Fourth Comings: A Jessica Darling Novel Paperback – Big Book, September 9, 2008

Fresh out of Columbia and facing the "where-is-my-life-going" question so many 20-somethings must tackle, Jessica Darling is living in New York City after finally reuniting with her best friend, Hope Weaver. Though things are tangled, complicated and tricky as Jess navigates post-grad life and tries (mostly in vain) to find a job, the matter weighing most heavily on her heart is whether or not to accept a very unexpected proposal from -- who else? -- Marcus Flutie, her first love and on- and off-again boyfriend.Jess's journal entries in the week immediately following the proposal make up FOURTH COMINGS, the penultimate book in the Jessica Darling series. And while this installment lacked the action of the first three books, I think it was definitely an important "chapter" in the overall story of not only Marcus and Jess, but Jessica and Hope, Jessica and Marin, Jessica and her parents, etc.I love McCafferty's books so much, it's hard for me to speak coherently on what makes them so great. Jess is just such a complicated, annoying, flawed, beautiful and real character -- there's something about her that makes her more of a friend than a two-dimensional creation of Megan McCafferty! And while I would have liked more of the novel to take place in the here-and-now, I still really loved seeing Jessica grow, change and develop. And I loved getting the latest news on folks like Manda, Len, Scotty and Bethany.To be honest, I'm in love with Marcus myself... and the fact that Jessica is so undecided about him -- regardless of the fact that I can understand where she's coming from -- is frustrating. I just keep wondering how long she's going to hold him at arm's length as she overanalyzes every step that could take her closer or farther away from the man she so obviously adores. But the real question here is the same one many must face before they make "the leap": With far more differences than similarities between them, is love really enough?Was I satisfied with the ending? No. I felt completely deflated, actually. But all of my questions were answered in PERFECT FIFTHS, the final novel in McCafferty's fantastic series. I wish I could go back in time and read them all over again with a fresh set of eyes.

Like most reviewers, I am a passionate fan of the Jessica Darling books. I loved the first book and adored the second book even more. I was unhappy with Charmed Thirds, and I went into this book expecting to be disappointed and unhappy with the ending. Maybe that's why in the beginning of the book I was annoyed with the actual writing style. I eventually got over that and did find some parts to enjoy. I liked that Jessica spent time with her parents and had a nice talk with her father. Learning about her parents' early relationship gave some insight into why her mother is the way she is. The part where Jessica describes her sister and her sister's friends' lives as MILFs who want OTB (only the best) for their children was good. But I found myself wishing something would actually happen with or to Jessica. Since the whole book covers only one week's time, I suppose that was an unrealistic hope. Only when Jessica learned the secret about her best friend Hope and Marcus's hidden past did I feel a little bit of the old magic coming back.Maybe I'm shallow, but a big part of what I loved about the first two books was Marcus, and the latest two books don't include him much. Jessica thinks about him constantly and addresses him in her letter/journal, but he's not there to answer back. We aren't treated to the banter between the two of them that was so great in the beginning. Not that he's talked much lately anyway. He's turned into this practically mute, non-Buddhist, preachy type who I would probably find annoying to be around.My favorite parts of this book were where Jessica referenced something from the high school years, and that's not a good thing. I could just re-read the first two books if that's what I wanted. I haven't found much to love in the latest two books. I do still admire the writing and I think McCafferty has been consistent in the way she writes Jessica. But for me, it just doesn't work without Marcus. I suppose it is Megan McCafferty's vision to tell Jessica's story and not a sappy romance novel. Like real life, maybe Jessica doesn't live happily ever after with her high school boyfriend. But we're led to believe that Jessica and Marcus have a one-in-a-million kind of connection, and I think that could and should last forever. I hear McCafferty's writing a fifth and final installment in the series. I just hope she gives the fans what they long for, a happily-ever-after ending for the couple we love.

After reading the disappointment that was "Charmed Thirds," I wasn't sure what to expect of Fourth Comings. Did I want to subject myself to another potentially disappointing book that would further mar the Jessica Darling I so loved when I was in high school?In the end I decided to buy the book, because at the end of the day, despite the previous installment, I still love Jessica Darling.However, this book was more than a little dull. Despite taking place in the span of a week, the plot was sometimes slow and hard to read. I found myself skimming through more than just a couple pages, wishing that Jessica (or, I guess, Megan McCafferty) would once again find the style of writing that made Jessica such an important part of my literary world a few years ago. I was unsatisfied with the conclusion of the book, the open-ended way the author left it. I was hoping that this would be the final installment in the Jessica Darling series, but was surprised to learn that McCafferty is writing a fifth book.I think it's time for McCafferty to let Jessica go. I just wish that she had done so after the second novel.

Absolutely love Jessica Darling, she's a best friend I crave to spend time with! I do really reccommend for any teenager!

This review cannot even express the sensation of perfect contentment I felt while being invited to stay in the wondrous world of Jessica Darling, queen of sarcasm and protagonist extraordinaire.In her five-book series Megan McCafferty allows us to follow Jessica on her way from being a teenager to a young woman, with all the responsibilities and decisions awaiting her in future. It was great to witness everything going on in her life over such a long span of time. I didn't want to miss one single of her thoughts. Because even though I am not a teenager anymore, it felt so good to read on page what makes these years so angstful and exciting at the same time.Every character contributes to the masterpiece of fun and hilarity -without ever forgetting that there's also the serious side of life- the Jessica Darling series stands for. I loved them all! Marcus Flutie, Jessica of course, her best friend Hope, the parents, her sister and her niece, to name only a few.Marcus Flutie is the main love interest and an extreme case of changeability. It's obvious that he hasn't found his place in life yet, always restless, always changing his mind and his heart about his future, his goals and even Jessica. I'd subtitle this series 'The metamorphosis of Marcus Flutie'. Alternative and surely not mainstream, he always seems to be on an experimental trip. We don't get him more often than we do, but when we connect, it's in all the right ways.Jessica is witty and her humour is the best. I laughed, I cried. I can’t believe how she always said and thought exactly what I was thinking. I wish I read this series much sooner. A revelation to every young adult reader!Jessica and Marcus make mistakes, get together, seperate again. Life comes in the way, wrong decisions play a part. It's just too much to point out every turn their relationship or lives make. There are so many scenes that need to be all time favourites! You. Yes. You. Marcus Flutie you stole my heart.The first two books SLOPPY FIRSTS and SECOND HELPINGS are about Jessica's time in high school. CHARMED THIRDS covers her years in college, from 2003 to 2005. FOURTH COMINGS is about time after graduation and what she wants to do for a living.We are very lucky, because Jessica is keeping a diary. And the writing is as appealing as it is, because the story is written in the style of numerous diary entries. It has a very personal character and feels like we are just inside her head, going through everything she experiences and feeling as much love for Marcus Flutie as she does. Her writing is changing over the course of the series, especially in the fourth book, which is great, because it's a fab way to express change in her person or her ways of thinking.This series is a guide for all young, sarcastic, lovable and insecure girls out there! Megan McCafferty, I thank you for all the hours of laughter and tears your novels brought into my house. You are a marvelous writer and I'm expecting to see many more books of you on my favourite shelves in the near future. I hope that we can find a version of that incredibly admirable and lovely Jessica Darling in all of us.5/5 ***** JESSICA DARLING series - Clever, romantic, sarcastic & so much more. YA at its best!SLOPPY FIRSTS recently had its 12th anniversary. Unbelieveable, but true. This series is in no way inferior to contemporary YA relatives in its originialty or actuality. This is a series that needs to be handed down to your kids, they will surely love to read about that Jessica Darling when they are growing up. And for everyone who hasn't read this series, I suggest you catch up on it now. It doesn't matter if you are 13 or 30, you will get and love it!

I wanted to love this book as much as I loved the previous 3 so much but it let me down. It was too waffley and there was far too much exposition. What really made the first 3 work was the relationship between Jessica and Marcus and sadly, thats hardly in this book, except for a brief moment at the beginning and when Jessica is looking back throughout. I will more than likely read the last book as I've got this far, but I dont have high hopes unfortunately.