The Sweet Valley High book series takes place in the most perfect 1980s southern California town, if perfection is measured by the statistically inconceivable incidence of blue eyes per capita. We follow the adventures, misadventures, drama, and delusions of eternally 16-year-old twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, who are blonde and, you guessed it, blue-eyed (well, aqua). But, as we are reminded in every book, they are identical in appearance only. Elizabeth is dependable and will drive a friend to her grandma's house while Jessica is tempestuous and will drive a girl to attempt suicide within 10 books. Although the characters remember the events of the previous books, you can count on them not learning a thing from them. Similarly, I remember reading the books as a kid but didn't learn a thing from it so I'm re-reading the entire series in order and bringing you... the very best sentences from Sweet Valley High! Updated every Sweet Valley Sunday!
Rank #1, Book #49 Playing For Keeps: This one has EVERYTHING YOU NEED. The twins acting like each other (well, Jessica acting like Elizabeth), a super cute new boy, a bad girl, and most importantly, an 80s mall fashion show showdown! Read this book. And learn.
In looking back on the whole Sweet Valley High series, I’ve decided to compile my personal ranking of the Top 10 must-read entries, because I know not everybody will read the entire series, not that I understand why not! Selections will favor the 80s when this Valley was at its peak. If you need somewhere to start, how about...
I may be “done” with the SVH series, but I’m not done! A few fun things will be coming in the next few weeks...
I’ve generally avoided Super Thrillers and the like unless they fit into miniseries within the numbered canon but this is almost absolutely definitely maybe probably for sure THE VERY BEST SENTENCE in the entire Sweet Valley High Series!
In the final Sweet Valley High canon series book, Jessica Wakefield -and all of humanity- learns a very important lesson. Let’s hope she remembers it...
After the official last numbered book in the series, the worst earthquake in centuries has hit Sweet Valley and the Gladiators are feeling more feelings than the LAST time they were trapped in a burning building/avalanche/in a serial killer’s lair/kidnapped in the trunk of a car/in a post-motorcycle-accident coma/shipwrecked/... and not for the first time Todd Wilkins makes me think, “Whaaaat?”
Cheers to one final lesson on what a party is in Sweet Valley, before a massive earthquake ruins EVERYTHING on the twins’ (15 years in the making) 17TH BIRTHDAY! What’s your damage, Nature?
#143 was technically the last numbered book, but it was part 3 of a 4-part miniseries so I’m including Last Wish even though it’s a “Super Edition” rather than canon/numbered; Last Wish ends with a cliffhanger (or a rubble tumbler) and the last page advises we read Earthquake to know who lives and dies so we’ve got a book (or two...) to go yet!
Omigod... ACTUAL PROM, not just WAKEFIELD PROM is here!! Jessica looks forward to it, meta-not-remembering http://sweetvalleyhighagain.tumblr.com/post/141406778666/
The girls of Sweet Valley High are all struggling to figure out with whom they want to go to Prom* but Enid knows what she wants!
*I’m not forgetting about SVH #94.5 A Night to Remember but in retrospect that seems like it was just A prom whereas this is THE prom. Got it?
Also, we’ve reached the beginning of the end of Sweet Valley High as this is the first part in a 4-part Prom Weekend miniseries that concludes the entire original numbered series! Do you want to see/hear more from me about Sweet Valley High once I get through the whole series?
Yes, when Todd gets Jessica to help set up an elaborate beach picnic for Elizabeth while Elizabeth is busy making out with new (bad/genius) boy in Sweet Valley Devon Whitelaw despite the fact that Jessica wants him for herself, let’s focus on the important things.
After John Pfeifer, Lila’s successful arsonist and attempted rapist, bombs Sweet Valley High in an attempt at revenge, it’s all anyone can talk about... during the most important meal of the day, of course.
But what are YOU all about, mysterious stranger Devon Whitelaw riding your motorcycle across the US toward CA? Last time a stranger with no plot line relating to Sweet Valley made her way there it was everybody’s favorite teenage sociopath Margo so we can only hope we’re in for a treat once he arrives!