
Member Reviews

Love a friends to lover story, especially a he falls first, and this one was jam packed with emotion. I always enjoy a past/present dual timeline, as it always reveals so much about the character/relationships. Ethan and Charley are best of friends, and Charley has to learn the hard way that what she’s wanted has been there all along. The banter was great and the romance even better. Definitely recommend!

[Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advance copy]
I did not expect to enjoy the story so much! Ellie challenged my judgment of where the story will take us and I want to give her full credit for the beautiful work.
The ending was predictable to a degree but the spin Ellie took with it was so clever, made sense for the characters, their personalities, and their dreams.
Everything was flowing together in a way that scratched my brain just right.
I read Ellie’s previous novel “Four Weekends and a Funeral” and I’m so incredibly excited to see her growth as a writer. I cannot wait to see what she’ll write next!
(P.S. I think I’m becoming more and more of a “friends to lovers” trope fan. Is this an Ellie Palmer effect?)

I don’t know how to explain how funny this book is… both loudly and quietly, with big punchlines and subtle, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it quips. Ellie Palmer might be the most underrated hilarious romance author out there, and I’m a little bit scared of how her brain works (in the best way). Every line feels so sharp and so deeply human.
Charley’s inner monologue is a delightful mess. Her head is constantly full of spirals, self-sabotage, and painfully relatable thoughts dressed up as jokes. I laughed a lot, but also found myself just pausing to take it all in at times… in that way you do when something hits a little too close. The humor isn’t just here for the sake of it. It softens hard truths and highlights all the absurdities of being alive and trying to love people, across time and distance. It all just works and it’s all so beautiful.
And my god, Charley and Ethan’s relationship is pure magic. They bicker like best friends who know there’s literally nothing they could say that would actually push the other away. It was addicting. And underneath all the banter is this quiet, patient tenderness that comes with a lifetime of knowing someone. I found Ethan so fascinating. He was completely transparent with Charley which was so refreshing. But at the same time he never forces anything between them—he just makes space.
This book is also a love letter to sisterhood and friendship. Charley’s dynamic with Laurel felt so relatable. The push-pull of petty jabs and crushing fights and complete loyalty. Anyone with a sister will feel this dynamic DEEP in your soul. And the Charley/Ethan/Laurel/Petey friend quad?? A bunch of unhinged sappily obsessed weirdos. I want to hang out with all of them. Not at Wet Ted’s, though.
This book is chaotic and heartfelt and so damn funny. I finished it and immediately wanted to go back to page one. Ellie Palmer is officially an auto-buy for me.

This was fun and the main character felt quirky in a way that was just right. It didn’t feel super deep, it was just a light romantic comedy. I did think the sister was kind of shitty and unhinged.
Thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC.

Release date: August 5th
I liked the cover, and the plot sounded interesting, but it fell flat. I didn’t enjoy the writing style, and I found the female lead, Charley, to be very selfish. The only memorable part of this book was Ethan, who deserves better than Charley. I can see why her husband left her.

Couldn’t get into this one😕 Tried twice, but gave up both times. Have read others by the author that I enjoyed. Maybe just me.

YES YES YESSSSS this is what best friends to lovers should feel like. The angst. The YEARNING. The acceptance of the inevitable and every moment that follows until they finally give in. I. Love. This. Book.
Ellie Palmer became an instant favorite after her debut novel, Four Weekends and a Funeral, completely won me over with its heartwarming combination of romcom and serious love story. Her second novel, Anywhere with You, has cemented her as one of my very favorite authors and I will be yelling about her for a long time.
Anywhere with You gives us the substance-driven romcom we expect, with the angst and yearning we expect from a friends to lovers slow(ish) burn and I completely ate it UP. The tension between Charley and Ethan is so delicious that I absolutely could not stop reading their story, waiting and waiting until the moment they finally give in. This is the friends to lovers story that convinces the naysayers that this is actually the superior trope. The stories from their younger years are woven into the current timeline perfectly, and I absolutely believed by the climax that these two were meant to be together from the get-go and I found myself absolutely giddy when they both accepted this too.
Can we also talk about how Ellie Palmer was BORN to write a perfect declaration of love/grand gesture scene? Good grief! Every romcom movie writer needs to take a page from her book because she has got this thing down, pat.
I fell just as in love with Charley and Ethan as they did with each other during their story, and I am so, so excited for the rest of the world to love them too!

I thought this was a quick, cute read. This is the second book I have read from this author. The chemistry and banter was great. I would definitely recommend it but it felt like I have read multiple books with a similar premise.

Very sweet friends to lovers story, Slightly slow paced for me but that’s nothing that would keep me from recommending it. Second winner in a row for Ellie Palmer!

I love the friends to lovers trope. I always think that sets a good foundation for a solid relationship in a book. I don’t love slow burns, but I get that it’s necessary for the progression between Charley and Ethan. I love the touch of the sisterly bond. Overall, a cute , easy read.

3.5 ✨ rounded up! It took me forever and a day to finish this book. While life was indeed busy, I also wasn’t making much time to to read because I didn’t get really into the book until it was almost over.
The FMC and her sister frustrated me a good bit and I think that’s also where I had a hard time. Overall, I thought the story was cute (especially toward the end) and I liked the van life sprinkled throughout. The best thing about it was the MMC! He was a sweetie and redeemed a lot of things about the book to me. The other thing I did like was the history between the main characters and the context of things that happened in their past that brought them to where they are today! I really just couldn’t quite get into it I think it was a bit too punchy for me!
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam vid NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Thanks NetGalley for this advanced copy.
Loved the book. It did get kind of annoying that Charley didn’t believe anything Ethan was saying & was thinking “oh this is what he does with all the girls.” I did not find this believable, someone can’t be that dumb that he clearly has feelings for you & has for a long time. Other than that I thought it was great.
I read her first book which I also really enjoyed. She has a great sense of humor, funny chapter titles, & keeps me wanting to read! Keep the books coming!

Everything a friends to lovers romcom should be. Charley was relatable in her quest to have all her ducks in a row. Her relationship with her sister was prime sister trauma bond kind of lore.

Anywhere with You was a fun, best friends to lovers romance. Charley has planned her life to be perfectly predictable until it simply….isn’t. And to top it all off, her chaotic sister needs her unsolicited help. Add in a camper van and a wanderlust best friend and Charley learns more about herself than she expected.
I enjoyed Charley and Ethan’s story and how it unfolded through flashbacks. Their chemistry and witty banter was great.
I also enjoyed other relationships portrayed. Charley and her sister were lovable and realistic and you could see how they relied and cared for each other.
My only criticism was minor. I found the writing almost too descriptive at first. It was sometimes hard to comprehend what the author was saying because the writing was very long-winded. Eventually I got used to the style and enjoyed it as clever wittiness.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️✨ for this one. I’m surprised the reviews are so high, overall the book was fine. I didn’t particularly feel a connection to any of the characters. I love friends to lovers but this one didn’t draw me in. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

anywhere with you was such a cute and fun journey. i’ve really been enjoying romance novels with dual timelines and second chance romances so i was excited to start this!
what worked for me:
- our MMC ethan was such a sweet guy, and some of his lines did have me giggling and kicking my feet. he was a true lover boy and i always love to see it!
- i love sister relationships in books and this was no exception. both our FMC charley and her sister laurel had some growth to do and i loved seeing their progression as both sisters and individuals. i also loved seeing them overcome their rocky upbringing and how it brought them closed rather than further apart
- a fun cast of side characters
- seeing our FMC grow and accept herself. i related to her self-sabotaging a lot (although in some cases her selfishness was a bit frustrating)
one of the few issues i did have were the amount of pop culture references, specifically ones tied to the early-mid 2020s. i prefer books to feel more ambiguously set so they could be read an enjoyed not only as they came out but years and years in the future.
overall i had a great time! really enjoyed this one.

4.5 Stars!
Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for my #gifted ARC!
This story hooked me right from the beginning!
As Charlie gets word that her divorce is final her sister surprises her with the news she and her on again off again childhood boyfriend are eloping. Charlie’s determined to not let her sister make the same mistake she did so she heads off on a road trip across Minnesota with her childhood best friend to talk her sister out of getting married.
The road trip has a few travel catastrophes that brought humor into the story and sparked the chemistry that’s been hiding just beneath the surface of Charlie and Ethan’s relationship.
Ultimately what Charlie has to face is that she’s been chasing the emotional and financial stability she never had growing up. She realizes she settled for her ex-husband because he posed no risk at all.
Along with the laughter there were tender heartfelt moments, opportunities for reflection and change, and some heartbreak, but I couldn’t be happier with the ending!
Romance Content: fade-to-black, low description

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer is a witty, heartwarming, and wildly entertaining romcom about childhood best friends reconnecting on a spontaneous road trip. Packed with hilarious banter, emotional depth, and swoony slow-burn tension, it’s a must-read for fans of opposites attract and best friends-to-lovers tropes.
Charley is a type-A attorney fresh off a divorce, and Ethan is her musician BFF who disappeared from her life after skipping her wedding. When her impulsive sister decides to elope with her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Charley is roped into a last-minute road trip—unfortunately, with Ethan as her copilot. Cue the emotional chaos, unresolved feelings, and a spark that was never really extinguished.
This book had me laughing out loud, tearing up at tender moments, and full-on cheering for these two beautifully imperfect people to find their way back to each other. Ellie Palmer’s sophomore novel proves she’s here to stay. Her characters are vibrant, her dialogue sparkles, and the pacing is chef’s kiss. It’s equal parts heartfelt and hilarious—a perfect summer romance.
Read if you love:
🚐 Best friends to lovers
💘 Fated romance
👯♀️ Sister shenanigans
🎶 Hot musician x buttoned-up lawyer
🌄 Spontaneous road trips
🥹 Big feelings, big laughs

Fans of Ellie Palmer, you are going to love her second novel Anywhere With You. It is my favorite book by her so far. Charley and Ethan's story is so cute; you won't want to put this book down once you start reading it.

⭐️ 5/5 | 🌶️ 1.5/5 | 😆 3.5/5
First person POV, single narrative
Non-linear timeline
FMC: Charley
MF Closed Door Romance
Setting: North woods, Minnesota
This is a cozy, sweet, comical, a little messy, and super satisfying romance read! I really enjoyed the Minnesotan tidbits! Charley’s voice is hilarious and super relatable; like, laugh-out-loud snarky but also deeply real. And Ethan is a total softie in disguise. The romance unfolds with just the right amount of angst and tenderness, and there’s real emotional growth on both sides.
The romance has slow-burn tension with a payoff that’s heartfelt rather than super steamy. There’s definitely chemistry between Charley and Ethan (like, you feel the longing), and there are a few swoony, intimate moments, but nothing super explicit or graphic. It is more about the emotional connection and anticipation than detailed on-page heat.
If you like your romance more on the cozy and character-driven side with just a hint of spice, this is a great read. Also recommend if you’re into stories about second chances, finding yourself, and falling for the one person who’s always been there.
Thank you Penguin Group and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me this ARC of the book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.