Sweet Valley Diaries

Marissa and guest reader Dr. Daniel Okobi tackle, but don't really answer, a big-but-vague question: Is John Pfeifer a good guy in this book? Also: Jessica's Philosophy on Men, and what's up with this new tennis girl?

* * *

There's a new Sweet Valley Diaries podpage!

If you're expecting a book titled WHITE LIES to be a cold, hard look at the exclusionary racial culture of Sweet Valley, California...well, keep waiting. The white lies in question here are all about a sweet sophomore, her ill-advised love affair with bad-boy Rick Andover, her sick father, and the sports writer who indirectly causes a rift between them all. Also, Elizabeth is involved. Dr. Daniel Okobi joins Marissa to investigate this twisting tale, Ricks Who've Wronged Us,  HIPAA violations, and, of course, the recorder.

Metropolitan (1990)

Coronary Intervention

This is all I think of when I think of the Fender Stratocaster 

Marissa and Mary consider the realism of gritty 1980s teen gambling. Is it harder or easier for a kid to get into money troubles in the 2020s? 

And another thing: what do these supposedly “ugly” earrings of Jessica’s look like? And where can I buy them?

Should Jessica have a low-balance credit card?

These and other questions explored, if not answered, in this extended exploration of themes from Sweet Valley High Book 51, AGAINST THE ODDS.

VSafe

It’s the Season 6 Premiere of SVD, and former terrible boyfriend and current minor character Ronnie Edwards has a problem. What’s that? You don’t care about Ronnie’s problems? Well, what if I told you that Ronnie’s in bad trouble with a gangster who he owes a lot of money after making some bad bets on high school soccer games? What if I told you that this has a negative effect on Jessica Wakefield’s burgeoning earring design business? I bet you now. But if this book has taught me anything, it’s that betting is bad. 

Mary Parker (Book 10, WRONG KIND OF GIRL) is our delightful guest reader.

A transcript of this episode is available HERE on sweetvalleydiaries.net

Some music in the episode comes from Purple Planet.

Sweet Valley Diaries returns on April 22, 2021! 

Have you ever heard of Sweet Valley High? No? Yes? Either way, you're gonna wanna hear this.

Whether you start on Book 1 or Book 51, Sweet Valley Diaries is always going to bring you a wild story, some weird '80s teen antics, and a whole lot of feelings about all of it. 

Super glad you're here!

The Wakefields have had spring and summer treks to NorCal, Malibu, France...and now, the icing on the cake: Walkersville, Kansas. How will these small town rubes handle the Blonde Invasion? As guest Megan Keller and Marissa are here to tell you: poorly. They handle it poorly.

Season 6 of Sweet Valley Diaries is coming in April!

Some music from this episode comes from Purple Planet

Marissa, world-class art-knower-abouter, references this painting but can't recall its title or artist: Christina's World (Andrew Wyeth, 1948)

Hiatus, schmiatus -- back by popular demand, it's Don Flaxbart (Also featuring Marissa). Listen as father and daughter discuss the heavy implications of Jessica's scheming -- even heavier than usual this time! -- as she helps nearly ruin one young man's life and another's journalism career. But don't worry, it's all okay in the end. Oh, except for the murdered girl. But anyway, back to junior year!

Libel vs. Slander

Original SVD Recap

Music in this episode from Purple Planet and Filmstro

Allison Chin returns to investigate: what's the deal with Jade Wu's dad? And we consider the "traditional Chinese" art of...dicing? And who or what exactly is out of reach in Out of Reach?

We did it!!! Book 50!! In this Season 5 finale (not counting next week's Extra Drama), actor Allison Chin and Marissa examine the intricate dance (get it?) that is the portrayal and treatment of sophomore Jade Wu. All the misunderstandings, overreactions, and Elizabeth-day-saving of a regular Sweet Valley High novel, now with the added ingredients of assimilation, racism, broad cultural generalizations, and SO! MUCH! MORE!  

Also: Jessica goes on a date with her dad in this one!

Gossip Guys' Andy Greene and Aaron Davitian are experts in one teen soap opera, and now they've been indoctrinated into another. How do the world and characters of Gossip Girl map onto those of Sweet Valley, CA? You're about to find out.