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.

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!