Anywhere With You opens with Charlie’s husband announcing that he’s leaving her while she’s drinking through a novelty penis straw. The penis straw is significant, the soon to be ex-husband really isn’t, except as a concept. Charlie and her sister, Lauren, grew up in a chaotic household with a father who seemed to like the idea of his family better than the reality of being a parent. He uprooted them, abandoned them, and then returned to repeat the cycle. Their mother seems to have gone along with the chaos. Charlie craves stability, predictably, and rootedness. She wants a boring job, a boring life, and a reliable husband, and that means she has refused to consider her best friend, Ethan, as a romantic partner. Even though they are clearly in love with each other. Clearly. Ethan is a musician whose former band hit it big with one song, now he travels around playing college campuses and making Van Life content.

Anywhere With You takes place over a few days, plus many flashbacks, as Charlie asks Ethan to help her get to her sister’s wedding, though not that she can be at the wedding, but so she can stop the wedding. Lauren and Peter have been off and on for years, and Charlie is convinced that she should save her sister from making a terrible mistake. It’s a childhood friends to lovers, roadtrip, only one bed romance.

I’m always going to side with the messy women who are 6 neuroses in a trench coat pretending to be an adult. Other readers are going to call them unlikable, and I’m going to be ready to fight for them in the Applebee’s parking lot. Charlie is a mess. Should her husband have left her? Absolutely. She had only shown him the version of herself that he would like, and when he got a glimpse of her true self, he couldn’t handle it. There’s an almost audible pop when Charlie finally pulls her head of the place she has stuffed it. She is so smart, and so dumb, and so relatable to anyone who has run down the wrong path in life to avoid being like their parents.

There were many things I liked a lot about Anywhere With You and one thing that bothered me. I do not know if this is a legitimate complaint or a sign that I am old, or maybe both. I don’t know. There were a couple of moments towards the end when Charlie, Ethan, Lauren and Pete, having worked through their conflicts, are happy. I felt like I was reading a description of an aspirational Instagram post through a Vaseline smeared lens. So, am I an old who doesn’t click with a younger aesthetic? Is it a moment where Ellie Palmer was using words to describe an aesthetic instead of grounded emotions to communicate a moment? I don’t know, either or both of those could be true.

One thing Ellie Palmer does quite well, here and in her debut, Four Weekends and a Funeral, is capture the tension between being the person you think you should be and wanting to be loved for the person you are.

I received this as an advance reader copy from G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

First thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Charley had a nomadic childhood until she moved to Minnesota and met Ethan and Pete. This was the first place that felt like home so continue her friendship with Ethan as she moved. After her divorce they reconnect and end up on a road trip to stop her sister from eloping. Once they are on the trip they rekindle more than their friendship but is it the chaos of the weekend or more to it.

What I liked: Ellie Palmer writes such great banter and sweet romances. I love second chance and glad this one used that trope. Ethan and Charley had great chemistry and loved the road trip aspect of the book. Of course there are plenty of quirky side characters they met along the way. This is a great summer romance even if you are not from
Minnesota

When Charley embarks on a road trip with her childhood friend, Ethan, it is to stop her sister from making a huge mistake: marriage. When her own wedded bliss fell short and she ended up a young divorcee, she wanted to keep her sister from similar heartbreak. The unexpected happens and sparks fly between Charley and Ethan...but is she willing to risk her heart again?

This book gave off great summery, feel-good, sweet romance vibes - everything that I want in an enjoyable summer read.

Charley is recently divorced. She embarks on a roadtrip with her childhood best friend, Ethan. Ethan is a ladies man and a big flirt. Sparks fly between the two as they travel and there’s no denying them.

This is a great summer romance that will have you laughing, cringing, and swooning. It’s spicy, but fade to black.

Thanks @netgalley @putnambooks and @elliepalmerwrites for the chance to read Ellie’s utterly delightful next book, Anywhere With You. This book was such a blast with serious road trip vibes and a best friends to lovers storyline that tugged on my heartstrings. Ellie writes books that are laugh-out-loud funny with so much charm. I just love her voice. It releases on August 5, 2025.

On the eve of Charley’s divorce being final, she learns that her sister is eloping with her on/off long term relationship but luckily her best friend, indie musician Ethan, has an extra set in his camper van to attend/stop the wedding. Charley’s determined to stop her sister from making the biggest mistake of her life, but can’t ignore that spending time with Ethan is reigniting the spark she’s always felt with him. But if she can’t make it work with her boring, predictable ex husband, how can she possibly make something real with a man who travels from festival to festival in his camper van?

Steam: 🔥🔥
Tropes: friends to lovers, road trip, wedding, only one camper van

ARC Review! Anywhere with You by Ellie Palmer!

Thank you to Putnam for the earc!

This book was lovely & just what I needed in my life! Palmer truly delivers with the romcom. She has you laughing while still swooning with the romance! She balances both aspects of the romcom so well!!

I loved, loved, loved that the characters were messy, imperfect people. They were relatable especially if you've ever been one to clingy to stability as hard as you can (hello, its me).

The last 20% was just me crying and going, "oh this is so relatable. I LOVE them."

I would recommend this book to anywho who likes:
*second chance
*dual timeline
*comedy with their romance
*sibling relationships
*hope
*having a great time
*pop culture references

Ellie Palmer truly nailed it! My STL friends, she is coming to St. Louis! Grab your ticket because I absolutely will be there and cannot wait to celebrate Ellie with you all! Let's show her how we show up for our romance community! Deets are on the Novel Neighbor website!

This book was fantastic, and everything just worked. The characters are so well developed that every choice feels believable because we understand why they do what they do. The flashbacks add just enough context to give depth without dragging down the main story, and the whole journey feels earned.

The road trip backdrop mixed with Charley’s personal growth, risk-taking, and self-reflection made me want to pull out my old French lit analysis notes and really break down the structure. It’s one of the most wholesome romance novels I’ve read in a long time.

I loved that Charley’s love is fierce and unwavering, even when it leads her to make mistakes. The book takes the time to show us why she acts the way she does, which makes her feel incredibly real. The friends-to-lovers angle from Ethan’s side is done so well too. I’m not usually a fan of the trope—it’s often obvious the guy’s been pining forever—but here it stays subtle until it finally can’t anymore.

The secondary characters are hilarious and just as well developed, and we even get a bonus couple alongside the main romance. Even knowing there’s a guaranteed HEA, the story feels almost like a character study of how these two people get to that point. At the same time, it’s wrapped up in the perfect summery romance vibes—making it an ideal book to take on vacation by a lake.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the eARC!

Having enjoyed FOUR WEEKENDS AND A FUNERAL, Ellie Palmer’s debut, I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of ANYWHERE WITH YOU. Her sophomore offering has the same lighthearted, charming feel that enchanted me in her debut.

Charley is recently divorced, overworked and overwhelmed by her career, and trying desperately to hang onto the last shred of stability she so craves. Ethan is her best friend and has been since childhood. He’s free spirited, creative, and seemingly allergic to putting down roots. Their relationship has been strained since Charley’s ill fated wedding, but that doesn’t stop Ethan from showing up when Charley needs him. And, boy, does she need him. Her sister just dropped the bombshell announcement that she plans to elope with her on again, off again love interest. Charley thinks this is an awful idea and convinces Ethan to help her stop the wedding. It’s road trip time!

I laughed out loud through much of this book. Calamities, mishaps, and high jinx conspire to thwart Charley’s efforts; including a few scenes I won’t soon forget. This hilarity is balanced by tender moments that tugged at my heartstrings. Ellie Palmer has gifted the reader with another unforgettable romance. This time it’s a friends-to-lovers tale with a sweet and swoon worthy cinnamon roll book boyfriend who steals hearts without even trying.

Amid the lighthearted nature of the book, there is also significant depth. Palmer does not shy away from having her characters engage in difficult and uncomfortable conversations. The vulnerability feels authentic even when the tone is light.

I very much enjoyed this book and am ready to read whatever Ellie Palmer writes next.

Thank you to the author, Putnam Books, and Booked With The Emilys for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

Anywhere With You publishes on August 5, and it delivers all the charm, humor, and heart I was hoping for. This is a he-falls-first, friends-to-lovers romance wrapped in a laugh-out-loud funny road trip adventure, with strong emotional undercurrents and a big dose of self-discovery.

Charley is a relatable, flawed, Type-A protagonist who’s fresh off a divorce and determined to stop her sister’s impulsive wedding. Cue a chaotic journey through the Minnesotan woods with Ethan, her gorgeous, free-spirited childhood best friend who just so happens to live out of a camper van. Sparks? Oh yeah. Tension and banter? So good.

Beyond the romance, Palmer shines in her portrayal of layered relationships: the tight-knit sister bond, a quirky crew, and a bonus second-chance romance that adds even more heart to the story. There’s a heavy emphasis on growth, healing, and figuring out what you want out of life, not just who you want to share it with.

This one is messy, warm, and full of heart, a great pick for fans of character-driven romance with big laughs and even bigger feels.

This was super cute! I enjoyed the main character's journey, as well as the relationship she had with the love interest. I would definitely read more by Ellie Palmer.

Anywhere With You had me grinning, swooning, and occasionally shouting “Charley, no!” in the best way possible. From her quarter-life catastrophe to the camper van road trip with her emotionally evasive musician bestie, this story is a delightful mix of romantic chaos and heartfelt introspection. Charley’s sharp wit and Ethan’s layered charm made their banter sparkle, and watching them stumble through grief, fear, and unresolved feelings felt like getting a front-row seat to someone else's messy, beautiful life. It’s funny, tender, and painfully relatable—and by the end, I was absolutely rooting for them to risk it all.

Newly divorced Charley enlists her childhood best friend Ethan to go on a road trip in order to stop her free spirited sister's impromptu wedding.

Ellie Palmer has become an auto read author for me! Here's what I loved about this one:

The humor: Palmer writes with such humor. I adored all of the one liners and hilarious situations in this. All of the characters have a natural humor to their thoughts and dialogue. I found myself laughing so many times.

Ethan: He's the dream. I adored literally everything about him. He's funny and strong and has that musician coolness to him. I also loved how much he cares for Charley.

Friends to lovers: This is one of my favorite friends to lovers books. These two really are best friends from childhood into adulthood and they just can't seem to get out of their own way and be with each other. Their love story progresses nicely as they bounce back and forth between wanting each other and just being friends.

All in all, this was a great friends to lovers romcom!

~ friends to lovers
~ musician MMC
~ roadtrip

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

Omggggggg! ELLIE PALMER, you precious human — ugh, you wreck me! How did you get right inside of my post-divorce, messy brain?! Listen, as much as I am a hopeless romantic, I’ve almost certainly written off the chance of love but I think you may have given me hope. You put my jumbled thoughts into beautiful words.

It needs to be noted that you described true sisterhood so perfectly because, I too, love my sister more than anyone but she really is exasperating sometimes.

Incredibly fun storyline, a lovable cast of characters, dual timeline, AND chapter titles?! Say. Less.

Anywhere with You by Ellie Palmer

Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice: 1/5 🌶️

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Anywhere With You is an absolutely delightful read full of humor, wit, and heart. Equal parts tender and funny, Anywhere With You beautifully captures a multitude of emotions and demonstrates the power of love in all its forms. From friendship to romance to family, Anywhere With You touches on significance of the relationships that make us who we are. The setting is also utterly charming. This is an all-around feel-good summer story!

Charley Beekman finds herself struggling financially, trapped in a tedious career, and recently divorced. After being left by a man she thought was the safe choice, she wants to avoid surprises as much as possible. But when her sister decides to elope, Charley wants to stop the wedding before her sister makes a huge mistake. Charley’s best friend, Ethan, happens to have space available in his camper van, so they go on a road trip together. As they embark on the trip across Minnesota, feelings begin to develop.

Ellie Palmer has crafted the perfect friends to lovers romance that is so sweet and heartfelt! Charley, with a type A personality, and Ethan, with golden retriever energy, are such a great pairing. Their dynamic is incredible and their chemistry is fantastic. The pacing of the story is great and the character development throughout is stellar. Anywhere With You touches on more emotional topics in a way that gives the story more depth while still remaining lighthearted. Ethan’s camper van and the nature setting were also a highlight! The dual timeline gives a look into how they got to this point and provides more insight into their relationship over the years.

Overall, Anywhere With You is incredibly charming, heartfelt, and humorous with just the right amount of yearning and also lots of adventure!

Five stars! This had a delightfully unexpected opening line (one of my fave things) and the pace didn’t let up from there. This was lovely, fun, funny, a little raw, and full of heart. Good banter and funny people are a quick and easy yes from me, and this book delivered.

I really enjoyed the complicated relationships depicted between sisters, friends, family, old selves, current selves. The author captured well how things in childhood can set us up for lifelong fears and expectations, how we can feel like we might not measure up and the things we might shy away from or run toward because of all of it.

I definitely want to read her back list now.

This comes out August 5 - get your preorders in! Thank you @netgalley and @penguinbooks @putnambooks for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed Anywhere With You! I really connected with Charley—especially her anxiety and fear of change. Ellie Palmer did such a beautiful job allowing Charley space to grow throughout the book in an authentic, relatable way.

The flashback chapters were a great addition, offering deeper insight into Charley and Ethan’s long-standing friendship and history. It was interesting to see how much her parents’ relationship influenced who she became and her desire to control her surroundings.

This is a sweet and funny friends-to-lovers romcom that had me smiling and chuckling along the way. Ellie Palmer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors to read!

Anywhere With You by Ellie Palmer was such a sweet surprise! As a Minnesotan, I loved seeing my home state setting come to life through the subtle references added so much charm and familiarity to the story. This was the kind of breezy, feel-good summer read that makes you want to grab a Caribou Coffee and head to the lake.

The romance was heartwarming, the characters were easy to root for, and it had just enough emotional depth to keep me invested. It’s the perfect book to toss in your beach bag or read on the cabin deck.

Big thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Ellie Palmer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ellie Palmer again delievers a sweet, Minnesota based romance that simply makes your heart melt. Charley has gone through a lot and her "ex' best friend has appeared back into her life after her divorce. Ethan was never the person Charley thought she would end up with, but now after not communicating with him for a year or so, she can't help but wonder what more would feel like. Now they are traveling together to watch Charley's sister get married to Ethan's best friend and they start to feel stronger feelings for each other

I’m not usually a friends to lovers girlie, but this book won me over! I liked the type A personality matched with golden retriever energy and found their dynamic and chemistry to work really well together. I enjoyed the pacing of the romance and thought the development of the relationship and the yearning was super good. I also thought this booked tackled trauma and how traumatic upbringings impact family dynamics and romantic relationships really well, especially in the main characters relationship with her sister. I love a camper van and enjoyed the van and nature setting! Overall, really cute and think anyone who loves friends to loves will love it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of Anywhere With You.

What an adorable friends to lovers romance read! Charley and Ethan have been through a lifetime of laughter and sadness. Their demonstration of friendship makes me so thankful for the lifelong friends that I have in my life. Charley has loads of insecurities and has built a fierce protectiveness of her older sister. All of those things together make it hard to follow her heart. I love how Palmer created such a raw and real character. I felt so many of Charley's feelings. It's always great to find a character you can relate to in the story you're reading. Fans of camper van life will love Ethan's nomadic camper van lifestyle! :)