Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was too cute. I'm so glad that Charley decided to quit being such a stick in the mud post divorce and she realized she loves Ethan I like him way better

"But best friends get it all- our best selves and our darkest versions- even when they've never asked for it." Ethan & "Chuck" (Charlotte) are best friends and have been for 15 years. Through phone calls, letters, social media they stay in touch until... Charlotte craves stability, plans and love on her terms. Ethan craves music, travel, and Chuck, his best friend. Through some antics of their own and others' making, old cravings are satisfied and new ones are born as best and darkest versions are revealed during an impromptu camping wedding. Because shouldn't love prevail for everyone?

Ellie Palmer- I will read whatever you write! Thank you & NetGalley for this ARC.

This hooked me so hard that I had to get up and pace my room at 1:21am.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and this book is the Why. The comfort, the security, the ease. The knowing that they already know you in every way that matters and they love you. And. And!

Even before either of them realized it was more, Ethan and Charley’s friendship is as steady as it is chaotic. Distance, time, the uncontrollability and uncertainty of youth - it didn’t matter because they chose each other, and chose to stay (if only, sometimes, metaphorically). Ethan knows exactly why Charley feels the way she feels and acts the way she acts, and though at times it guts him, he never resents her for it. He knows it’s something she has to work through on her own, and he’s just hopeful he’ll be able to be with her while she does.

And though she has a hard time comprehending it, Charley is always supportive of Ethan living his dreams. She WANTS it for him, even if it also gives her stress hives. They’re supportive of each other to the point of tearing themselves apart - until they finally realize that they’ve already formed their lives into each others.

I did a weird hiccup-sob thing a concerning number of times. I kept going “I actually have to go to sleep after this chapter” and then I did in fact not go to sleep after that chapter (or the next, or the next, until there were no more chapters) and now here I am, writing this review at 1:30am and trying not to do another weird hiccup-sob thing.

Ethan was never afraid to jump, but Charley was. But he realized she felt brave enough i he held her hand, and she realized he would always do just that.

2.5 ⭐

This is a total disappointment. I haven't had time to read in almost a week, and regrettably, I wasted my precious time on this. How is this written by the same author of four weekends and a funeral? I hated the pop culture so much that I didn't care to understand what was being said. The FL is so selfish and self-centered. She's been living in her head until the last three chapters. I really am dissatisfied

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

I loved "Four Weekends and a Funeral" so much that once I saw this book I had to request it and Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam delivered 🤭

This story was fun and overall very sweet. The best friend relationship and deep bond the love interests have for each other was comforting and heartwarming. Many of us have a childhood best friend that we’ve held on to throughout our lives that knows us on a different level, the love between Ethan and Charley let us live out that what if best friends could make it work in adult life. I love how developed each character was and the relationship Charley and her sister have. The sister relationship felt authentic that sometimes you hate your sister as much as you love her. The big moment where feelings are finally shared and accepted had me tearing up.

This book was a rollercoaster of emotion. The drop post divorce to the wild ride of everything else happening here I was up and down and happy and sad, but consistently I was anti-Rich. I honestly wasn't sure how I'd feel about a van life MMC but somehow his whole vibe worked for the story. I was giddy, giggling and counld't put this down. Overall, this book shouldn't have worked but it really, really did.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for an ARC of this wonderful read!

Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer is the perfect mix of nostalgia, angst, and slow-burn romance that had me completely hooked. Charley and Ethan’s road trip starts as a mission to stop a wedding, but it quickly turns into something much bigger—an emotional journey of self-discovery, unresolved feelings, and years of hidden longing finally bubbling to the surface. The dual timeline was so well done, giving us glimpses into their childhood friendship, college years, and all the little moments that built up to this trip. And Ethan? Absolute dreamboat. He’s been quietly, hopelessly in love with Charley for years, and watching him wear his heart on his sleeve while she slowly lets her guard down was so satisfying.

What I loved most was how much heart this story had beyond just the romance. Charley’s struggles with love, self-worth, and figuring out what she truly wants in life made her feel so real and relatable. While Ethan was there, patiently showing her what she deserved, this was ultimately her journey to healing. Their chemistry was undeniable—the flirting, the tension, the stolen glances—but what really got me was how deep their connection ran. Add in a fun, chaotic road trip, fantastic side characters, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and this one was an absolute win for me. If you love childhood-friends-to-lovers with a touch of angst and a whole lot of heart, this book is a must-read!

I absolutely adore the "friends to more" trope, and when you add in a road trip, I’m definitely hooked! Ellie Palmer’s latest romantic comedy, “Anywhere With You” captivated me right from the start. This sweet novel revolves around endearing characters who share an undeniable chemistry that draws you in and makes you root for their happiness.

One of my favorite aspects of any rom-com is the witty banter between the couple, and this book certainly delivered! The dialogue was sharp, funny, and heartfelt, adding a layer of authenticity to their relationship that kept me smiling throughout. For anyone who shares a love for romance novels like I do, “Anywhere With You” is an absolute must-read! You won’t want to miss this charming journey of love, friendship, and adventure.

Charley Beekman is thriving. Is she financially strapped, languishing in her legal career, and very likely the youngest divorcee at the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on a Friday night? Yes. But, now that she's accepted the flaws inherent in all romantic relationships, she finally has life all figured out! She's definitely due for an upswing. So when her free-spirited sister announces her plan to elope with her messy on-again-off-again childhood sweetheart, Charley knows she has to stop the wedding, even if it means road-tripping into the northern woods of Minnesota in a camper van with her childhood best friend, Ethan, who’s as gorgeous as he is chronically unreliable. But when their cozy journey ignites a spark she's tried to ignore for years, Charley tries to write off her feelings as fleeting. Because after failing at marriage so spectacularly with the most responsible man she's ever known, Charley definitely shouldn't risk it all for her non-committal, nomadic, musician best friend, right?

Thoughts
This was a fun friends to lovers journey. The characters have their messy history and personal struggles to overcome, but it makes the read more compelling and satisfying. There were also a few parts where I was laughing out loud.

This book was a steady, cozy read. I loved the dual perspectives with the sister bond thrown in. This is my first book I’ve read hr Ellie but I already have “Four Weekends and a Funeral” on my TBR list. As a MN native either celiacs I did enjoy that small piece of the story too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for access to this eARC. Ellie Palmer has written a fantastic, sentimental tribute to best friends in love, and the romantic relationship is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at times. The dual timeline is wonderfully crafted to show the evolution of how Charley and Ethan have ended up where they are. And the magic of how Ethan has loved her for many years is beautifully unwrapped.

I loved all the mix of characters they know and meet along the way. Petey is especially a favorite with his humor and belief in everyone's goodness. I did struggle a bit with Laurel and Charley's relationship, which did feel very unpleasant at times. But the ending was worth it.

Overall 4.5 star read

So after reading both of Ellie Palmer’s books, I have learned she is not the author for me. I found four weddings and a funeral a very disrespectful book. I found the writing in this book to be extremely cheesy. I also found the book super predictable.

<i>Anywhere With You</i> is funny and chaotic in a good way, but it wasn't memorable until the last 20%.

ellie palmer my darling i love you!! writing a review without quotations is so hard because i just adore the way she writes so much. her stories have so much truth to them, fmc's with real love for real people. the relationships in ellie's stories always demonstrate a well rounded life for the characters.
"So then we eat pie. And we feed each other pie. And we kiss, and we laugh, and we act as though we're living a completely different day than the one I ruined this morning." ❤️

Read this is you like:
•road trips
•friends to lovers
•Minnesota
•only one bed / camper

It’s no surprise that this is one of my most anticipated 2025 reads. I adored Ellie’s debut last year and this book also blew me away. Literary perfection. I’m obsessed. Not only does this book start with the most iconic line a book can start with, the banter is incredible and the humor is unmatched. I was legit laughing out loud from the prologue. This book is quintessentially Minnesota and I love it so much. I legitimately screenshot a description of Grand Marais and DM’d Ellie because it was so true. A road trip romance where Charley is trying to stop her sister’s last minute wedding and along the way she reconnects with her childhood friend and reevaluates her entire life. While I was laughing out loud at much of this book, there are still heavier topics and Charley finding herself and finding love again. This is not a book you will want to miss. It’ll be out August 5! & can we talk about this cover too? Obsessed. Thank you Putnam for the eARC!

Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer is a perfect follow-up to her debut novel, Four Weekends and a Funeral. Readers will fall helplessly in love with Charley and Ethan as they embark on a road trip that challenges their friendship and sparks the possibility of something more. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the slow-burn romance keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Beyond the stellar love story, I was especially drawn to Charley’s relationship with her sister. Their dynamic—filled with both tension and deep affection—felt incredibly real. The way they navigate their shared childhood experiences, with moments of both humor and heartbreak, had me laughing and crying right along with them.

I highly recommend Anywhere With You to fans of the friends-to-lovers trope and to those who appreciate a heartfelt portrayal of sisterhood. Ellie Palmer delivers a story that’s as emotionally resonant as it is romantic.

One of the best friends-to-lovers romances I've ever read! Not only was Charley and Ethan's journey through northern Minnesota hilariously chaotic and epic, but the novel explored the weightier side of sibling dynamics, parental dysfunction, and finding the courage to live life how you want, not how you think you should. ANYWHERE WITH YOU will appeal to both longtime romance readers and the occasional fan.

This love story is so beautiful. Full of nostalgia, growth, laughs, and so much swooning!!! Ah! I'm obsessed.

Charley and Ethan are roadtripping to make sure her older sister doesn’t get married to her long time on/off again love. Charley is fresh from a divorce, she’s having some job drama, she’s got some bad views of love and relationships due to her parents marriage being less than ideal. Ethan is not great with commitment to women or to places. He travels a lot following the music scene, so he basically lives in his (very nice) van. These two have skated around feelings for each other throughout their friendship. Ethan is too important to Charley to ever loose him, and she’s certain he could never be a long term anything for her. And Ethan, Ethan!!!, he’s been in love with her for a very long time. Will this trip be the thing they both need most??

•romcom
•childhood friends to lovers
•roadtrip
•angst and so much flirting
•timeline jumps
•closed door spice
•he’s been pining for YEARS
•such good side characters

I loved this story so much. The nostalgia in the timeline jumps were so good!!! The way Ellie writes the feelings of being the new kid in a neighborhood and just immediately having friends and going on adventures with no judgements...it was perfect. I loved the flashbacks to college and how their feelings had grown overtime and how Charley felt she had to hold things back to hold onto this relationship that was so important to her. It built the emotion behind their connection so high for me. I loved Charley and Ethan so much. Ethan might just be a new crush! Top tier book boyfriends for sure.

Sinopsis en español:

Charley Beekman está prosperando. ¿Está limitada económicamente, languideciendo en su carrera legal y muy probablemente la divorciada más joven en Ruth's Chris Steakhouse un viernes por la noche? Sí. Pero, ahora que ha aceptado los defectos inherentes a todas las relaciones románticas, ¡finalmente tiene la vida resuelta! Definitivamente se le debe un repunte.

Así que cuando su hermana de espíritu libre anuncia su plan de fugarse con su desordenado novio de la infancia, Charley sabe que tiene que detener la boda, incluso si eso significa un viaje por carretera a los bosques del norte de Minnesota en una autocaravana con su mejor amigo de la infancia, Ethan, que es tan hermoso como él es crónicamente poco confiable.

Pero cuando su viaje acogedor enciende una chispa que ha tratado de ignorar durante años, Charley intenta descartar sus sentimientos como fugaces. Porque después de fracasar tan espectacularmente en el matrimonio con el hombre más responsable que haya conocido, Charley definitivamente no debería arriesgarlo todo por su mejor amiga no comprometida, nómada y músico... ¿verdad?



Reseña:


La sinopsis me atrajo, pero la historia no me encantó, fue lo suficientemente entretenido para que lo terminara, pero al final me quedé con la sensación de que faltó algo, que necesitaba que Ethan tuviera povs porque sino la historia queda como el típico siempre fuiste tú, pero prefirió salir con otras que enseñarle a Chaley que el la amaba y que valí la pena intentarlo.



Gracias NetGalley por el ARC.

Here's the thing...

Author's debut novel "Four Weekends and a Funeral" stood apart from all those other contemporary, romance novels.
It possessed a title, a riff on the classic movie starring Andie McDowell and Hugh Grant.
It possessed a unique plot/set up between the FMC and the MMC main interest.

The stay-the-course character vs. follow your dreams character path was in no way a unique one. Add in the switch from the past to a present narrative then back again was a bit stilted.

On the up side, the verbal throw down (so to speak) between Charley and Ethan was well done.

Co-worker Stacy's intentions were bit murky and as a reader, wasn't quite sure if her intentions were pure or there was a hidden agenda. Would have liked to see more development of the sisterly bond between Charley and Laurel before they make it to the campsite.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons in exchange for an honest review.


#AnywhereWithYou #NetGalley