Sweet Valley High #8: Heart Breaker

Front Cover: Will Jessica break Bill's heart, too?

Back Cover: Catch a wave...

The surf's up in Sweet Valley, and gorgeous Jessica Wakefield is making a big splash with Bill Chase, the hottest surfer in town. But after she tricks him into falling madly in love with her, she ignores him completely. 

To complicate matters, she, quiet DeeDee Gordon is also after Bill. But Jessica has the upper hand. If Bill even looks at DeeDee, Hurricane Jessica blows him off his board and back into her arms. Can Bill escape Jessica's undertow, or is he in over his head?

Again, another book highlighting what a bitch Jessica is! Although, to be fair, I've done similar things as her, just not quite to her extent. But I'm no stranger to stringing guys along and playing a few mind games with them...

The fact that Jessica and Bill were starring in the school play together just came out of nowhere! These books seem to act as if very very very little time has passed between them, so the idea that they were full-blown into production with no mentions of anything in the previous book just seemed abrupt. Then again, I guess most people don't read these for continuity. I used to read them out of order, whenever I could get my hands on them. And I've definitely not read every single one. I'm pretty sure this was my first time reading this one.

The subplot in this one involved Elizabeth getting jealous over Todd's ex-girlfriend having moved back into town. I know there's about a bajillion continuity errors between Twins and High, to the point where each series is essentially meant to be independent of each other (both of them rehashing pretty much the same themes and similar plots, just targeted at slightly different age groups), but now I'm wondering if Patsy was mentioned Twins. I'm thinking not, because I don't remember her at all.

I hate how half of Todd and Elizabeth's fights stem from Elizabeth being stupid and not just TALKING TO TODD to clear the air! Then again, I can't really speak...

Hook: Roger and Lila have big surprises in store for them

Pretty much the weakest hook ever, but then again, this book actually tried to set things up for it in advance. Elizabeth finds out that Roger works as a janitor in her father's building, not just to make extra money, but because his family is so poor, they wouldn't even be able to afford rent without him working. Of course, Roger has a crush on Lila, who is filthy stinking rich. So I'm guessing the next novel will either have Roger somehow working in Lila's house, thus exposing his secret, or Lila will somehow fall for him, Roger will try to keep his secret, but it'll get out and Lila will ruin him. Either way, Roger's secret will get out and Lila will ruin him and then see the error of her ways and then it'll all be back to status quo haha

I would really like a story about Roger and his background, so I'm looking forward to reading the next one.

Sweet Valley High #7: Dear Sister

Front Cover: Can Jessica face life without Elizabeth?

Back Cover: A senseless tragedy...

Sweet Valley is stunned by the news: Beautiful young Elizabeth WAkefield lies in a coma, on the brink of death after a horrible motorcycle accident.

Elizabeth's boyfriend Todd is consumed by guilt; he was driving and escaped unharmed. He feels totally helpless. All he can do is wait for a change in Elizabeth's condition - a change that might mean the loss of the only girl he's ever loved.

But no one is more shattered than Elizabeth's twin, Jessica. As she keeps watch over the silent body of her sister, she's overwhelmed by despair. Without Elizabeth, can life go on?

I didn't really like this one. Obviously Elizabeth wasn't ever going to die. I like the twist that the bump in the head/PTSD has turned her irresponsible, and has her not acting like herself, but I wish they would've done more with it. Had more people concerned with her or questioning her or something. What I hate most is that the next book will probably not address it at all. I would've liked to see Elizabeth having to deal with the fallout. Even if the doctors explained it away and everyone easily forgave Liz, I would've like for her to have to had a few confrontations/apologies with people.

Ned and Alice are easily the worst parents ever. At first, I was like, "How can they not notice that they're daughter is acting very very very wrong??" But then I realized that they were probably just so relieved at her being alive and awake in the first place, that they probably didn't care/glossed over any changes for now. I'm sure if this had persisted for months instead of just weeks, they might have eventually clued in.

But then it's like, okay, but then how do you explain them leaving so soon after Elizabeth's accident?? You'd think they'd never want to let her out of their sight! I'm not entirely sure if her parents left, or if they were just busy with work or what not, but yeahhhh....

There weren't any subplots in this one really. Jessica had to baby-sit for these 11 year old twins a bunch of times, and eventually she went out on a date with Bill Chase, who thought she was Elizabeth. That was mostly to tie-in with the next book.

Hook: Is Bill Chase caught in Jessica's trap?

Yes. I'm sure he's going to be like, "Oh! Wow! Maybe you're more sensitive than I realized!" and start dating her, but then tell her he's not really ready for something serious and explain how his last girlfriend, the love of his life, died. Jessica will then spread that around for everyone to hear, and Bill will realize that Jessica really is just a giant bitch, and be all crushed and heart-broken. But this will lead him to meet his new true love.

Sweet Valley High #5: All Night Long

Front Cover: Is Jessica as grown-up as she thinks she is?

Back Cover: Has Jessica gone too far?

Elizabeth Wakefield knows her beautiful twin can handle almost any guy - most boys are just no match for Jessica's seductive charms. But Scott Daniels, Jessica's latest love, is more of a man than a boy, much older and much more experenced than anyone Jessica's ever dated.

 When Jessica sneaks off to a college beach party with Scott, Elizabeth's afraid of what could happen. And when her twin isn't back by morning, Elizabeth's fear turns to alarm. Where's Jessica? Why has she stayed out all night long?

I'm pretty sure I've never read this one before. Not much about it stuck out or seemed particularly deja-vu.

So this one had a really short time line: only a week. It started on a Sunday and was over on the following Saturday. Not that that's really relevant to anything, but I just thought it was neat.

This book was also over way too fast. Like, Jessica pretty much figured out that Scott was no good almost immediately. The bulk of the novel was then Elizabeth trying to cover for Jess, as Jess waited things out and made her way back home. Then there was some aftermath on that.

What pissed me off most about this book was Jessica and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is such an enabler and a pushover. She shouldn't constantly cover for Jess, and then take her bullshit. Elizabeth is way too nice and trusting when it comes to her sister, and it pisses me off that she's the only one who doesn't see that Jess basically just uses her, would never do the same for her, and it essentially just a selfish bitch. It's so frustrating hearing Todd and Enid try to set Elizabeth straight, only for her to be so blind.

Jessica of course, was a dumb selfish bitch as always. She could have maybe come off as merely immature, but her attitude about everything is the worst. She blames Elizabeth for her being in her predicament, all because Elizabeth should have apparently tried harder to talk her out of her bad behaviour. Then she gets pissed when Elizabeth ends up failing the test she wrote for her - the test that she should have failed anyways because she wasn't even around to write it! She doesn't even bother asking Elizabeth what's wrong or seeing what's going on in her life. Elizabeth has the worst fight and the worst guilt ever at Jess's doings, and Jess just doesn't even care enough to notice.

The subplot in this novel was the big surf competition that Bill Chase was competing in. This was such a tiny subplot. We don't even see Bill for most of it. People just talk about him and it.

My copy of the novel has extra stuff in the back, including character profiles on Bill and Lila Fowler. Bill's got an interesting backstory: his parents are divorced, his girlfriend was destroyed in a drunk driving accident, he hasn't been able to date since (although we're assured he'll get a new girlfriend soon, so I'm interested in seeing when that comes up and reading it) and he's just generally quiet and mysterious because of all the shit he's been through. Lila's backstory wasn't really anything I didn't already know. Although, I did get the fact that Lila's father isn't actually her father, and that it's an open secret in her family. Poor Lila. I'd be so afraid of not making him proud and him disowning me and forcing me to move away with my just-as-neglectful mother. At least in Sweet Valley, she's got her friends. I wonder if we'll hear or see more about Lila and her father and her paternity in the future. I'm thinking yes.

Hook: Will Todd's motorcycle drive them apart?

I'm guessing no. Elizabeth will finally tell him that her parents won't let her ride, but she'll also explain how it's because her cousin died riding one. Todd will be understanding. There will be some tension for awhile, but eventually Todd will get into an accident. He'll realize that a motorcycle is too dangerous and that Elizabeth is more important, and he'll put his bike away until he's older and they'll all live happily ever after haha