Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood

This is a reissue of Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants) , the FOURTH book of the Traveling Pants series, not The Second Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Book 2) , the second book; the new title is a tie-in with The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (Widescreen Edition) , the second Traveling Pants movie. (The movie uses some plot elements from books 2, 3, and 4, but is mostly based on the final book.) If you want a copy of Forever in Blue with the movie characters on the cover, rather than one that matches the other three books, here it is. It brings the series to a mostly satisfying end; the only real disappointment is that it IS the end, at least for now. Perhaps Brashares will revisit the Sisterhood later in life someday.

This product was everything that I hoped it would be and it came in excellent condition.

I could not wait for this book to come out and it definitely did not disappoint. I was in highschool when I first started reading this series, and now, just a few months away from being a college graduate, I still feel the same about these books. I feel that I grew up along with these girls. I really liked how this book focused on the girls more as individuals, not as a whole group needing each other constantly. All of their storylines were unique to their own personalities and I think that Brashares really stayed true to all of her characters through the entire series. Carmen's story line really upset me, and many times I found myself just trying to get through her parts. I really did feel for her though. College can be very overwhelming and I am glad that this issue was discussed. Lena's character, I felt, did a lot of changing throughout this book. When Kosto's name appeared in the very beginning, I was semi-annoyed that she wasn't over him yet, but I did thoroughly enjoy her storyline. Bee is the character that I always felt was very random, but very entertaining. You will not be disappointed with her story, yet again. Tibby's story line was definitley my favorite. She absolutely broke my heart. Brashares writes her part so tenderly, it brought tears to my eyes many times. Knowing how much she loved Brian, and the dealing with all of the emotions and feelings that she had really made be appreciate Tibby. If you think Tibby freaked out too much, or over-reacted in anyway, you either have never truely loved someone, or have never been in that situation. I have never been so upset that a series is over. I really loved these books and hope that Brashares starts a new series that is just as good. The first 3 books I would recommend for children as young as 13 or 14, but this final book is for a much older crowd. I don't think I would let anyone younger than 16 or 17 read this, due to some of the adult situations. Overall, these are some of the best books I have ever read, especially if you are around the age of the girls, or just want to feel young again.

I very much enjoyed this book. I think it is the strongest in the series since the first one a very wonderful finish to the the quartet of books. Each girl is growing in new and unexpected directions. **spoiler alert** Lena is in art school and she is really enjoying it, while there she meets a boy, Leo, who she is attracted to because of his art skill--the attraction does later envelop more than his paintings and the Greek Virgin has something to write to her friends about. Her story is very very sensual in this book. Tibby is still at school working away on film studies. Brian is still her happy puppy of a boyfriend until a night were the kissing goes to far, the condom breaks--and Tibby breaks up with Brian leading both of them very far away from each other. Tibby is always having to learn the same lesson in each book it seems, to trust others and her own heart (I sort of wanted to smack her at several points in this, and she is my favorite girl). Carmen is off at school and doesn't know what to do with out the rest of her friends, she withdraws (something i was not expecting at all, it seems completely out of character to me) She wears baggy clothes and no makeup, she puts on weight and doesn't speak up, her one friend tramples all over her. Until, a casting director decides Carmen would be perfect for the part of Perdita in a Winter's Tale, a part her one friend wants. (Its not much of a surprise that this friend isn't much of a friend) Carmen is the only girl of the four without a love interest--which surprises me because there was an unfinished hint of one with her step brother in previous books, but he's not even mentioned. Bee seems to also, like Tibby, be repeating past mistakes. She is away in Turkey on a archaelogical dig, there is a young attractive (but married) guy who is in charge of her. Bee does her best to attract him, it is just like with Eric, except she is dating Eric at this point and just when the guy is about to give in his wife and kids show up to surprise him for his birthday. Bee seems to have gotten some of the strongest writing in this book her scenes with the ancient floor and the bones are amazingly well written, almost poetical. But she seems to have finally learned her lesson and takes it home with her in a struggle to make her family a real family again. The book ends with the girls reuniting in a desperate quest to Greece (classicaly ironic there) and it is where Lena's story has its conclusion, the other girls are sort of there as back up. The ultimate ending of the book is very bittersweet, but not surprising. A great great ending to a wonderful series. I hope Brashares writes more books even if they aren't part of this series because she does have a real gift. This is definately not a book for younger girls as it does have more sex in it than the previous three though always in a very mature way.

If you've read the other three books in this series, you're going to love this installment. If you haven't, read those first three books and then check this out. Forever in Blue has the four girls fresh out of their first year of college, and a lot has changed. Carmen hasn't found her niche in life yet and feels like she doesn't belong to anything, so she's doing her best to avoid the other three seemingly successful girls and instead goes to a theater camp with a college friend, to work on sets instead of act. Tibby is taking a summer class at her college and is still in love with Brian... until a pregnancy scare makes her hide. Lena is in an art class, lusting after the first guy she's been interested in since Kostos. And Bee is in Turkey, doing an archaeological dig and becoming closer and closer friends with a young professor there (nevermind that she has a boyfriend and he's married!). While this book deals with more mature and adult themes than the first three, it is no less charming. The author writes beautifully and manages to include numerous thought-provoking statements that are easy to relate to. You will feel yourself being pulled into the novel, unable to stop reading. The ending of this novel is more satisfying than those in the past have been, likely because this is the last one and readers want to know what happens in the future. Most loose ends are tied up nicely, and the few that aren't are hinted at so you are able to draw your own conclusion. I highly recommend this book for those of you who have ever spent time reading about Tibby, Bee, Lena, and Carmen - you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to reread it myself.