A nostalgic, heartwarming romance about a Type-A woman who road trips through the Minnesotan woods with her non-committal childhood best friend . . . only for their long-suppressed sparks to burn like wildfire.
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 inherent flaws that lie 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?
She found the right guy at the dead wrong time . . .
When thirty-year-old post-double-mastectomy BRCA 1 carrier and reluctant thrill-seeker Alison Mullally arrives at her ex-boyfriend Sam’s funeral to discover no one knows he dumped her, she agrees to play the grieving girlfriend for the sake of the family. Little did she know this meant packing 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 to put her people-pleasing abilities to the test. She will make him like her. And after awkward family affairs and packing dilemmas, the two form a tenuous friendship . . . if “friendship” means incredible chemistry and sexual tension. 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?
"A cozy affirmation for introverts and homebodies about loss, love, and being enough."
—Abby Jimenez, author of Yours Truly
“Prepare yourself for a whole five-course forced-proximity meal!”
—Washington Post
“Debut author Ellie Palmer is poised to become one of the most beloved voices in the romance genre, mark my words.”
—Scary Mommy
“An emotionally resonant grumpy/sunshine romance. . . Alison makes for a deeply sympathetic heroine [and Adam] will tug at readers’ heartstrings as he juggles his attraction to Alison with his grief. Palmer also handles tough issues with grace, including Alison’s preventative double mastectomy after learning that she carries the BRCA-1 gene, and her all too understandable panic attacks. This packs a punch.”
—Publishers Weekly
“I fell all the way for the slow, warm unfolding of friendship and love in this poignant debut from Ellie Palmer. From the wintery Minnesota setting to the banter over the best way to enjoy Girl Scout cookies, there’s so much in Four Weekends and a Funeral that reminds you of how special it is to find someone who quickly becomes your new favorite person. I already want to reread this book all over again; it feels like a comfort I will return to many times!”
—Alicia Thompson, author of With Love, from Cold World
“Ellie’s voice is fresh and real. Four Weekends and a Funeral is a story about finding yourself and being brave enough to take ownership of your life, in addition to being a sparkling, heartwarming, and perfectly witty romance. I will read anything she ever writes.”
—Tarah Dewitt, author of Funny Feelings
"From the very first line of Four Weekends and a Funeral, I knew it was going to be one of my favorite books. Ellie Palmer has such a compelling voice—razor-sharp wit wrapped up in beautiful warmth—that every word she writes leaps off the page. The fresh take on fake dating hooked me from the start, and the perfectly balanced mix of serious topics and electric banter made it unputdownable. I'll devour anything Ellie Palmer writes."
—Jessica Joyce, author of You, with a View
“My absolute favorite kind of rom-com, where laugh-out-loud banter, lovable characters, and swoony moments sneakily add up to something deep and beautiful. . . . An incredible debut!”
—Sarah Adler, author of Happy Medium
"With her debut novel, Ellie Palmer has managed to accomplish what most authors never do and that is create the perfect romantic comedy. Four Weekends and a Funeral is a masterfully penned, pitch-perfect romance full of humor, so much heart, and swoon-worthy moments as well as brilliant puns, poignant observations about life, important representation, and believable character development. Adam, Alison and all their friends, even the dead ones, come alive on the page and make you care so hard and pine for their happily ever after."
—Meredith Schorr, author of As Seen on TV
"With a fresh and funny premise, electric wit and banter, and the best grumpy hero I've ever read, Ellie Palmer has created a perfect rom-com. Every moment of this story is filled with so much warmth and humor, and these characters feel like some of my dearest friends."
—Naina Kumar, USA Today Bestselling author of Say You'll Be Mine
"Fresh, witty, and achingly cathartic . . . An unforgettable book that explores what it really means to live an authentic life when given the most precious gift of time. With a bitterly funny heroine, an endearing friend group, and a deliciously grumpy hero, Four Weekends and a Funeral is an immersive read that beautifully explores life, love, and a smidge of fake-dating-the-dead after a preventative mastectomy."
—Livy Hart, author of Planes, Trains, and All the Feels
"From page one, Ellie Palmer's debut sizzles with humor, heart, and a whip-smart dose of sass. This book reads like the inviting hug of an endearingly snarky best friend while also exploring the poignant details of life post-double mastectomy. This book simply sings."