Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty October 30, 2007

In this conclusion to the Jessica Darling series, Megan McCafferty brings back old characters and ties up loose ends for a satisfying conclusion to the Darling-Flutie romance.  As you can tell by the innuendo on the cover of the book, Marcus proposes to Jessica just when she wants to break up with him.  Jessica’s left with is a week of contemplation and writing that reveals her thoughts on numerous situations from the past and present that lead her to her ultimate decision.  Will she marry Marcus who seems to have yet again reinvented himself as a Princeton freshman, just as Jessica’s emerged as a full-fledged quasi-adult trying to find employment ala Reality Bites, or will she finally break up with him? 

As in the case with Charmed Thirds, in Fourth Comings McCafferty seems to be writing for a mature audience.  She’s grown up with her reader base which is cool.  There are certain situations that definitely put this title in the older teen/adult arena.  Being in the school of: if you’re a senior planning on going away to college or living in a dorm and you don’t want a rude awakening, you probably should be aware of some things that will inevitably happen in your college experience, I have kept this gem of a title in my young adult section.  The adults can come over to my side to pick up this title.  This title will no doubt appeal to a wider audience including adults, not just high school females.   McCafferty expertly recaps much of what happens in this coming of age story and captures the local flavor of New York and New Jersey within her witticisms.   

*Spoilers ahead*

Here are some thoughts on the conclusion:

• Why did it have to end?  I know Marcus and Jessica were doomed from the beginning, but why oh, why did it have to end?  I know, McCafferty has to move on to other writing projects, but the foursome was so enjoyable, I’m sad to see it end.
• What’s up with all the 80’s references?  It’s hard for me to believe that Jessica and Hope are that into the 80’s.  McCafferty has enough current pop cultural references as it is, do we really need to go back a couple of decades too?
• In some ways Jessica’s over thinking of things has made her the dreaded dislikable protagonist.  Not to the degree that I started hating on Bella Swan in Eclipse, but she was wearing on my nerves with her indecision.  If  I could talk to Jessica I’d say, “Get out of your head and start doing!”  You can tell what kind of friend I am. 
• Did we really need to meet Hugo, Marcus’ older brother?  I totally forgot about him, it almost seems like an easy out for explaining certain things about Marcus that should be left unexplained.
• What’s up with that lame letter Marcus wrote?  He should have just sent a postcard saying, “WHATEVER.”

I love Megan McCafferty’s writing don’t get me wrong, there’s just things that I have to say to say them.