Let's start this off with a thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for this (my first!) ARC.
3.5 Our main characters are brought together by the death of Sam who is Alison Mulally's ex-(though this isn't known to his family) boyfriend and Adam Berg's best friend (debatable). The two are roped into cleaning out his apartment for the next month by the family, and from there a relationship is kindled.
I think this book accomplished some things really well for being in its genre. The character's were normal people with normal hobbies and interests. Most authors tend to really blow up character's "unique" traits to the point of annoyance, yet Palmer presented these two with relatable problems and interests. I liked how she let the characters struggle with their feelings for each other and the troubles they had in their lives. The scenes with tension were decent too!
What I struggled with in this book was the pacing. I felt like the plot seemed like it was flying in parts and being dragged along in others. The progress between the two's relationship also gave me a little whiplash--big love declarations were given very quickly.
Overall an easy rom com to read! I think some pop culture references went over my head, and Ali is better (or crazier) than me to agree to the main plot/rouse, but I can see people flying through this book if they want something light and enjoyable.

I was very fortunate to receive an advanced reader copy from NetGalley but all thoughts are unbiased and my own!

Okay so I did like certain parts of this book - but I’m not sure if it was like a WOW read for me. I loved Ali’s representation with the BRCA gene and the idea how loss and grief comes in many different ways and forms. I liked the Midwest representation (shout out Buddy’s pizza!) but also the overall representation as there were lots of diverse characters. The tension between Adam and Ali was also delicious and kept me on my TOES.

However the pace felt off to me - at points it just felt like drawn out and a bit boring. I also don’t like books that don’t feel like they’ll age well so some of the millennial references made me feel eh.

But overall it was good!!! A cute little quick romance and I did enjoy it.

Fans of Emily Henry and Sophie Cousens will love this endearing, quirky story about a girl with the BRCA 1 gene mutation and the grump she falls for. Alison finds herself in quite the snafu when she arrives at her ex’s funeral to find out that he never told his family and friends they broke up. With good intentions, she keeps up the charade and ends up with the task of cleaning out the ex’s apartment with the help of his best friend who seems less than pleased to be stuck with her. Alison ends up on a journey to deal with the grief of her mastectomy and survivor’s guilt.

The dynamic between the FMC and the MMC was so fun, and I found that the author balanced the serious with the playful skillfully. The tension was drawn out well in my opinion, and I loved watching the warmth and intimacy grow between them. I related to Alison’s journey of accepting herself the way she is and loving herself dorkiness in all! I also wish I had friends like Chelsea and Mara! They were the ideal support group.

My only small note is that I wish there had been more of an exposition. I kind of got whiplash from being thrown immediately into the funeral and trying to piece together how Alison was feeling about her ex’s death at the same time. Perhaps, we could’ve started a little further back with her thoughts while she gets ready or something of the like.

Overall, an amazing debut by a new author! So excited to read more of her work in the future. Highly recommend!

Highlights:
-Forced proximity
-Grumpy/sunshine
-Cinnamon roll MMC with hard exterior
-FMC with a quirky love of trains

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC.

I was caught off guard by how much I enjoyed Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer. I went into anticipating a sweet rom-com, which it totally is. However, her pacing in this book is to be applauded. I loved the anticipation of each weekend!

The story felt a little more raw than some of the convenient romances I have read recently. It wasn't as tidy, which made me feel like it was more real.

Adam was kind of adorable, in my mind I imagined him as the MC from Leap Year with his gruff, no-nonsense vibe at first.

Alison was just indecisive enough to bug me mildly, which actually improved the story for me because I kind of hate when the main lead is too perfect.

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an E-arc. This was my first E-arc and I am sooo excited.

This was absolutely the cutest. By the end of the book I was cheesy and giddy and thinking about the day where I would get romance for myself. The chemistry and the connection between these two (Adam and Ali) were undeniable and that mini plot twist at the end had my heart in knots so sweet.

I loved this book! It was a fun mix of all the best romance tropes while also not being the same as any other book. The characters and story were funny, but there were also more serious and thoughtful moments. I also felt right at home with all the Minnesota references! So glad I was able to get a sneak peek at this one and I can't wait to read more!

This was a fast-paced book that kept my attention. A super cute Rom-com where you were rooting for the main characters. I enjoyed this one.

I absolutely loved this book! It was the perfect 3 in 1 execution of forced proximity, grumpy meets sunshine and enemies to lovers. For anybody that loves either of these tropes, this is the book for you!

Alison is such an endearing main character, and I found myself cheering her on throughout the book! I loved the message that Palmer was sending through Alison on the lesson of accepting yourself and embracing who you are. And Adam….well, he’s pretty much the perfect book boyfriend!

Overall, this was a terrific story with unforgettable main characters, entertaining supportive characters, and a special nod to the good ‘ol 90’s rom-coms. The amazing message this book gives us on who we allow ourselves to be, survivors guilt, and honoring memories after death makes this a story I’ll be rereading time and again in the future.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book and that it showed how different forms of loss/grief can affect people differently. It was a slower romance but I liked that the main characters and their friends all pushed each other to be better versions of themselves. Also, as a fellow Minnesotan, I enjoyed the references!

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and everyone involved in this lovely book. It was such a cute, funny romance story. It made me laugh many times. The only reason I am giving it 3.5 stars is because towards the middle/end it was a little slow paced. I found it hard to get through some chapters. But overall it was a cute romance story. I enjoyed it. I’m so happy Ali and Adam got their happy ending.

Great job, Ellie :)

The title of this debut romance by Ellie Palmer piqued my interest immediately and it did not disappoint!

We start "Four Weekends and a Funeral" at 30-year old Ali's ex-boyfriend's (Sam) funeral only to find out that no one knows he broke up with her. At the request of a family member, Ali agrees to put on the face of the grieving girlfriend. ("Fake dating" trope, but not in the traditional sense that we're used to.) Following the funeral, Ali finds herself with Sam's broody best friend, Adam, to pack up his belongings and get his apartment ready to list. But... a lot can happen in just four weekends.

This forced proximity, grump vs. sunshine romance is unlike any other that I've read. It's a sweet story with some serious topics as the FMC is a 30-year old post-mastectomy BRCA 1 gene carrier who is grieving the loss of her ex-boyfriend while navigating the emotions of her life-changing surgery/prognosis. MMC, Adam, is grieving the loss of his best friend and things left unsaid. There's an invisible string that seems to be pulling them together, but would Adam be betraying his (dead) best friend by dating his (ex-) girlfriend?

Ellie Palmer hit it out of the park with her debut romance, "Four Weekends and a Funeral" and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

Alison finds herself back at current girlfriend status when she attends her ex-boyfriend's funeral. As a perpetual people pleaser, she agrees to pretend to still be Sam's girlfriend for the sake of his family. Which spirals into agreeing to help clear out his apartment with his best friend, who's a bit of a grump. They're now stuck with each other for the next four weekends.

What a refreshing and delightful read! I absolutely loved the humor of this book! This book is for people who find humor in uncomfortable and serious situations (funerals, breast cancer prevention) and don't shy away from a good nipple joke. The characters were ordinary and nerdy in the best way possible, and their growth through the story felt realistic. I could have done with a little more spice after the build up, but that's totally just a personal preference. I'm so glad I already pre-ordered a physical copy of this book!

This was adorable. Absolutely wonderful and funny and- ugh.

While technically not a five-star read, I had so much fun and enjoyed (almost) every second that I believe it deserves to be rounded up the half point it would otherwise be missing. The banter between the characters was hilarious and rom-com coded in the best way- but not in a cringey or meh sort of way.

The characters had issues, but they worked through them independently, and I loved it. This book was impossible to put down and the pacing felt right, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else comes from Palmer.

thank you Netgalley for the free ARC

After Alison’s ex boyfriend dies, she keeps up the ruse to help his grieving family, not expecting to fall for his best friend. This concept was such a unique take on the “fake dating” trope. Adam is, first and foremost, such a dynamic, well-written “grump” MMC. His and Alison’s banter and texting made me giggle out loud during my lunch break. Alison, throughout the novel, struggles with her mastectomy and her diagnosis, which makes her question herself - should she be this adventurous, outdoorsy person, even if she doesn’t like it? I think it was nice to see Alison struggle with physical health and also her mental health, dealing with who she was as a person and how her cancer scare affected her and her relationships. I almost wish more of Adam’s grief was shown, because we get small snippets, but it felt like we didn’t get to see as much of Adam’s grieving as I’d expect, although it makes sense while he’s happy with Alison. This book has fabulous twists on multiple tropes, tons of trivia, witty references, and fun writing. Congrats to Palmer for her debut novel, and I’m looking forward to reading many more!

This book had such a unique premise, and that's precisely where its charm lies. Allison shows up at her ex-boyfriend's funeral. Except his family doesn't know they're exes, and his sister asks her to keep it that way. So, she does, and then she gets dragged into cleaning out her ex's apartment with his best friend. As you can infer, things just go from there. What I loved about this was that it was grief and regret in a real way, but also in a different way. There was also the exploration of Allison's identity after having a double mastectomy - There was more to her story, and I loved how this was woven into Allison's emotional journey. Even with the feels, this also had humor and fun. I love a book with characters I am rooting for so hard, and that was so much this. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this August 2024 release. Also, an extra shoutout to this book's incredible title - It's part of the reason I couldn't wait to read!

Alison and Adam’s story was so sweet! The plot felt fresh and characters had growth. I loved their story!

Four Weekends and Funeral was such a delightful read. I was first drawn in by the outstanding premise. Alison attends her ex-boyfriend Sam's funeral and someone introduces her as Sam's girlfriend. She clarifies "ex girlfriend" and the guy goes "obviously." And by the time she's realized the mistake, the conversation has moved on.

Sam's grieving parents ask her to go through Sam's things with his best friend, Adam, because they can't bear to do it. Alison and Adam spend the next four weekends clearing out Sam's apartment and getting to know each other.

Alison is a BRCA 1 carrier and after her double-mastectomy, feels like she's been given a new lease on life and attempts to seek out an adventurous life even though it goes against all her instincts.

I adored both Alison and Adam, as well as the endearing and hilarious side characters, was hot and bothered by that first kiss scene (damn you Uncle Ricky for interrupting!), and was gutted by the quiet, reflective moments about what it means to dream and strive and be true to yourself. I was drawn in by the premise of this book but stayed for the banter and chemistry and the exploration of what defines a life well lived.

Easy five stars from me! So excited for you to read Ellie's debut and can't wait for what's next!

This has been one of my recent faves! The title caught my eye (as I'm a sucker for covers AND kitschy titles) and the synopsis had me curious. It could have gone one of two ways, as many books can/do. What followed was both a "fun" romance story and a deep process of healing and self-acceptance by multiple characters that had me hooked. There is a fine line between "unique" and "crazy" with storylines and this DID walk that line a bit, but it wound up on the right side for me!

This book pulled me in from the very first chapter! As a people pleaser, the premise of the story was relatable in an outlandish way. Rather than telling me how the characters felt, the author made me feel each emotion and become invested instantly in their story. Fate, friendship and true love wrapped wrapped up into a fun and easy read. I give this book five stars!

if emily henry’s beach read + funny story had a baby, it would be this book.

this is a tale of finding yourself and finding love while grieving the life you thought you should or would have had. the characters in this book are everything (!!!) to me. they are so realistic and raw, and I loved the angst that was always flowing in the background of this book.

adam and alison are struggling after a sudden loss, and their proximity to one another leads to much confusion (and tension). should you be falling for your dead ex boyfriend’s best friend while everyone still labels you as “his?” probably not, but life always likes to throw curveballs!

this story just felt so raw, real, and incredibly unique while also being reminiscent of the stories I love.