4.5⭐️

Fresh off her divorce, Charley roadtrips with her childhood best friend, Ethan, to try to stop her sister from eloping with her on-again-off-again boyfriend.

When Ellie told me this was a friends-to-lovers road trip story way back in the day before I even knew a title I said, “SAY NO MORE!” It doesn’t get much better for me. 😍

I love the tension you get between characters who have known each other their whole lives. The familiarity, the inside jokes, the banter, the closeness, the memories. And it all works together perfectly in Anywhere With You. Just as with Four Weekends and a Funeral, Ellie handles some deeper topics as well - the long term effects of parental failure, the complexities of sibling relationships, the nature of friendships changing as you grow, and the difficulty of figuring out and settling into what it is you want out of life.

Ellie’s writing is witty, clever, and oh so full of pop culture references (I’d expect nothing less!). She will have you falling for Ethan, rooting for Charley to experience healing, all while laughing and probably tearing up along the way.

Read if you like books with flashbacks, when he has a nickname for her, fade to black romances, roadtrips, banter for days, only one camper van, and childhood friends to lovers.

Thank you so so much, Putnam and NetGalley, for an advanced copy of one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 in exchange for my honest thoughts!! I will be forever grateful.

Ellie Palmer is officially an auto read author ! She’s 2/2 five stars from me!

Four Weekends and a Funeral was my favorite romance book of 2024, so I was thrilled to get an ARC of her next book, Anywhere With You.

Charley is a lawyer who thrives on predictability. She even picked a boring, stable, predictable husband, who ended up leaving her making her a 29 year old divorcee. Her nomadic, van life childhood best friend Ethan comes back into her life when Charley’s sister announces she’s eloping with Ethan’s best friend. Charley and Ethan head off in Ethan’s van on a journey into the Minnesota woods to stop the wedding. There’s also a dual timeline that gives background to when the 4 of them met in high school, through college, and beyond.

This book was everything — Charley was the best FMC, so smart and funny. I had so many butterflies throughout the book. I loved it so much I read the acknowledgements from top to bottom because I didn’t want it to end. I will tell all of my friends to read this when it comes out!

I absolutely loved this. Charley was SO relatable. And friends to lovers is one of my all-time favorite tropes. This was a great romcom, perfect for the summer! I love the author’s sense of humor so much.

Wow. I am blown away by this book. It was a second-chance, best-friends-to-lovers romance, so naturally I was going to love it. But it was SO MUCH MORE than that, too! It was a hard look into the repercussions of parental failure, the hard and enduring dynamics of sibling relationships, the testing of friendship, and a deep dive into wanting the wrong thing out of life. The characters were so dynamic and engaging. I teared up at the sweet, relatable feelings this evoked in me and I also about died laughing at one point. Palmer is a fantastic writer. I cannot wait to get my hands on her first novel! This is a heavy-tension, fade-to-black romance that will come highly recommended by me!

Honestly, I struggled a little bit in the first half to really feel that connection to this, but towards the half way point it really grew on me. I loved all the characters, loved seeing the character growth. The story resonated with me in a way I didn't expect, especially as it highlights the struggle many of us face when life doesn't go according to plan. Palmer's writing was so done so well, it offers a comforting reminder that not having your life all figured out is okay-and sometimes, the best things happen when you embrace the uncertainty. Besides the few miscommunications that annoyed me this was a quick, solid romance read for me. Would recommend! Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!

This was a fun read with more emotional depth and personal growth than the typical romance. I enjoyed watching for a handful of enjoyable tropes and felt like the story was better-paced than Palmer's first book. The FMC's relationship with her sister added another great storyline throughout the book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I really enjoyed it!

Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer is a sweet romance that follows Charley Beekman, a sarcastic and slightly cynical woman who thinks she’s got life figured out after surviving a messy divorce. But her world is turned upside down when she goes on a wild road trip to stop her sister’s wedding. Teaming up with Ethan, her gorgeous childhood best friend, Charley finds herself on a hilarious and emotional journey. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and I loved the banter between them! This book is full of humor, romance, and second chances.

This book is the perfect blend of nostalgia, romance, and humor. Charley’s journey from a messy divorce to navigating her feelings for the one man she’s always had in her life (and always tried to avoid) is a rollercoaster of emotions. The road trip setting is a great backdrop for their slow-burning romance, and the chemistry between Charley and Ethan is electric. I loved how Charley’s personality clashed with Ethan’s free-spirited vibe, it created such a fun dynamic. The writing is witty and sharp, with just enough heart to make you feel all the feels.

I LOVED this book! Ellie Palmer should do a master's class on how to write friends to lovers. Multiple times throughout the book I called my friend to laugh at the ridiculousness of the story because I couldn't enjoy it by myself (looking at you 5K and fireproof box).

I love the characters! The frustrating, yet loving, sister relationship. The friendship with Ethan, how they can be apart for years and it feels like not a day has passed since you last saw them. The main character, Charlie, had plenty of issues to sort through especially with relationships that spoke to me.

The dialogue was so, so laugh out loud funny! Charlie, Ethan, Petey, and Laurel had such wonderful banter that was heartfelt and fun.

The I was thrilled to get an ARC of this book since I loved her first book, Four Weekends and a Funeral. Plus she is a Minnesota girlie like me. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

No Sophomore slump here. I loved her debut novel and this one may be even better.

This book features Charley, a recently divorced 28 year old woman and her free spirited best friend Ethan going on a road trip to stop her sister's wedding. Their trip reignites deeply buried feelings from both people and they have to figure out if a romantic relationship is worth trying.

Both characters were relatable in their fears and insecurities, but there was no doubt they were made for each other.

Warm, witty, and brimming with charm, this story will leave you rooting for love, imperfections and all. Definitely a new favourite.

Wilderness romance is trending right now and this is perfect. Also, it's a relatable story for those who are choosing the "Van Life" right now. The story is cute, and well written with relatable issues that most modern dating takes place.

it’s always really scary picking up an authors second novel, specially when the debut was so well received. people are bound to compare it, and i was terrified i’d be one of them

however, congratulations to ellie, for writing banger after banger, because anywhere with you was that good.

this book is relatable in a way i didn’t think possible. i think a lot of people expect you to have your life together when you reach a certain age, and when your life takes a turn for the worst, it’s always nerve wracking trying to fit that mold.

it was, frankly, refreshing watching charley finally get to do things she enjoyed and not what everyone and society thought she should be doing

i can’t wait for everyone to finally read this one, because i know you’re going to enjoy it as much as i did.

thank you to NetGalley, the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons, and most of all, the author, Ellie Palmer, for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

The novel beautifully explores themes of love, self-acceptance, and the complexities of relationships. It delves into the tension between stability and spontaneity, capturing the essence of taking risks for love and the unpredictable paths life can take.

I am a big fan of Ellie Palmer’s writing style, so I was looking forward to reading this new novel hitting bookstores in August.

Charley and Ethan are the best opposites attract romance. I love seeing Charley’s idea of perfection mixed up. Her upbringing, family life, and recent divorce has jolted her world, and the character development in this was so great to see. She was super easy to relate to as our FMC. Ethan was far from what Charley thought she wanted, which is what makes for a delicious romance!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

The day after her divorce is finalized, Charley’s surprised to see her flaky best friend at her door (with his camper van parked in her driveway). His timing couldn’t be better as Charley needs a ride to northern Minnesota so she can stop her sister’s elopement…

I loved the author’s debut, Four Weekends and a Funeral, and was eager to read this follow-up! Anywhere With You is fun, adventurous, and sweet. I enjoyed Charley’s inner monologue (and the running thread of her wondering whether she had a retail therapy problem), the connection she has with her sister, and the earnest and lovable Ethan. I felt though Charley and Ethan present as complete opposites, they are compatible in the ways that matter and it was a treat to read about them figuring out their feelings.

Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

A big thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with access to this ebook in exchange for my honest review!
I was thrilled to get my hands on this one! I remember seeing the cover reveal on Instagram and diving in completely blind. I haven’t read the author’s previous book yet (though it’s definitely on my TBR), but now I can’t wait to check it out!
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer will be out Aug 5th 2025 and I'm going to remind you next summer! This was so good!
Charley Beekman, a 29-year-old divorcee, is navigating life with humor and acceptance, despite her stalled legal career and romantic failures. When her sister announces an impulsive elopement, Charley embarks on a road trip to stop the wedding with her unreliable yet irresistible best friend, Ethan. Along the way, buried feelings resurface, leaving Charley torn between risking her heart again or playing it safe.
I absolutely adore this author's writing style—witty, clever, and full of humor! It completely captivated me, even though I’ve been stuck in a bit of a reading slump lately.

Four Weekends and. Funeral was one of my favorite books of last year and this one is even better. Ellie Palmer is right up there with Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. Her stories are heartfelt and swoony but with a lot of depth.

After growing up with a father who was always moving around and coming in and out of her life Charley desperately craves stability. Charley thinks adulthood should look a certain way because her parents certainly didn’t do it correctly. This has led her to a life that from the outside seems perfect. Until her husband asks for a divorce and the facade comes tumbling down. Divorce papers finalized Charley gets news from her sister that she’s getting engaged and the wedding is happening sooner than expected. Ethan, her childhood best friend and Charley take off to stop this disaster of a wedding. But along the way Charley might learn there’s more to life than stability and having it together. And maybe just maybe there’s something special between her and Ethan.

Man Charley was sooo relatable it was stressful. I think her character perfectly captures what it’s like to be 28 and think you need to have it all together to be a proper adult. Not everyone goes through this, but I do think a lot of young woman put a lot of pressure on themselves to have that “perfect life”. I love seeing Charley grow and realize she should do the things she enjoys rather than what society expects of her. It was a good character arc. I do think some of the miscommunications between her and Ethan were a bit frustrating. And I wasn’t the biggest fan of the flashbacks. But overall it was a fun and quick read with good characters, a good plot, and fantastic writing.

Camper Van
Canoeing
One bed
Guitar playing mmc
Friends to lovers

Thanks NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s sons for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wasn't expecting to finish in a day, but just couldn't stop! Sometimes you are your own worst enemy, not seeing what is right in front of you and settling for what really doesn't make you happy at all, but seems safe and expected. Best friends come head to head to uncover feelings and themselves, and about those they love - discovery of self and others, with an eclectic crew. A fun read.