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Quick answer: If you loved The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, read Girls in Pants and Forever in Blue, then try The Summer I Turned Pretty, Since You've Been Gone, The Truth About Forever and Little Women. All celebrate friendship, family and growing up.
Ann Brashares's novel follows four friends, Carmen, Lena, Tibby and Bridget, who share a magical pair of jeans as they spend their first summer apart. The books below share that mix of friendship, romance and self-discovery. Most are for teens, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Second Summer of the Sisterhood | Ann Brashares | Teen | the sequel |
| Girls in Pants | Ann Brashares | Teen | series readers |
| Forever in Blue | Ann Brashares | Teen | series finale |
| The Summer I Turned Pretty | Jenny Han | Teen | beach summers |
| Since You've Been Gone | Morgan Matson | Teen | friendship first |
| The Truth About Forever | Sarah Dessen | Teen | friends and healing |
| Along for the Ride | Sarah Dessen | Teen | beach vibes |
| Anna and the French Kiss | Stephanie Perkins | Teen | sweet romance |
| Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | Teen | the classic sisters |
| Summer Sisters | Judy Blume | Adult | grown-up friends |
| To All the Boys I've Loved Before | Jenny Han | Teen | family and romance |
| Dumplin' | Julie Murphy | Teen | confidence boosters |
| Eleanor & Park | Rainbow Rowell | Teen | slow-burn romance |
| Firefly Lane | Kristin Hannah | Adult | lifelong friendships |
| Save the Date | Morgan Matson | Teen | big-family chaos |
1. The Second Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares
The second book follows the friends through another summer with new challenges. Warm and funny.
Best for: the sequel.
2. Girls in Pants by Ann Brashares
The third book finds the friends in their last summer before college. Emotional and sweet.
Best for: series readers.
3. Forever in Blue by Ann Brashares
The fourth book sees them after their first year of college. Sad and hopeful.
Best for: series finale.
4. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Belly spends summers at a beach house with two brothers. Warm, nostalgic and romantic.
Best for: beach summers.
5. Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Emily follows her best friend's to-do list across one summer. Funny, warm and about friendship.
Best for: friendship first.
6. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Macy works at a catering company and finds a new group of friends. Gentle and real.
Best for: friends and healing.
7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Auden spends a summer at the beach and finds friends and first love. Quiet and heartfelt.
Best for: beach vibes.
8. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Anna is sent to a Paris boarding school and falls for a charming classmate. Swoony and fun.
Best for: sweet romance.
9. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Four sisters grow up in New England during the Civil War. The classic of sisterly love.
Best for: the classic sisters.
10. Summer Sisters by Judy Blume
Two friends share summers on Martha's Vineyard for decades. Blume's adult novel about friendship and desire.
Best for: grown-up friends.
11. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Lara Jean's secret love letters are mailed by mistake. Sweet, funny and full of family warmth.
Best for: family and romance.
12. Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
A plus-size Texas girl enters a beauty pageant. Funny and body-positive.
Best for: confidence boosters.
13. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Two misfits fall in love on a school bus in 1986. Tender and painful.
Best for: slow-burn romance.
14. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Two best friends grow up together from the 1970s to the 2000s. Emotional and long.
Best for: lifelong friendships.
15. Save the Date by Morgan Matson
A chaotic wedding weekend brings a big family together. Light, funny and warm.
Best for: big-family chaos.
How to Choose
To stay with the Sisterhood, read the sequels in order. For summer stories, The Summer I Turned Pretty and Along for the Ride. For friendship, Since You've Been Gone. For classics, Little Women. For grown-up readers, Summer Sisters and Firefly Lane. Share a book with a friend for a mini book club. Share these books with a friend or a group. Many readers pass them around, which fits the book's theme of sharing the jeans. Audiobooks and film versions are easy to find. If you loved the friendship plot, try writing letters to your own friends.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants about?
Four friends share a pair of jeans that fits them all and mail it to each other during their first summer apart.
How many Sisterhood books are there?
Five: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Second Summer of the Sisterhood, Girls in Pants, Forever in Blue and Sisterhood Everlasting.
Is there a movie?
Yes. A 2005 film starred Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Blake Lively.
What age is it for?
Most readers are 12 and up.
Is the book sad?
It has sad moments but is mostly warm and funny.
Who are the four girls?
Carmen, Lena, Tibby and Bridget, friends since before birth, who share a pair of jeans.
Is the book only for girls?
No. Anyone who enjoys friendship stories can enjoy it.
Does the book deal with serious topics?
Yes. It includes grief, family troubles and first love.
Is there a sequel to the film?
Yes. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 was released in 2008.
Is it a good gift for a graduation?
Yes. The theme of friends staying close while growing up fits the occasion well.