This book was alright, but it could have been so much better. I really liked some parts of it, but overall it just wasn't as good as the other ones have been. It was really predictable and dumb in some places. A lot of the things we had actually already been through in previous books, so I was underwhelmed. This book dealt with a lot, but it didn't really give conclusions to anything. I did like all of the storylines at times, but they weren't as coherent as in the earlier books. I don't think I will pick up the last book, but this was just OK and a nice finish for me, I don't think I need the last one.

This book was good just not as enjoyable as the others. I loved the various settings and how much each character grew.

❤️

I’m finished with the Sisterhood series. Reading these books has been like rereading my high school journals -- pathetic and sometimes painful.

They tell the stories of somewhat typical teenage girls making somewhat typical teenage girl mistakes (albeit in atypical places) and therein lies the problem — we usually do not read books to find characters just like us. We’ve already lived through the mundane high school years where everything is drama, drama, drama until it’s over and and a week later we’re onto the next tragedy. We (or at least I) don’t want to experience it a second time.

As for the specifics — if you’ve seen the second movie, you’ll know the basic plot points of the book. I found the second movie fairly forgettable, so maybe it’s no surprise that I was bored reading this. The plot meandered along, telling the girls’ sob stories until the last 100 pages or so, when they grew brains and started dealing with their lives. You’d think that by the fourth book in a series, I’d be somewhat invested in these characters but for most of the book I didn’t really care what happened to them or if the ending would be satisfying.

That being said, the last third of the book was pretty good. I think I’m glad I slogged through it all, but with a pile of books sitting on my floor waiting to be read I can’t help but wonder if I should have spent my time on something else.

I do feel the need to note that one of my friends loves these books and has been waiting to read this one because she’s so sad it’s the last in the series. It just goes to show that not every book is for every reader. One of the greatest challenges I face as a teacher is looking at a book objectively — being able to recognize value in a book I didn’t enjoy — because it may end up being just the book that one of my reluctant readers will love.

Just like the pants find their way into the girls’ lives, it feels like these books have found their way back into mine.

This book would be a lot better if it wasn’t about tibby and Lena crying over dumb boys

Brashares redeemed herself slightly with the final installment.

However, there are some deep underlying and disturbing issues in the characters that never get resolved. The main message of this novel seems to be "trust in yourself" and "your friends are there for you," which is quite nice but doesn't really show any insight into the characters.

Carmen's story is the only one that connects to the underlying message of the book and the only one that really fits with the set tones of the books. It is age appropriate for the readers without seeming excessively juvenile.
Tibby's pregnancy scare is very realistic and Brashares handles it well, but the premise itself makes me wonder about the age "The Pants" are written for.

Lena's exploration of sexuality is not necessary and does nothing for her character except diminsh her into a more boring version of Bridget. The Kostos storyine appeared to have been played out in the previous stories so bringing him back in an inconclusive manner was not beneficial to the novel. If he is truly supposed to be the love of Lena's life Brashares should have just taken the plunge and let them get together. However, she leaves it just hanging in a very uneventful way. It makes one wonder if she is dreaming of future novels.

However, it is the character of Bridget that I have the most problems with. Brashares has always seems scared to embrace Bee's issues head on. The effect of losing her virginity at such a young age was never fully addressed in either book 1 or book 2. It was alluded to that she had fallen into a depression after the experience but it was never explained why or dealt with in a way that could help readers learn from Bridget's mistakes. It is also highly annoying that her mother's suicide is never dealt with either. The reader never learns what exactly happened nor any of the motivatoin for it. Yes, Bee's closed father is part of the storyline but as the books progress it seems more like a cop-out on Brashares part to avoid having to deal with the situation.

The most disturbing part of Bridget's character that is never dealt with is her draw to romantic relationships with older men that are forbidden in many ways. There are some deep psychological issues going on with Bridget but Brashares refuses to address them. Bee notices her brother's depression but her own manic behavior and "daddy issues" are never addressed. Bridget it not a role model for young girls or teenagers and I would not encourage their exposure to this psychologically disturbed character whose issues the author glosses over and tries to paint as a heroine.

I am glad that I read all of the Traveling pants books because now I know exactly what is contained with in them. The majority of the first novel is a perfect read for the pre-teen and teen, though Bridget's sexual behavior should be discussed, preferabbly along with her manic/depression tendencies. The following novels however are too sexualized for the age group that would be drawn to reading them. If readers were the same age as the characters it might be alright, but the reading level of the books is geared for more of then 12-14 age group and the draw of reading about four friends growing together appeals to an even younger crowd.

I realy would not recommend letting anyone under the of 15 read these books without supervisor. And anyone reading them along with the younger, more interested audience better be prepared to have some heady discussions about teenage sex and sexual behavior.

Of course, such choices are left up to the readers and those buying the books. I believe the sexual antics of the four friends could provide a bad influence to young readers but that it is really the unadressed psychological issues of Bridget that most harmful.

A deeply satisfying conclusion (but not?) to the series. I love these characters and how their imperfections make them endearing and relateable.

I did like this book but definitely not as much as I did the first three. I don’t know if it was just that I couldn’t get behind what happened with each of the girls… But I do know that’s kind of what this book was about. About how they lost one another and once they lost the pants (that they took for granted) they were able to find each other again… so, I’m interested in how book 5 will be.

This book realistically displayed the uncontrollable way that every facet of your life changes when you go to college, from your friendships, your families, your romantic relationships, and yourself, leaving me filled with bittersweet, nostalgic, and depressing feelings.

I have loved all of the books in this serious, but this one is my favorite. The girls seriously struggle with some mental health issues, and you don’t see them gloss over that stuff. You see them dig their heals in, suffer, seclude, ache, doubt, and lash out. You also watch their friends choose to love them fiercely. To say honest but hard things. And you see them face some of their demons like they haven’t been able to before.

Le folle avventure di Matilde nella rilettura della serie "Quattro amiche e un paio di jeans"
Parte quarta

A questo non ho potuto dare tre stelle, perché per quasi tutto il libro non mi interessava sapere delle vicende delle protagoniste. L'unica che ha sollevato il mio interesse è Carmen, cosa piuttosto innovativa, basandomi sui libri precedenti.
Di Bridget non me ne poteva fregare di meno e tutto il casino con Peter mi ha solo fatto arrabbiare. Soprattutto perché quando viene rifiutata (dai, un uomo di famiglia alquanto viscido), lei cade di nuovo in quella specie di depressione. Insomma, se Bridget ha a che fare con un maschio, basta: depressione. Irritante.
Poi il suo tentativo di riprendere contatti con suo fratello mi è sembrato buttato lì totalmente a caso.
Lena mi ha incuriosito un pochino, ma è estremamente monotematica. O è totalmente impegnata nell'arte o coi ragazzi. Però la storia con Leo è stato un interessante twist. Ho apprezzato. Però con Kostos mi ha fatto cadere le braccia.
Ma la delusione più grande è stata Tibby. Il vuoto cosmico. Passa circa cento pagine ad aspettare che le arrivino le mestruazioni e, per quanto capisca l'ansia che l'attesa procura, ad un certo punto mi sono rotta le scatole. Inoltre, la storia con Brian non mi convince:
1-sembra che stiano insieme solo perché si sono conosciuti tramite Bailey;
2-lui è senza spina dorsale e non in modo "carino" o "romantico". Mi sembra che si faccia trattare da zerbino solo perché la ama da morire e così via.
Dopo di che mi verrebbe un'angoscia esistenziale se il mio ragazzo mi facesse pressione in maniera indiretta portandosi nel portafoglio un preservativo dopo avere detto che non sono pronta. Sono a New York, per la miseria. I distributori non esistono da almeno quindici anni? E poi, dai. Anche se non ce l'avete nel momento preciso, la prossima volta sapete che forse si farà il grande passo e vi preparate, ma così è solo angosciante. Poi appunto, portarlo così sempre nel portafoglio... Ci credo che si è rotto.
E niente, mi è sembrata totalmente infantile, dando solo la colpa a Brian, che di certo non è innocente, ma non prendendo la sua fetta di responsabilità se non verso la fine.
Mi è spiaciuto tantissimo per Effie, anche se idealmente dovrei detestarla perché ha perso i jeans, ma alla fine è stata onesta ed è stata solo usata e raggirata.
Giustizia per Effie.

Ammetto che le ultime 50 pagine mi hanno preso molto, ma mi è sembrato fuori dal mondo che così dal nulla prendessero il primo volo per la Grecia. Quale genitore spende almeno mille dollari di volo dal nulla? Bah.