SVH: Perfect Summer Review

Sweet Valley High: Super Edition – Perfect Summer

-          Created by Francine Pascal

Publisher: Bantam

It's summer in Sweet Valley, and the Wakefield twins and their friends are taking a bike trip up the beautiful California coast.  What could be more exciting than four weeks of glorious sunshine, sandy beaches, and endless fun at every stop? But the dream of a perfect vacation soon fades.  Elizabeth Wakefield is about to break up with her boyfriend, Todd, over another girl.  Her twin, Jessica, chases after sexy Robbie October, who ignores her.  Bruce Patman is mean to his cousin Roger, Lila Fowler holds a grudge against Ms. Dalton, and Ms. Dalton is barely speaking to Mr. Collins.  Can this feuding group unite when an unexpected disaster threatens their lives? Join the Sweet Valley gang as they find love and adventure on the road in Perfect Summer

This was a complete flashback to the numerous Sweet Valley books I read in the late 80s/early 90s. The twins were as I remember them – blonde, beautiful and with different personalities: Jessica, fun loving and boy crazy while Elizabeth was thoughtful and kind. In this book the twins and selection of their friends go on a bike trip along the Californian coast. Along the way they have to deal with bickering between Bruce Patman and his cousin Roger, between Lila and Jessica and between Elizabeth and Todd as two new arrivals cause friction between the friends.

I don’t read a lot of contemporary YA – I usually prefer mine with a supernatural twist so this seemed a little tame to me. The focus was on relationships but with so many characters it all seemed a little shallow and brief. A lot is read into small glances and everyone is taken at face value. There isn’t really an over-riding arc unless you count the spoilt rich girl who joins the Sweet Valley gang, but even her scheme seemed a little silly. Romance is written as kisses, nothing more – even when a main character creeps off over night to meet a boy! It didn’t feel realistic as teenagers  are generally a lot more savvy about sex – especially at seventeen!

My fond memories kept me reading, even though I was a little bored – and without the voyeuristic need to know that Sweet Valley Ten Year Later gave me a couple of weeks ago – I spent most of the time trying figure out what to read next. It was nice to see what I used to read but I’m not sure I’m going to go out of my way for any more Sweet Valley books.

Recommended for fans of Sweet Valley & Babysitters Club. 5 out of 10.

The Book Vixen's YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge Book 11/12

Sweet Valley Confidential Review

Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Year Later

-          Francine Pascal

Publisher: UK – Arrow

It’s been ten years since the Wakefield twins graduated from Sweet Valley High, and a lot has happened. For a start, Elizabeth and Jessica have had a falling out of epic proportions, after Jessica committed the ultimate betrayal, and this time it looks like Elizabeth will never be able to forgive her. Suddenly Sweet Valley isn’t big enough for the two of them, so Elizabeth has fled to New York to immerse herself in her lifelong dream of becoming a serious reporter, leaving a guilt-stricken Jessica contemplating the unthinkable: life without her sister. Despite the distance between them, the sisters are never far from each other’s thoughts. Jessica longs for forgiveness, but Elizabeth can’t forget her twin’s duplicity. Uncharacteristically, she decides the only way to heal her broken heart is to get revenge. Always the ‘good’ twin, the one getting her headstrong sister out of trouble, Elizabeth is now about to turn the tables...

Sweet Valley High was such a large part of my childhood, that when I heard that there was going to a new book set ten years after, I knew not only would I have to get the book, I would have to read it as soon as possible. I have to admit that I gobbled up the story and I finished it in a couple of days (wishing I didn’t have to get off the train for work so I could finish the book!).  

While not the best written book, I loved catching up with the twins and their friends and family to see what had happened with them. Lots of old friends are mentioned with Todd Wilkins, Kim Matthews, Lila Fowler and Bruce Patman all taking part along with the twins’ brother, Steven Wakefield. It was a huge flashback for me and at times I felt like I was reading a fan fiction book – not part of official cannon. Some of the dialogue is truly terrible and is like, so not how twenty-eight years old talk (at least not in London!) and on occasion the plot ‘twists’ are so cheesy that must be made of stilton! However, none of that seemed to impact my enjoyment – the joy of seeing the twins talking about sex and Elizabeth furious at Jessica – I loved seeing Elizabeth angry and wanting revenge!

I don’t think this is a book for anyone who didn’t read the original books as the writing and story on their own probably isn’t strong enough to hold up. I read it with rose tinted glasses and as such had a fun time. Plus I love the retro cover on the UK version which mirrors the circular pictures on the front of the original series in the UK. Like a glass of cream soda this was a sweet, fizzy read that reminds you of the long summers of childhood!

Recommended for fans of Sweet Valley High only. 7 out of 10