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.

My main reason for the three star rating is the pacing and length. It was very slow moving and eventually I was just ready for them to do something and make it end. The premise is unique and I enjoyed the originality of the story and how they meet. However, Alison was a slightly confusing character to me. It felt like Palmer tried to give her so much of a back story to try and justify her life choices that it didn't quite all make sense to me in reality. She comes across as a practical and content person but I guess feels this pressure (from who? where? how?) to be overly adventurous and try crazy things because she had a pre-emptive surgery. It makes sense on the surface, but in reality, she just seemed so fake in her relationship with Sam. In all the stories of them together there was no emotion, no sense that she even liked him or his lifestyle or vice versa. So I was confused on how they even met and why either of them would have pursued each other at all. And since that's what most of the plot is hinged on, I was a little hesitant to dive all the way in. Adam was pretty great, but again, I was confused on his profession/wood-working when he's written as this grumpy, non-nonsense, analytical person. I'm glad they taught each other things about themselves. It just needed some plot reworking and more emotion and connection to come across.

Firstly, I want to say thank you for the ARC, as always I feel eternally grateful. Now onto the actual review. When I read the summary for this, I was so excited. This follows Ali who was dating this guy. They broke up one month, and the next he was dead. While everyone was shocked, no one was more shocked than Ali when she finds out that none of his family realized they had broken up. As a true people pleaser, she doesn't really want to bring up the fact that they broke up, so she pretends.
She thought she could pretend for this one day, and everything would be okay. Little does she know that she'll have to keep the charade going for much longer than a day when she volunteers to help pack up his apartment with his best friend Adam. And of course things go from there.
This book dealt with a few really good topics, a renewed chance at life, grief, etc, and I thought they did a really good job talking about them. I will say, I didn't really love the romance. While Adam is a super cute character, the miscommunication trope in this was so strong, and I HATED that. I felt like it went on for so long, when it could've been resolved much quicker. Still was a super cute read though, and I think I would rate it a 3.5 stars!

This book was amazing! I loved the BRCA rep. The misunderstanding was done so well. The whole set up ... Just chef's kiss. Such a fun read!!

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, I did not. I found the FMC the be pretty insufferable if I’m being completely honest. I hated the fact that she spent literally the entire book trying to force herself to be someone she thought she should be, instead of accepting the way she was. So what if you like to spend your free time indoor and obsessing over trains? It’s kind of delusional to make yourself go on hikes and spend more time outdoors if it’s something you GENUINELY hate. I also disliked her inability to create boundaries with her mom, and overall she just felt like such a pushover. Not just with her mom, but with her ex’s family AND her job. If you don’t want to do something, act like an adult and stand up for yourself instead of just going with the flow or avoiding everyone and everything.

That brings me to the MMC, because I also got some beef with him too. He was so content with going through the motions of everyday just because he fears failure and is too afraid to put himself out there. The third act breakup was really dumb on his part. But you know what? I guess these two deserve each other.

This book was also closed door, so that’s just another personal mark against it.

A heart-warming story that manages to be tender and humorous while dealing with some tough subjects. Technically this would be a romance I guess, but it’s much more than that.

A cute and unique love story that perfectly balances the light and dark topics. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

What a beautiful story with a powerful message about loving your body for all its done & will continue to do.. I read this while freshly postpartum and while its a completely different scenario, it had me reflect on my pregnancy journey. Love a story with a close proximity trope, women in stem & complicated family dynamics.

Elle Palmer’s "Four Weekends and a Funeral" is a charming and poignant exploration of love, loss, and the unexpected bonds we form along the way. Centered around a group of friends who reunite for a series of poignant weekends leading up to a funeral, the narrative effortlessly blends humor and heartache. Palmer’s sharp dialogue and rich character development make each reunion feel both nostalgic and fresh, capturing the complexities of friendship and the passage of time. The blend of lighthearted moments and deeper emotional reflections creates a captivating rhythm that kept me engaged from start to finish. With its perfect balance of laughter and tears, this book is a beautiful reminder of the power of connection, making it a must-read for anyone who has ever cherished the friendships that shape our lives.

Palmer creates a fully fleshed-out world, including the many facets of grief, love, and identity. A beautifully realized romance!

When Alison goes to the funeral of her ex-boyfriend, Sam she is surprised when his family and friends believe that they were still together, including his best friend, Adam. When Adam is asked to clean up Sam's apartment, Alison volunteers to help. Over the next four weekends, the two must deal with family affairs and packing dilemmas while navigating a new friendship and possibly a new romance.

I loved this book. This was the prefect representation of grumpy meets sunshine, and I loved the chemistry between Adam and Alison. The secondary characters also made this book a fantastic read. Chelsea and Mara were hilarious during their trivia nights but were also a great support for Alison during her emotional BRCA 1 gene journey. Overall, Four Weekends and Funeral is an emotional read that will make your heart full.

Four Weekends and a Funeral is out now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to review Four Weekends and a Funeral. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked this book! It was great getting to know the characters over time and learning about their past, that shaped their ongoing romantic situation.

After a BRCA breast cancer gene diagnosis, Allison feels like she should be grateful for her second chance at life and tries to be an exciting, outdoorsy, take life by the horns type person. That is when she met Sam who was they type of person. The problem was, she just couldn't do it. Hiking Patagonia for days without a shower or an actual bathroom didn't really appeal to her. Or going up in a hot air balloon, or any of the other adventures Sam wanted to do. So when Allison shows up at her ex boyfriend's funeral and realizes his whole family thinks they were still dating when he died, she agrees to pack up his apartment with his grumpy best friend, Adam. After four weekends together packing up Sam's stuff, Allison and Adam begin to realize they might be right for each other. Of course, there are bumps and hang ups along the way until they both embrace who they really are and what they really want..

This is a cute romance that touches on grief - from cancer diagnoses, to losing a friend or loved one - and also touches on therapy and getting help. A fun read with good characters! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this one! Someone described this as Emily Henry mixed with Abby Jimenez, and I feel like that was such a perfect way to describe it!

This book was so good, and it really kept me in the story. I really enjoy a romance that incorporates bigger issues and more real-life things because it just feels so much more real instead of so much of a fictional story.

I would definitely read more from this author!

Alison is dealing with her status as a BRCA1 carrier and the implications that has on her outlook on life, when her ex boyfriend Sam dies and she's suddenly thrust into a situation where she's still pretending to be his girlfriend for his family's sake. As she cleans out Sam's apartment with his best friend Adam, sparks start to fly even though Adam thinks she's Sam's girlfriend. As they get closer, they both have to come to terms with losing Sam and what that means for them. Overall, a story on what it means to lose a friend and also what it means to have your outlook on life completely change.