If you loved

Books like Girls in Pants

A poignant and fun celebration of best friends sharing one last bittersweet summer before stepping into adulthood. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Girls in Pants.

bittersweet
nostalgic
affectionate

01
Forever in Blue
Ann Brashares
A bittersweet, sun-drenched farewell to adolescence that feels like a long hug from your oldest friend.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- nostalgic
- earnest
02
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series, Book 1)
Ann Brashares
A sun-drenched, heartfelt ode to the enduring magic of teenage friendship and the bittersweet pangs of growing up.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- earnest
- coming of age
03
Firefly Lane
Kristin Hannah
A sweeping, tear-jerking ode to the messy, unbreakable bond of a lifelong friendship spanning three decades.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- nostalgic
- poignant
- earnest
04
Pants on Fire
Meg Cabot
A sun-drenched, chaotic summer romp about the exhausting work of keeping up appearances and the relief of finally letting go.
Shares:
- fun
05
Best Friends
Shannon Hale
A deeply relatable, visually expressive journey through the emotional rollercoaster of middle school social politics.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
06
L8r, g8r
Lauren Myracle
A rapid-fire, deeply nostalgic time capsule of early internet teenage friendship, told entirely through the glow of a chat window.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- nostalgic
- earnest
- coming of age
07
The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy
Jenny Han
A sun-drenched, nostalgic dive into the messy, bittersweet ache of growing up and falling in love at the beach.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- nostalgic
- earnest
- coming of age
08
Princess in Training
Meg Cabot
A delightfully dramatic, laugh-out-loud plunge into the chaotic mind of a teenager juggling royal duties, high school politics, and first-love anxieties.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
09
Shug
Jenny Han
A tender, bittersweet snapshot of the exact moment when childhood friendships begin to change and the world suddenly feels too big.
Shares:
- bittersweet
- nostalgic
- earnest
10
Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins
A cinematic, banter-filled love letter to Paris and the dizzying, agonizing thrill of an all-consuming crush.
Shares:
- earnest
- coming of age
11
The things we do for love
Kristin Hannah
A tender, tear-jerking exploration of found family and the unexpected ways a broken heart can heal.
Shares:
- poignant
- earnest
12
Dress Coded
Carrie Firestone
A spirited, rallying cry of a book that channels middle school frustration into an empowering revolution.
Shares:
- earnest

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