thank you netgalley for the e-arc. omggggg i loved this! for a debut author; the writing itself, the fully realized and executed plot, delightful and thought out characters. i loved alison and how much of a full person she was. she wasn't just cancer, or just her job, or the guy she's dating. i also liked adam a lot, he was a conflicted person who thought things through rationally. when alison and adam had their fight after the cookie party, they talked it out instead of a typical third act breakup.

A rom com of an unexpected connection. Sam dumped Alison and then he died in an accident without telling anyone but his sister that he'd done it so when she goes to her funeral, she's embraced by his mother as his girlfriend and talked into clearing out his apartment with his best friend Adam. What a terrific character she is- a woman dealing with BRCA1 who loves trains and works as a transportation consultant. And she's got good friends in Maya and Chelsea. Adam well he's a Nordic carpenter who Ali jokes would make the perfect Hallmark hero. And as they work through the apartment, they find themselves coming together in more ways than one. Every time you think this is trope-y (and it is), there's a sweet or saucy surprise that makes you realize that Palmer is toying with the genre and bringing real heart to it. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a terrific read.

4⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Setting ~ Minnesota
Publication date ~ August 6, 2024
Publisher ~ G.P. Putnam's Sons
Est Page Count ~ 368 (29 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 40 minutes
Narrator ~ Karissa Vacker
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ debut, dead friend, grumpy/sunshine, slow burn, no steamage

I was drawn to reading this book due to the fact that the main character carries the BRCA 1 mutation. I, like, our main character, Alison, and the author, Ellie, am a carrier, too. (See below for some BRCA facts I've added.)

Alison (30) & Adam team up to clear out their dead friend, Sam’s, house in order to take the burden off of his parents. Speaking of his parents, they think Alison was still Sam’s girlfriend when he died, but it turns out they have been broken up for weeks. She goes along with the ruse for quite a while to spare his mother’s feelings.

Being someone who understands all that Alison feels regarding her carrying the BRCA gene I felt that was well written and relatable. Her mother's character is relatable to me too since I have a daughter that could very well be positive, too. I don't think I'll be as overboard as she was, but time will tell how I'll react. It definitely gives you a new perspective on life when you get those positive results. She's already had a double mastectomy and is contemplating the removal of her fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus. I can’t say I was fully on board with what she thought she was expected to do with her life, but to each their own. While it does a good job of bringing awareness it’s not going to be fully relatable to all readers with its heavier topic since it takes up more of the book then the actual romance portion.

I do like a good grump and Adam fits the bill in that department. He does take a little bit to warm up to, but once you do he’s like a big teddy bear that wears flannel and can’t get enough coffee. With that said, though, I didn’t fully feel their connection honestly. Maybe since it was a super slow burner.

Alison's friends were great side characters to help keep her in check, even if she didn’t want to listen to their advice. I love the trivia competitions they went to. They really take their trivia seriously and it was fun to read.

Overall, I really enjoyed the good banter in this debut. I look forward to reading more from Ellie in the future.

Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.

*************************************************************
I always like to provide some information on this topic when the opportunity presents itself.

I had a preventative double mastectomy, an oophorectomy and had my uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes removed back in 2019 in order to reduce my cancer risks significantly (a full guarantee of never getting cancer is not possible).

BRCA1 vs BRCA2
Both mutations increase the risk of ovarian cancer, as well as pancreatic cancer. A BRCA1 mutation can also increase the risk of cervical, uterine, and colon cancer, while BRCA2 can increase the likelihood of stomach, gallbladder, and bile duct cancer, plus melanoma.

For example, about 50 out of 100 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation will get breast cancer by the time they turn 70 years old, compared to a probability of about 12% for the general population. In the general population, about 0.2–0.3% of people, or roughly 1 in 400, have a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. However, the prevalence of BRCA gene mutations varies by ethnic group. For example, about 2% of people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have a harmful variant in one of these genes, and among Ashkenazi Jewish women and men, about 1 in 40 have a BRCA1/2 gene mutation.

There are presently no reliable diagnostic test for ovarian cancer. The two tests available are the CA-125 blood test, which detects a marker in the blood, raised levels of which are associated with ovarian cancer; and trans-vaginal ultrasound, which uses sound waves to build up a picture of the ovaries, including any suspicious lumps ~ are not reliable, they detect only a minority of cancers.

If you remove the ovaries of a woman with a BRCA1 mutation early enough, you can almost halve the risk of her developing breast cancer.

For women with a mutation, the evidence suggests that MRI scanning combined with mammograms can be over 80% reliable. That is, it detects cancers in 80% of cases, while mammograms alone detect only 23% of tumors.

The gene was discovered around 2000.

Heat Factor: Closed door
Character Chemistry: They are both lustful and very frustrated with each other’s choices
Plot: Alison for some reason agrees to clean out her dead ex-boyfriend’s apartment with said dead ex-boyfriend’s best friend
Overall: Urgh

This is exactly the kind of contemporary romance that I find exceptionally irritating, at the precise level where I also feel the need to finish the book. (And then feel annoyed about it.) I have not figured out how to properly screen these books out of my reading life, because my irritation is based not on trope or anything that can be easily recognized by reading blurbs. Rather, it’s based on vibes.

Here’s what we’ve got:
- A single POV story, heroine’s perspective
- Heroine, for handwavy reasons, agrees to do something stupid, which puts her into an artificial forced proximity with the hero
- Heroine is going through some stuff
- Heroine is meant to be relatable, but I just want to tell her to stop

I think the last one is the crux of my problem: the heroine is meant to be relatable, as if I were talking to a friend. And I get pulled in just enough where there’s some emotional proximity, but I do not actually have the bandwidth to deal with her self-destructive bullshit. I spent many hours in my 20s and 30s on the phone with my actual real life friends, helping them process their stuff, and I do not want that in my romance novels.

(Sidenote: Of course many many romance novels include characters who are going through some stuff, and I as the reader am watching them process. But I want to be a voyeur, not a vicarious participant.)

Actually, the other crux of the problem is that the stuff the heroine is going through is extremely obvious. If I am acutely aware, from the get-go, the ways in which the heroine is lying to herself / up in her bullshit, then watching her do the same thing over and over again for three hundred pages is draining. The author is not using subtle cues to point the reader toward the heroine’s journey. I want breadcrumbs to lead me on my path, not a neon arrow.

In this case, Alison is convinced that she must become the best version of herself, and that in order to do so, she must become a hiker. It is made clear to the reader, from the very first chapter, that she does not enjoy hiking. So when she spends the entirety of the book insisting that she’s going to go backpacking in Patagonia on a trip planned by her dead ex-boyfriend, and when her continued insistence on highlighting her outdoorsy stuff is a central source of conflict with everyone else…well, it was a lot. That’s enough, Alison.

Honestly, this story would have been better as a dual-POV story, because Adam is processing a lot of complex emotions about his relationship with dead ex-boyfriend (aka his best friend), which just gets info dumped on the reader during a fight scene / the black moment. The slow burn is neither slow nor subtle enough that Adam’s feelings for Alison are a mystery, so the potential for “what is he feeling??” angst isn’t there. Plus, getting into Adam’s head would give the reader a break from Alison.

Since reviews are meant to be for readers and not just for me to process my feelings, here are a few notes for readers:
- Alison has the BRCA breast cancer gene, so she had a preventative double mastectomy (hence her desire for self-improvement). There’s a lot of talk about her relationship to her new breasts as well as potential preventative medical interventions for ovarian cancer.
- Apparently the only thing Alison and her friends do together is play competitive bar trivia. Don’t get me wrong, trivia night is fun, but this is very intense.
- Alison loves trains, but is ashamed of having such a nerdy interest. Getting over this is part of her journey.
- Alison also really loves Christmas. She is one of those monsters who starts playing Christmas music on November 1.
- Adam is a hot carpenter who lives in Duluth. Obviously, there are many Hallmark Movie Christmas Special jokes to be made here.
- Alison and I cannot be friends because she’s all about Harrison Ford in Sabrina, when it is OBVIOUS that the only acceptable version of Sabrina is the one with Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn (evidence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB2ckiy_qlQ). Therefore, even if I were into this kind of book, I could not shepherd her through her crisis.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Ellie Palmer’s banter is H-O-T-T-O-G-O 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I’m so proud of Ellie and her debut! I had so much fun noting all the Minnesota/midwest mentions and adored Allison and her friend group (I identify too much with competitive trivia diehard, Mara).

The depth of this book caught me off guard a bit. Allison and Adam deal with the grief of losing a friend and the guilt that accompanies their attraction. Allison also suffers from survivor’s guilt of “beating” cancer after her BRCA1 diagnosis. She struggles with what to do with her new lease on life and how to manage the existing and new relationships in her life.

CW/TW: cancer, death of a friend, car accident, grief, infertility, panic attack

Great first novel. I liked the storyline as it was one I had not read before. I like the family dynamics, looking after oneself, and not being satisfied with one's normal life.

Wow! Four Weekends and a Funeral has everything I could ask for in a novel! If you're a fan of the Grumpy x Sunshine trope, you're in for a treat because the MMC plays his grumpy role to perfection. At first, his grumpiness was a bit frustrating, which just goes to show how fantastic a writer Ellie Palmer is. The slow burn romance between the FMC and MMC is paced just right, keeping you eagerly turning the pages.

The self-discovery aspect of the novel is spot on. I found myself highlighting passages that resonated deeply with me and applying those insights to my own life. The FMC's discussion of having the BRCA 1 gene provided a perspective that sheds light on an important topic and could be relatable to many readers. The moments of friendship, both fun and challenging, add a rich layer to the story.

As someone born and raised in Minnesota, I loved being able to visualize all the familiar places mentioned in the book—Duluth in the fall is absolutely stunning, Union Depot, savoring a Juicy Lucy, and the unique delight of Spotted Cow beer (only available in Wisconsin!).

Although I'm a mood reader and thought this book would be perfect for fall/winter, I read it in July and was completely captivated. It even made me eager for the fall season to arrive! Fall in the Midwest is truly the best.

Ellie Palmer, thank you for a beautifully written debut novel! I can't wait to read more of your work.

I loved this book - not too cringey but still felt mushy in all the best ways. Wished there was more of the side characters I think that could have furthered the whole story.

You can't see it but I am grinning from ear to ear. Why? Because this book was so fun and sweet and charming. I laughed, I smiled, I swooned, and I fell in love with Alison and Adam.

If I was checking off the boxes of what made a great book for me, this book would result in a glut of checkmarks. First of all, it was funny, like a real-deal rom-com. Not only was there witty and humor filled banter, but there were quite a few slap-sticky moments, too. I love to laugh, and this book really delivered on that front.

But I also like to cry a bit, and Four Weekends and a Funeral had plenty of emotional depth. Both Adam and Alison were struggling with some form of survivor's guilt. Adam was mourning his best friend's death and his actions before the accident while Alison still grappled with residual guilt related to being a BRCA 1 carrier and her double mastectomy. There were these moments where they bared their souls that moved me to tears and made me want to reach out and hug them. It was moments like that where I was so grateful they had each other.

I really appreciate Palmer creating Alison and sharing something so personal with us. She opened this window and allowed me to understand a bit of what it is like for someone faced with the that diagnosis. As I am not BRCA 1 positive, I will never fully comprehend what it is like, but being inside Alison's head helped me gain a bit of understanding.

Laughed - check. Cried - check. And now, swoon. The romance was a good one. This was a slow fall into each other partially because of the situation. But once they were all in, it was a beautiful thing. Seriously, Adam may have been known for his grumpy ways but he was a total mushy doll. He was sweet to his sister, his nephew, and showed so much tenderness to Alison. It was all those little things that added up for me. I especially adored the way he wanted Alison just as she was. That was so vital for her given her dating history.

I would be remiss if I did not mention all the great supporting characters. First and foremost were Alison's ride-or-die friends. Both Maren and Chelsea were pretty fabulous in their own right, but my love for them was solidified by what amazing friends they were. They were an incredible source of support and strength for Alison. Both had pretty great families, too. Adam's nephew was darling and the way he and Adam interacted warmed my heart.

Overall, the humor, the characters, the romance, the pub quizzes -- it just all added up to a fantastic reading experience for me. As I mentioned, this book produced laughter and tears, but mostly it made me warm and fuzzy and left me brimming with happiness.

Thank you to NetGalley, PRH Audio, and Penguin Putnam for providing me with this book and audiobook for free in exchange for my review! @prhaudio #PRHAudio #PRHAudioInfluencer #Putnam

All opinions are my own.

This was a really cute book. It follows Alison and Adam who connect at the funeral of Alison's ex boyfriend, Sam, but multiple people in their friend circle think that Alison was still dating Sam at the time of his death. Initally, Adam and Alison do not like each other, but they are forced together for a project helping Sam's parents.

I loved the chemistry between Alison and Adam. Even though this book is set to be released during the summer months, it is actually set during the holiday season (Thanksgiving and Christmas). This might be a trend in the publishing world as I have seen a couple other holiday themed books released in the summer recently. With that being said, the holidays are more of a subplot of this book. I love the holiday season so this didn't turn me away at all.

This book is also special because the narrator Karissa Vacker, has admitted openly that she is a breast cancer survivor, so narrating this audiobook was especially meaningful for her. Alison is a carrier of the breast cancer gene (BRCA) and her mother had breast cancer, so that is a major part of the story. Karissa Vacker narrating this book is actualy a major reason I wanted to listen to the audiobook from PRH Audio, in addition to requesting the ebook on NetGalley. She has a very soft and soothing voice and I would pratically listen to her narrate anything.

Even though tragedy, grief and loss are major themes in this book, the book is still very positive and upbeat, and not entirely depressing. However, it is important to note that these topics are talked about a lot in the book, and so this book may be triggering for some. I have had extended family members go through breast cancer, and I would say that the topic is discussed in a very lovely, yet serious way in this novel, but this book may be hard for some to read due to the topic. It really is unfortunate that so many people have to go through this horrible disease, and Cancer Sucks!

I was also shocked to learn that this book was written by a debut author. Ellie Palmer seems like a well experienced writer with the way she writes, and definitely not a newbie in the publishing world. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Overall, this is an emotionally beautiful book and I would say it will most likely included on my top books of 2024. I highly recommend you pick up this book on August 6th!


Many Thanks again to NetGalley, PRH Audio, and Putnam Books, for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This book was fantastic! It gave off major Emily Henry vibes. A wonderful debut novel about grief, friendship, and accepting the way life has panned out. I would 1000% recommend and will be reading from Ellie Palmer again.

What I liked:
- The premise: A guy, Sam, dies without telling his friends and family he’d broken up with his girlfriend, Alison. Not wanting to hurt the family, she doesn’t correct them when she realizes, at the funeral, that his family thinks she’s The Grieving Girlfiend, and the ruse spirals out of control as she agrees to help the family clear out his place. Adam, his best friend (a grump who does NOT like Alison for some reason) also insists on helping with the clear out.
- The FMC has had a double mastectomy after discovering she has BRCA (the gene making it likely for her to have breast cancer). Obviously personal to the author, with interesting storytelling implications
- The rabidly obsessed with pub quiz friend who everyone fondly humors

What I didn’t like
- Alison’s Eat, Pray, Loveing response to her being BRCA positive. The survivors guilt part was good storytelling, but her insistence that appreciating life meant she had to become someone who loved intense hiking and extreme adventure got old.
- Adam not hearing when Alison says she’s not hung up on Sam and breaking up with her over it.
- Not one but two moms with serious listening issues
- That one overly handsy “friend” who really could have disappeared after one scene.

I enjoyed this while I was reading it, but it didn’t really stick with me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group/GP Putnam’s Sons for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this with extremely low expectations and honestly a little nervous about the BRCA gene story thread in this book. But I found a romance that made sense. Alison and Adam's proximity and what we think is hate to lovers is so good. It's handled well with the grumpiness that we want, but without the "these people are jerks". We as the reader can see the sparks before any one else and it had me cheering them on through the story. The side characters are so good. The trivia was super fun. I immediately texted my friend for her to but this on her TBR.

Super awkward and tragic set-up here when Alison shows up to her ex-boyfriend’s funeral and his family thinks that they were still very recently dating. The ex-boyfriend’s sister insists on keeping up the ruse because it might help the family deal with their grief and all, and then she ends up volunteering to pack up his condo. Also on the job is Adam, the ex-boyfriend’s grumpy best friend who’s trying to make his own amends towards his deceased friend. As Alison and Adam spend every weekend together, they inevitably get closer together, but it’s all sorts of guilt-ridden since Adam thinks that he’s falling for his fresh-in-the-grave buddy’s girlfriend. Alison has her own hang-ups about living life to the fullest after having a preventative mastectomy due to her risk of breast cancer, even though she’d probably be happier as a cozy homebody. This was cute and funny and the relationship build-up was so good!

This book was such an enjoyable read. Unique and cute love story. The banter and wit was so so good. The BrCA1 perspective was actually so enlightening. I just loved the characters and story

Outstanding debut novel by Ellie Palmer! I will definitely be watching for what she does next.

I loved this book! It’s up there with my favorites of 2024, for many reasons. The FMC Alison was so funny and I genuinely laughed aloud to much of the witty banter between her and her friends. The character arc of her navigating who we are vs. who we want to bb is so relatable. The MMC is also the perfect sensitive grumpy book boyfriend! I fell in love him along side Ali. The way their story unfolds really gripped my heart throughout the book.

The most powerful and unique element of this book was the topic of Ali’s experience grappling with the emotional aftermath after electing to get a prophylactic mastectomy. I also have the BRCA gene mutation and have been dragging my feet on making a decision about how to proceed. Ali’s story gave me a much needed peek into the future of life post-operation. It gave me courage to make an appointment with my health team to discuss surgery. So to say this book changed my life (possibly saved my life) is not hyperbolic!

My only tiny criticism is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, but overall Four Weekends and a Funeral is a hilarious, beautifully complex story! I am so excited to see what Ellie Palmer writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Four Weekends and a Funeral by Ellie Palmer
Narrator: Karissa Vacker
Rating: 4.5 stars
Steam: Closed Door
Pub date: 8/6

Thank you so much to Putnam Books for my physical copy and PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

This book is a delightful debut romance that’s both funny and heartfelt. The story kicks off with Alison Mullally, a 30-year-old woman who’s recently had a double mastectomy, finding herself pretending to be the grieving girlfriend at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral. The catch? No one knows they had broken up, and now she’s stuck packing up his apartment with his grumpy best friend, Adam.

I adored this book! The relationship between Alison and Adam starts off rocky, but as they spend more time together, the chemistry between them is undeniable. Adam, who seems cold and distant at first, starts to show his softer side, and their banter is hilarious and sweet. I laughed out loud quite a few times listening to the audiobook. The tension between them is palpable, and you can’t help but root for them to get together.
Palmer does a fantastic job of tackling serious topics, like Alison’s experience as a BRCA 1 carrier and her decisions around her health. The book handles these issues with sensitivity and realism, making Alison’s journey feel authentic and relatable.

What really stands out is how Alison and Adam connect on a deeper level, especially as Alison navigates her new body and the insecurities that come with it. Adam is the perfect book boyfriend, handling every situation perfectly, even the third-act conflict.

This was just a joy to read. The audiobook, narrated by Karissa Vacker, is fabulous. She is one of my favorite narrators and she captures the characters’ emotions perfectly here. This book is a fantastic debut, and I can’t wait to see what Palmer comes up with next!

I absolutely loved this book! Through tender moments, witty banter, and plenty of swoon — author Ellie Palmer examines themes of grief, love, and self-discovery in her debut novel.

Palmer blends humor with heavy topics, delivering a heartfelt love story between characters moving through grief. I loved the growth of the characters over the course of the story, and I truly felt connected to their journeys. This was an easy five star read for me.

What to expect:
❤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🎄Christmas, holiday season
❓Trivia nights with friends
❄️ the Midwest {Minnesota}
🚂 Trains, public transit lover
💝 BRCA1 carrier
🪑 Hot carpenter

I was hoping from the cover that this would be a rom com, but it’s a heavier read and slower paced than I was expecting.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Title: Four Weekends and a Funeral
Author: Ellie Palmer
ISBN: 059371430X
Retail Price: $18.99
Pages: 368
Publication date: August 6, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Read📕: Kindle
Rating🌟: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice🥵:🌶️🌶️
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, forced proximity and grumpy x sunshine
Language: PG

I was drawn to this book because the main character is a 30 year old woman who is a carrier of the BRCA 1 mutation. I have this mutation and have completed a hysterectomy- Oophorectory with removal of uterus, cervix and fallopian tubal in 2022 at the age of 28 and the possibility of a double Mastectomy. I did this to reduce my risk to cancers.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. I LOVE ELLIE PALMER. I love she is bringing this mutation to the surface. Allison is pretending to be in a relationship with a DEAD GUY! Sam her ex boyfriend dumped her six weeks prior due to their differences. They had a short relationship but durning said relationship he was a thrill seeker with participating in extreme actives, Allison pretends to be happy and puts Sams needs first even going in on this actives.


NOW: She is at Sam's funeral to find out Sam's family thinking they were still dating at his time of death. Sam's sister asks her to continue to pretend. Sam's family was insisted on him settling down while he was still alive. Allison agrees to continue to fake date a dead guy for his family. Her commitment takes a huge turn when she has to team up with Adam. Sam's grumpy best friend while packing up sam's belongings in his apartment for four weekends.

Allison is slowly drawn in to Adam. they have the BEST banter everything is such a natural friendship. They have exceptional chemistry and when they realize they need to come clean so they can actually try to give their relationship a chance. But she has to face her insecurites and if she can be brave enough for her own heart. Their relationship had me in a chokehold. LAUGHING OUT LOUD. I was blushing while reading, Major major butterflies. I felt connected to Allisons story with my personal story with the BRCA 1 Mutation.

I will absolutely be purchasing this book. It is incredible. I think this might be a top book of 2024 for me.

Thank you to the publisher, Ellie Palmer & netGalley for Advance Copy Read (ACR) IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW🤍