Four Weekends and a Funeral touches on various topics of grief, love, and self-reflection in a delicate and witty. Personally, the writing style was not my favorite, so it was a bit difficult to get through, however, I can see this becoming an easy, heartfelt read. Alison is a wonderful protagonist who struggles with various aspects of her life after a double mastectomy after learning she is a carrier for BRCA1. Palmer delicately and tastefully handles discussing a difficult topic to write about and wonderfully represents Alison as a multifaceted character.
Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This will top my 2024 list, I have no doubt! I love a debut for many reasons, but one is seeing an author's voice so clearly in the pages. Ellie Palmer writes with such humor and finesse that I found myself highlighting several passages to return to later. I'm blown away by the depth of this story and how smart it is. The BRCA aspect was delicately written and I learned a lot. Books can teach us in such artful ways, and this one moved me at the same time. I was smitten with Adam from the beginning, which is a treat in an enemies to lovers story. Every aspect of this romance was executed masterfully and I will be thinking of this book for a very long time. I'll be telling everyone I know to purchase it in August.

Alison is a 30 year old woman who feels stuck in her life. After she has discovered she is the carrier of the BRCA 1 gene and elects to have a double mastectomy, she feels like she has been given a new lease on life and is struggling to live a life she feels is worthy of cheating death. When Alison's most recent ex-boyfriend, Sam, dies in an accident she attends his funeral only to find out that he neglected to tell his friends and family that they broke up! Alison is now stuck playing the part of a grieving girlfriend tasked with cleaning out her boyfriends apartment with his grumpy best friend, Adam. Over the next four weekends, Alison and Adam bond over their loss of Sam and grapple with their growing attraction to each other.
This was such a great book. I found Alison and Adam to be really three dimensional characters and very relatable. Alison's journey with breast cancer and her feelings of wasting her second chance was so relatable. The banter was great and Alison was adorably quirky and cute. Adam was the perfect amount of gump to Alison's sunshine and they played off each other well as they grow throughout the book. Fans of Emily Henry and Katherine Center will definitely enjoy this story!!

Alison Mullally arrives at the funeral of her ex-boyfriend, Sam. She quickly finds out almost no one knew about their breakup, including his parents. Sam's parents, especially his mother, seem comforted that Sam had someone. Always the people-pleaser, Alison agrees to pretend they were still together. It’s a few hours for the funeral, no big deal. Then the subject of cleaning out Sam’s apartment comes up. Alison agrees to box up his stuff so his parents don’t have to. Again, no big deal. Except she won’t be doing this alone. Adam Berg, Sam’s longtime best friend, is also going to be there. To say they have a rocky start is an understatement. It is obvious Adam doesn’t want Alison there. Determined to get through this Alison tries to befriend Adam. If for no other reason than to make her next four weekends not suck. Soon Alison starts getting some feelings for Adam. He is pretty gorgeous after all. It seems like he might be getting them too. The problem is Alison is still his dead best friend's girlfriend.

This was a very fun read that delves into Alison's relationships with everyone. Alison and Sam’s breakup was pretty friendly. She was drawn to him because of his thrill-seeking ways. See, Alison’s mom had breast cancer and so Alison got tested for the gene BRCA 1. She has it which means she has a high likelihood of developing cancer. Before the book started she got a double mastectomy. Instead of dealing with her feelings about it she tries to push them away. It's easier to fill her life up with amazing things like hiking in nature. Things that Sam loved and Alison tries to love.

Alison’s relationships with Sam and Adam aren’t the only ones she has to navigate. There are her best girlfriends and her overbearing mother too. These are so complicated its no wonder she ended up in a fake relationship.

I enjoyed all the characters Ellie Palmer created. They feel like real people. They aren’t perfect, but I never sat there questioning why Alison kept them in her life. There were times I wanted her to defend herself, especially when it came to her mother, but Alison wasn’t there yet. I appreciate that Alison’s problems didn’t vanish because of love. Minor spoiler but she does end up seeing a therapist to deal with her feelings.

Four Weekends is Palmer’s debut and I am impressed. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a slow burn romance with realistic characters. Tread carefully if you are dealing with loss or cancer as those two topics are big themes of the book. I look forward to seeing what Palmer writes next. 

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/ G. P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. I ADORED this.

"Thirty-year-old post-double-mastectomy BRCA 1 carrier and reluctant thrill-seeker Alison Mullally arrives at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral to find that no one knows he dumped her, she agrees to play the grieving girlfriend for the sake of the family and pack up Sam’s apartment with his prickly best friend, Adam Berg. After all, it’ll only take four weekends . . .

But Adam doesn’t want Alison anywhere near him. Forced to spend long hours with the grump, and his monosyllabic demeanor, Alison decides she must put her people-pleasing abilities to the test. She will make him like her. And after awkward family affairs and packing up dilemmas, the two form a tenuous friendship . . . if “friendship” means incredible chemistry and tension between them. Can Alison come clean and finally embrace the life and love she's always wanted? Or will her little white lie get in the way of her new, unexpected romance?"

I love this story concept (what a great first line!) and it is so well done -- writing that you immediately get lost in, witty banter, and THE swooniest romance. Like, truly, Adam Berg is the STANDARD. I was kicking my feel and giggling like a SCHOOLGIRL.

But seriously, I think this is a masterclass story with rich characters and a relatability that elicits a tenderness that I won't soon forget. Beautiful representation and thoughtful in its consideration of who we allow ourselves to be, survivor guilt, and honoring memories after loss. It's effortlessly funny and the romance is natural and genuine. I can't wait to re-read this and recommend it to everyone I know.

Read for:

-MAJOR JACK CALLAGHAN FURNITURE MAKER LEANING ENERGY!!!
-a young Harrison Ford LI
-expressions of love through Girl Scout Cookies
-cutthroat bar trivia
-chaotic elementary school concerts
-nicknames you and your friends have for strangers
-sexy magic of Henleys
-"I would never object to being Laura Dern."
-conversations about survivor guilt
-justice for early Christmas music listeners
-ruthless world of overnight parking
-discussion of Hallmark movie plots
-"They can't force me to sit in front of Panda Express while Bruno Mars happens to me."
-A MAN WHO PAYS ATTENTION
-Sexual tension while faucet-fixing
-millennial personal pan pizza energy
-men who build forts for children & leave sandwiches to come check on you
-"Why can't I look at your lips?" !!!
-Forearms, of course
-intimate late night phone calls
-important conversations with family
-"You Billy Crystaled me."
-"I imagine your every detail. Constantly."
-A hand in the pocket spin! (very TALBILB energy!)
-"I knew from the moment I saw you."
-accepting that you're not an adrenaline junkie/hardcore hiker and THAT'S OKAY
-visibility for middle school girls who wrote sad poetry in gel pen
-a cat named Colonel Corduroy
-deserving your life and not needing to prove why

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. FOUR WEEKENDS AND A FUNERAL is out 8/6/24.

I absolutely adored "Four Weekends and a Funeral" by Ellie Palmer. This debut romance had me hooked from the start with its tender yet laugh-out-loud storyline. Picture a thirty-year-old wannabe thrill-seeker, Alison Mullally, navigating post-double-mastectomy life and reluctantly playing the grieving girlfriend after a mix-up at her ex's funeral. The dynamic with Sam's best friend, Adam Berg, promises four weekends of emotions and unexpected romance.

The book exudes 90s rom-com vibes, complete with excellent banter and a fantastic portrayal of the main character's two best friends. What struck me most was the seamless integration of pop culture references that added a nostalgic charm to the narrative. Despite its light tone, the novel skillfully tackles heavy topics like grief, the mastectomy, and fertility issues in a way that feels natural rather than forced.

"Four Weekends and a Funeral" is truly a one-of-a-kind read. The chemistry between Alison and Adam is palpable, and the author's ability to balance humor and heartfelt moments had me laughing out loud and shedding tears in equal measure. If you're in the mood for a romance with depth, a touch of 90s flair, and characters you can't help but root for, I highly recommend diving into this unique and captivating story. It's a solid 5 stars from me! I can’t wait for this to release on 8/6/2024!

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Ellie Palmer’s “Four Weekends and a Funeral” is a delightful debut novel. The book started off a little rocky for me because I found the premise to be a little outlandish that 1) no one knew Alison and Sam had broken up and 2) Alison would agree to clean out Sam’s apartment with Adam. Thankfully, things started flowing for me after only a few chapters.

I adored the banter between the main character, Alison, and her two best friends, Chelsea and Mara. I also enjoyed the exchanges Alison and Adam shared, whether they occurred in person, over text, or on the phone.

There were a few parts of the book that were laugh out loud funny to me, which is not a normal occurrence for me while reading. There were also multiple conversations in the book I found to be heartfelt and genuine.

Overall, I look forward to following and seeing what Ellie Palmer has in store for readers in the future. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was a good read, not as fast a read as some but the perfect book to be able to pick up and put down throughout a weekend at home, I honestly enjoyed the friendships and character development outside of the romantic involvement more than anything else. I mean, yes, the romance was also great, but I felt like the old standby misunderstandings due to misleading each other and dishonesty were really unnecessary here. The writing pace was strong, and the character voices rang true. I liked them. I don't feel like there were any cliffhangers or things left unresolved, so it is a good read if those drive you nuts. I look forward to reading more by this author!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Ellie Palmer wrote a witty, creative, and heartfelt debut novel. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
This book included the tropes: enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine, slight forced proximity, closed door romance, and included topics on cancer, mental health, and grief.
Although not a “true” rom com due to heavy topics, the banter between the characters was perfection!

This was a delightful read from a debut author I am already looking forward to what she writes next. I've been a a bit of a book slump and this one pulled me out. I devoured it in one day.

This story was sweet, romantic, and witty while the characters felt realistic and had depth.

You know a romance book is good when you binge read it in one sitting!

I appreciated the author highlighting BCRA 1 and the ways this impacted Alison’s life, worldview, and relationships. I thought this painted a very realistic picture of survivor’s guilt and the pressure to live life to the fullest.

I enjoyed how Alison’s and Adam’s connection to each other also brought Sam to life in the pages. I felt he was developed just as well as the main characters, and the twist at the end had me in tears. Top notch character development, friendships, and a realistic romance. Highly recommend reading this wonderful debut!

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

luke and loreali coded , CANT WAIT FOR THE PHYSICAL COPY. S/o out to female friendships in this book!

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
Allison, a BRCA1 carrier homebody people-pleaser is on a mission to reinvent herself to be “worthy” of the second chance she has been given. While attending her ex-boyfriend’s funeral, she discovers most of his family doesn’t know about the breakup and agrees with his sister to play along to save his parents’ image of him as settled. While spending the next weekends with his best friend packing his things, she struggles with the person she was and the person she feels she should be. Throw in the growing tension between her and the sexy carpenter best friend, and we’ve got a great setting.
“Four Weekends and a Funeral” contains so many rom-com tropes in a delightful package: fake-dating, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine. It also deals with cancer, death, grief, loss, survivors guilt. There was more depth of character and growth than many more traditional rom-coms. The supporting characters were well developed and added much needed levity. I understand this is the author’s experience, but I felt like the medical details fit more in a women’s lit than a rom-com.

Allison (Al) found out that she has the BRCA1 gene after her mom gets breast cancer. She preemptively gets a double mastectomy. She has a lot of self guilt of cheating death/cancer and self image issues after reconstructive surgery. She has a strong support system of friends. However, she is constantly told what she "should" do and spends her time doing things she hates because she feels like it's her duty. She goes to her ex-boyfriend's funeral and is convinced to lie about her status. She is then stuck with his best friend to clean out his old apartment. Her mom is a bit overbearing. She spends a lot of time pretending to be something she isn't. This story is about finding yourself and being happy with yourself and your own interests. I never thought I'd see a line about antifreeze and Thin Mints but I found it rather entertaining.

Alison, a carrier of the BCRA gene has done what it takes to ensure her survival, and with that comes guilt. If she is to live, she needs to be the BEST version of herself possible and live life to the fullest. It seems possible with her adventure travel boyfriend Sam. But those dreams ended when he dumped her and six weeks later, he dies in a car accident. The book opens at Sam’s funeral, where everyone thinks she is still his girlfriend, and she somehow finds herself volunteering to clear the belongings from Sam’s house for his family. Alongside her during these four weekends of work is Sam’s best friend Adam, a carpenter for handmade furniture. Their increasing attraction for each other brings feelings of guilt—how could they fall for each other when they both loved Sam. How can Alison let Adam know their relationship had ended before he died and that she was not the grieving girlfriend, but the grieving ex-girlfriend?

Ellie Palmer’s “Four Weekends and a Funeral” is more than just a romance poking some fun at romance. Alison knows her attraction toward Adam, a kind of “handyman” is a cliché straight from a romcom but what can you do when the heart is falling? Especially when he is helping her discover the best person she can be, and not the best person she thinks she should be.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for an ARC of this book that is not only fun to read, but very informative in women’s health issues.

adam and alison are kind of my new favorite people. this book was like a warm 90s romcom written for people who love emily henry, hallmark movies, and have strong attachments to Girl Scout cookies (especially my thin mint girls). this will now be a winter tradition and i’m so glad I’ve spent my evenings reading this cuddled up in blankets on my patio. that’s the REAL experience reading this book. currently adjusting my beanie over my cold ears wishing it was actually adam keeping me warm while writing this . sorry to my boyfriend (if you read this, you’re still perfect). this author SPEAKS to me as a girl who’s main personality is hallmark movies (like did she know i actually collect hallmark merch and was writing this specifically incase i read it???) also i love a story about a slight lie that spirals out of control and leads you to the love of your life. after all, while you were sleeping is one of my faves so??? beautifully written where every touch they share gives ME butterflies. i was blushing and screaming out loud, having to explain to my boyfriend that i actually am fine, these book characters just exchanged a longing glance. which is really important to me. but overall the most important aspect of my life is my passion for bar trivia. and obscure true crime references. this also has a when harry met sally level declaration, and it made me sob. so. everyone should be counting down the days til this is released because it was incredible.
So grateful I got this arc and the opportunity to read this book in general. Thank you netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review . All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Four Weekends and a Funeral puts a unique spin on the movie While You Were Sleeping. Ali attends the funeral of her short-term ex-boyfriend Sam, only to find out Sam never told anyone they were broken up. Ali and Sam's best friend, Adam, agree to clean out Sam's apartment in four weekends, but soon sparks begin to fly.

This book felt like a late 90's/early 00's romcom while being curled up in a blanket on the couch. A warm fluffy feel good hug. It was funny, witty, and perfectly swoony. While this is a "clean" romance in my opinion (the touching that happens is vital to Ali's story as a BRCA 1 carrier, but all intimacy happens off page), it doesn't disappoint in providing the reader with butterflies, giddiness, or blushing. The chemistry Ali & Adam had was off the charts and I was eating up every second of it.

This book had so much more than just a blooming romance & nostalgic magic. Woven in the pages were positive examples of a healthy relationship with therapy, parents, strong female friendships, along with the very real truth of battling yourself & discovering yourself in your 30's (even if others see way before you!) We love a romcom with a moral of the story.

Mara and Chelsea are Ali's best friends and I loved them for her. They balanced her & held her accountable, they supported her & challenged her, but most importantly they held each other up.

While this book is a romcom set during the holiday season, it deals with very big topics such as cancer, guilt, and grief. I think the author handle it all beautifully.

Important to mention this is an #OwnVoices novel & a debut!! Ellie Palmer knocked this one out of the park for me and I cannot wait to read more from her!

I cannot recommend this book enough or put into words just how much fun I had while reading this! This comes out 8/6/24, and it really is the perfect romantic comedy!

4.5 🌟
Wow!!! I loved this so much, as a fellow Minnesotan it was so fun to read a book where you could place the whole story. These characters...ugh...I love Adam so much. He is the grump we all dream about.

I felt like this book was more than just a traditional romance and with that discussed a lot of heavy topics. Allison discussing her guilt over her mastectomy, her mother's diagnosis, and removing her ovaries are such serious issues but Ellie Palmer wrote it in a way that didn't make you feel sad but understood how she felt.


Thank you so much for the chance to read this before it's released, it was such a great read and I can't wait to recommend it!

A fun, serious, and sweet book about finding love. I loved that it took place in MN! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced read!

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. While I did not vibe with the writing, I still appreciated the story. I enjoyed reading about Alison and her journey with being BRCa +. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cute palate cleanser.