Girls in Pants (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Book 3)

Having recently read The Third Summer of the Sisterhood, I highly recommend this and the three before it. Actually, I mostly recommend this and the other books to mature girls because of it being about teenage girls who demonstrate how real teenage girls act. As a matter of fact, whenever one of my friends asks me what books they should read I always first mention this series. If they say they have already read it, we end up getting of topic and start talking about how great the book is. One of the reasons why this book is so great is because of it being so real, but yet it still has the romance and fun that every girl dreams of. For instance, when one of the girls mother is getting remarried, then having to deal with that would be like a real life situation. Or, since one of the girls gets to hang out with her biggest crush the whole summer, then she gets to experience some true romance. So, although the book shows wishes coming true, it also demonstrates that not everyone and their actions are perfect. All in all, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series are the best books that I have ever read. I'm hoping that Ann Brashares will write a fourth book, but I having a feeling that the third one will be the last.

"Girls in Pants" is the third segment (out of four, apparently) of Ann Brashares's bestselling series about four girls and their magical pair of pants. It is a worthy addition to the collection and will NOT disappoint. It's the last summer before the girls go away to college and as they cope with this fact, they are each bombarded with problems, relationships, and their pasts. Tibby does not know how to look at her burgeoning feelings for Brian, and her troubles are only furthered when a situation involving her little sister disrupts the...well, the other problems. Carmen discovers that Christina is pregnant, with the baby due to arrive the month she leaves for Williams University. On top of that, she is "grandmother-sitting" a homesick Valia and conveniently discovering love at the elderly woman's hospital (Win, Win, Win). Bee is off to soccer camp again, but this time she's a coach. There she finds that a certain camp counselor from her past is a now a colleague, complete with his gorgeous looks and a girlfriend back home. Finally, Lena, who is trying to get over Kostos while Carmen's stepbrother, Paul awaits her, is forbidden to attend the art school she has been looking forward to (or has she?) for so long. In an art project for a scholarship, she apprehensively probes the emotions of her family , Paul, and those within herself. Brashares is an artist with words and metaphors. She carefully layers this book with emotion, symbolism, love, humor, friendship, and of course...a pair of magical pants. "Girls in Pants" is a delightful second-to-last installment of the series, sure to bring joy to readers, old and new.

This book was so great. It dealt with the girls growing up a little and realizing what each of them has inside plus the support of each other and family, they can make it in the world. They all are sad because they know at the end of this summer they will have to separate and make a way for themselves in the world, but are hoping to still stay close. Wish it was this way but for many of us, we know that life gets busy and friends grow apart. This book however the girls lean on each other a bit, but are a bit more independent. They learn to rely on themselves a bit more. Like Lena, who wants to go to art college but her dad forbids it. He won't pay for her to, so now she must work to get a scholarship. Carmen must deal with her mom and David having a new baby, just as she is ready to leave for college. Tibby must deal with her siblings and what she really feels about Brian. Bee is coaching a soccer camp and must deal with the past. It all went so fast you won't want to go to sleep until you read the last page. I do hope there is another book, but this one was the best!

I read all three of the books in the series over the same weekend - I just couldn't get enough of them! They may be intended for a younger audience (I am 30), but so many of the observations by the characters were remarkably poignant. Carmen, for example, states that she always hated the excuse "Life's too short" because when you act on that basis, you may spend the rest of your life being punished for that action. Some of the smaller scenes were also very effective. For example, when Tibby asks the lonely woman who works in the theater to go to dinner with her, she learns that, while it is nice gesture, not everyone wants to be "helped" or taken out of her comfort zone. It is scenes like this that prevent the book from being cliched or preachy. Even the romances, while somewhat predictable, are a welcome reminder that all it takes is the anticipation of a first kiss to give you goosebumps - you don't need a scene in a rated-R movie. These books made me want to call up all of my friends over the years and thank them for having a profound effect on my life.

after reading the first two pants books, i eagerly awaited the third. i have to admit i was really nervous as i bought the book, hoping it wouldn't turn out to be a ginormous let down. thankfully, it was as good if not better than the first ones. I read the book in about twelve hours, not my record, but i definetly didnt sleep that night. anyway, i highly recommend the third installment because the characters teach valuable lessons to girls my age without us even knowing it.