Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood
by Ann Brashares
The summer after freshman year of college - the friends are scattered, changed, and struggling. The pants bring them together as they navigate who they're becoming.
Spoiler Warning
This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own discretion if you haven't finished the book yet.
Overview
Forever in Blue follows Carmen, Tibby, Bridget, and Lena through the summer after their freshman year of college. They're scattered, changed, and for the first time, their unbreakable bond feels fragile.
What Makes This Book Important
This installment tackles the reality that maintaining lifelong friendships requires work, especially when everyone is changing in different directions. It's less about the magic of the pants and more about the hard work of staying connected.
This Summer's Stories
Carmen
At a playwriting program, she's finally thriving - finding her voice, falling in love, and discovering who she wants to be. For once, she's not the one struggling.
Tibby
At NYU with Brian, but hiding a pregnancy and abortion from everyone, even her best friends. The secret is destroying her from the inside.
Bridget
In Alabama, searching for her grandmother and trying to connect with the mother she barely remembers. She's still looking for home.
Lena
Heartbroken when Kostos arrives married, she must finally accept that she lost him and figure out how to move forward.
What I Loved
The Honesty About College Friendships
The book doesn't pretend staying close is easy. It shows the work, the hurt feelings, the jealousy, and the effort required.
Tibby's Secret
Her storyline about abortion is handled with sensitivity and realism. The secret and its revelation feel authentic.
Carmen's Growth
Seeing her finally thriving is wonderful. Her arc about finding confidence and voice is satisfying.
The Realistic Conflict
For the first time, the friendship is truly tested. They're hurting each other, keeping secrets, and struggling to connect.
The Resolution
The reconciliation doesn't magically fix everything - it's messy, honest, and hard-won.
Key Themes
Friendship Across Distance
Staying close when you're living different lives requires intention, effort, and grace.
The Cost of Secrets
Tibby's secret shows how hiding important things creates distance even from people who love you.
Change Is Inevitable
All four are becoming different people. The question is whether their friendship can evolve too.
Finding Your Voice
Carmen's journey about discovering confidence and creative expression.
Letting Go
Lena must finally accept that holding onto what was prevents moving toward what could be.
The Complexity
What Works
- Honest portrayal of college friendship challenges
- Sensitive handling of abortion
- Satisfying character arcs
- Realistic conflict and resolution
- Carmen's growth
What's Challenging
- The pacing feels slower
- Some storylines feel less developed
- The magic of earlier books feels diluted
- Some plot points feel rushed
Why 4.1 Stars?
This is a solid, important entry in the series that tackles real issues with honesty. The character growth is meaningful, and the central message about fighting for friendship is important.
However, it doesn't quite reach the emotional heights of earlier books. Some story lines feel less developed, and the pacing is uneven.
Who Should Read This
- Anyone who loved the first three books
- College students navigating changing friendships
- Those dealing with life-changing decisions
- Readers who appreciate honest portrayals of friendship challenges
- Anyone who's felt friendships slipping away
The Series Evolution
- Books 1-3: High school summers
- Book 4: College summer - new phase, new challenges
- The shift from adolescence to adulthood is clear
Most Powerful Moments
Tibby's revelation: Heartbreaking and necessary
Lena seeing Kostos married: Devastating
Bridget finding her grandmother: Deeply moving
The four reconnecting: Hard-won and beautiful
Final Thoughts
Forever in Blue is an honest, sometimes painful exploration of maintaining childhood friendships through major life changes. It shows that staying close requires honesty, effort, and accepting that everyone is evolving.
While it doesn't quite match the magic of the earlier books, it's an important chapter in the Sisterhood story. The challenges feel real, the emotions are authentic, and the message is crucial: true friendships can survive distance and change - if you fight for them.
This book is about:
- The hard work of maintaining friendships
- The cost of keeping secrets
- Growing up and growing apart (or not)
- Finding your voice and your path
- Accepting change while holding onto love
A worthy continuation that shows the series maturing along with its characters. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Notes & Takeaways
Growing Apart and Growing Up
Forever in Blue tackles the hardest part of maintaining lifelong friendships - what happens when you're all changing in different directions and the distance feels impossible to bridge?
After Freshman Year
Carmen: At a playwriting program, falling for an older TA, and discovering her voice as a writer and a woman.
Tibby: At NYU and in a serious relationship with Brian, but hiding a secret from everyone - even herself.
Bridget: In Alabama at an archaeological program, searching for the mother she lost and trying to find herself.
Lena: At art school and blindsided when Kostos shows up married, forcing her to confront what she's lost.
The Central Conflict
For the first time, the foursome is fracturing:
- Tibby is keeping secrets
- Lena is heartbroken and withdrawn
- Bridget is searching for something she can't name
- Carmen is the only one thriving, but feels guilty about it
They're realizing that staying close requires effort, honesty, and accepting that they're all changing.
Difficult Truths
Maintaining friendships across distance is hard work
People change, and that's both beautiful and painful
Secrets damage even the strongest bonds
Sometimes love means letting go (Lena and Kostos)
Finding yourself might mean disappointing others
The Resolution
The book shows that:
- True friendships can survive change and distance
- Honesty is essential, even when it's hard
- Supporting friends means accepting their choices
- Growing up doesn't mean growing apart - if you fight for it
Why It Resonates
This book captures the specific challenge of maintaining childhood friendships when everyone is becoming different people. The struggle feels authentic and important.
You Might Also Like
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
by Ann Brashares
The summer before college - the last summer of innocence, of being together, of the magic pants. Carmen, Tibby, Bridget, and Lena face their biggest transition yet.
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
by Ann Brashares
The pants are back for a second summer as Carmen, Tibby, Bridget, and Lena face new challenges, deeper heartbreak, and the continued magic of their unbreakable friendship.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
by Ann Brashares
Four best friends, one pair of magical jeans, and a summer apart that brings them closer together. A heartwarming story about friendship, growth, and the bonds that hold us together.