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The Four Lindas #1
As Young As We Feel
Is there room in one little hometown for four very different Lindas to reinvent their lives … together?
Once upon a time in a little town on the Oregon coast lived four Lindas—all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever. But that was forty-seven years and four very different lives ago. Now a class reunion has brought them all together in their old hometown—at a crossroads in their lives.
Janie is a high-powered lawyer with a load of grief. Abby is a lonely housewife in a beautiful oceanfront empty nest. Marley is trying to recapture the artistic free spirit she lost in an unhappy marriage. And the beautiful Caroline is scrambling to cope with her mother’s dementia and a Hollywood career that never really happened. Together, they’re about to explore the invigorating reality that even the most eventful life has second acts … and friendship doesn’t come with a statue of limitations.
Once upon a time in a little town on the Oregon coast lived four Lindas—all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever. But that was forty-seven years and four very different lives ago. Now a class reunion has brought them all together in their old hometown—at a crossroads in their lives.
Janie is a high-powered lawyer with a load of grief. Abby is a lonely housewife in a beautiful oceanfront empty nest. Marley is trying to recapture the artistic free spirit she lost in an unhappy marriage. And the beautiful Caroline is scrambling to cope with her mother’s dementia and a Hollywood career that never really happened. Together, they’re about to explore the invigorating reality that even the most eventful life has second acts … and friendship doesn’t come with a statue of limitations.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
73 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
About the author
Melody Carlson
419 books3,263 followersMelody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.
She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.
Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.
She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.
Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
February 6, 2019
Maybe I'm not the target audience for this series, but, I enjoyed this first volume nonetheless.
March 29, 2011
Didn't know anything about this book (or this author) but saw it on the shelf in the Library among the "New Paperbacks". Read the back cover; looked like fun. And it WAS fun! Not everything has to be "great literature" -- sometimes something lighter that you can connect with more personally is just what's needed at the time. This turned out to be the first in the "Four Lindas" series -- the 4 Lindas being 4 gals in first grade whose first names were all "Linda", so they formed the club "The Four Lindas", swore to be friends forever, and agreed to use their middle names (Abby, Janie, Carolina, and Marley) to avoid Linda-confusion. Here, they all show up in their little Oregon seaside town for their 25th high school reunion; only Abby is still actually living in Clifden. But through a series of circumstances, by the end of the book, the other 3 have moved back to Clifden and the Four Lindas Club becomes each's support system as they deal with changes in their lives. A fun read; a great reminder of what our "girlfriends" can continue to mean to us long after school days are over...
November 11, 2017
OK, full disclosure: I am a book snob. Anything with a cover that looks like a Harlequin romance or one of those paperbacks from the grocery store puts me off right away. I love a nice, witty romance (Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer) as well as nice, cozy stories (Rosamunde Pilcher, D. E. Stevenson). I’m also a culture snob so mention of what I call “Oprah-nation” subjects turns me off. All that said, Melody Carlson’s books have entered my heart. I like her spirituality, her lovable characters, and the satisfying stories. So, my suggestion is to give her a try.
May 31, 2018
Delightful
A delightful story about friendship and finding yourself through the love of old friends. Looking forward to the next book.
A delightful story about friendship and finding yourself through the love of old friends. Looking forward to the next book.
August 22, 2013
This was an OK book about middle-aged women reconnecting. I generally enjoy a good friendship novel, but this was just blah. It seems like the author tried almost too hard to have these four friends have a variety of issues in their lives: cancer, hoarding, long-term marriage now on the rocks, drug addiction, abortion, abuse, homosexuality, etc. - they come off as writing ploys rather than real people. The story was OK, but very slow moving, and frankly I didn't really care what happened to the characters. I know this is characterized as Christian fiction, but there wasn't really a faith element present (other than talking about how someone used to go to church, or a comment like, "God has a purpose for all this.")
The entire novel felt more like a set-up for the remaining books in the series, explaining how the women all ended up back in their hometowns after so long. But frankly I think a chapter on each woman would have been more than sufficient, and then they could have actually got onto DOING something together. Perhaps the next in the series will be better, but honestly I have zero interest in joining these ladies again to find out...
The entire novel felt more like a set-up for the remaining books in the series, explaining how the women all ended up back in their hometowns after so long. But frankly I think a chapter on each woman would have been more than sufficient, and then they could have actually got onto DOING something together. Perhaps the next in the series will be better, but honestly I have zero interest in joining these ladies again to find out...
August 10, 2010
Melody Carlson is a favorite author. This book, "As Young As We Feel" stands out as one of her best. Maybe I like it so well because I can relate to the characters...50-something women needing to make a change in their lives...profession as well as location. OK OK...I'm no longer 50-something...but I like these ladies. The author did an excellent job of making them real. I feel like I know them.
The "four Linda's" were elementary school friends. They went their separate ways in high school because one was popular, one was geeky, one was from the wrong side of the tracks, and one was wealthy. They reunite at their 35th high school reunion and renew their friendship. Interestingly, only one of them still lives in the hometown...a small Oregon coast town. The other three find they are at a point in their lives where they need friends and need the slower pace of their old home town and make plans to move back home.
The "four Linda's" were elementary school friends. They went their separate ways in high school because one was popular, one was geeky, one was from the wrong side of the tracks, and one was wealthy. They reunite at their 35th high school reunion and renew their friendship. Interestingly, only one of them still lives in the hometown...a small Oregon coast town. The other three find they are at a point in their lives where they need friends and need the slower pace of their old home town and make plans to move back home.
June 27, 2010
This is a book about a group of friends who met in the first grade and became separated by the sixth. Reunited at their 35th high school reunion, each of them are at a crossroads in their life and this book takes us on that journey. What a wonderful journey it is.
Although each of the ladies has taken a different path in their lives they are all at the point of wondering what they can do to make their life happy again. Each of them faces a decision that all of us are faced with at that age and this book makes me think about my own choices.
This book is full of memories, laughter, sadness and realization of what is really important. Set in a ficitional seaside community in Oregon that I would move to in a minute, just adds to the beauty of the story. I can't wait the the second book in the four Lindas series!!!
Although each of the ladies has taken a different path in their lives they are all at the point of wondering what they can do to make their life happy again. Each of them faces a decision that all of us are faced with at that age and this book makes me think about my own choices.
This book is full of memories, laughter, sadness and realization of what is really important. Set in a ficitional seaside community in Oregon that I would move to in a minute, just adds to the beauty of the story. I can't wait the the second book in the four Lindas series!!!
March 12, 2010
Free Kindle books have made me appreciative of good dialogue in non-free books. This book has the most simplistic dialogue EVER. It makes a Nicholas Sparks book look deep. All of the character development seems to be done through very choppy awkward dialogue.
This is one of few books that I read about 1/4 of the way through and thought I'd rather poke out my eyes with a spoon than continue.
This is one of few books that I read about 1/4 of the way through and thought I'd rather poke out my eyes with a spoon than continue.
June 29, 2015
Teaching myself that it is ok to quit if the book doesn't appeal. Can't say this wouldn't work for others, just not for me.
February 9, 2017
I enjoy Melody Carlson's books. They are easy reads that put a smile on your face. The Four Linda's surely have their problems, but it's entertaining to see how they solve them.
January 23, 2018
Good book!
I found subtle hints at an underlying journey of faith that I hope continues in the next book. Good. Character development so it was easy to follow each Linda's story.
I found subtle hints at an underlying journey of faith that I hope continues in the next book. Good. Character development so it was easy to follow each Linda's story.
December 4, 2017
I “bought” book 3 as a free e-book. I started reading and could not figure out why it was “ the four Lindas “ when they had different first names.It did not make sense to start reading the third book in a series.
The 4 main characters were in the same first grade class. All four were named Linda. To differentiate themselves, they decided to go by their middle names. They formed a club, The Four Lindas.
They remained solid friends through elementary school. Once they reached middle and high school, they were not as good friends.
The story begins with their 40th high school reunion. All are at a cross roads. Their lives have not turned out how they expected. Only one of the Linda’s, Abby, still lives in their hometown.
The first book gives the background story of how their lives went and they ended up where they are today.
An interesting read. Looking forward to finishing the series.
The 4 main characters were in the same first grade class. All four were named Linda. To differentiate themselves, they decided to go by their middle names. They formed a club, The Four Lindas.
They remained solid friends through elementary school. Once they reached middle and high school, they were not as good friends.
The story begins with their 40th high school reunion. All are at a cross roads. Their lives have not turned out how they expected. Only one of the Linda’s, Abby, still lives in their hometown.
The first book gives the background story of how their lives went and they ended up where they are today.
An interesting read. Looking forward to finishing the series.
November 22, 2017
ugh. I could over look the terrible plot, and the cliche writing, and the underdeveloped characters. I could NOT overlook the random religious undertones. "I know what I'll do about this HUGE life decision, I'll pray about it, God will know what to do." Um no, that's not what grown people do. Not even grown Christian people do. I couldn't finish this book. It wasn't even fun. I can't believe it is a series. people read MORE THAN ONE of these novels? I couldn't even force myself through this one.
April 11, 2024
Once upon a time in the little town on the Oregon coast, there were four Lindas—all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever. But that was 47 years and four lives ago. Now a class reunion has brought them all—the New York lawyer, the empty nester, the frustrated artist, and the aging starlet—together again in their old hometown, at a crossroads in their lives. They’re about to explore the invigorating reality that even the most eventful life has second acts…and there’s no statute of limitations on friendship.
November 2, 2024
This was a fun read. Look forward to continuing the series. I wasn't a big fan of all the drinking, and for a Christian author, God was barely mentioned. Hoping maybe they come to God later in the series. Each of the 4 women had their own struggles and hardships that they had to work through. It was neat to see their friendship rekindled after many years.
I did sometimes get confused about who was who and had to keep looking on the back cover to keep everyone straight!
I did sometimes get confused about who was who and had to keep looking on the back cover to keep everyone straight!
January 16, 2018
An easy read while I was in hospital/recovering from surgery. It was a book which covered midlife choices for group of friends who had drifted apart over the years. Covered a range of issues which women face in life and relationships and the idea that you can change and rethink your life and change direction if that is what you really want to do.
February 16, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It started off a little slow for me and I almost put it to the side to read another one but I pushed myself and I really enjoyed it. If you enjoy reading books about friendships then this is the one for you. I ordered the 2nd book of the series and I can't wait to receive it.
March 9, 2022
A class reunion brings together four women that were the best of friends in school. Each is dealing with their own set of problems. Through a series of circumstances, they all come back to their little town in Oregon. Their friendship is rekindled and they support each other in life's second act.
A pretty good book. I liked all of the characters and the setting! A good read!
A pretty good book. I liked all of the characters and the setting! A good read!
December 27, 2024
I mostly know Melody Carlson from her YA books, so it was nice to see some middle aged characters for a change. Even though this books is mostly just setting up the series, I did find the characters and their problems believable.
July 28, 2025
This book was pretty good. However, I didn't like how many bad themes there were for a book I found in the Inspirational section of the library. The Christian theme was really underwhelming, with only a few comments throughout. Overall, I couldn't put it down but probably wouldn't buy.11
May 20, 2017
I was disappointed in this book. It is a bit depressing and somber. I got part-way through, but have decided to not finish it.
January 9, 2018
An easy read. Although a little cliche and a bit too predictable of ending a good lesson of life is short and should evaluate what makes you happy
January 12, 2018
Wouldn't recommend...had my force myself to finish it.
October 2, 2022
I wanted this book to make me excited to be 50 one day and have my little 50 year old besties by my side but it just most certainly did not do that for me. Cute little read though <3
May 25, 2023
Great summer read.
January 7, 2025
A story of rekindling friendships and new beginnings.
March 26, 2025
A really fun book, I enjoyed reading it and look forward to finishing the series. Melody Carlson does a great job writing about female relationships!
June 17, 2025
This is the second Melody Carlson book I have read. It is the first of a four book series about the Four Linda’s.
The story is about four grade school friends with the first name of Linda who grow up and reconnect at a class reunion 35 years later. Only one still lives in their hometown of Clifden. One by one each discovers that they have missed each other and their hometown and that there might just be some very good reasons to return, for good.
The characters are well developed and I enjoyed that part of the book. I expected more of a spiritual story from Carlson but it is possible that this is forthcoming in the next book as one of the characters states “I believe God has a reason for reuniting us,” on the last page of the book.
I’m looking forward to the next in the series, “Hometown Ties.” While I only gave three stars to this book at this time, I am hoping the rest of the series is worthwhile and am expecting that it will be as I really enjoyed Carlson’s writing for the most part, but was left wanting at this point in the series.
The story is about four grade school friends with the first name of Linda who grow up and reconnect at a class reunion 35 years later. Only one still lives in their hometown of Clifden. One by one each discovers that they have missed each other and their hometown and that there might just be some very good reasons to return, for good.
The characters are well developed and I enjoyed that part of the book. I expected more of a spiritual story from Carlson but it is possible that this is forthcoming in the next book as one of the characters states “I believe God has a reason for reuniting us,” on the last page of the book.
I’m looking forward to the next in the series, “Hometown Ties.” While I only gave three stars to this book at this time, I am hoping the rest of the series is worthwhile and am expecting that it will be as I really enjoyed Carlson’s writing for the most part, but was left wanting at this point in the series.
October 29, 2025
First in a four book series from 2010. I enjoy Melody Carlson’s writing style. The four Linda’s are a diverse group of friends that reconnect at their 35 th high school reunion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews