Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Initial Situation
Please Don't Leave Me
For the first time ever, a close-knit group of friends—Lena, Carmen, Bridget, and Tibby—will be spending the summer apart, scattered all over the place in different states and countries. Worried about how they'll survive this separation, the solution comes in the form of a rather magical pair of jeans that fits each one of them perfectly. The girls agree to take turns wearing the pants before sending them on to another girl in the group, along with a note detailing whatever happens while the pants are in their possession.
And with that, we've got ourselves a Sisterhood—bring it on, summer.
Complication
We Hate It When That Happens
As so often happens, though, summer vacation isn't quite what it's cracked up to be. Carmen's father has a new family that he kinda failed to mention; Bridget has the hots for a coach at soccer camp; Lena is annoyed by the handsome boy who pursues her as she summers at her grandparents' house in Greece; and back at home, the good news is that Tibby has found a new friend—but the bad news is that her new friend is dying of cancer. Faced with so many new experiences, it's lucky these four friends have the Pants to keep them connected.
Climax
So Much for Magical Pants
Things get worse before they get better. Carmen hates her father's new family, and her anger builds until she loses her temper and throws rocks through her father's dining room window—then packs her bags and heads back to her mom's house.
In Mexico, Coach Eric caves to Bridget's advances, but instead of being thrilled, she instantly regrets their encounter. And over in Greece, it's peep show central when Kostos sees Lena skinny dipping. Embarrassed, Lena convinces her grandparents that Kostos is a stalker, causing a fight between their two families. Back in Maryland, Tibby is avoiding Bailey because she is dying.
As our book climaxes, it seems like each member of the Sisterhood might have botched her summer for good.
Falling Action
The Summer Isn't So Bad After All
Wearing the Pants, Carmen finds it in her heart to attend her father's wedding, and while she's there they father agree to be honest with each other. Things aren't going so well over at soccer camp, though, and Bridget slips into a depression that not even her cleats can kick her out of. Lena, however, finally makes things right and admits she lied about Kostos. She apologizes to the beautiful Greek boy and finally they kiss. Tibby also finds courage, as she summons the nerve to sit with Bailey on her deathbed.
Things aren't exactly all good, but each girl's story is definitely winding down, even though in Bridget's case it's kind of a bummer.
Resolution
Stay Tuned for More
The Sisterhood reunites, and while the group is essentially the same, each of the girls is slightly different after their summer adventures. They fill each other in about what's happened for each of them, but it's hard to share everything. As the story closes, they set the Pants aside—until next summer that is.