Hannah Brown delivers a delightfully chaotic romantic comedy that transforms the dreaded “wedding that never was” into a second chance at love in The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain. This standalone sequel to her 2024 debut Mistakes We Never Made proves that sometimes the best love stories require multiple drafts—and multiple engagement rings—before finding their perfect ending.
A Paradise of Past Mistakes
Sybil Rain embodies every commitment-phobe’s worst nightmare: she’s collected three engagement rings from three different men, yet never made it down the aisle. When she arrives at the luxurious Halia Falls Resort in Hawaii using vouchers from her cancelled honeymoon with ex-fiancé Jamie, she expects nothing more than mai tais and meditation. Instead, she walks straight into a romantic disaster of epic proportions when she discovers Jamie is also at the resort—with his stunning colleague Genevieve in tow.
Brown crafts Sybil as a beautifully flawed protagonist whose pattern of running from commitment stems from deeper wounds than mere cold feet. The author skillfully weaves Sybil’s backstory through flashbacks that reveal each engagement’s unique circumstances: teenage Liam, the controlling pastor’s son; free-spirited Sebastian, the globe-trotting photographer; and steady Jamie, the investment banker who seemed like her perfect match until everything fell apart at the altar.
The Art of Second Chances
What elevates this novel beyond typical beach-read fare is Brown’s nuanced exploration of trauma and healing. Sybil’s tendency to flee isn’t painted as mere flightiness but as a trauma response rooted in her experience with PCOS, miscarriage, and emotional abuse from her first relationship. The author handles these sensitive topics with remarkable grace, never using them as plot devices but integrating them organically into Sybil’s character development.
The Hawaiian setting serves as more than exotic backdrop—it becomes a character itself. Brown’s vivid descriptions of Halia Falls Resort, from the infinity pools to the mountain trails, create an immersive experience that makes readers want to book their own tropical escape. The island’s beauty provides the perfect contrast to Sybil’s internal turmoil, while the approaching lunar eclipse adds metaphorical weight to themes of transformation and new beginnings.
Character Chemistry and Complications
The romantic tension between Sybil and Jamie crackles with authentic emotion. Brown avoids the trap of making Jamie a perfect hero; instead, he’s a flawed man who made mistakes in their relationship, particularly in allowing his family’s disapproval to influence his decisions. Their reunion isn’t smooth sailing—it’s messy, awkward, and filled with misunderstandings that feel refreshingly realistic.
Sebastian’s unexpected arrival adds welcome complexity to the love triangle. Rather than creating a simple choice between past and present, Brown uses his character to explore themes of growth and compatibility. Sebastian represents Sybil’s wild, impulsive side, while Jamie embodies stability and emotional security. The author deftly shows how Sybil has outgrown her need for chaos while still honoring the person she used to be.
The supporting cast adds depth and humor to the narrative:
- The Core Four: Sybil’s college friends provide unwavering support and authentic female friendship
- Dani and Ash: The resort staff couple whose simple, honest love serves as a beautiful contrast to Sybil’s complicated romantic history
- Genevieve: Could have been a stereotypical rival but emerges as a genuinely kind person caught in an awkward situation
Emotional Depth Beyond the Sparkle
Brown demonstrates remarkable emotional intelligence in handling Sybil’s journey toward self-acceptance. The revelation about her PCOS diagnosis and miscarriage adds layers of complexity to her character without feeling exploitative. These experiences inform her fear of commitment in ways that feel authentic rather than manipulative.
The author excels at showing rather than telling when it comes to character growth. Sybil’s evolution from someone who runs from problems to someone who faces them head-on happens gradually, through small moments and realizations rather than dramatic declarations. Her final confrontation with her past—symbolized by the three engagement rings she carries—provides satisfying closure while honoring the complexity of moving forward while carrying scars.
Areas Where the Tide Recedes
Despite its many strengths, the novel occasionally stumbles under the weight of its ambitions. The pacing feels uneven in places, particularly during the middle section where the fake boyfriend charade with Sebastian drags on longer than necessary. Some readers may find Sybil’s decision-making frustrating, though her choices consistently align with her established character patterns.
The resolution, while emotionally satisfying, arrives somewhat quickly after the intensity of the storm sequence and hospital scare. A bit more time processing the revelations and rebuilding trust between Sybil and Jamie would have strengthened the ending’s impact.
Additionally, while the Hawaiian setting is gorgeously rendered, some cultural elements feel surface-level, serving primarily as exotic backdrop rather than being meaningfully integrated into the story’s themes.
Writing Style and Series Connection
Brown’s prose strikes an appealing balance between humor and heart. Her background in reality television brings authenticity to the social media elements woven throughout Sybil’s work storyline, while her personal experiences with public relationships add depth to themes of vulnerability and trust.
While this serves as a standalone sequel to Mistakes We Never Made, readers don’t need familiarity with the first book to fully enjoy Sybil’s story. The connection feels more thematic than narrative, with both books exploring how past mistakes can inform rather than define our futures.
The Final Verdict
The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain succeeds as both a satisfying romantic comedy and a thoughtful exploration of trauma, healing, and second chances. Brown has created a heroine whose journey feels authentic despite the fantastical setting, and whose happy ending feels earned rather than handed to her.
The novel works best when it embraces its emotional complexity rather than relying solely on tropical paradise and romantic mishaps. Sybil’s story resonates because it acknowledges that healing isn’t linear and that sometimes the best love stories require multiple attempts before finding their rhythm.
For Readers Who Enjoyed
Fans of this sparkling second-chance romance might also appreciate:
- Beach Read by Emily Henry – Another book about writers facing their pasts in a beautiful setting
- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren – Enemies-to-lovers with tropical vacation vibes
- People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – Friends-to-lovers with vacation setting and emotional depth
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Multiple relationships leading to one true love
- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey – City girl finds love in small-town setting
Brown has crafted a romance that honors both the escapist pleasure readers seek in the genre and the emotional complexity that makes love stories memorable. The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain proves that sometimes the fourth time really is the charm—both for love and for authors finding their stride in crafting stories that sparkle with both humor and heart.
