantic adventure, connecting with old friends and facing the realities of her past and present relationships.

The novel is set against the backdrop of four weekends—each serving as a pivotal moment in Rosie's journey of self-discovery and healing. Palmer's writing is witty and heartfelt, balancing humor with poignant moments of reflection. The characters are relatable and well-developed, and readers will quickly become invested in Rosie’s emotional growth and the evolving dynamics with her friends and love interests.

Four Weekends and a Funeral is a delightful mix of romance, drama, and emotional depth, with a light, breezy tone that makes it an enjoyable read for fans of women's fiction and contemporary romance. It’s a perfect pick for readers looking for a story that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

Alison Mullally, has been blessed and cursed with the knowledge of learning she is BRCA1 carrier. Blessed because she learned that she would probably gotten breast Cancer but it also means that she has to get ahead of the cancer by having a double mastectomy. Post surgery she finds out that her ex-boyfriend has died and she feels she must go to his funeral. She convinces herself that it is the right thing to do. She will pop in, give her condolences and pop out. If it was only that easy? Once at the funeral, she realizes her ex, Sam, never told his family that they broke up. One in the funeral, she is treated like the grieving girlfriend and like family. She plays a long at the request of his sister but nothing feels right about this. She finds herself volunteering to help clean out Sam’s apartment. She tells herself, she will do this and move on. But one of Sam’s friends, Adam, is also committed to helping the family clean out the apartment. While working on the apartment the Alison and Adam forge a new friendship. Once based on awkwardness and respect. While spending days at the apartment, the two find they have more and more in common. Truths and secrets are exchanged and it is fear that, things will have to change, once the apartment is finished. All the while Alison is trying to complete all the things she needs to do, to keep cancer free. She also has a pushy mother , who won’t let up on her. This is a very sweet story about everyday life. How one small secret can implode and leave everything on the table. Can Alison and Adam find their way. Can the secrets pull them apart or keep them together. I really enjoyed this story. It was a four star read for me. The characters and story were very interesting. I want to thank Netgalley, Ellie Palmer & Penguin Group Putnam for my copy of Four Weekends and a Funeral. It was my pleasure to read and review this book.

Loved this book so much! A different kind of rom-com in the best way! Loved the characters, the tougher subject matter in parts, the humor, and the relationship development. Laugh out loud, and just all around feel good read!

Four Weekends and a Funeral was so cute and just what I needed amidst a reading rut. Ellie Palmer’s story was lighthearted and fun with the right amount of depth. This was really a lovely story with wonderful characters. I enjoyed reading along as they each grew and developed. I loved Four Weekends and a Funeral and would recommend!

I really liked this! It’s billed as contemporary romance but there is a really large focus on her expedience with BRCA1 and her mastectomy/future oophorectomy, so I feel like that’s important to know going in. I liked that this was so different than any other contemporary romance I’ve read - some of the classic tropes were there, but the characters are aware of them and directly address them, which I liked. The characters were all multi-dimensional and I would love to come back to this world (maybe to see who Chelsea ends up with??). There was great (and realistic) growth from both the MMC and FMC, and the realizations they have and the changes they make a result feel believable.

Overall, really enjoyed this!

Author Ellie Palmer and I have something in common: a BRCA genetic mutation. Our lives have been forever changed thanks to it. For that reason, 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 was a very hard read and my review may hit differently than most.

MC Allison also has the gene mutation and was 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺 to have a preventative mastectomy. Something I'm beyond envious of. I was diagnosed at 32 and didn't get the opportunity. Her struggles with "survivor's guilt" were similar to mine after also doing chemo, radiation, and surgeries. In a way, I was furious this MC as she had no idea how much better she had it. Things always could be worse.

I've sat on this review for months now, unable to write it. Feelings I wished to suppressed returned. Ellie did an amazing job expressing how BRCA gene mutations change your life and future plans. Thank you for putting this book out into the world.

As for the romance, I enjoyed it and I loved how it played into the "you never know what life is going to throw at you" theme.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! The characters felt so realistic, and Alison and Adam's relationship built beautifully. Also loved the Minnesota connection. Hope to see more from Ellie Palmer!

This was the serotonin boost I needed! This was such a unique debut and I adored it! Fake dating a dead man was not a plot I expected to read this year but it worked so well. The main character was so relatable to me - a homebody who feels like she isn’t doing enough in life and doesn’t feel worthy. Where we don’t relate is her issues with carrying the BRCA1 mutation (which the author herself has) and reading about their experiences with getting a double mastectomy and needing potentially more surgeries for her ovaries was a difficult topic to read about. I felt so strongly for the main character and reading about her self image issues after surgery and how it affected her intimacy broke my heart. This was a life affirming story especially for the introverts/homebodies!

I also adored the male main character. He was grumpy but also so thoughtful, witty, and chivalrous. I loved his complaints about people not letting Thanksgiving have its moment and the fact that Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all happen in this book made this the perfect romcom for this time of year. This gave 90s romcom vibes in all the best ways and the side characters were also A+++!

There’s so much about this story that just hooked me and worked for me. The way it ended was so amazing. A truly full circle moment.

Thank you NetGalley & Putnam Books for this ARC!

This book is for the homebodies, the ones who find themselves thinking of the 'should's' in life, the ones who feel like they have to be someone they aren't.

I loved the raw main characters, Alison and Adam. This book had me giggling and kicking my feet and realizing that I need to stop focusing on the 'should's' of my own life. This story felt raw and real and unique enough that it didn't fall flat.

Likes:
-THE BANTER
-the tension & forced proximity
-the strong female friendships
-the grief representation
-BRCA and anxiety representation
-character dynamics
-healthy mental health practices (therapy for the win!!)

Dislikes:
-the third act conflict and breakup
-the resolution
-the ending

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for the advanced review copy via NetGalley.

Synopsis: When 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.

While the BRCA-1 representation was illuminating and added depth to Alison’s character, the story just didn’t hold my interest. I liked Alison’s and Adam, but the story lagged, and I just couldn’t get invested.

Such a unique concept! I was really intrigued by the slow burn and kept coming back to it. Really loved Adam's character as the perfect grump yet softie. Also perfect way of balancing humor and darkness.

I loved and hated this book. It is such a unique premise and it’s just so funny and unhinged and totally something I would do at first but I think she took it to the extreme lol.

I loved the fact that it was funny, heartwarming, emotional, deep, romantic and just so well written. Pacing was a little slow but I didn’t hate it.

I’d definitely read more by Ellie!

Let's book Valerius an awkward and perfect for a fast feel good read. The Author did a wonderful job with the main female character. I loved how her whole story was just awkwardly awkward. Her growth in the book was just right I felt like she got a sense of independence, but also found her found family and happily ever after. And this book just had me laughing throughout the whole thing.

It takes just four weekends for Alison and Adam to change their lives around and come to learn what is most important to them. While that does not seem like much time, Palmer weaves the story in such a way that we learn so much about the characters, and their lives, that it is not rushed at all.
Alison and Adam are such a good fit! Everyone but the two of them can see it. I love the slow development of both their characters and their relationships as that totally fits their personalities. And while I’m not a huge fan of miscommunication (or lack thereof) it totally works in this case because of the entire situation. They met at a funeral after all.
The story with Sam’s family felt incomplete. I think even a small closure scene with his parents would have felt better (for me anyway).

One of my favorite books of the year! It has everything you could possibly want: emotional roller coasters (complimentary), humor, heartache and so much romance.

I loved every second. More from this author asap please

Allison finds herself in quite the awkward situation where her ex-boyfriend’s family believes she is still dating their loved one at his funeral. The book then tells her enemies to lovers romance when she spends the next month getting his apartment ready to sell with his best friend.

I loved how real these characters and story were written, and how I could follow Allison on her personal journey grieving the life she pictured she’d have. I also haven’t read a book with the main character having been a carrier of the BRCA1 mutation, and appreciated getting to learn more about what women experience who also are carriers. Adam was a grumpy, easy to love character and I loved the comedy written so easily into this book. I can’t wait for the next book Ellie puts out!

I love this book. Ellie is such a fresh and fun writer, I've been recommending this to everyone. I laughed out loud, multiple times.