I really, truly loved this book and it has inspired me to go back and read the author's first novel!

I loved and strongly identified with Charley and Ethan and thought they were both real, endearing, authentically flawed characters. I found some of the side characters annoying at times (I think that was the point as this was written from Charley's perspective) but the author did a beautiful job of rounding them out and providing backstory to explain why everyone was making the choices they were and acting the way they were.

I admit to having a hard time with friends to lovers- it often is not my favorite trope because I find it very hard to do well. A lot of times the reason that friends can't be together feels thin or not believable but not in this book! This is friends to lovers done extremely well and I loved it!

I highly recommend this funny, endearing, thoughtful story!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely loved this book. It’s witty, charming, funny and so comfortable. Ellie’s able to describe places and people without using a million generic adjectives and I feel like I am there, with the people, in the moment. The character development is solid - at first I wasn’t sure I cared for the FMC, Charley, but because she actually gave us backstory and a real look into her, it was so much easier to understand and like her. The MMC, Ethan, is so sweet but also real with flaws. You can’t help but root so hard for them. This book had some of my favorite tropes - he falls first, only one bed. I just wanted to hug this book.

Ellie Palmer is a force - it’s hard to believe this is only her second book. She’s making a name for herself in a big way, and I cannot wait for more. Thank you to Putnam and NetGalley for this ARC.

Loved her first debut book and enjoyed this one too! It’s a romance but really a book about self discovery, about being willing to be seen, to take chances, to be vulnerable, embracing changes.

I would’ve loved to see dual POV on this because I loved Ethan and part way in I wanted to thump Charley on the head but hey she came around in the end! I think the workaholic part resonated deeply with the Silicon Valley life me (not that I was a workoholic but saw a lot of it) and what it means to really think about what you want in life.

Thanks NetGalley for my ARC!

really like the childhood friends to lovers and dual timeline! This story was so cute and I enjoyed it

Tentatively giving this 4 stars, but I think that this is one of those ARCs that I will need to reread the final published version, because the ARC that I read felt very much like a rough draft compared to Ellie Palmer's previous book (which I absolutely loved). I actually had to re-read Ch 1-3 because the ARC required so much focus for me to understand what was going on. I think we don't get enough details about Ethan to understand him earlier in the book, and I feel like I'm missing a lot of details about Ethan and Charley's dynamic, because I just wasn't really feeling any chemistry between them until maybe half way through the book. Especially from Charley's end, she spends so much of the first part of the book claiming she never had feelings for Ethan, but then finally admits that she did have some thoughts but thats right before she finally kisses him, and it kind of threw me for a loop. There's also a few transitions that felt a bit rough, like when Ethan sprains his ankle and they are discussing that but then suddenly it shifts to more emotional topics in just a few short lines. I don't know how to describe it but it felt like the version I read was missing the final polish, or the magic that really sucks you into an amazing rom-com (like Ellie's first book did). I'm really hoping that in the 6 months between when I was approved for this ARC (early Feb) and the official release date in August, there will be some more edits to the writing that will help this book really shine like I think it has the potential to.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

I just finished Four Weekends and a Funeral (which i loved!) so i was thrilled to get a copy of Ellie Palmer’s next book, Anywhere With You. I loved Anyone But You the movie so the nod to that was cute! This was a sweet story. I loved the big ending. Can’t wait to read whatever she writes next!!

I loved Ellie Palmer’s Four Weekends and a Funeral and couldn't wait to read her next book!
Anywhere With You has Palmer's writing style, wit, and complex characters.

This book follows Charley and Ethan, childhood/best friends to lovers, and my GOSH the pining from Ethan and all the little ways he tried to show Charley his feelings. But they have different lifestyle dreams so how can they mesh??
Charley's sister, Laurel and Ethan's friend, Petey have an on-again-off-again relationship that serves as a foil to Charley.
And Charley and Laurel have baggage and wounds from their parents, which they express in different ways.
The sister love was real <3 The friendships were real <3 It was a delight reading about these characters, their adventures, and the lessons they learned along the way.

I was laughing out loud at the truck stop scene, the naked run-in scene, the quip about Ted's foot, Petey's tattoos, and other moments.

I enjoyed all the behind the scene reveals toward the end on why things happened, but also when unspooling them in the flashbacks.

Overall I recommend this book :)

If someone where to ask my immediate first thoughts after finishing “Anywhere With You” they’d be Big Yikes, Stay Away. And yes I do totally understand how mean that is, but it comes with the territory of being a reviewer and these are my thoughts. And trust me I’m bummed about this because I actually enjoyed Ellie Palmers first book “Four Weekends and a Funeral”. However, reading her second book felt like I was a reading a book by a totally different author.

Let’s get my biggest issue out of the way and sadly that falls with our MFC Charley. I should’ve known we would be in trouble the entire book when I read the opening chapters and the first thought running through my head was “Girl, you deserve your husband leaving you, I would’ve left your sorry butt as well”. The entire book I found Charley to be an immature toddler stuck in an adult body. To top it off she had the emotional depth as a bucket of concrete. I kept hoping she would get better as the book progressed but sadly that never happened. Honestly the girl needed therapy, but decided nah let’s jump into a new relationship instead because that will always go over well. To make matters worse, Charley kept doing things that are one of my biggest book pet peeves. And that’s constantly “sticking your foot in your mouth”. For those not used to that southern saying the regular phrase is “speaking without thinking”. Charley repeatedly said things to intentionally hurt those closest to her. Charley doing it once or twice I can maybe forgive. But doing it the entire freaking book. Nope, no way I find no redemption in that.

Now the only bright side to this entire book was our MMC Ethan. If Ethan wasn’t in this book I would’ve DNF at the 20% mark. But because he was I pushed through. Honestly after finishing the book I wish Ethan wasn’t fictional. Because the first thing I’d tell him would be to run for the hills. Charley is in no way shape or form deserves him. That girl will break his heart eventually and this man doesn’t deserve that, he deserves the world. But since this is a work fiction I just have to smile l, nod and move on to the next.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book which does bum me out. Because again I loved Ellie Palmers first book. So if you were to take anything from my review go read her other book. Now even though this one by Ellie wasn’t my favorite I still plan to keep reading her books and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Lastly big Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam Books for providing me an ARC to read and review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am such a fan of Ellie Palmer! Her debut novel was fantastic and I was so excited to receive this arc!

This book is very very funny. I love how Charley and Ethan’s experiences growing up (feeling stuck with family and feeling unstable with family) ultimately reflected their adult and relationship struggles.

The storyline with Charley and Laurel was also a treat, it’s nice to see the big sister as the one who isn’t all together. I also enjoyed the multiple timelines, being able to see the four of them thru the years was really fun.

The chapter titles were also super fun too and penis straws forever!

🌶️ Spice: 1 out of 5 (closed door with a few vague references to s*x)
⚠️ Triggers: a scene where a character gets injured and there is a little blood. Absent father. Divorce.

Anywhere With You is all about adventure, letting loose, and jumping off the cliff. It was sweet, a little sad at times, but mostly it had me laughing out loud from cover to cover. I absolutely loved it! This would be the perfect summer road trip book!

I am dubbing Ellie Palmer the queen of hilarious and intriguing first lines! The first line of four weekends and a funeral was “When I learn I'm still dating Sam Lewis, I'm at his funeral.” The first line of Anywhere With You is “Years from now, when I think back to the moment my husband left me for my rowing machine, I hope I forget I was holding the penis straw.” 😂 I don’t know about you but I was IMMEDIATELY hooked and I had to know more!! And I was not let down! This book was fast paced and I didn’t want to put it down.

On the day Charley’s divorce is finalized, her sister Laurel announces she’s eloping. Charley’s formerly-estranged best friend Ethan just so happens to be in town, so they embark on a road trip in his RV in the hopes that Charley can convince her sister to call off the wedding. Cue the “everything that can go wrong, will go wrong” - in the silliest way possible. The streaking scene in particular really got me 😂 (you’ll know what I’m talking about when you read it)!

It was so fun to read the adventure Charley and Ethan are having in the current day, plus we get flashbacks to their friendship back in high school and college. I really loved the flashbacks because we get to see their relationship evolve and the hurdles they’ve had to overcome.

Charley frustrated me a bit - there were so many times I wanted to scream at Charley OPEN YOUR EYES!!! HE LOVES YOU!!! (Or in Laurel’s words, “he’s not subtle.”) But I also understood from her backstory why she was unintentionally blinding herself. She totally felt like a real person. And Ethan… oh man. If you like MMCs that are COMPLETELY gone for her, you will love him. He is the whole guy-with-a-guitar fantasy.

This book is also about sisterhood. Laurel is a feisty teacher, and I adored her. Their sister dynamic felt very authentic with the whole “I’ll always love you but I hate you right now” thing. I loved that Charley and Laurel’s storyline had its own happily ever after too.

Anywhere With You had everything I love about rom-coms and more. I adored it. Out August 5!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and G. P. Putnam for the arc!

Binged this in literally one sitting. I may or may not have been trapped on a 7(?) hour flight, but I don't regret dedicating a good chunk of that time to this book. I quite literally laughed out loud at one part that made me very self aware of the proximity of the people around me. Side note: There is no way that the Laurel I know would keep quite for that many years.

My favorite thing about this book was the flashbacks to them as kids growing up together. It was kind of easy to see that Ethan had always loved her even though she never let herself believe there could be more between them. The chapter titles cracked me up, I was taking pictures of them and sending them to friends because I had to share them! This is a fade to black, so no spice, but I didn't feel like that took away from the story at all. I also loved that as a true best friend Ethan just went along with Charlie and her shenanigans even when he wasn't sure he agreed. There was growth between all the characters, it was a quick easy read that I really enjoyed. My last favorite thing about this book was the dedication, my best friend since elementary school lives across the country from me, so I sent it to her <3

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Anywhere With You, I LOVED this book so much!
Ellie Palmer is a master of Midwest romance novels. The fact that this is based in Minnesota makes me love it even more, I’m on board for all of the local references! This will be the beach/camping/trip up north book I recommend all summer long!
Ethan and Charley had me at the first few chapters and I loved every part of their chaotic, sweet, cathartic journey!
The side characters, Petey & Laurel plus the whole Ted Waters crew were the icing on the cake!

Anywhere With You was the first book I've read by the author. I found it fun and chaotic, but heartfelt and romantic at the same time.

Tropes include:

* friends (since childhood) to lovers
* type-A vs type-B
* dual timeline
* one bed
* forced proximity (van)
* road trip
* banter, banter, banter!
* divorce and self-discovery
* strong sisters
* slow burn / closed door

I would not classify this one as a romance only. The main emphasis was on Charley discovering herself again, and that naturally lead into the romance element with Ethan, as this was their "second chance," though the first never really got off the ground. It was a fun read with a lot of incredibly touching and hilarious moments.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Ellie Palmer for the opportunity to read and honestly review Anywhere With You.

I am so disappointed. I read the beginning and honestly felt bad for Rich. His wife couldn’t say she loved him. Thats harsh and it made me feel bad for the guy. I decided to DNF this book when I read “Because God is an asshole”. Seriously imagine that’s any other religion and you’re mocking it. Disgusting.

It was all in the title...

"Anywhere With You"

It sounded like a romantic country song and I was swooning, swaying side to side as I read the description. Yup, I was all about Ellie Palmer!

This book is jam packed and filled to the brim with romance, nostalgia and a touch of chaotic charm.

The setup offers a classic "opposites attract" scenario, ripe with potential for humor and heartwarming moments. Charley, the organized and pragmatic one, is juxtaposed against Ethan, the free-spirited and unreliable musician. The forced proximity of a camper van road trip through the scenic Minnesotan woods provides the perfect backdrop for their long-suppressed feelings to surface.

This is a story of second chances...

Charley and Ethan

Ugh how I love the both of you!

You will constantly question what will it take for these two to see it!

Here's why I loved it..

The childhood best friend dynamic is one of my favorite tropes, I love the flash backs or memories in the view of the MC . The slow burn romance, fueled by years of unspoken feelings warms my soul.

The perfect blend of romance, introspect and humor, Anywhere With You is sure to be a hit but don't believe me, check it out for yourself!

Here's a bit of a teaser :

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?

This one was a fun, heartfelt road trip romance with great banter, strong friendships, and a touch of chaos. Charley and Ethan’s dynamic is both hilarious and tender, making their journey as engaging as their slow-burn romance. While the dual timeline and single POV weren’t my favorite, the emotional depth and humor kept me hooked. A perfect pick if you love messy, feel-good love stories 🩵

After reading Ellie Palmer’s Four Weekends and a Funeral I was so excited to get my hands on her next book!

I was initially worried this wouldn’t be for me as I don’t always vibe with childhood friends to lovers or road trip-y stories. Boy was a I wrong!

The friendship(s) in this are so real and genuine and only strengthen the love story. This is truly about friends falling in love and they never don’t feel like best friends, even as they work in those romantic feelings.

No romance that I’ve read recently has made me feel more envious of the relationship in the book. AND! They’re the same height which is fun.

Parts of the beginning were slow for me but once it got there it really got there!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC!

charley is left by her husband and navigating the turmoil of a divorce. she decides to go on a road trip to spice up her life. very light hearted and easy to digest. great book :)

2.75 🌟

I have a lot of thoughts about this book, this was my first time reading Ellie Palmer despite “Four Weekends and A Funeral” being on my tbr and I enjoyed it for the most part! I’m usually not big on closed door romances so that was my first real issue but then I immediately found that I did not really like the FMC at all (which is really difficult to do, I love giving my FMCs 600 chances but she really squandered them all?) and it only got worse as the story progressed (though, I really liked that youre given some plausible deniability as to why she feels Laurel might not be thinking this through) but that brings me to my biggest issue…which was that she kinda had no real reason for being as anti-Petey as she was in her own inner monologue?? Like genuinely once it was revealed that he was Asian-American, I was like well now this is coming off slightly racist cuz why is Petey a “manchild” but Ethan, by her own descriptions is even more floundering, but to her he’s so cool and oh so unattainable like girl be fr…Laurel should’ve gotten to fight her but Petey being so agreeable and chill about her hostility re: their marriage felt a little beneficial to the narrative cuz he definitely would’ve been valid to express some discomfort considering they still all grew up together!

I will say, extra star for Ethan who actually kept me reading throughout (Though I did think he deserved better and I almost prayed he would find it but…hes trapped in his book idk) but I loved his love for Charley even though I hated the Chuck nickname

I wish that Charley had a bit more of a reckoning at the end of the book but I will be honest that I lost interest by the time the Epilogue rolled around because she really didn’t learn much but it felt like since a year passed, all was supposed to be forgiven ? I did skim and liked their little life together afterwards but I fear that Charley’s arc was a bit too abrupt to have the intended impact. Regardless, it was a quick read!

thank you so much to netgalley and penguin group putnam for this arc to review!