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!

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.

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

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.

I listened to this as an audiobook and really loved the way that the narrator told the story. She brought life to the words that the author wrote and made me feel like I was in Hawaii as well right along with the main characters.

Sybil Rain is not having a great time at this time in her life and needs a break. She also happens to have vouchers leftover from her wedding that never happened about a year ago. Might as well take advantage, work on her content creation job, and get that break she needs all in one. Only one issue, her ex-fiancé is also there at the same resort with a female colleague. She fibs that she is there with her boyfriend and then coincidentally, another ex-fiancé shows up on the island. Truly a complicated situation has arisen and you'll have to read it to hear what else happens!

I really enjoyed this perspective of potential second chance romances and how people can learn and grow and come back together even better than they used to be. The whole journey was heartbreaking, hopeful, fun, and sounded like someone I could know in real life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC!

I enjoyed this book, but I think it’s very difficult to write a second chance romance well; specifically, it’s challenging to convince the reader that their breakup was valid and their subsequent reunion is viable, and I’m not confident this book achieved that goal. The main couple also didn’t seem to have a ton of chemistry. I also always find it off-putting when authors—“celebrity” or otherwise—have a coauthor who is barely credited. I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook, as it was expressive without being distracting. Ultimately, this was a cute but forgettable book that I don’t regret reading but wouldn’t necessarily recommend. 3.5 stars.

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain is a charming and whimsical listen that blends romance, self-discovery, and a touch of nostalgia. The story follows Sybil, a lovable protagonist, as she navigates the emotional tangle of four past engagements—and the memories (and rings) each left behind.

What really brings this audiobook to life is the excellent narration. The narrator does a fantastic job distinguishing the characters and injecting warmth and personality into every scene. It added an extra layer of enjoyment and made Sybil and Jaime, in particular, feel especially endearing and real.

The story itself is quite cute, with a balance of humor and heartfelt moments. While the frequent flashbacks sometimes felt a bit excessive, they ultimately served a purpose in tying the story together and deepening our understanding of Sybil's journey.

All in all, this was an enjoyable and well-performed audiobook that offers a cozy, romantic escape. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of character-driven love stories with a bit of a twist.

I loved the premise of this book, and it was really well written. I would have given it a 4.5 stars if I had read the book. The only thing I thought was a lost opportunity and would have added to the book was if there had been a chance meeting with the first fiance at the resort.

As a fan of The Bachelor during the Hannah b era, I noticed a few nods to her own life, which I enjoyed. I almost wished there could have been an afterward from the author to discuss that (ie her best friends reality star breakup with her liar fiance).

Now, for the audio, I give that 3 stars. The voice was really annoying in the beginning. She sounded like a Disney princess, or just really ditzy. I noticed this every time she had a conversation with her friends too. It seemed like her voice matured as the book proceeded, which may have been a conscious decision, but i almost didn't want to continue because of the beginning.

Thank you SO much to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to listen to this audiobook ARC for free in exchange for an honest review!

You can’t convince me this wasn’t inspired by and equally cathartic for the author after her experience on the Bachelorette! Its release date is perfect for an easy summer read and is set in Hawaii with strong Runaway Bride inspo.

With that said I really struggled to root for the main characters and felt the pacing was off. I also really wish there had been some trigger warnings for this - but it would have been a “spoiler” - I think said spoiler could reaaaaally throw some people off and be unexpected. I know it threw me off, and I found the way the author treated this “twist” to be a little upsetting.

Just because this book wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it won’t be for you. If you’re interested, check it out - but I personally wouldn’t recommend.

I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed it. The narrator has a beautiful voice, it truly made the experience better. She carried the story beautifully. It was a sweet story with unexpected depth and summer vibes.

I really liked the story, full of vulnerability and self exploration. While there is miscommunication, which I found incredibly frustrating, I do think, ultimately, it made sense. There needed to be growth first.
Second chance romances don't always work, but this one did. Sometimes being apart is the only way to grow together.

The setting was absolutely beautiful, it gave me all the summer vibes. The beach, snorkeling, horseback riding, pool and cocktails and a summer storm..

I really liked the characters, both the main and the secondary ones. They all made the story compelling in their own way. Sybil's journey was heartbreaking, but hopeful. Her fight to heal the scars she carried and the fear that ruled her life, was slow, but important. I love how she found her strength and the love she deserves in the end.

I know Hannah from her season on the Bachelorette, but had no idea she was an author until recently. I really enjoyed her writing, I think she did an amazing job.

I finished this book very quickly! It was engaging, interesting, and show the complex relationships that we all go through. The FMC had her own troubles in different phases of her life but she was able to find herself by the end of the book. I enjoyed the fast pace of the book with flashbacks, internal thoughts, and character development. This is my first book by Hannah Brown but it will not be my last.

We first met Sybil in Mistakes We Never Made as the runaway bride her friends were frantically searching for. This book picks up a year later, exploring the aftermath of that decision and all the emotions that came with it.

With a little push from her friends and a new job as a social media content creator, Sybil finally takes the honeymoon she never used—solo, in Hawaii. But things get complicated fast when she runs into her ex-fiancé… who’s there with another woman. What unfolds is a mix of laughs, heartfelt moments, and a deep dive into the miscommunication that ended their relationship.

This is a fun, emotional second-chance romance about timing, growth, and realizing sometimes love just needs a reset.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced copy! I’m leaving this review voluntarily

One year after her wedding gets nuked, Sybil heads to Hawaii with nothing but some non-refundable honeymoon vouchers, emotional damage, and a suitcase full of questionable decisions. She’s expecting spa days and umbrella drinks. Instead, her ex-fiancé Jamie shows up at the same resort with his suspiciously hot coworker. Which is already bad enough. But then, like some kind of romantic sitcom demon summoning, her other ex-fiancé Sebastian appears and volunteers to pretend to be her boyfriend to save face. Because that’s not complicated at all.

Also lurking in the background? Liam, fiancé number one, whose absence still haunts the entire mess like an emotional jump scare. So yes, there are four rings. And yes, Sybil’s entire romantic history shows up on this trip like a pop quiz she definitely did not study for.

This whole thing is second chance romance meets fake dating meets forced proximity wrapped in a tropical drink with far too many umbrellas. It’s awkward, it’s chaotic, and I inhaled it like a bag of salty snacks. You’ve got jealousy flare-ups, passive-aggressive poolside encounters, wildly timed flashbacks, and an entire resort staff slowly realizing they’re trapped inside the world’s weirdest love triangle. Or square. Honestly, I lost count.

But here’s where it surprised me. Buried under the romcom chaos is actual emotional depth. We watch Sybil peel back layers she’s been running from for years: anxiety, fertility struggles, grief, that paralyzing fear of not being enough, of ruining everything before it starts. It’s messier and more honest than you expect from a vacation romcom, and it gives her arc real weight. She doesn’t just stumble into her happily ever after, she fights for it. Eventually. After... several more bad decisions.

The best part? Her friends, known as the Core Four (now technically five), are still there in the background, hyping her up, calling her out, and generally being the emotional safety net that holds this whole friend-group universe together. Even though this is technically book two, I went in without reading the first one and had zero trouble falling right into the chaos. These are the kind of friendships that make you believe in long-distance emotional rescue missions.

Now, do we get miscommunication? Absolutely. But weirdly, it works. It fits these characters and their baggage. Instead of screaming "just talk to each other" like a maniac, you actually get why they’re fumbling. There’s a lot of heart hiding behind their bad timing.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Cherami Leigh, and she crushed it. Her voice carried Sybil’s spiraling inner monologue perfectly. The emotional swings, the humor, the complete unraveling at exactly the wrong moments... all of it landed. She also made the dialogue pop, keeping the multiple timelines and character shifts crystal clear without losing the vibe.

Is it perfect? No. The pacing wobbles when Seb enters stage left wearing his chaotic agent of nonsense hat, and I wanted a little more Jamie-Sybil page time before the big finale. But it’s messy in a way that feels earned. Like life. Or at least like a really entertaining reality show I would absolutely binge. Tropical chaos, runaway brides, emotionally avoidant exes, suspiciously attractive resort staff, and a woman finally learning how to stop running and actually stay. This one landed at 3.5 stars for me.

Thanks to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the early chance to dive into the audiobook.

Pleasantly surprised by this novel! I really enjoyed this easy romance from Hannah Brown. Set on an exclusive Hawaiian resort, I felt like I was there!

Loved the group of girlfriends Sybil had supporting her.

Second chance romance.

The audio was very well done. The narrator did a great job speaking the novel into my imagination.


Received an early audio copy from Hachett Audio via NetGalley. Thank you!

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain was such a cute read. Sybil’s third engagement ended a year ago and her tickets for her honeymoon flight and resort stay are about to retire. Her friends encourage her to go and have a vacation which she then turns into a semi-business trip. While at the resort, the unthinkable happens. Her ex is there too. Sybil makes up a story about being there with her boyfriend. As it becomes more apparent there is no boyfriend and her ex may still have feelings for her, another ex appears and fills the boyfriend role causing a shakeup in her potential reconciliation. The story was very well written and flowed well. The flashback chapters were well placed and added to the story in a meaningful way and really added depth to the characters. The characters were all likable and it made them more relatable. I’d definitely recommend this as a fun summer read.

This was my first book by Hannah Brown, and I really enjoyed it! The narrator did such an amazing job—she truly brought Sybil and the rest of the characters to life. The story itself had a fun structure, flashing back through each of Sybil’s past engagements. I liked how each one revealed more about who she is and what led her to where she is now. The different timelines kept things interesting, and overall it was such a great listen.

3.5 ⭐️Although I didn’t read the first novel in this series, it didn’t make a huge difference. Everything was explained to catch me up without spoiling the first one if I want to read it. It was a very sweet story of second chances and growing on your own before you commit. It is an adorable story to escape into Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC.

I thought this was a cute read.

Sybil takes her honeymoon a year after her wedding didn't actually happen. She's in paradise at a resort and when she's there, she runs into her ex fiancen(and his coworker who clearly has a thing for him). Sybil pretends to be vacationing with a boyfriend, and the fake boyfriend she finds? Another ex fiance.

There is some humor thrown into this book as Sybil is forced to be at a resort with two of her ex fiances, but we also learn a lot about Sybil as we get flashbacks to her prior relationships.

If you're looking for a second chance romance, forced proximity, summer romance, I recommend this!

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the arc of the audiobook.

I thought it would be only another rom-com, but I faced unexpected tears when you reached the part to understand Sybil reasons for running away. That was very sad but I like there is still a happy ending.
I think it will be a great summer reading if you are looking for an engaging summer romance (no-spice). Thank you for that BTW, nowadays it's very difficult to find romance centred on the plot and not on the spice.
Anyway, I listened to the audiobook thanks to NetGallery and I liked the narrator's work-she has an amazing voice, very easy to follow and enjoy. I definitely recommend the audiobook, you can easily listen to it at work in just one day.

Regarding the story, well I usually prefer deeper-emotion driven stories but I appreciated Sybil's arc and growth. If you are looking for an easy beach read, this is a good option.