This was cute. I really liked how the characters developed. They both grew apart and had their own lives but also grew together. Again it was just kinda the same plot. They each have a conflict and distance themselves away from each other and then all of a sudden they're like "oh maybe I should talk to my friends about this". A cute, fluffy read but repetitive.

One of the things that I liked about this series is how relatable the girls are; it's so easy to see yourself in shy Lena, free-spirited Bee who runs away from her problems, skeptical and sarcastic Tibby, and strong, loyal, and oftentimes dramatic Carmen. Brashares has written four strong, down to earth, and flawed characters into existence, and it is this along with their loyalty to one another that makes one wish that they too could be part of the sisterhood.

That being said, the strength of the storylines for each of the girls varied from book to book. In this fourth installment, I was drawn to Carmen's and Bee's storylines; I liked how Carmen learned to be more self confident after losing her sense of self, and how Bee, her dad, and her brother Perry finally dealt with their grief and came together as a family. I also liked how the sisterhood became about more than just the pants. I'm sure that readers knew this from the beginning, but "Forever in Blue" spells it out for us: the sisterhood is not connected to a particular time or place, it's in the heart. Can't wait to read the next book.

2.5

This was just OK. It was as interesting as the other books and I really only enjoyed the ending. I didn't like Bridget's story until the end when she reconnected with her father and brother. Lena's story was just a mess. Tibby's story was OK but it was frustrating seeing her push Brian away... again. Carmen's was probably the most interesting and satisfying.

Libby: This is the one where I guess the girls finally learn how to be people by making very questionable decisions. Bee makes out with a married authority figure while she has a boyfriend (her statutory rapist from book one), Tibby loses her virginity to bf Brian after he gets her drunk and proceeds to have sex with her when her response to "are you sure" is "I don't know" so when she freaks that the condom broke, and she needs some space to figure out what it means, he just goes and semi-dates Lena's little sister Effie...and he's supposed to be one of the "good guys." Lena loses her virginity in this book, to an art student after they draw each other naked (actually, her first time was the only one that I support). Carmen finds an acting passion after letting some "friend" bully her into only being a stage hand and tries to get her to mess up her lines. Her poor choices in this one are for once reasonable. I think the author felt bad that Carmen was always pictured as the hot-headed Latina trying to sabotage everyone's lives.

They lose the pants because they've been wearing them all freshman year instead of just in the summer so they've lost their magic. They go to Greece to try and find them...and then just decide they were using the pants as a crutch to not hang out. Lol. Wat. The pants were barely even a part of this book. Half the important moments were while the pants were in someone's suitcase, not on.

Read by Angelea Goethals. #booksin23

(4 Stars ★) Phew, so that's the end huh? I kind of don't know how to form my thoughts. I loved this wholeheartedly, just as much as the other books, but it just wasn't as special. I LOVED IT, don't get me wrong at all! I just felt like this wasn't a 5 star? I didn't feel anything at the end even though this is TECHNICALLY the last book and I feel like I should've felt something.
I always felt so connected to Tibby's storyline and this time it went down a completely different read (which I have not even come near-) BUT I always loved Lena's parts. This time especially. I was just really sad ab the ending :c I truly don't know what to say. I did feel like skipping over a few parts at times too (not for a specific girl, just at times.)

The girls were tested as they got sucked into their college lives. So far away from each and such a struggle to try to get together, the pants pulled one last trick to help keep them together.
The struggles of identity, change, heartbreak, pending adulthood, and more are present in such a dynamic way.

While the book had shifted into new problems, I found the results almost the same as in previous books. That didn't mean they weren't impactful. They were. Still inspirational and filled with relatable obstacles that were faced and overcome in a wholesome way. I find books that develop and change through the course of natural time to be fantastic. As the reader grew, the characters grew hoping to help guide the reader through their own similar issues. At least that's how I figure.

These books hold grace and dignity in handling issues that would send so many over the dramatic deep end these days. And the hold on friendship as it ages was still beautiful. Their friendship may have taken them long distance, making it difficult to stick together, and sort out how not to lose themselves and their friendship.


Full Review:
https://thescarletreaderreviews.wordp...

This was personally my most favourite book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. All four storylines were exciting and engaging. I couldn't put the book down, as I was literally reading for hours. This book was definitely more mature than the first three. Many lessons were learned by all girls that mad them grow up for their future years.I would recommend this book to anyone even if they didn't enjoy any of the previous ones. I'm even more excited to read the fifth and sadly last book in this series!!!

2.5 stars. I think I liked Carmen's story more, surprisingly, than the other girl's. Hey journey about acting was interesting and her roommate was a vindictive B. Tubby seriously needed to communicate with Brian instead of withdraw. I don't enjoy storylines where something goes wrong during their first time. It's cliche and tiring. Lena definitely pushed her comfort boundaries with Leo but I liked that. While it sucks Kostas was being tricked, he should not have shown up in the first place. I was enjoying Bridget until she decided to hit on a 30 year old married man. Come on. I had respect for you in the last 2 books but you kind of lost it now.
I find it hard to believe all 4 girls got permission from their parents and enough money to buy 4 roundtrip tickets to Greece at the last minute!

I think the depth and growth of these girls in book four is what I love the most. They all realized that they are their own individual person apart from their sisterhood.

“She stood up her straightest, to her full woman’s height of five feet and ten and a half inches. If she didn’t take her life seriously, who would? She was becoming the person she’d be for her whole life. Each thing she chose contributed to that person. She didn’t want to be like this.”

I just love these girls and now young women and what they represent to each of us who has experienced these life lessons or stood beside our friends and sisters who have.

I wish these books would have found me when I was teenager. I have no doubt that I would enjoy every book and would found comfort in them.

I usually tend to enjoy YA books, and rarely feel like being too grown up for them, but this series makes me file like I might actually be (you know - too old)

Que emoción. Han pasado como 20 años desde que leí el anterior. Está pensado para haberlo leído hace 10 años pero me llegó de la misma manera. Los temas de mujeres jovenes. La sororidad. El amor. Una serie maravillosa.

Una satisfactoria conclusión para una saga con sus altibajos, más bajos que altos.

Este libro es una conclusión y un cierre para la saga. Hay un libro más pero se puede ignorar. Esta novela en específico mejoró bastante en comparación con los anteriores. Los anteriores eran repetitivos y este al principio era similar pero tuvo una evolución aceptable.

Me gustó el cierre de las historias principales, Lena y Kostos, Tibby y Brian, Bridget y Eric, las cuatro protagonistas y sus problemas. Lastima que (spoiler) Carmen nunca perdiera su virginidad. Pero tiene toda la vida por delante.

La autora escribió de mejor forma. Su narrativa y descripciones fueron superiores a los libros anteriores. Hubo escenas emotivas y bonitas que no me esperaba. Me gustó que no se enfocaran en ciertos personajes secundarios pues estos tuvieron sus conclusiones en las novelas anteriores y añadirle más hubiera afectado el ritmo y solo hubiera sido relleno. Lo que me disgustó es que nunca explicaron porque Carmen y Wyn no continuaron su relación.

El final estuvo bonito. Las protagonistas demostraron que son más que un par de pantalones y que a pesar de estar separadas siempre estarán juntas de corazón.

Una saga que aunque no fue excelente sirve para pasar el rato, relajarse y evaluarse a si mismo. No es necesario leer el quinto libro que será puro relleno.