i received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

this was a modern romance about a woman, Alison, who lives in minnesota and finds out her ex boyfriend has died. upon arriving at his funeral, she quickly realizes he never told anyone that he broke up with her, and so they all assume she is still currently his girlfriend. she meets his attractive harrison ford-esque best friend, and they are subsequently stuck together each weekend emptying out their late friends condo so it can be put back on the market.

this was pretty run of the mill modern romance, although i did like how it took place in the midwest. the first 50% of the book was a bit boring for me, but the premise was there and unique. i also mainly read fantasy so i feel like i have some bias there when it comes to this genre. about 50% of the way through, <spoiler> the 2 main characters get together for the first time. it felt a little bit rushed to me to suddenly have this man so worried about Ali but maybe that’s because i read the 2nd half of this book in 1 4hr sitting. </spoiler>

some things that i noted:
<spoiler> the new years text from the future thing was my immediate prediction of what would happen as soon as adam mentioned how sam wanted to set him up with a girl that would be perfect for him at a NYE party</spoiler>
too much “our foreheads touched” idk that’s cringe to me but subjective
wasn’t smut like i thought it was going to be, very much behind closed doors/only talking about the make outs. my anticipation is based on what i hear about other modern romances and the ~3 books i have read (icebreaker series, butcher & blackbird)
<spoiler> i found the main conflict of people getting mad at Ali for trying to do things that “weren’t really her” to be a bit annoying and stupid. who cares if it’s not in character for her to sign up for an ultramarathon or take a hiking/camping trip through patagonia?? let her live her life and discover that she hates that on her own. i could understand if it’s an intervention because she is financially unstable or something health related but it really just boiled down to adam and her friends disliking that it wasn’t who she is at her core. people can discover likes and dislikes throughout their lives, felt kind of like a baseless conflict. i was expecting much more conflict from her pretending to be sam’s current gf </spoiler>

still was pretty cute, i would probably recommend to my friends who enjoy modern romances.

Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice: 0/5 🧼

Summary: Alison shows up to her ex-boyfriend’s funeral shocked to find he hadn’t told anyone about their break up except his sister. She begs Alison to stick with the grieving girlfriend role for his family’s sake. As a lifelong people pleaser, she agrees and takes it a step further in offering to get his condo ready to sell along with his grouchy and suspicious best friend.

Thoughts: Let me first start this by saying this book would absolutely not be for everyone. And based on my reading history, it really shouldn’t have been for me but somehow, I found myself aching to get back to its pages when I had to put it down.

It is not the swoony, sweet romance I typically love. It was very slow, very messy and had very dry humor. Yet somehow it all worked for me. I just found it all so incredibly witty and charming and it felt so different from all other romances out there.

There’s some repetition in it and quite a bit of frustration. But the journey the characters are going through is a lot more difficult to navigate and I think the author did it in a very honest and vulnerable way.

If you’re looking to mix up your TBR, I’d get this one on your list. It’s a very unique book that’ll stand out for sure. Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie Palmer is a great writer—Four Weekends and a Funeral was so engaging and I absolutely adored the slow=burn romance, even though I didn't care much for the other tropes here. While I do struggle reading books about cancer, this wasn't heavy although it was more of a central plot than I was expecting. I felt like the pacing was a bit wonky in some places, but the romance here is the true winner.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for providing an ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could not put it down once I started. I appreciated how Palmer wrote it with just enough romantic steam without being super explicit and raunchy. It was such a sweet story and the characters were so relatable. I could imagine myself in Alison's shoes and never mind the crush I developed for Adam Berg. I loved how she wrapped it up, tied in a thoughtful bow in the last chapter before the epilogue. I look forward to reading more of Palmer's books!

This book was hard to put down. Spending time with two stubborn introverts, slow-burning their way into true love, with bar trivia and women's health firmly supporting the main plot? I got those secondhand new-crush feelings! More than the dreaminess of the hero, I really loved reading about Alison's experience with BRCA1, and her growth in feeling confident in her body and bettering her self-image.

Absolutely loved this book! I could relate to this book on so many levels…cancer, celiac disease, seatbelt pillows in everyone’s vehicles, people pleaser, etc.
I laughed out loud throughout and the characters were relatable. Adam and Alison were funny and sweet.
While this book is a rom-com it touches on important issues as well giving it depth and learning to accept and love yourself as you are. Highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book has everything I love! Enemies to lovers, forced proximity the grumpy sunshine trope!!! Omgggg I could not get enough of these characters & their banter and chemistry!!!

Thank you Putnam Books and Ellie Palmer for the gifted digital ARC.

Unfortunately I don't think I am the target audience for this one. I saw a double mastectomy was mentioned in the synopsis but I wasn't really prepared for it to be a major storyline. I completely empathize with our female MC but it was just too much for me.

I did decide to DNF this one at 35%, besides what was mentioned above the story wasn't really progressing quickly enough for me.

Because I did not finish this, NetGalley is the only consumer site I will leave a rating for this book. I won't hesitate to read this author again in the future.

Hands down an easy read. However, it didn’t have the filling that I needed it to have. It was a slow start and I Thorburn’s eh character and relationship developments are a bit lacking.

“Four Weekends and a Funeral” by Ellie Palmer is a book that unexpectedly tugged at my heartstrings. It’s a story that beautifully balances humor and depth, making it a standout read in the contemporary romance genre.

The premise of the book is both unique and intriguing: Alison Mullally, after attending her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral, finds herself entangled in a web of white lies. She agrees to play the grieving girlfriend, a role that leads her to spend four weekends with Sam’s best friend, Adam Berg, packing up Sam’s apartment. The dynamic between Alison and Adam is electric, filled with tension and an undeniable chemistry that leaps off the page.

What I found most compelling about this novel is its exploration of grief and the complexities of human relationships. Alison’s character is not just dealing with the loss of an ex-lover but also grappling with her own identity as a BRCA 1 carrier. Her journey is one of self-discovery, acceptance, and finding love in the most unexpected places.

Ellie Palmer has a knack for creating characters that are delightfully flawed and incredibly real. As I turned the pages, I couldn’t help but see a bit of myself in Alison’s people-pleasing nature and Adam’s fear of chasing his dreams. Their story is a poignant reminder that life is messy, but it’s within this mess that we often find our truest selves and deepest connections.

In all honesty, “Four Weekends and a Funeral” is more than just a romance novel; it’s a reflection on life’s unpredictable nature and the beauty that can arise from its chaos. It’s a book that made me laugh, made me think, and ultimately, left me with a warm feeling that lingered long after I finished reading.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. Ellie Palmer has truly created something special with this debut, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

This book took me a little bit longer to get into and to finish reading, but overall, it was a cute and enjoyable rom-com. To parrot other reviewers, I also felt there was a lack of chemistry between the two main characters, Alison and Adam; however, I think the romance itself was written and executed tastefully.

I will say the characters falling in love in just four weekends felt both fast and slow at the same time. Fast in the sense that these characters were only meeting two days a week to get to know one another. As for pacing, it just seemed like there was a lot of filler in the moments when they were actually together. It'd be a lot of narration about what they did and not enough dialogue about that action if that makes sense. Also, the narration can be pretty descriptive, which I found both interesting and unnecessary, depending on the scene.

I did appreciate Alison's character development throughout. She is a person with inherited cancer risk, so reading about her complications and lifestyle adjustments with that, her self-identity issues, and her struggles with her mom were all definitely heavy but felt unique in a rom-com like this. I enjoyed following her journey as a reader.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Ellie Palmer for the chance to read this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam Books for granting me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title of this book is what ultimately reeled me in. I enjoyed the storyline but I felt like it was a little slow…but at the same time I felt like the character development was lacking in certain areas. This made for a cute, easy read. I do wish there was more chemistry among the characters and maybe a little more spice.

Delightful romance. Sexy with some substance.

The romance was unique enough to be memorable. I recommend for a fun summer read.

I enjoyed reading this book. There were some heavy topics but I feel the author did great with her writing about them. All of the characters were likable and this is definitely a rom com I would recommend.

This book was *chef's kiss* amazing! I couldn't put it down!The characters were so relatable and raw. The witty banter and rising tension between Allison and Adam made this book bingeable. This book was so much more than just a rom-com. It was interesting following Allison's journey as she mourned the loss of what she thought her life would be and came to terms with her double mastectomy. I feel like it's a topic that we never see in books so it was unique.

I highly recommend that you add this book to your TBR list!

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for the eARC.

This was a tough book for me. I have a hard time reading about cancer but the actual writing and message were wonderful. I laughed and cried and felt all the feels.

This book is perfect for readers who love rom coms with a more serious undertone (aka me). Think Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. I loved this book from the beginning and cannot wait to recommend this to everyone I know! I loved the emphasis on the side characters and the excellent banter. It was a very fresh story and I loved how it felt unique from a lot of other romance books. I connected so strongly with Alison and adored her as an FMC.

I read this for my NetGalley list. Thought it would be alright and it was a decent story. Just a little boring and took me a little longer to read. The story was fine but not enough action happening in the book made it a boring read.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

A few chapters made me laugh out loud, and others had me tearing up. Adam and Alison felt very real and very lovable, and I loved watching their story unfold. I also loved the friendship love story aspect.

Removing one star because there was a little too much explaining for my liking as a reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC :)

I almost didn't request this ARC because I have an aversion to romance stories where the main character dates an ex's friend or relative. But I have been learning more about breast cancer treatment through my job, and I was interested in reading about a character who'd had a double mastectomy. I am so happy I did not miss out on this book, because it is incredible. I read 70% in one sitting, and if it had not been 4am on a Monday, it would have been 100%. It's a lovely slow-burn romance where the characters get to know each other through conversation and not just furtive glances (although there are those, too). I loved that it followed one character who pushed themselves too hard and one who didn't push enough, and showed the flaws in both. I also loved that Alison had no nipples! I know that's a weird statement out of context, but I feel like every fictional character who's had a mastectomy miraculously got to keep their nipples, when that is usually impossible. And while Alison had insecurities about her new body (realistic) it wasn't an obsession (appearance isn't irrelevant to Alison, but it definitely isn't her main priority). I just love to read about women who feel like real people.
Not only is this my favorite NetGalley ARC I've read, it's now one of my absolute favorite books. I know I am going to be thinking about this romance for YEARS - it will be at the top of the obsession list next to Logan x Veronica (...which I'm now realizing is also a main-character-dates-dead-best-friend's-ex romance. What is wrong with me?). I was impressed, but moreover, devastated to learn that Four Weekends and a Funeral is a debut because I was ready to buy all the authors works on the Kindle store. PS I forgot to mention it's so funny in a totally unpretentious way. And while there's no connection to the movie, I'll also say Four Weekends beats even floppy haired 90s Hugh Grant. And no one marries their cousin either!