I got the chance to listen to The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah Brown as an audiobook ARC, and I happily accepted. I had already listened to the first book in this series (Mistakes We Never Made) and was really looking forward to finally understanding how and why everything unfolded the way it did with Sybil and her wedding that never happened.

In this book, we get those answers. It’s one year after the canceled wedding, and Sybil decides to use the voucher she got for the honeymoon — solo. She heads to Hawaii, where the honeymoon was supposed to be, and surprise: her ex-fiancé is there too. As the trip unfolds, Sybil reflects on why that engagement didn’t end happily… and not just that one. Sybil has actually been engaged three times, to three different men. So while she analyzes each of those past relationships, she also gets a chance to rekindle an old flame.

Structurally, the story alternates between the present-day trip and flashbacks to her past relationships. I really liked that approach — it helped me get to know Sybil better and understand the reasoning behind her actions. It was also fun to discover her story in small pieces. The back-and-forth kept things interesting, always giving me something new to uncover.

In Mistakes We Never Made, Sybil is already described in some detail — and while her best friend Emma might see her as “perfect,” it’s clear to the reader that there’s more going on. That definitely becomes evident in this book. Sybil is flawed, but inherently good. That’s what makes her so easy to connect with and root for. Her ex? Also a relatable and genuinely great guy.

The supporting cast — from her exes to friends and family — also felt real. Her relationships with all of them were believable and well-developed.

One thing I really appreciated was how the book balanced lighthearted romance with heavier topics. It touches on mental and physical health, difficult life phases, and toxic relationships — all without feeling heavy-handed. It’s obvious the author cares deeply about mental health, and that comes through in the writing.

The story flowed really well for me. It was fun and easy to listen to, even though some parts did feel a little forced or unrealistic. But then again, it’s a romance novel — and I’m not reading for realism. Some big coincidences are more than welcome.

I listened to the audiobook version and really liked the narrator. Her voice made the story come alive, and the way she slightly altered her tone for different characters — without sounding cringey or over-the-top — was gold. I always knew exactly who was speaking.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a heartfelt, character-driven romance. You don’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one, but it definitely adds depth to Sybil’s story if you do.

It’s a solid 4/5 stars from me. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for anything else Hannah Brown writes — and fingers crossed we get a story about another one of the friend group soon!

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain was such a fun read. I loved this book so much. The storyline was perfect. I loved both main characters. I loved their chemistry, character development and growth. This book is a great reminder that we are all worthy of love. I read it without reading the first in this series and I feel like I didn’t miss a beat so this can definitely be read as a standalone. I’m so glad I read this book and I look forward to reading more from Hannah Brown. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job. Her inflections were wonderful. 🧡🩷

I would like to thank Hachette Audio and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

Well, Sybil is basically a chaotic mess and she has been doing her best to clean up her life after her disaster of a wedding weekend last year that did not actually end in marriage. Her friends have encouraged her to cash in on those honeymoon vouchers, so she’s off to a resort in Hawaii to spend a few days relaxing. Except she runs right into her ex-fiance Jamie, who’s there for business reasons. Totally awkward and she spends a lot of time failing to avoid him. It’s messy and full of terrible communication as she makes up a fake boyfriend to save face. Honestly, for a lot of the book, I wasn’t sure if Jamie was going to be the guy she ends up with, especially when her other ex-fiance Sebastian shows up. We deal with a lot of Sybil’s hang ups in relationships and how she is probably a lot less confident than she outwardly appears. Great side characters in the form of a friendly concierge and friendly bartender. Definitely an enjoyable read. Loved the audio narrator!

Book review for The four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain

Thank you to Netgalley for the audio ARC of The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah /Brown. This is the second chance Romance, that follows Sybil Rain who has beenthe one away bride in three weddings.,
Sybil is a rather spontaneous character who doesn't seem to have much self-control. Her spontaneity was enjoyable to read about but I don't know that I would ever want to have to deal with somebody like that in real life.
I would say the plot of this one is a good balance between spontaneous adventure and second chance romance.Sybil and Jamie work out their issues from a new prior to the story beginning.

I would have liked for there to have been more of a warning on the themes of miscarriage and infertility. As a content creator I did appreciate the amount of references of the FMC’s career. This didn’t feel as though this book is a lighter beach read in my opinion.

I both listened and read this arc and both were fabulous. I loved the storyline - Sybil takes her honeymoon alone a year later after the wedding that never happened. Once there she runs into exes and has the opportunity for a second chance romance. The character and story development and growth were both great. The banter and chemistry were felt through the pages. I loved the dialogue between the characters and the descriptions of their location. I found this to just be a truly enjoyable romance with depth and fun. Overall a perfect summer read.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copies.

When the main character (Sybil) is hoping to escape into tropical paradise around the one-year anniversary of her failed engagement, she runs into... the ex-fiancé.

I listened to the audiobook and I really loved it. This was a sweet and quick read/listen. The characters were so lovable (and I made the mistake of not reading Mistakes We Never Made first)*. I loved how the story includes snippets of the past and present (both with stories and people)! We meet two of the three of Sybil's exes and hear the stories of all three exes. I really enjoyed the most recent two fiancés. Some of the dialogue could be cringy at times, but overall was still an easy read.

This book is rampant with miscommunication, which is frustrating as the reader, but so realistic in relationships. Sybil has a hard time expressing herself and the reasons that she is doing what she does.

I will definitely be recommending this to my friends and family because it was the perfect, light-hearted read for summer.

*I personally believe that you could read this one without reading the other, but would recommend reading MWNM first so that you can enjoy the connections more (and in the appropriate timeline).

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars). Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing me with an Advanced Listening Copy.

I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have received an advanced copy of The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain from the author, NetGalley, and Hachette Audio! 🫶

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain is seriously one of the cutest reads ever! 🥹💕 I had the audiobook of this one and the narrator Cherami Leigh brought Sybil to life! 🥰 It truly was so much fun and entertaining to the point that I kept a laugh count of how many times I laughed while listening and I did so 52 times! 😂

This book brought me so much joy and I listened to it at every single opportunity possible: getting ready in the morning, driving in the car, getting ready to go to bed, doing things at home, exercising, etc! 🎧 Sybil is such an entertaining FMC and I had so much fun theorizing what crazy antics she was going to get up to next! 😂 She seriously did the craziest things in this story and there was so much drama as a result and I was having the time of my life on this wild and bumpy ride for her. Sybil is on a journey of healing and decides to go to Hawaii since the trip was already paid for the previous year and the credits are about to expire. Little does she know that she’s going to run into her ex-fiancé Jaime so that’s awkward…😬 Sybil’s journey is truly so authentic and I love how emotional and relatable she is. I also think it’s incredible that there is PCOS representation and how that has impacted Sybil in so many ways. It added a huge layer of depth to the story and to her character! 🫶

If you love romance, second chance romance, Hawaii, lots of drama and secrets, PCOS representation and a book that will make you smile and laugh so hard then this is the book for you! 🫶

I requested this book because I loved Hannah Brown as a lead Bachelorette! 🌹✨ She was quirky, a little wild, and at her core, genuine—definitely top 3 Bach leads of all time. 🏆

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain (ALC) was fulllllll of drama! 😱💍🔥 I really enjoyed the flashbacks to her past and the honest portrayal of anxiety and panic attacks for Sybil. 🤍💭 While I didn’t read the first book, I don’t think it impacted my experience. 📚👀

That said…the drama was a lot. 🚨 Every twist was wild, and the main character became harder to love. The more intense things got, the harder it was to connect with Sybil and the story. 🎢

But the ending? Cute. 💕💫 The scenes between Sybil & Jamie were the best—where she finally felt real and grounded enough to connect with. 😍💞 And her core four friend group? Loved them! 🎭💃🏻 Their moments were authentic and fun.

Overall, Too dramatic of a read but with some good moments! 🎬💖

This book is an absolute gem! It’s a heartwarming, witty, funny, emotional, and realistic read. As an avid romance reader, I was pleasantly surprised by this refreshing change of pace from the typical romance novels I’ve read. Hannah’s storytelling is incredible, and I particularly enjoyed the subtle nods to the bachelor/reality TV genre.

First, as always, thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced listening copy! The narrator, Cherami Leigh, was fantastic. She's so captivating to listen to and I love how she handles banter and voicing the male characters.

This book continues the story of the Core Four telling Sybil's side of things and how her next year of life has gone after THAT wedding day. I am very thankful the author dove into some detail from the last book to jog my memory, then it all came back to me.

Sybil is such a relatable woman. A little high strung, a little adventurous, a little apprehensive, but she grows so much throughout the story. You can tell throughout the flashbacks how she's changed for the better from her very first engagement, especially up to her very last one. I think most women can relate to Sybil in some way, shape, or form and find comfort in that. As for the MMCs? Seb was... incredibly annoying in the present though endearing in the past. Which is probably the whole point but still gave me ick. While Jamie was steady, but I wasn't won over until the retelling of how they'd first met and I understood how she locked in so easily.

I highly recommend reading Hannah Brown's first book in this grouping, Mistakes We Never Made, before jumping into this one, it will make a lot more sense though this could definitely be read as a standalone if you don't care for the fully detailed previous events.

This is a solid 4 star read and I'd highly recommend for a fun but meaningful summer read.

Thank you to netgalley and Hachett Audio for letting me get an early access to this book. This book I have to say is one of my top 5 fave so far for 2025. It made me laugh, made me angry and made me teary eyed. It was definitely a romcom type book that just hit me. I loved it so much and thoroughly enjoyed every ounce of the audiobook. The narrator did such a great job at performing the raw emotions of the main character and just telling Sybil's story. I loved the chemistry Sybil had with everyone she interacted with. If you love romcom movies this book will definitely give you that vibe. It's a very entertaining book and I highly recommend! I'm so glad I got a chance to advance read this book it was definitely a 5 star for me.

I was so excited about getting this ALC and ARC from Hannah Brown! The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain follows Sybil in the aftermath of ending her engagement. To get out of her rut, her friends encourage her to take the non-refundable trip that was supposed to be her honeymoon. Sybil is ready for a relaxing time drinking cocktails by the beach when she gets the shock of her life seeing Jamie, her ex-fiance, is at the resort as well. Jamie's business wants to buy the resort so Jamie has brought her beautiful colleague with him on the trip. Sybil is constantly running into her and it creates for some awkward moments. Things continue to get crazy when Sebastian, Sybil's second ex-fiance, shows up. Sybil begins questioning all of her previous relationships and trying to figure out the best path forward. I liked that this combined emotional moments with fun lighthearted moments. I related a lot to Sybil on her journey to try to find a path to move forward, something I think we can all learn from. There were some silly moments and I didn't totally feel the chemistry between the main characters but they were dealbreakers to me at all. I still had a great time listening to this one and Cherami Leigh does a really fantastic job with this audiobook!

Rating: 3.5.⭐️

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my review!

Sybil Rain has been adjusting to life after the ending of her third engagement. Her friends suggest she finally take the non-refundable trip that was intended to be her honeymoon with Jamie. Unfortunately for her Jamie has had the same idea but he has tied his trip to his business and has brought a beautiful colleague with him. Her attempts to avoid Jamie are being constantly thwarted as they continue to run into each other. Complicating matters finance number two, Sebastian, also shows up at the resort. Though not at the resort the issues that ended her first engagement is still very much on her mind and may be what is causing her to question all of her relationships. Sybil must examine her heart to determine how she wants to move forward.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a nice mix of heartfelt emotion and some more silly and fun moments. I really love Sybil. She is sweet and fun. While there may be some silly parts of the book the root of what is keeping her from being able to move forward is something that I think a lot of women can relate to. I enjoyed each of her boys that we got to meet and her friends that she stays in constant contact with throughout the book. I read this partially on ebook and audio. I loved the audio narration by Cherami Leigh, she did a wonderful job.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this second chance, fake dating rom-com. I wish I knew it was the second in a series, although I didn't feel like I couldn't follow along. It flowed smoothly.

The main character, Sybil, has a sunshine personality and always seemed to look on the bright side of things. There were some pretty funny moments and lots witty banter which I love. Even though there was some miscommunication, it wasn't the ridiculous obvious miscommunication that has you rolling your eyes. There were things that I would think a lot of couples would relate to. I feel like there was a lot of personal growth happening which was lovely to see.

I will definitely go back and read the first one and I hope there will be another one after this, maybe focusing on her friends and their relationships. I love the narrator, Cherami Leigh. Her voice gave wonderful life to Sybil.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book!

The characters were easy likable, the story was interesting, and the multi-timeline/flashbacks added so much to the storytelling.

Thank you to the author and Hachette for my advance copy!

Thank you, Netgalley and Hachette Audio, for the opportunity to listen to this book ahead of the official release.

I have always been a fan of Hannah Brown, and I enjoyed Mistakes We Never Made, but The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain took the cake. A story about past relationships and what we can learn from them, The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain felt heavy at times, but with the pockets of levity, also came moments of ease and joy. I feel like the balance brings for a funny summer read with some substance behind it. I thought Sybil’s character was fleshed out well and very easy for me to connect with. The use of some familiar tropes in less fan ways gave this story a fresh feeling. I am excited to see which story from the core four is next.

Audiobook review:

Cherami Leigh did a phenomenal job narrating this story. Her inflections and tone were amazing, and she did a great job portraying the character’s emotions. I definitely believe the audiobook elevated the experience.

Tropes:
Second chance
Fake dating


TW:
Miscarriage

Meet your new favorite summer beach read! I really enjoyed this summer romance involving many romance tropes including second chance romance. The audio version is narrator wonderfully.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital advance copy.

TLDR- Story was wonderful, audiobook narrator was even better.

Sybil Rain is one year out from her runaway bride moment and her third failed engagement. Urged by her friends to make the most of the unused airline miles and hotel vouchers from what would have been her honeymoon, Sybil sets off on a working vacation to Hawaii before they expire. But paradise quickly gets complicated when she runs into Jamie—ex-fiancé number three. Desperate to save face and prove she's moved on, Sybil ropes in another former fiancé, the ever-charming Sebastian, to pose as her new boyfriend.All Sybil wants is to enjoy a quiet getaway, maybe catch a few sunsets, and get some great content for the social media accounts she manages for work. But instead, she's dodging awkward run-ins, navigating old feelings, and wondering if she let the love of her life get away.

To say I enjoyed listening to this book would be an understatement. I thought the narrator, Cherami Leigh, really brought the characters to life and added a lot of humor that might have otherwise fallen flat on the page. The production was also superb—no complaints there.

There were a few parts of the plot that felt a bit far-fetched, which is why I gave the book four stars. I won’t mention specifics to avoid spoilers. That said, the descriptions of the landscape and setting were vivid—I truly felt transported to Hawaii at times. I also found myself really relating to a lot of Sybil’s inner thoughts and her way of thinking. Some of it was laugh-out-loud hilarious, and I appreciated how authentic and self-aware she felt as a character. I do wish some of Sybil’s backstory had been more fleshed out and explained earlier in the book, but I can understand the author’s choice to reveal that information later on.

Overall, this is a great beach read and highly recommended if you’re looking for something to kick off your summer reading! Thank you to Hachette Audio, NetGalley, and author Hannah Brown for the advanced audiobook!

I was not a huge fan of this one. If I hadn’t committed to finishing it for NetGalley, I would have DNF’d. It’s not my style, and I won’t be posting a public review. That said: Sybil is my girl. She’s a mess, but she gets real work done on herself over the course of the book, and I found myself rooting for her.

Sybil takes what should’ve been her honeymoon alone, only to run smack into her ex-fiancé—who left her at the altar—at the same resort. She blurts out a fake boyfriend to save face, and wouldn’t you know it, her other ex shows up to play along. Throw in some snorkeling disasters and beach parties, and we’ve got a romcom setup soaked in mai tais and emotional baggage. It’s supposed to be breezy, but leans hard on awkward coincidence and forced drama.

The writing style is serviceable but not standout. It’s got a reality-TV flavor that may appeal to fans of Bachelor Nation, but it never quite rises above the expected beats. A lot of the drama feels really forced. If he is on a work trip why are they constantly going on excursions?

As for tropes, we've got a triple-hit: exes forced proximity, fake dating, and “oops all chaos.” The second-act twist—another ex crashing in at exactly 50%—was overkill. It felt shoehorned in just to justify the original breakup, and made the core romance shakier, not richer.

The characters are uneven. Sybil is a believable, flawed lead who genuinely grows.