I loved that this was a road trip romance between two opposites. It was so fun and a nice change in pace. I read this while camping so I felt as though I connected with the characters on their traveling. It was nice to get away and enjoy a good lighthearted read for a change. This was perfect for in between my dark romance reads that I’m used to. 4.5/5 stars I loved the story between Charley and Palmer. Will definitely recommend.

It was just wholly average. It wasn't bad but nothing about it was particularly memorable. I don't think it will make a lasting impression but it was a nice and quick read.

I love this book. I’m so excited for other people to get to read it. Thank you to the author and the publisher for making it available early for me to check out.

This was best friends to lovers perfection! Charley’s heartbreak leapt off the page. I felt every emotion right along with her. I also adored her sister and the beautifully written sisterhood bond. Bestie Verdict: Absolutely Recommend especially if you like slow burn, forced proximity in a van, and love after divorce.
TV-14 for spice fade to black but steamy build up, language, and trigger warnings (toxic parent relationships)

Similar Book recs: Road Trip by Beth O'Leary (more spice, TV-MA) and Complete by Kortney Keisel (closed door romance, TV-PG).

A book that takes me to Grand Marais and Lake Superior? Sign me up! I enjoyed Ellie Palmer's debut novel so much that I immediately requested her upcoming release. I'm so glad I did because it took me on an adventure up to the North Shore, one of my favorite places on earth. I'll reread when I need another Great Lake fix!

Thank you, Penguin Group Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley, for providing me with this advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Anywhere with You” follows the story of Charley and Ethan, childhood friends who have always been opposites. Despite their differences, their friendship has always been strong. However, a case of bad timing and mixed signals nearly drove them apart. After Charley’s divorce, they reunite and start as friends with benefits. As they spend more time together, they realize that their feelings for each other run deeper. They must learn to merge their very different lives and find a way to be together.

This is not just a clichéd friends-to-lovers trope. It also explores the impact of childhood family experiences and the expectations and limitations that can be placed on oneself because of those experiences. It’s a heartwarming and entertaining romance that will leave you rooting for Charley and Ethan.

As someone who reads a lot of contemporary romance, Anywhere With You was a delightful surprise, fun, entertaining, and full of charm. Ellie Palmer strikes a great balance between heartfelt moments and playful banter, and the chemistry between the characters really worked for me. It had that effortless, feel-good energy I’m always hoping to find in a romance. A joyful read that left me smiling.

This book was fun! I felt completely drawn into Charley’s world—her humor, her struggles, and her determination to keep things under control, even when everything is anything but. I connected with her journey, especially the tension between guarding her heart and taking a risk on something unpredictable. I found myself laughing at the sharp, witty writing and appreciating the deeper emotions woven into the story. I felt invested in Charley’s relationships—her messy but lovable sister, her childhood best friend Ethan, and the complications of her past heartbreak. I admired how the book balanced romance, self-discovery, and adventure in a way that felt both heartfelt and fun. I finished the book feeling completely satisfied but also wishing I could spend more time with these characters. I loved how it explored the complexities of love and timing, and I found myself rooting for Charley the whole way.

This is the kind of story that sticks with you—charming, emotional, and full of heart.

Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #AnywhereWithYou by Ellie Palmer!

Anywhere With You sounded like it was going to be exactly my kind of read — friends-to-lovers, a chaotic road trip, emotional healing — but honestly, it just fell flat. Charley and Ethan's story had potential, and there were some genuinely sweet moments sprinkled in, but overall, the pacing dragged and the emotional payoff was flat. Charley’s constant need to control everything made it hard to root for her at times, and while I can appreciate a character who’s deeply flawed, there were points where it felt like she was stuck in a loop — projecting her issues onto everyone around her without much real growth.The flashbacks to their childhood and past friendship could have added more depth, but instead they slowed the story down without really adding to the plot. And, while I wanted to feel the chemistry between Charley and Ethan, most of their connection seemed more told than shown.

This book took me on a romantic adventure between two completely opposite people! I felt happiness, hopeful and lighthearted while reading this. I really enjoyed the humor throughout the book as well. While this book is fiction, it felt like I was reading a true story. The childhood friends to lovers trope in this book was well structured. I really enjoyed how the book went back in time, because it gave me insight to their friendship. I found both of the main characters incredibly interesting and entertaining. Furthermore, I found both Ethan and Charley relatable. This is a medium paced read with strong character development! An adventurous and fun ride between these two will be memorable! I found this to be a cozy and relaxing read!

“Anywhere With You” is about a woman named Charley, who is a divorcee and a guy named Ethan, who is a carefree musician. Set in beautiful Minnesota, these two friends go on a road trip together in a camper van. While being on this roadtrip together, sparks between them begin to happen. As the story unfolds, we learn more about their friendship they had in the past. Both of them ultimately have a decision to make, to let the friendship continue or end up happily ever after! This book comes with very minor content warnings. Overall, I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars!

I think anyone that loves reading a cozy roadtrip, childhood friends to lovers romantic comedy would enjoy reading this! This book has a little bit of spice and a whole lot of sweetness!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Ellie Palmer and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on August 5, 2025!

I’m so grateful for this ARC because I have not smiled
So much reading a book in a long time! Despite the tough upbringing that Charley and Laurel have that leads to understandable baggage, their relationship along with the two guy besties they grew up with, is so fun to read! From camping mishaps to boring Rich to boring jobs, Ellie Palmer writes with candor, humor, and breaks the tropes with mishaps and endearing friendships. It is such a good read, to remind all of us life is too short to marry “the Rich of the world” and we shouldn’t allow our baggage to prevent our future. Lastly, the idea of forgiveness and second chances is really well done. It’s never too late to rectify our wrongs.

I struggled a bit to connect with this story but may need to return to it another time! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

I was excited to read this ARC after reading her first book recently (Four Weekends and a Funeral). Charley is a type A workaholic who recently got divorced from perfect on paper guy. She road trips with her childhood male best friend to try to stop her sister from eloping. This has all the tropes including friends to lovers & road trip romance. It was cute - I liked it - but not as much as her last book.

Where the author soars is in her depiction of place. This is a love letter to Minnesota. I found myself browsing vacation rentals on lakes in Minnesota when I wasn’t reading. Palmer has a real gift for writing vivid settings. I’d give this one 3.5 ⭐️

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book comes out Aug 5, 2025

I really enjoyed Ellie Palmer's first book, 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭, and eagerly inhaled her sophomore release 𝐀𝐍𝐘𝗪𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝗪𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔 (Pub 08.05) during a long travel day.

Since this takes place over a summer weekend, I suggest adding it to your TBR to read over a long, lazy summer weekend when it releases in August.

WHAT TO KNOW:
The MN setting spoke to this native's heart.
Longtime friends to more
Dual timeline.
Sister relationship
Tension + banter
road trip + van life
One bed
Divorced FMC
Humor & heart
Endearing side characters
Closed door romance that leans more towards love/women's fiction, but it's still so swoony.

I’m a recent fan of Palmer. I read Four Weekends and a Funeral last week, and the moment I finished I looked to see if I could get my hands on an ARC of her next book. Score!

I love her books because they are filled with unique plots, lovable characters, and the funniest banter and situations I’ve read in a while. Honestly, be prepared to laugh.

This book did not disappoint. I truly connected with our FMC Charley. Like most people who work in corporate jobs, she is a workaholic who takes little time for herself. Now, I can’t relate to the divorce part but I like how she didn’t center her whole personality on this fact. Sometimes I read novels where a character is divorced and that is their whole world. Charley actually had a personality, and it was fun watching her get outside her comfort zone.

Ethan was adorable!! I just loved him. I kept picturing Glen Powell as him simply because they shared the last name and personality. I vote he should play the part if this is made into a movie. Now, back to Ethan. He was so unique. Living in a van is such a trend right now, and I loved seeing it in a novel. I felt like I was living this with him. I also love how he is kind, funny, supportive, musically inclined, and so great to read.

I actually wanted more about Charley’s sister and Peter. At first I thought we were being setup for the next novel, but this works. The flashbacks really helped build the story, but I did want more of these two. I believed them as a couple but there were some blanks that needed to be filled in (nothing that took away from this story though).

This book is fantastic! Pick it up when you want a fun read that will lighten your spirit.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review. And honestly you can’t go wrong with a novel from Ellie Palmer. Congrats on your second novel, girl!!

Safe to say Ellie Palmer can write a damn good book! I loved her debut book and I was so happy I was able to read Anywhere With You early.

Nothing I love more than a friends to lover book and more so when they’re childhood friends 😭 the yearning Ethan displays for Charley is out of this world. There were times were I just wanted Charley to get out of her own head and do things not because she thinks it’s a natural progression of life but because she truly wants to do those things for herself.

Charley is so relatable when it comes to doing things because you feel like those are the steps one needs to take to feel accomplished and all that. Go to college, graduate, get a job that provides stability, marriage and a home, etc. But life isn’t linear and we have to step out of our comfort zones to truly experience life and the book reflects that.

Ethan was so caring and kind throughout that you really do root for him. Nothing better than falling in love with your best friend who knows you like no one else.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book from beginning to end, its journey was a mix of everything a little bit, between embarrassment, silliness and accidents waiting to happen.

Ethan is a sweetheart of a man, I loved his patience, his care for Charley, everything. And as the first book I read by Ellie, I enjoyed it from beginning to end, thanks to Net Galley, by the way, because it was because of you that I met Ellie!

Charley's parents on and off again romance coupled with her own divorce has her unwilling to believe in a happily ever after. Her sister's sudden whim to get married is mind boggling and Charley can't risk her sister's future pain. She sets out with the reluctant help of her best friend, Ethan, to stop the wedding. Oh and her own rocky relationship with Ethan is just something she needs to ignore on their cozy road trip in his camper van.
This book is overwhelmingly full of metaphors and I found is incredibly distracting how many times Ellie compared everything with a "like" or "as if". As this was one of my highly anticipated reads for 2025, I'm sad that it didn't work for me as I adored her debut. The bones of the book (synopsis, likable characters, setting, etc) are there and I could easily see it being a stronger rating had the similes been severely edited. It's a memorable book otherwise, and I did enjoy Charley and Ethan's friends-to-lovers trek.
Thank you to Putnam and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced unedited digital copy.

This was a heartfelt, engaging read with emotionally grounded characters and a romance that builds through time, distance, and change. The story shifts between timelines, giving us a deeper look at both Charley and Ethan's upbringing and family dynamics. That context adds real weight to their choices and the quiet flaws that make them feel like people you’ve known.

The writing is solid, the dialogue sharp, and there’s a great balance between tension and tenderness. The van life and wilderness scenes give it a slightly adventurous backdrop without overpowering the character-driven focus. Ethan is an easy character to root for, and Charley’s growth feels earned.

If you like stories with emotional layers and just enough grit to balance the sweetness, you'll likely love this one.

Tropes & Features:
💞 Best friends to lovers
🔁 Second chances
🖤 Fade to black romance
👯‍♀️ Supportive sisters
💬 Great banter
👣 Relatable characters
🌲 Wilderness & van life
⏳ Past/present timeline
📖 Single POV

I absolutely love Ellie Palmer! She writes with so much warmth and wit. Her books bring you in like a trance, and before you know it, you've read 300 pages and ignored 4 calls from your boss. Oopsie.

Anywhere With You is nostalgic and wistful. We have a gorgeous setting, second chances (my favorite trope) forced proximity (my second favorite trope), and a lovingly frazzled "but I'm doing so great, I swear" main character. This book reminded me of two of my recent favorites:

1. PS I Hate You by Lauren Connolly
2. The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

There's real chemistry that's so hard to nail. Reading this book feels luxurious - not in a "omg these characters are loaded hit me up chuck bass" kind of way, but in a "I can't believe I get a sneak peek into the hearts of these people" kind of way.

Can't recommend it enough. So excited to purchase a copy when it hits the stands!