Quick Summary: A timing is everything romance

My Review: Four Summers Ago by Jensen Rose Long is a 2025 women's fiction romance.

About the Book: "Love is not something Abby Steele is interested in.

Abby goes on one last blind date. That blind date happens to be Ben Richards, the hot Hollywood it-guy...

Abby doesn’t think they’ll have anything in common, but she finds herself instantly intrigued...

They spend the rest of the summer falling in love...

Abby doesn’t expect him to leave her heart in pieces as he promptly ghosts her."

In My Own Words: The right time. The right place. The right guy. The right romance. The right love story. A life interruption. A heartbreak. A devastation. A reunion. An unsettling. And...

Question to Consider: What happens when you unexpectedly find your someone and he turns out to be your greatest heartbreak?

About the Characters:

Abby - > I felt so much for this character. I wanted to wrap her up and protect her. Her backstory was kind of heartbreaking. Despite what she had lived through, she still had a strength about her. She was independent and accomplished, which made me want to cheer for her. She deserved good things in her life.

Ben - > I liked him and did not like him and loved him all at the same time. He took me for an emotional ride. He was a good guy who made not so good choices. I appreciated his growth and liked how he turned out.

Helen - > What a beautiful relationship she and Abby had. Theirs was a sisterhood. I loved how she supported her friend through everything and stood by her in the valleys, as well as on the mountaintops.

Nick - > Dude! He won all the brownie points. His love for Abby was so sweet. I really liked how he showed his heart for her. He was sensitive to her needs and showed such compassion. He had her back, regardless of what went down.

Duke - > I loved this guy!!! Can he get his own story? His is the case of how a minor character can have such a major impact. He was a real one.

Lainey - > I loved her energy. She was making moves. Her connection with Abby was almost instantaneous, and it worked. Also, I want to know her story with Bob. I have to know! It was set up so perfectly. I was left with a dangling thread...in a good way.

Pedro -> He played his role. I looked up, and he was just there. (I see what you did there, Ms. Long. Very clever.)

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

Time After Time
The Message
How Do You Want to Play This?
I See You See Me
Under the Stars

My Final Say: Four Summers Ago was such an emotionally moving book. Once I started it, I COULD NOT put it down. It had me! It. Had. Me. I was completely captivated. I went through a gamut of feelings. I smiled. I laughed. I cried. I hoped. I waited. I celebrated. I cringed. I wished. I clapped.

This is the type of story that is simple yet complex at the same time. It had colors and movement, as I like to say. It had texture and depth. It was challenging. It was tense, just as much as it was hopeful. The characters were relatable. They were familiar in such a way that they were like the people we all know in our own lives.

At the end of the day, I would simply say that this story is about life, love, relationships, choices, regrets, second chances, family, and about what comes next when everything falls apart and comes together again.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:

Happily Ever After
Realistic
Tear-jerker
Easy-to-read
Entertaining

Other: Readers who enjoy stories where blind dates become boyfriends, where lovers become enemies, where separations and second chances merge, and where close proximity work situations are the order of the day will like this novel.

*** I think this will be incredible as an audiobook. I cannot wait to have that experience! The emotional aspect alone will be golden. ***

Rating: 4.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status/Level: 💖

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words I have voluntarily shared are my own thoughts and opinions. I am grateful for the opportunity to review this writer's work. This was my first acquaintance with this author, but it will not be my last.

Wow, well I sat and read this all in a day. I loved this book and the journey it takes you down I was routing for the couple all the way through! It’s such a lovely romantic story keeping you engaged all the way to the end.

I read this all in one night! It was so so good I couldn’t put it down. I love romances that feature people in Hollywood or dating a celebrity and this one perfectly fit the bill. I loved the chemistry between our two main characters. I loved how they met in the most normal of circumstances and then was heartbroken when after a whirlwind courtship they hit a rough spot and then was anxiously awaiting to see how of they would reunite with the opportunity to work together on the same set. It was such a beautiful book. I loved every minute. One of my favorite romance books as of late for sure. Please check this one out! You won’t regret it

This book is perfect for those readers who have ever thought about what might happen if Hollywood's It Guy crossed their paths. I loved this book and these characters. It was a great romance!