Hi guys! Happy Wednesday! Today I’m going to be reviewing Ann Brashares’ series The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by: Ann Brashares: Summer is approaching and four close friends will be spending it a part for the first time. Lena is off to Greece, Carmen to South Carolina, Bridgette to California and Tibby is staying in D.C. But before they depart, Carmen buys a pair of jeans that the girls all try on and find they fit into. This begins the Sisterhood of the traveling pants. This story was surprisingly good and heartwarming. The novel starts off slow, and even though the reader knows the premise of the novel, they have no idea the stories and adventures these four girls are going to have. What started as a soft and fluffy read turned into a novel that just touches the surface to a few tough subjects. Because this novel doesn’t get too detailed, just touching the surface was perfect for this short read. These characters were fun to read, they were fierce and it was good to see them come out of their shells and start to become their own people. It will be interesting to see where these girls go in the next novel, to follow them and see how much more they grow, and see more of their adventures. This novel was really sweet and fast-paced leaving the reader ready for more.

The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by: Ann Brashares: The girls are back and bringing the pants out once more. Even though they are closer in distance this summer, they still manage to feel far away from each other. Tibby is off at a film co-op collage, Lena is at home but missing her Greek boyfriend, Carmen is also at home but ruining relationships, and Bridget is off to visit her long lost grandmother trying to build a relationship. All four girls feel out of sorts, but it’s their sisterhood that holds them together. If the first book was any indication on how deep the topics were going to get, this only left the reader half prepared. So many life changes happen for these characters and the way they react and grow to them is so reflective and relatable to that of a young adult. This novel was heartwarming at times, but it could also be downright soul-crushing at others, but still the important life lessons each girl learns throughout the course of the novel are monumental and important. The plot was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions, but it was a journey the reader was happy to be on. Following these characters is fun and inspiring, and the reader definitely wants to continue.

Girls in Pants by: Ann Brashares: Another summer is about to embark on the four sisters, only this one is a special summer, it’s their last official summer together before they go off to college. Each one of the girls has their own journey to follow, but the main theme that all of them seem to find is love, whether that be in boys, family or themselves, each girl learns how to really love. This novel was just as well written and well put together as the previous two. Watching these characters’ blossom and grow right before the reader’s eyes was so enjoyable. The enjoyment really happens because Brashares know how to create characters who are not only loveable, but they are relatable to the reader. The adventures these girls go on once more is a fun ride of self-discovery and perseverance to see how far and how willing they are to go for the things they really care about. This novel was never once boring; there were moments throughout where the reader forgot about the pants as they were mentioned in the beginning and then brought back in near the end, but it was welcoming to be reminded of the pants. The plot development was slow, but that is what made this novel work because without it, the reader wouldn’t have been able to see how far these characters come from beginning to end. These novels seem to get better as time goes on, and they are definitely worth the read, and are a great pick me up.

Forever in Blue by: Ann Brashares: After spending the entire summer away from each other getting wrapped up in their own lives it’s the pants that ultimately bring the four sisters together one last time before their lives change with their future endeavours. This novel, like the past three, transpose the reader into their world where they feel like one of the girls. Again, these characters felt so relatable and they were so well crafted. The way they mature from young teenagers to young adults throughout this series was such a joy to experience. The plots in this novel may not have been all relatable, but the reader still feels for the characters. The writing was engaging, at times witty but was overall compelling, especially if you’ve fallen for these characters. The ending really felt like the perfect send-off to these novels. As much as it was sad, it also felt liberating. These are perfect coming of age novels that teach love, acceptance, friendship, heartbreak, and so much more. This was definitely a worthy feel good read.

Sisterhood Everlasting by: Ann Brashares: It’s ten years later and the young girls have transformed into women; all with their own lives, but something is missing, that closeness the four girls used to share. So when Tibby reaches out to each of them to meet in Greece, the girls could not be happier. But what unravels are a series of mysteries and self-discoveries that each girl must go on. Brashares is an excellent writer. She made us fall in love with these four girls, and the love for them will continue on. This closing chapter to their lives was at first jarring and felt out of place, but over the course of the novel, the reader realizes that it’s not jarring at all, and that these novels have come full circle, that it was the perfect ending for them. The overall story was sad, but the interweaving plots that each girl goes through is so important and so heartwarming that by the end the reader doesn’t feel sad anymore, but love. Brashares has crafted these girls so well, that they no longer feel like characters in a book, but friends. As much as it’s sad to say goodbye to them, they feel as though they got the ending they deserved. All of these novels were so worth the read, they teach so much about love, loss, friendship and so much more. These are definitely books that touch the soul.