Requests
I guess I try to give the people what they want, so if you really want me to post about a book, I will try as hard as I can to do so, but there are no guarantees. It depends if I can get the book for a cheap price and if it can be found used somewhere. Post your requests here.
Girl talk books!
The SVH Super Edition vacation in France thingamajig. I’ll try to find the title ^^;
The title is _Spring Break_ — I remember adoring this one when I was younger. Then again, I’m a francophile.
The mad SV Twins horror stories. I recall a particularly senseless caper involving Liz getting possessed by a ghost who lived on a ferris wheel?
Regina Morrow ODs please! Can’t remember the title but I’m pretty sure it’s #40.
Oooh, the Sweet Valley Twins “frightening four”: #97 – Too Scared to Sleep; #98 – The Beast is Watching You; #99 – The Beast Must Die; and #100 – If I Die before I Wake
Ok, the Lynne Henry one is next on my list.
Ooh, I can’t wait for the Lynne Henry review ! Also, #19 Showdown is a gem. Lila and Jessica fall for the same boy, Jack, who (GASP !) is a drug user and possible sociopath. Jess finds his stash under the bathroom sink while she goes to his apartment to not have sex. It’s Gold !
I forget the name, but the sweet valley twins book where Elizabeth becomes friends with Lila only because Lila has a horse. It’s a classic!
Please do Return of the Evil Twin. It is so much more ridiculous than The Evil Twin. I know you must find that hard to believe, but it’s true.
i agree with angie – girltalk books!
I never read the Girl Talk books, unfortunately.
However, I am going to do the Pen Pals series. They are fucking fantastic.
Ooh, I loved the Pen Pals books! Palmer was an awesome bitch modelled on Lila Fowler as I recall.
Please do the early SVH (#13, I think) where Elizabeth gets kidnapped by a hospital orderly, who I think does it because he just wants a friend, or some crazy thing like that.
Please can you do the one where Jessica becomes Magenta Galaxy (cant remember the title but the creepiness of it wil never leave me) or the one where Jess and Lila end up minding kids at a resort and both fall for Mick the lifeguard. That one always made me laugh!
I already did the one with Mick:
http://thedairiburger.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/the-one-where-someone-actually-allows-jessica-near-their-children-or-101-the-boyfriend-war/
How about a book or two from the Sweet Valley University series? I just bought some from ebay, and I think you’d enjoy the first one—Elizabeth gets to college and is shocked to find that she’s no longer popular! Plus Todd dumps her for not putting out. If you ignore Jessica’s fabulous social life, it’s an entertaining read.
Lila’s Story, the super edition where Lila’s dad gets engaged to a golddigger with a conniving fake-sweet daughter named Jacqueline who borrows Lila’s brand-new bathing suit and has the nerve to look better than Lila in it! Also “Starring Jessica” is one where Jess acts particularly sociopathic but eventually gets her comeuppance. “Slam Book Fever” and “Rumors” are also must-reads!!!
P.S. The one with Magenta Galaxy is #62 Who’s Who?
You have to do the sweet valley sagas. I’ve only read the wakefields and the fowlers, but learning the family history of the most prominent families in sweet valley really allows us to gain insight on how they got to be so perfect.
also, they’re completely plagiarized.
There was a series of Books that I’m trying to remember and thought I’d post what I remember about them here to see if anyone remember’s the series name. – They were set in a university, about several different girls just starting freshman year (and in fact the word freshman might have been in the series title) I remember some good outfit discriptionsand a girl that got a credit card and when batshitcrazy charging stuff for a sorority pledge thing.
Are you thinking of Freshmen Dorm? There was also a tv show. I have a couple of them, but they were kinda boring to me.
I second Return of the Evil Twin. That was so awesomely and ridiculously awful! XD
How about some of the Super Star series, especially ‘Lila’s Story’? I would love to spend some more personal time with my widow.
The Werewolf series. The one where Steven dates an African American girl. The Sagas. Also BSC! I loved those!
Oh and Hostage! where Regina Morrow is taken, well, hostage…
When you do Runaway can you please note when Jessica has a Jan Brady moment. All through the series, whenever Jess goes on about everyone thinking Liz is way better than herself I always thought “Marcia Marcia Marcia”
In Runaway Jessica actually thinks to herself “Elizabeth Elizabeth Elizabeth” It totally cracked me up.
It’s not the only Brady Bunch moment either. Caroline Pierce had her own version of George Glass.
I have two series requests: the “Cheerleaders” series, and the “Class of 88/89″ series. I love this website. It’s such a guilty pleasure.
Oh, what about the Sweet Valley spinoff, sort of, featuring the beautiful rich heroine Caitlin?
And the Sweet Dreams books (I think) with Alex the smart one and Kit the tramp and Lori the shy one…sorry, I must really be getting old because I’ve forgotten so much, but I remember both series were PRICELESS and just convinced Pre-teen You that high school would be So Glamorous And Romantic.
I love this site! I do have a request ..
Can you do “Double Jeopardy?” It’s the “Super Thriller” where Jessica witnesses a murder. It was my favorite when I was like 12, but now I’m sure it would be pure comic gold. They have it on Amazon.
Do the Secret Circle!
The old Super Thrillers would be great… I remember being 10 or 11 and reading No Place to Hide and nearly crapping my pants. Also I’d love to see recaps of Special Christmas and Winter Carnival, two of my faves ever.
BTW the cover outfits on Double Jeopardy are pure 80′s fabulousness
StarryEyed, you can get your fix of hilarious BSC snark here.
I second carniealjaime’s request for the Sagas (especially the Fowlers or either of the Wakefields) or other than that, any badly-handled issue would make my week. Try #69 (racism), #51 (gambling), #77 (steroids), #82 (cults), #74 (anorexia), #81 (the struggle not to be ashamed of your Mexican heritage when you go to Sweet Valley High), etc etc. Or #66! The Wakefields split up, Jess tells Liz it was her fault, and Liz runs away! Great shit. XD
I second Tina’s comment:
“Oh, what about the Sweet Valley spinoff, sort of, featuring the beautiful rich heroine Caitlin?
And the Sweet Dreams books (I think) with Alex the smart one and Kit the tramp and Lori the shy one…sorry, I must really be getting old because I’ve forgotten so much, but I remember both series were PRICELESS and just convinced Pre-teen You that high school would be So Glamorous And Romantic.”
Yes yes YES. But one correction. The series with Kit, Alex, Lori, and Elaine (the nerdy one!) was called Seniors. Sweet Dreams is a different series. Sweet Dreams would also be good to do, especially #2 in the series, titled The Popularity Plan, and then a later one titled The Popularity Summer. Sweet Dreams, I believe, was not a continuing story with recurring characters in the same way as SVH.
All of Sweet Valley Twins. Ta.
Ooo, Sweet Valley University! And the Sweet Valley Saga thingys
I just got the Patmans of Sweet Valley. It’s out of control.
Oh, I cannot WAIT to reminisce!
Ooooh…Chrystal Falls! Does anyone else remember those? Very small town drama, with the rich Chelsea Chrystal, Dawn the new girl in the middle, and the kids whose families worked in the factories (mills?) that made the Chrystal family wealthy.
You can’t forget Girls of Canby Hall. I still own all of them – both classes. The one where the first set of room mates tape the room into sections ’cause they’re all too different is a classic.
I’m liking The Patmans of Sweet Valley. Please do the other sagas!
Have you ever read the non-SV books by Francine Pascal? One of them – My First Love and Other Disasters – has MUCH more realistic teen behaviour, including sneaking out at night to meet a boy at a trashy nightclub and then being mauled by him down on the beach. There’s a sortof prequel to that called Hangin’ With Cici where the main character works out teen angst issues with her mom. Really good stuff and both very snark-able.
Please do #14 Deceptions, where Elizabeth goes on a “date” with Nicholas Morrow and fails to tell Todd. In the cover art Elizabeth’s ear looks like another body part entirely.
Seconding Sarah’s request for #14 Deceptions — so many great WTF moments for ihatewheat to expound upon in all her snarky wisdom.
Many thanks, Chance0508, for reminding me of the Girls of Canby Hall. IIRC #9 “Boy Trouble” was the first one I read, which I randomly plucked off the shelf while “working” in the YA section. One of the few bennies of working as a page…
Hi Winnie! Hope all is well with you. Yes, I definitely read “My First Love and other Disasters” and loved it! In fact that book was the direct inspiration for me to start sneaking out to go drinking at the beach with older *ahem* friends.
How about My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews? Now there’s a f***ed up book. Last time I checked, my tattered copy was still in my old bedroom at parents’ house. I’ll take another look at it when I “go home” for the hella-daze…
Hey Chance, I remember Chrystal Falls! I only read a few, but they were so great. My favorite involved someone, I think the rich girl, being blackmailed.
I know you’ve got a ton of requests already, but I just read Leaving Home and it made me bang my head repeatedly against a hard surface. It’s kind of a personal topic for me, so while this does nowhere near the kind of damage that Robin Wilson’s (eep, nearly wrote Robin Williams) miracle weight loss or the general attitude to rape does, it pissed me off so much more. Think the “Steven can’t go on a cruise around the world because nobody can leave that little bubble of privilege and perfection called Sweet Valley” subplot only as a whole book. Ugh.
That’s SVH#38, btw.
I can’t believe that I only discovered this web site yesterday. LOVE IT! I was completely hooked on SVH and I still own (and reread) about sixty of the books. I’m glad that there’s a support group for my unhealthy addiction!
I just reread “Two Boy Weekend” last night. Please please please recap this asinine book! Jessica allows a psychopath to kidnap Elizabeth, so that she will not miss being crowned Queen of a ball on TV. The worst part is that Elizabeth “nobly” goes off alone with this nut job, so that Jessica won’t miss out on being the center of attention yet again. Oh and there’s some minor worry that Jessica’s boyfriend will find out that she cheated…
On another note, have you ever read Camp Sunnyside Friends or Fifth Grade Stars? I can’t find my old copies of these books, but I absolutely loved them. Recaps on those series would be awesome.
I would love to see you do the vampire story arc with Jonathan Caine. I know it would be hysterical!! An actual vampire in SV…geez. I hate to admit it but I was kind of attacted to Jonathan’s character…a bad boy on a motorcycle who ummm….sucks people’s blood. Yeah, I guess I’m weird!!
I don’t remember the exact numbers but I think the first book is called Tall Dark & Deadly lol.
Right there with you, Club X. I’ve always been a sucker for bad boys on motorcycles (long hair preferred, bloodsucking optional). “He’s just a good looking rebel playing by his own rules.” [sigh]
ihatewheat, is SVH #70 “Ms. Quarterback” on the request list yet?
why is your name ihatewheat?
I hate wheat as well. I have a wheat and gluten allergy
just wondered. love the site!
you got it. Gluten is my arch enemy! I chose that username because when I first discovered, everyone was fascinated by the fact I had it. Don’t know why. Since I am also vegan, they would always ask, “you must not eat anything!” do which I always would reply, “Do I LOOK like I’m starving?” and indicate my double-digited-sized figure.
ihatewheat = The Voluptuous Vegan
Sweet Valley Twins!
I was curious… would you ever want to do any Judy Blume books?
I see the Truth about Taffy Sinclair is coming up, but also want Taffy Sinclair, Baby Ashley, and Me. Then the Fabulous 5 series!
I *LURV* this website! I am offically obsessed! I’d love it if you did Murder In Paradise!
#91 In Love with a Prince.
It’s hilarious in it’s absurdity!
OMG The fabulous five!!!!!
Also, i was wondering: i have a pile of SVbooks that are doubles.
If there is anyone here who is looking to complete thier collection, i would be willing to sell or trade!!!! i don’t have a ton, but i would love to make someones day by having a book they need. Personally, i went on a “book adventure” today, and got like 6 new books for my collection!!!! i even got a sweet vcalley Unicorn book, which are SO HARD to find. YES!! i m glad i can share my excited with people who understand. my boyfriend was like…”uh, wow…great.”
boo him.
What about ‘Ms. Quarterback’? The one where Title IX arrives in Sweet Valley? Or ‘The Perfect Girl’, i.e ‘Yeah right, Robin Wilson didn’t starve herself to lose all that weight’?
Ooooh- All night long!!! Just the cover is hilarious enough!
Ooops! Just found “All night long” in your reviews…
Hey, do you remember those books called The Secret Diaries by Janice Harrell? They were the ones where this tight-knit group of friends were hiding the secret that while the rest of the town thought the one of them who disappeared ran away, the truth was that they killed her (accidentally).
I’ve got two more:
“Olivia’s Story”. This was one of my favorites when I was 11 and, to my shock, it sort of holds up. It actually deals with some issues that SVH never talks about–poverty, conformity, “art”. (Er, of the Olivia Davidson variety.) I liked it! Plus you have to read all the descriptions of Olivia’s artsy outfits. Think Denise Huxtable circa 1987.
“Elizabeth Betrayed”. This was surprisingly awesome. See title. I think the ghostwriter for the books # 80s/90s was in on the joke.
I 2nd WHO’S TO BLAME (#66) and WHO’S WHO (#62.)
Also, I’m not sure if you’ve done this poll before, but can we take a poll to see which twin people hate the most?
Seconding Jessa F’s request for Olivia’s story–Olivia’s abstract “art,” and her views on the creative process in general, are pretty hilarious. Even though this is Olivia’s Story, the Wakefields are in it almost as much as she is, so fans of J&E can still get their fix.
I fourth (fifth?) Return of the Evil Twin. I second The Wakefields of Sweet Valley. Also, R for Revenge.
Well, according to http://www.randomhouse.com/sweetvalley/meetfrancine.html Sweet Valley High #12, When Love Dies is Francine’s favorite Sweet Valley book. I’m requesting that one because I want to know what makes in so great in her mind.
Can you do The Arrest? It’s the one after the Jungle Prom fiasco and it used to be my favorite. I LOVE this site.. my best friend and I have spent the last hour-plus reading SVH entries.
I would happily mail you any of the “Elizabeth” series if you were willing to recap them… someone told me that Elizabeth lost her virginity in this spin-off series, and I was so delighted by the idea of goody-goody Elizabeth getting laid that I ordered the whole lot of them off Amazon. The downfall of Elizabeth Wakefield, woohoo!
How about Palm Beach Prep? They were the most adult 6th graders on the planet. And of course, this is how I learned all about prep schools. and rich people.
(sidenote: you recap Sleepover Friends! YESSS!!! and apparently there was a different series called Sleepover Club. WTF? whatta ripoff)
LOVE your blog. Just … LOVE IT.
Nickelodeon had this awesomely craptacular teen soap opera on called Fifteen. There were four books (at least … I only had four, so I assume those were the only ones) based on the series. I read the hell out of them, lent them to a friend, and alas, never saw them again. If you ever get your hands on ‘em, they’re absolutely priceless.
Hi! I’m a new reader of your blog…you are hilarious. I’ve been reading all your SV posts and laughing hysterically. Like so many of your readers, I grew up on the SV series, and it’s so fun to revisit the books, even if we do poke fun at them (with love!) Anyway I just wanted to say hello and share a request. I know it’s been mentioned before (it’s such a classic) but oh gosh: RETURN OF THE EVIL TWIN. I just found my copy the other day and re-read it…amazing. Simply amazing.
Ooh, I second RETURN OF THE EVIL TWIN, since I never read that one and would looooove to hear all about it in your snarky, fabulous tone!
Incidentally, I hate that Margo’s twin’s name is Nora, because I liked the Nora who was a character in Sweet Valley Twins (remember when the Unicorns made her be their slave and get them cookies?)
The mad SV Twins horror stories. I recall a particularly senseless caper involving Liz getting possessed by a ghost who lived on a ferris wheel?
i remember that one!!
Ooh! Do Cheerleaders! Almost as retchworthy as SVH!
I think you should start a new Sweet Valley series. Read the first senior year book ‘Can’t Stay Away.’ I like Sweet Valley because their books aren’t serious, it’s just entertaining.
While I would love for you to do Return of the Evil Twin, I really want to request the “Ocean City” and “Boyfriend/Girlfriend” series by Katherine Applegate. I was rereading Ocean City and had forgotten how awesome 12-year-old me had forgotten they were.
D’oh. I meant how awesome 12-year-old me thought they were.
please read the first senior year book! You can probably borrow from the library or something.
Umm, ok. I have a question. There was this series… it was about junior high I believe. I know it had a pretty, rich blonde girl (shocking), a rough and tumble brunette among it’s cast…
But the most telling feature I can offer is some nerd bonehead named Jason who loved to ride his skateboard everywhere and torment the girls.
I don’t know if all the books looked the same, but I remember white books with some purple on them, and the book numbers were on a triangle in the corner I think.
GOSH I know this just nails it down so much. I think the name “Junior High” is in the series or something.
Do you have any idea what I’m talking about? It is killing me that I can’t think of the name right now. I read quite a few books from this series too many years ago, and I can only recall such vague details.
Ugh to the typos in my last post. But I wanted to add in one more detail that might help… I think this Jason fellow was a carrot top.
Shannon, you should check out the lost and found thread, it’s perfect for figuring out series you’ve forgotten.
I absolutely adore your website and I’ve devoured just about the whole thing this weekend! I totally forgot the Sleepover Friends books until I started reading your recaps. Wasn’t there one where they destroyed a cake that had candied flowers on it so they went outside and picked flowers and dipped them into sugar to replace them? Or am I just nuts?
Also, do you remember another series that had something to do with friendship bracelets. I remember reading a few of those and I thought it was cool that a friendship bracelet came with each book!
I second the ‘Elizabeth’ series – it’s about time that Elizabeth got laid! Of course, she agonizes about it forever before she finally goes through with it. Who’s surprised?
And, random quote off Wikipedia – a SVH adult series??
‘Sweet Valley Heights
This is an as yet unpublished spin-off of the franchise described by Francine Pascal in the April/May 2005 edition of Bust magazine. According to the interview, Sweet Valley Heights will feature characters from the original series living in a gated community and aged in their twenties or thirties. Some sources claim the title has been changed to Sweet Valley Confidential. The Bust interview claimed the initial publication would appear in late 2005, but as of 2007, it has not yet appeared.’
Shannon, I believe what your thinking about is the aptly named “Junior High” series by Kate Kenyon. I reread “Those Crazy Class Pictures” in which Jason has his skateboard taken away, among other things just last weekend.
Hey, there’s another Jade Wu on here – awesome!
The Wakefields Strike It Rich! I know these books were written in the 80′s/Early 90′s, but the twins go apeshit cause they get $100 dollars from their Aunt.
Did you ever read Go Ask Alice? I thought it was real when I was 12…I have not gone back to re-read it as an adult, but one criticism that I’ve come across is that every single “druggie” in the book (other than Alice) came from a “broken home.” Divorce leads to drug abuse and prostitution. I don’t think she was blonde, either.
The Cheeleaders Series……please. It was because of this series that I became a male cheeleader in college.
Also the Final Friends Trilogy by Christopher Pike…..now this was reading……the 80′s and early 90′s were the best in young adult fiction. Also Dear Lovely Hart and the sequel ‘We Interrupt this Semester with an Important Bullentin.’ Also all the books by Paula Danziger: The Cat Ate my Gymsuit and There’s a Bat in Bunk Five, Can you Sue your Parents for Malpractice, The Pistachio Prescription…the list goes on….Ms. Danziger had a positive influence on my life. Do you guys remember this one which I think is by Paula Danziger, This Place has no Atmosphere? The beauty of reading……
Johnny Buck—-I can’t believe you remembered that show FIFTEEN…..(SIGH) I am OLDDDDDDDDD!
I know I have tons of requests and being a pest (pardon the rhyming, but here is one last one). Her name was Caitlin. There are 3 trilogies about here. I believe the first Trilogy is called Loving–about her boarding school experiences in VA and then the Promises Trilogy–her experiences in college and finally the last Trilogy–Caitlin’s adult life after college and life with her high school sweetheart (Jed?) not sure.
One more before I go—the Elizabeth Series. I love this series because its Elizabeth Wakefield without Jessica, living in London experiencing real life situations. The last series of the Sweet Valley Twins!
Oh and the Junior High Series……..my fav book from this was all of them, but ‘Junior High Jitters’ still captures my heart!
Ooops, I forgot to give you the name of the last trilogy for Caitlin–it was called Forever. Sorry
Please please do the Satin Slippers series (short lived only 12 books) about girls at a boarding school ballet academy.
Girl Talk books! And more Sleepover Friends!
Would it be possible to get your hands on any of those old Kobie Roberts books (Thirteen, Fourteen and Holding, Fifteen at Last and one about being 12 that I never read). I loved those books as a kid! Kobie was so ridiculous and hilarious. And Gretchen was totally that bitch-friend everyone had, who was nice alone but totally obnoxious around others.
A little late, but I’m thirding the request for ‘Deceptions’. I just re-read it and it made me laugh out loud by the second chapter. Liz refers to Nicholas as the ‘one eyed monster’. Srsly.
please read the first SVH senior year books!
Ihatewheat, did you ever The Hand Me Down Kid, also by Francine Pascal? It was actually a great book.
Although it did have a thin, beautiful, blond haired 16 year old bitch in it, it was different in that the the main character’s school was ruled with an iron fist by a short haired, glasses wearing, 8 feet tall Butch. Seriously, even the boys were terrified of her.
Oh yeah, and the 16 year old blond (who is still cooler than Elizabeth and Jessica) gets totally served by an 11 year old who’s (gasp!) chubby.
Sweet Valley University! Any of ‘em! Also, if you ever decide to do any more BSC, could you do Super Special #2, where they go to camp for two weeks?
ooh, The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts.
Oo, could you please do SVH Aftershock? I just re read it and would love to hear your thoughts on it.
I know they’re a lot longer, but you’re hilarious and would do an absolutely amazing recap if you did them… did what, you may ask? None other than VC Andrews’ loving books of family depravity… we all read them. you could do it chapter by chapter?? just putting it out there – i would LOVE for you to recap them.
Snickerdoodle, snappleaddict has already done a fine job recapping the first two Dollanganger titles… check it out.
oooh – thanks somuch, aaaames!!!!!
Can you please do R for Revenge. It is hilarious. Cheerleaders going missing one by one in Sweet Valley. I couldn’t stop laughing while reading this.
OMG I saw Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade in your upcoming ‘caps list. I LOVED that book, and the sequels…I think they were How do you lose the ninth grade blues and Seventeen and In Between…or something like that. LOVE. So excited!
Lila’s Story!
“The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts”
YES! Great call, Halo!
I loved this book and walked around for, like, two years trying to develop my telekinetic powers to no avail.
Three words: Camp Sunnyside Friends.
S, refresh my memory on Camp Sunnyside Friends! I can hardly find any info on it online!
“I loved this book and walked around for, like, two years trying to develop my telekinetic powers to no avail.”
Heeeee. I only giggle because I myself spent most of 1987-88 killing flowers non-stop because I was trying to figure out how to make them “wake up” and talk like the ones in Through The Looking Glass.
“I only giggle because I myself spent most of 1987-88 killing flowers non-stop because I was trying to figure out how to make them “wake up” and talk like the ones in Through The Looking Glass”
Bwah, MaggieCat! I did this too. My Mom was majorly p.o.’d about her garden getting demolished. She even refused to take me to the library for a week which was the harshest punishment my folks could mete out at the time. It was even worse than the Silent Treatment.
My parents couldn’t do the no library thing– they were aware it would end up being too harsh a punishment for themselves.
Once they realized how attached I was to the flower plan, they just put a window box in my bedroom so I’d stop killing the plants they genuinely liked. Actually it took them forever to figure out what was going on, for a while there my mother just thought her black thumb was hereditary.
I see Heartbreaker is on the recap list
I can’t wait for that one, I love the older SVHs. I used to be so enamored of that swimsuit Jessica is wearing on the cover. Actually I still am a little bit. I still wonder what the whole thing is supposed to look like. And Bill’s shirt, lol… you can tell the letters are probably those fuzzy iron-on appliquees…
aaaames: Camp Sunnyside Friends was this series about six girls who pretty much spent an eternal summer in a man-made utopian wilderness, and good GOD, the resulting cheese. There was Erin, the “snob”, Sarah, the “nerd”, Trina, the “peacemaker”, Katie, the “tomboy”, and Megan, the “daydreamer”. Ah, and their beloved Cabin Six. And their counselor, Carolyn. (I can’t believe I just recounted that from memory. Sad.) But yes, it’s just begging to be snarked within an inch of it’s life. I suggest the one about the Color Wars, or the Witch in Cabin Six.
S, that is totally not ringing a bell except that the title IS so I am so intrigued!
YAY, Camp Sunnyside Friends. I was trying to think of that name forever. I remembered the gist of the books but not the title. Erin was my fave. I liked the book where they had a sleepover outside of camp after camp was over and none of them got along. Camp friends do not equal real life friends. Hee.
Amber: me, too! i was convinced i had untapped telekinetic powers because i had no friends. logical.
What about the Nancy Drew Files, with the 80s hair, and recycled plot lines? They were so incredibly ridiculous I remember just being fascinated by the covers alone.
You’ve already done a lot of the older SVH books, which are my favorite. If you haven’t already recapped the super edition where they go on the bike trip along the coast, please do! All kinds of drama, plus a fat kid does something right! (Well, only after screwing up a ton of course.)
Also, someone mentioned “We interrupt this semester for an important bulletin” (or whatever) and I second that! I have a well-worn copy of that one in my YA book drawer and I still pull it out occasionally. Very funny.
And if you’re looking for yet another series, a few years ago I stumbled across one at a bookstore at an outlet mall, which I find to be a good source of extra cheesy fiction at discount prices. There were only about 10 books in the series as far as I can tell and they probably came out in the late 90′s. They were published by Seventeen magazine and they’re called Turning Seventeen. They’re cheesy, although slightly more realistic than SVH in that some of the characters have jobs and not all problems are fixed in one book. The series focuses on four friends in their senior year, so the books rotate narrators depending on who the main story is about. There’s the standard popular blonde, super-smart brunette, “wacky” asian and shy gal. Needless to say, I snapped up a bunch of them. I just looked on ebay the other day and they do have some of them. I think they’re worth a try!
Please recap The Unicorn Club series. Those were my favorite! They were probably the most diverse main characters, too, until Sweet Valley: Senior Year came along. Ooh! Could you recap Senior Year, too?
Thank you so much for this blog.
Seconding Jessa F’s request for Olivia’s story
Thirded! That was my faaaaavorite!
Camp Sunnyside Friends! Nancy Drew Case Files!
Am I the only person who read the Merivale Mall series? Poor, kind Lori must work at the mall while her rich, nasty cousin Danielle goes shopping for fab 80′s fashions all day. Loved those books by Jana Ellis.
I can’t remember any titles, but any book by Lurleen McDaniel. All her books were about teenagers dying of dread diseases – there was a cystic fibrosis book, at least one leukemia book, several other cancers, and I think an AIDS one. I couldn’t get enough of these – I was a very morbid child.
I third Girl With The Silver Eyes!
You should do The Great Mom Swap. I loved that book, even though I had the mom that everyone wanted.
You should do the Fabulous Five and Satin Slippers.Also the Caitlyn series.
Which is the one where some whackjob former classmate of Alice’s invites her and the twins to a spa so she can steal Alice’s face? Is it “Murder in Paradise”? If so, please, please, PLEASE recap this one! I’ve never read it, I can’t put my hands on a copy, and I NEED to know how this dasdardly plot goes down.
About a year ago, I tried to start a blog similar to this site. Now that I’ve found your awesomeness, do I hang it up, or should I be inspired to pick it back up? Hmmm, decisions.
http://doublehatesvh.blogspot.com/
Danielle, I’m pretty sure it was Murder in Paradise. It’s so strange how the plots sound so outlandish to me now, like less-cool versions of the former NBC soap Passions, but when I first read them in the 80s and 90s, they really did not seem so. I think I was able to view them as “public high school life in CA!” because I went to a Catholic school and didn’t know what really went on in public schools.
I’ll totally read your blog! The more SVH fixes, the better.
Too right, there are never enough SVH fixes… I’m going to your blog right now Danielle…
I hated Murder in Paradise so much that, after something like 12 years of reading SVH, I stopped. Cold turkey.
I’m sure there’s a valuable lesson to be learned from that.
I have to chime in about the Merivale Mall and Satin Slippers books. They were such outstanding cheese.
Oh snap. Deceptions is going to be recapped… this is going to be awesome
I have to second Melody Grey’s request for “Ocean City.” I loooooved those and found them much more scandalous than SVH (more sexy anyway). Up there with “Sunset Island” but with SEX.
Also, I’ve spent the past few working days taking breaks to read this blog. I’ve spent many an afternoon in silent laughter hoping my officemate doesn’t ask me why I’m so nuts. I love it. I wish I had thought of this!
These recaps are hilarious, I never realised how much Elizabeth meddled.
I second the request for the Secret Circle books (although those books really are awesome).
I’m looking forward to the Caitlin recap!
ok, not sweet valley, but i notice we read the same pap growing up, so the SWEET DREAMS teen romances!
Dwanollah: I did the exact same thing after reading Murder in Paradise. I was already pretty disappointed by the terrible quality of the book, but my stepbrothers’ cute friend asking me what I was reading, and the shame I felt in answering truthfully, were the real deal-breakers.
I’d love to see one of SVH 35, Out of Control. I remember thinking the main story was pretty heavy for a SVH book. Oh and Elizabeth was a total bitch.
In the library, right next to the SVH books – there was another series of shitey teen novels, solely about a cheerleading squad.
Equally turgid and unrealistic – ie teenage frottage and no actual shagging .And the boys in the squad weren’t even slightly gay.
Anyone remember those, or am I alone in this?
I’d say either Bruce’s or Todd’s Story, but I fear they are probably too boring for words.
K, I remember those, I think. There was the obligatory supermodel ex-girlfriend, and in one a cheerleader named Tara starts dating a teacher, right?
“My Best Friend’s Boyfriend”…the only one my library has left. I just read it and would love to hear your take.
I would love you to do the one where *shockingly* Regina Morrow is kidnapped and held to ransom because of a computer chip her father has invented. Mr and Mrs Morrow are also kidnapped yet Jess, Liz, Bruce and Nick scheme to release them all and save the day. And I don’t want to ruin the ending, but Regina regains her hearing, and hosts a dance and she and Bruce hear each other talk for the first time.
I think Gerry and I shared a library as a kid. I LOVED everything Paula Danziger ever wrote, especially “The Divorce Express” and “This Place has No Atmosphere.” And I read all the Caitlin books, of course.
ihatewheat, I think you’d get a kick out of Caroline B. Cooney’s four “Dance” books, if you can find them: “Saturday Night” “Last Dance” “New Year’s Eve” and “Summer Nights.” It follows five girls (first juniors, then seniors in high school), and each one takes place just within the evening of the dance, although it catches you up on the time that passed in between. They’re fun and ridiculous.
I thought the Summer Camp series was pretty entertaining (Elizabeth’s Rival, Meet Me At Midnight, and something else). Of course, Elizabeth falls in love with another guy and goes through hell with her camp kids. And an old school Jessica diary – the 2nd one where she has a fling with TODD (wtf…). Also “Brokenhearted” when Liz has to choose between Todd and Jeffrey – oh dear – what a dilemma…
Did you ever read the Sunfire series? They were romance novels always set against some period in American history and the titles were always the names of the heroines. For example, Julie – a 1860s version of a modern woman whose family is a part of the First Transcontinental Railroad is torn between the charming Irishman Dyan O’Kelly and the serious surveyor from Washington, D.C., Samuel Harper. I love (most) of those!
OK…I cannot remember the name of this book. But it is about a girl who is a really awesome cook who accidentally starts a profitable catering business used by all her friends’ parents. She pretends to work for an imaginary person (Vanessa I think), but it is really her and a bunch of her friends running the place. Awesome.
Kia child, I used to entertain my friends by reading out bits of Sunfires between classes. My friend’s older sister (who’d now be around 35-36) had built in bookshelf filled wall to wall with every Sunfire, that I used to salivate over when I visited. I never actually got to read every one though; I’ve only read about 8 or 9.
Though the romance plots were exactly the same in each one, a lot of them were actually well-written by YA standards and quite educational about American history. (Several of the authors went on to become famous YA and popular fiction writers).
I have to say I didn’t really like Hostage!, it was kind of Dullsville… but OMG thank you for putting Winter Carnival on the list! I just re-read it and was thinking it would be a total riot to recap.
Please, please do a review of Return of the Evil Twin! Of all SVH plots, this is the most unrealistic wacky shit ever. Also, how about the London werewolf series? The fact that practically everyone Jess and Liz meet is somehow realted to the Royal Family cracks me up (and makes me want to vomit!). And Falling for Lucas is another good one – just can’t get over Jess and Lila’s arrogance in this book, worse than usual!
How about some SVT books? I would love to see #51, Elizabeth the Impossible – truly one of the most vomit-worthy books in this series. And the one where Mandy Miller gets cancer and finally makes it into the Unicorn Club (wow, those Unicorns are such humanitarians…). #48, I think.
Yeah, Return of the Evil Twin was all cracked out.
My Crazy Cousin Courtney
The SVT book where they all switch boyfriends
Amy’s Pen Pal
The one with the Mall Bandit SVT
This is not Sweet Valley, but do you remember that book (I think there were sequels, too) called “We Hate Everything But Boys,” about a club by the same name (WHEBB for short)? I can’t remember almost anything, but remember loving it. The once scene that sticks in my mind is something about how the main character has to write something about WHEBB or the boy she likes inside the brim of her sailor hat and it blows off and the beach right in front of her crush.
Yes! Those were those Linda Lewis books. I loved those.
I think they would be so ripe for some snark.
I have to cast a vote again for one of the Super Thrillers to be done, and I think the best one to do would be On the Run, just for how sheerly unbelievable the end is.
I’m not sure if anyone has suggested this one, but I just read “Against the Odds”, the story of Ronnie Edwards and his problems with a bookie named Big Al. It’s kind of AMAZING(ly bad), and practically begging for snark.
The Wild Hearts mini series… Horrendous outfits, new york snootiness towards nashville and country music in general, unrealistic about face of parents going from new york cool to Southern Stepford heaven.. And i could go on…
Now that you are doing BSC, how about Hello, Mallory? The idea of Claudia examining Mal always made me giggle.
Amy Slutton – it’s been ages since I last read On The Run, but I remember that storyline as being the worst of the Super Thrillers.
I would also love to see Todd’s Story done, because I remember the plot shitting me off no end.
Yes Cara, I think you are right! I haven’t read Todd’s Story. I just finished reading Perfect Summer and now I hate him… he is such an idiot and a tool!
Does anyone remember a book about a girl who befriends a wealthy girl, and so she pretends to be rich too – and then the wealthy girl and family take her on a ski trip b/c she lied and said she could ski? And there was also a subplot about trying to afford these pants that all the cool girls wore – i think they had apples on them – and instead her mom bought her corduroy pants with pineapples? i could be making all of this up!
Amy Slutton – yes, Todd is indeed a tool! I still maintain that he is the worst character in the series (boring and totally annoying!). If you have read the Flair magazine miniseries you will totally hate his spineless guts (by the way, I hated this series for soooo many reasons!). Todd’s Story is completely frustrating – hmmm… I think I might try to hunt it out amongst the pile of my SVH books just to remind myself just how darned annoying it was!
While spending my weekend with my parents, i hunted through my ya-lit collection ( almost British library like in size… How did i manage to spend anytime at school and, at the time, rather inadequate social life? ) I found number 70, ms Quarterback. Has this been done yet by you? It’s a bout a girl wanting to become part of the Sweet Valley high football team. A feminist eye sore of a book, notwithstanding promising subject matter…
Please do some of the Elizabeth series!
IHW, thanks for indulging my request for a recap of Hostage! – it was hilarious as always. I would love for you to do these SV books:
Rock Star’s Girl – where world famous rock god Jamie Peters moves to Sweet Valley and his daughter is the new girl at school whom Jessica and Lila spy on and assume she is his live-in girlfriend and spread nasty rumours about her.
AND
Dont go home with John – where John Pfiffer attempts to date rape Lila – this is the only SV book that chilled me to to the core and I thought it was SO DEEP AND MEANINGFUL.
I got two for you, one that I think you’ll REALLY like and one that I loved for snarky reasons.
1. Love and Betrayal and Hold the Mayo by our girl Francine Pascal. in which a girl falls in love with her best friend’s boyfriend, and much heartache (and making out) ensues. Honestly, I loved the end of this one, it made me cry.
2. I think it’s #6–All Night Long? In which Jess dates an OLDER man (senior? college freshman?) and goes to a party that she was advised not to. What a mess she gets into–he tries to take off her bikini top!! What’s she to do??
And my friend and I are SOOO bitter we didn’t think of the idea for this site ourselves. We are obsessed with YA fiction. Good work!! Thanks for the joy.
Oh my god, I totally loved loved loved Love and Betrayal and Hold the Mayo – I read it so many times I still think I remember some of the passages – but I don’t recall Francine writing it?? How weird, I still remember it as being one of the best YA books I ever read and yet Francine totally screwed our collective self esteems over with SVH.
I remembered another one for you to recap – Regina’s Legacy – where Elizabeth smashes an international drug cartel (or something) by taking a photo of some drug smugglers with a camera that Regina has bequeathed her. And Jessica winds up on a hot date with one of the said junkies and is practically abducted. Thankfully, Todd is there to save the day (I wont spoil the ending!)
Oh my god, I totally loved loved loved Love and Betrayal and Hold the Mayo – I read it so many times I still think I remember some of the passages – but I don’t recall Francine writing it?? How weird, I still remember it as being one of the best YA books I ever read and yet Francine totally screwed our collective self esteems over with SVH.
I remembered another one for you to recap – Regina’s Legacy – where Elizabeth smashes an international drug cartel (or something) by taking a photo of some drug smugglers with a camera that Regina has bequeathed her. And Jessica winds up on a hot date with one of the said junkies and is practically abducted. Thankfully, Todd is there to save the day (I wont spoil the ending!)
Oh my god, I totally loved loved loved Love and Betrayal and Hold the Mayo – I read it so many times I still think I remember some of the passages – but I don’t recall Francine writing it?? How weird, I still remember it as being one of the best YA books I ever read and yet Francine totally screwed our collective self esteems over with SVH.
I remembered another one for you to recap – Regina’s Legacy – where Elizabeth smashes an international drug cartel (or something) by taking a photo of some drug smugglers with a camera that Regina has bequeathed her. And Jessica winds up on a hot date with one of the said junkies and is practically abducted. Thankfully, Todd is there to save the day (I wont spoil the ending!)
Janet Hamm Needs a Date for the Dance or Karen Kepplewhite is the World’s Best Kisser
Yes! I loved that Karen Kepplewhite one as a kid. To this day I’m still wary of straws.
Please do more of the Sunset Island books! I just got done reading all the ones you’ve written about so far. I used to love those books! I think I might still have one or two of them at home somewhere.
One more- The Cat Ate My Gym Shorts
Oh goodness . . . I remember Janet Hamm and Karen Kepplewhite . . . their other gal pal was named Starr, correct? I don’t remember a book from her perspective, though. (We should probably take this to Lost & Found, though!)
My requests would be(and forgiveme if these have already been done-it’s only my second day on the site!): Miss Teen Sweet Valley(I absolutely coveted Jessica’s dress on the cover), A Stranger in the House, A Killer On Board(those two were probably my favorites:), and ‘R’ for Revenge. Pure schlock that I can quote to this day!
Ooooh, and I’d also like to throw in a vote for any Unicorn Club books. In elementary school I tried to start my own UC and somehow it never worked out…Although I did make the slam book a hit in middle school:)
I don’t see any requests for number 69 (snorfle) Friend Against Friend. There is *gasp* racism in Sweet Valley! There’s editorials and petitions and awareness classes, Liz is probably going to have an orgasm somewhere.
It would be great if you did a re-cap of #94 of the SVH series are we in love? the one where steven dates the african american girl.. also#22 also form the SVH series Bill and DeeDee clash over her clingingness.. Btw I love love love your blog! it’s hilarious!
Any of the Madeleine L’Engle books…
I am embarrassed to admit this, but the other day at the used bookstore I picked up three of a series I used to read as a kid. Remember River Heights? It was a spin-off from the Nancy Drew series. All-time awesome. It was essentially SVH without twins. Blond blue-eyed Nikki and her long-suffering boyfriend, nemesis and brunette Brittany, lots of rich people and bad fashions.
I remember being absolutely in love with the Freshman Dorm series, which probably means that rereading it today would be hilarious. It gave me such unrealistic expectations about college. You’d think that I would have learned my lesson when high school turned out to be nothing like SVH!
I do remember River Heights, and the Nancy Drew book that spawned it where Nikki was accused of murder or something.
Did anyone else read the “Hotline” series? I remember thinking they were very “realistic” and loving them. But I’m pretty sure they’d be hilarious to re-read now.
OK, I am posting this question here because I have no idea where else to post it: does anyone know what is the fate of Robin Wilson and George Warren? And if there is a book that gets into it? I always thought it would be kind of righteous if George dumped her for another girl the same way he did to Enid
Yea, he treats her like crap so she goes all anorexy on him. It’s in The Perfect Girl, which is on my to-do list.
i so wish you would do SVH #27(I think), LOVE LETTERS. If for no other reason than the cover is all kinds of fabulous. Caroline Pierce actually looks really cute, way unlike she is described, you know, because she has red hair and like a really unflattering tank swim suit.
But Liz, Oh My God, Liz is standing behind Caroline, of course, all up in her bizness, and wow, Liz clearly has her “i smell poop” face on.
It’s so great. I found it at a thrift store a couple of weeks ago and I have laughed and laughed at that cover and the fact that Elizabeth has her Ingalls face on.
Sweet ihw, I look forward to it
LMAO @ “I smell poop”-face
forget books for a second and do seasons 1-4 of 90210! The series went to shits after Shannen left.
Could you do the fearless books by Francine Pascal, a lot of libraries are selling them
Jem and the Holograms?
or would that be too juvenile?
you can see some of the episodes on youtube
One of the updated BSC books is about five of Stacey’s exes coming to Stoneybrook at the exact same time. It’s called “Stacey and the Ex-Boyfriend Crisis” or something, but we’ll call it “Stacey is Way Too Young to Be Such a Slut.”
IHW – #74 The Perfect Girl has always been one of my favourites so I’ll be glad to see the recap. There is so much in this book to take the piss out of.
Aurora Minx – I LOVED Jem and the Holograms when I was a kid. Would love to see this recapped, too.
Rio – LMAO! Always thought Stacey was a bit of a tart (although she has always been my fave babysitter). Sounds like an ultra-lame plot – I guess that Ann M. Martin was scraping the bottom of the barrel on plot ideas after about 250 BSC books…
Have you re-capped the “Devon Whitelaw Chronicles” or the “Lila didn’t burn her house down it was that date rapist Pfeifer Chronicles?” I am currently reading DW and just read about the fire. I am loving every minute of it.
How about Supermodels of the World Series????
They were about high school students who got picked up by Ford Models and were sent to live and work together in New York…Paige, Cassandra, Pia(?) Gia(?), Kerri etc..
Anyone? Bueller?
I’d like to see the BSC book where all the kids order crap from mail order catalogs… I was clipping coupons the other day and it reminded me of it. Which book was that? Anybody know?
/pathetic.
Kristin,It’s book 58 Stacey’s Choice.
thanks!
Hey, IHW–
did you ever read THE SECRET WINDOW?
Or THE DOLLHOUSE MURDERS?
Both were f-ed up in the extreme and seriously freaky, especially for a 9 year old. BAsically, they primed me for the “hard YA stuff” like Christopher Pike.
Can you do the Sweet Valley Twins and Friends super chillers. I loved those. The Curse of the Ruby Necklace was my fav book when I was in 3rd grade.
I just finished reading Showdown (#19) and would love a review of it. Lila and Jessica fight over the same guy, who turns out to be a psychopath who tries to kill Jessica. But it’s okay, because Liz gets there in time to save the day. Also lots more of Liz butting herself in where she doesn’t belong
Super Edition: Falling for Lucas.
Todd actually tries to get Liz to have sex with him and Enid tries to bag herself a guy
Super Thriller #8: Murder in Paradise
This is the one where the woman at the spa tries to steal Alice’s face! I wonder how the hell she was planning to get away with this. Was she going to pretend to BE Alice for the rest of her life, or just hope no one would notice that she suddenly had someone else’s face?
I second that – this was from that classic 1993 – 1996 period in SVH where the plotlines got sooo ridiculous [cue werewolves, vampires, evil twins], but this one really takes the cake
Two words. Teen Witch.
“Top That!”
Hey RollingStone! That book is kick ass! I was wondering the same thing when I read it. It reminded me of the 1997 movie “Face Off”. Totally ghey, yet totally cool. So I admit. I was passing a brick when I read the suspense chapters. Of course even psychopaths can’t live life without wanting to look at precious Alice Wakefield. Because her face is much more beautiful and desirable than…let’s say…than any of the other beautiful women that live within our 7.3 billion world population. And I was going suggest Cheryl Tiegs!
Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones. It was named a School Library Journal Book of the Year.
You need the read the trilogy #135 Lila’s New Flame, #136 Too Hot To Handle, and #137 Fight Fire With Fire. #135 is the best. Lila and the twin’s brother Steven end up dating. I loved it because you not only see a softer, nonsnob Lila, but when the twins find out about the new couple and are pissed. Steven treats them and talks to them the way we would always like someone to do. POW! They don’t know what hits them or “what his deal is.” And it goes on like that through the whole 3 books, not just in one chapter.
#88 Love Letters for Sale… Proving that Liz the ‘future journalist’ has no idea of how to pitch her writing at her intended audience, when she writes the most ridiculously overblown love letter for one teenager to give to another. And, in an actually slightly amusing twist, ends up breaking up with herself after she writes a letter which Todd then sends her, not realising she wrote it herself.
And I seriously can’t imagine being so lazy that I would pay someone to write ‘Dear Auntie, thank you for my lovely present. Love Amy’
I would love to see you do the Jennifer Series by Melanie Friedman! I just found all 5 books today and they are totally snark worthy!!
I agree with the first poster, you should totally do Girl Talk! I loved those books as a kid. They were kind of like SVT or BSC in that they were about best friends getting into silly adventures in their small town. There was a blonde, a redhead, a spikey haired drummer girl, and a Native American. Their nemesis was the snooty principal’s daughter, Stacey the Great. I can hardly find anything about them on the web. Please pay homage!
please do the college miniseries.. where Todd is out for the season
How about a new page dedicated to Sweet Valley’s Amazing Medical Stories? Ideas would include:
Margo evades carotid laceration to hijack ambulance
Ken survives freak car accident and is temporarily blind
Jessica loses 3 boyfriends in a few months and escapes depression
Suzanne’s MS is only mono!
Leukemia makes Tricia so beautiful… and kind… and perfect
This isn’t a request, but just a question- I remember reading one of your reviews in which Liz was all obsessed with Dick Diver from Tender is the Night- do you remember what book that was in? I’m currently reading Tender is the Night and would love to see Liz’s bizarre perspective again!
I would love to see a review of the Freshman Dorm series. I loved SVH the most, I also liked Sunset Island. But it’s been so long since I’ve read or even thought about the Freshman books, it would be a treat to see them featured here!
Another vote for Cheerleaders–especially the old ones. More Canby Hall and Sunfires, and definitely more horse books.
The Canby Hall book where Shelly gets kidnapped. Please! Sorry I don’t know the title.
I might be up for some Saddle Club, too.
Feel free to laugh hysterically at this, but my teenage self is dying to know…is there a real life Sweet Valley?
I will be visiting California in November (I am from Australia)…if anyone knows if Sweet Valley exists geographically (ie if Sweet Valley is based on a real town), I would sooooo love to visit. Given the numerous references to Sweet Valley’s proximity to LA, Malibu and San Diego, I thought SV might have some basis in reality?
Your thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.
Just imagine the sheninigans a non-size six, brunette, Australian girl could have with the Wakefields and their gang.
Thanks in advance!
Chrystal Falls series by Caroline B. Cooney. You can’t go wrong with titles like “The Wrong Side of Love”, “The Bad and the Beautiful”, and “A Night to Forget”.
Just thought of another series: “Sorority Girls” by Anne Hunter Lowell.
I know this is a strange request, seeing as though I’m not asking you to review a book, but could you try to review the SVH TV show? I know everybody rips on it, but I actually really liked the earlier seasons. The theme song is one of the catchiest I’ve ever heard, and I really liked the Daniels Twins for Jess and Liz. The However, 3rd and fourth seasons got too silly, almost like the Clueless tv show. I always wished that Aaron Spelling would have purchased the rights to this show, he may have capitalized on a bit more of the drama instead of the Silliness while developing characters more fully. C’mon, Haim Saban did Power Rangers for Fuck’s sake! It would be hilarious to see your take on the questionable fashion and acting skills of the supporting actors.
The Gymnasts series was pretty craptastic.
Nora- I actually do remember that series (well, sort of…I forgot what it was called but once you said Pia, it all came rushing back)
Are you going to do the Sweet Valley Saga books???
Hello everyone
Not sure if this is the right place to ask but i’m hoping a few of you can help.
I’ve been trying to collect all of the Pen Pals books for years but only the first few were released in the UK so I have been trying to buy them from American websites (all the big names) but I still have a few missing. I never had the chance to finish reading the whole set and I would really love to know how it all finished up.
Could anyone help? I can list all the ones I have and I would be willing to purchase books that I need to complete my set from anyone ( as I see a few of you have them tucked away in your attics). I am happy to pay postage fees on top of any book that I buy.
I’m not a professional book collector just a “20 something” who loved the Pen Pals books when I was a kid.
HUGZ
The Pink Lemonade Caper — I think about the awesomeness of this book all the time. Who knew that all you needed to defect from your country is a pink t-shirt dress and an uncanny resemblance to a set of twins?!
I’d like to also request the SVH Senior Year series!!!!!!! I just bought the lot off of eBay and am devouring them. SO FUN to see Liz become not-so-good and Jessica become the one you feel sorry for and cheer for! Also Liz poring over her love letters from Todd and realizing how lame their relationship was = awesome.
And Secret Circle by L.J. Smith. I have such a love/hate with that one. “Sweet, stupid Diana.”
Scrambled Legs! Kinda like Satin Slippers crossed with BSC, you have to read this crazy stuff. I was fascinated by it.
the first sweet vally high book: Double love I would love to hear what you thin about it!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO THE SVH VAMPIRE MINISERIES! That one is so ridiculous and stupid that it needs to be done!
I’ll throw a few out here: The Gymnasts series and The Fabulous Five series (a spinoff of Taffy Sinclair) and a series that I think was called Junior High (the two main characters were Jen and Nora and there was a rad punk rock chick called Mia or Mya) or a non-series book that I believe was just called Slam Book (there’s drug addled, spoiled rich girl character named Paige DuLac; I think she tries to kill herself because of something someone wrote in her book). I am always up for more Sleepover Friends and Girls Of Camby Hall too. This is awesome; keep it up!
Yours ‘Til Niagara Falls, Abby (another camp (literally!) classic). And what about Nothing’s Fair In Fifth Grade, Sixth Grade Can Really Hurt You (?), etc. Loved those. Also, there was some book with Karen Keppelwhite in the title that I got from the Weekly Reader book club thing.
OH! Also–do you remember that series of books that were about terminally ill kids? I think even at the time I knew they were terrible. There was one by a different author on similar subject matter that was actually great but I can’t remember the name of it. I always remember the names of the characters, though. There was another book that I loved about a Jewish girl named Samantha–I want to say the title was something along of the lines of ‘Just Like Always’.
Anyway, one YA book I particularly loved when I was 12 was called The Last Silk Dress by Ann Rinaldi. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you check it out!
Suggestions: The Gymnast Series, The Freshman Dorm Series (I still have a few of them in my parents basement) and one that was called something along the lines of “The Face on the Milk Carton” about a girl who discovers that she was kidnapped as a child when she recognizes herself on the back of a milk carton (hence the title) and finds her birth parents, only she’s about 15 now and doesn’t fit in there. I don’t remember who wrote it.
Ooh, I agree! The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney. Most bizarre shit ever. Here’s a plot outline: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Face_on_the_Milk_Carton
It was followed by Whatever Happened to Janie?
And there was also a SVH book called Earthquake that I was in love with when I was younger.
Oh, jackpot! Apparently there are also two more books after Whatever Happened to Janie? called The Voice on the Radio and What Janie Found. Apparently it takes a four book series for Janie to realize she was kidnapped as a child and should probably alert the police.
i remember for either my birthday or christmas i got to ask to go to walden books at the mall and i could get what i wanted…. and what i wanted was a tons of sweet valley twins books!!!! one of the twins and a horse, a haunted house/new neighbor, the one with a division of one twin in a purple shirt… i loved these books!!! i never got into the high school or college years. i think i tried to watch the series…. but when i run into books from my youth, i read them! they are so innocent, simple, some are sweet; they are like a breath of fresh air…
thank you for remembering this great series and a thank you to all bloggers for posting on nostalgia!! sometimes we forget about the cartoons, toys (which there is 1 that i cant get out of my head and have no idea what it was called), music, movies, books, fashion AND thanks to people who take time out of their lives to blog and post, we get to remenice!! thank you!!
I guess I’m just wondering about a couple of books, and if you remember them.
One was a girl who became friends with another girl who was a little kooky and always carried around a stone with some symbol on it.
The other was about a girl named Caren who was punk and hated the “burbies” in her school, so she started hanging around some idiot rock star named Leopard
How about the SVH superbook when the twins go to their great Aunt’s in Kansas? They meet those two lame twins ( or are they???) and try to out bore each other?
Thank you for the site, I just found it tonight and am excited to read and relive SVH with my grown up eyes. I devoured all these books and while I’ve lost them to the ages I still have a puzzle that is the cover of Double Love…. for reals.
Could you do the Taffy Sinclair book where they find the baby? That one and the New Melanie were my faves.
And someone mentioned the Dollhouse Murders…….YES! That book messed me up for life, dollhouses are creepy forever now.
Oh and Palm Beach Prep please?
Please, please review the SV saga’s. I was a dumb, gullible child and completely ate them up. I would like further proof of how dumb and gullible I really was!
Plus, any chance of the Saddle Club books? I think you’d enjoy Stevie, Carole and Lisa, and Stevie’s mad and crazy stunts some of which include an Elephant. (Yes, I know because Elephants are frequently seen in Virginia)
This site is the business! I’ve spent the last 3 hours reading the summaries and remembering how crap yet addictive the books were. COudl you do the Sweet Valley University series? I think Liz gets fat in one of them, and has to wear a wraparound skirt, which is described as some kind of fashion tragedy unlike the various chinos she wears at high school
fantastic site, i’ve spent most of the day reading it!! i can’t wait to see your take on the death valley mini-series (2 books!
Another plea for the SVU series!! I’ve read all your recaps of SVH, and would LOVE to hear your take on the college series!!
I would love to see a recap of the London warewolf miniseries!
Murder on the Line – it was hilarious, they were interning at The Sweet Valley Times or something and somehow uncovered a drug ring. I seem to remember the evil dealers had these nuts Ian Fleming-type code-names like Red Fox or Green Back. Again, no police or parental involvement. Please review!
You have GOT to cover VC Andrew’s Dollanganger Series (the only 4 books she finished in a series while was alive. OMFG, it’s so belongs on here.
Sunset High books! Caroline B. Cooney….
Do the first chapter preview of the SV: Confidential series. Pleeeease?
I would love to see more Girls of Canby Hall. Particularly the one where Shelley gets kidnapped, as that is the one I remember the most.
Also, if you’ve never read “The Cat Ate My Gymsuit,” you should. It’s fantastic.
Hi, Im new here and had a question regarding books. I love, love, love your site and reviews as it really takes me back to my youthful obsession to books about stupid bitchy girls. This is even more awesome as I have alot of stress in my life and this site is the perect way for me to relax and unwind without ending up an alcoholic. Anyway my question is this: I always go through the local librarys used book section and have found many of the books mentioned here really cheap*. Since it has been mentioned that there is often trouble finding these old books I wanted to know where a good place is to sell them. I dont have an ebay account and Im not trying to make a profit, I know how happy it makes me to find vintage BSC, Taffy Sinclair, Fabulous Five, Sleep Over Friends and SVH in the boxes of discared hanson (ummbop)bios. I have also got some old family ties books about alex p. keaton, steve urkel joke books, saved by the bell books etc. I want to you where the best place is for these types of books. I am still so surprised to have found this community just because I googled “Taffy Sinclair”.
Margie
mcummings@socal.rr.com
*and even some that have not been mentioned but I think they should be checked out, especially the “Sweet Dreams” book “Star Struck” in which a random high school girl (and her bitchy rival of course) are picked to be in a Micheal Jackson video. The girl finds romance with another extra who works in the entertainment industry but wants to go to college and be normal. The best part of this book, IMHO, is the fact that it was written in the early 1980s when Micheal Jackson was still considered hot- and the bitchy rival is trying to get all up on MJ but he is disant and would rather rehearse with his young male back up dancers (irony)!
How about character bios?
I too was 12 with a bad perm and excited over BSC Calendar. Cute. what I was wondering was do you still have the calendar. I would like to buy if you do. Please let me know and and how much. Can’t never find it on ebay. Peace Out. Heather
You should do the Roommates series by Alison Blair.
How about the SVH miniseries where Jessica dated the vampire? That’s my favorite SVH story of all time! Ha ha
How about the Fabulous Five series? They’d be so fun to snark on, esp. Jana, Melanie, Randy, and Keith. Those four are my least fave characters of all time.
Jana reminds me of bratty Lucy from 7th Heaven and Melanie reminds me of airheaded Ruthie from that same show and Randy reminds me horrid Martin also from 7th Heaven.
I actually plan to snark some of the FF books myself; I just have to find a good, popular site to do it on.
- Reviews of the Elizabeth series.
- Reviews of these SVH Super Thrillers: A Stranger In The House, A Killer On Board and Murder In Paradise
- Reviews of the SVH Senior Year
- Reviews of the Last Wish, he book where the twins turn seventeen after 20 years, Earthquake and Aftershock, where the Sweet Valley town and the twins’ house is destroyed. Great news for those with a huge axe to gring regarding Sweet Valley stories.
- A review for Love in the Time of Cholera. One of the worst novels I’ve ever read. Complete with the obsession of a main character for a girl who only saw once, that main character being a stalker, rapist and child molester, lust and more lust at its finest, and implausible stuff as palpating a woman’s naked breasts to know if she has cholera. Yeah right. How the author got a Nobel Prize is beyond me.
I love your recaps- you do such a fabulous job! I was wondering whether you could recap the Sweet Valley University series. I absolutely love the relationship between Bruce and Lila and I would love to hear your thoughts.
Did you ever read the Ocean City series by Katherine Applegate? OMG, pure gold. Best summer of my life til my Mom found them and took them away (Claudia may have been onto something hiding her Nancy Drews from her parents.)
FEAR STREET FEAR STREET FEAR STREET
Fab Five series, Fab Five series…please, please?