A plane crash, hysterical paralysis, and food poisoning–this book has it all! 

Jessica takes a cooking class and falls in love with the art of French pastry (and a tasty dish named Jean-Pierre), and her parents take no classes at all and fall in love with being TOTALLY RUDE AND UNFAIR!

Join us as we dive deep into the complex psychology of conversion disorder, define (despite Robert’s protestations) the word ‘irony,’ and regress into frustrated teeneagers in this week’s episode, “La Belle Indifference” (Sweet Valley High #20, Crash Landing) 

Is there a number that holds the key to the secrets of the universe?

This week, we have something a little different to tide you over for the holidays: a deep dive into the number 137, Jessica Wakefield's favorite hyperbole.

Join us as we explore an age-old mystery that has fascinated, puzzled, and perplexed scholars from the Biblical to the scientific.

This minisode poses more questions than it answers and will leave you seeing the number 137...everywhere.

It’s a showdown this week, with Lila and Jess both interested in the same guy. Jack is gorgeous, charming, and cultured… but there’s something mysterious about him we just can’t put our finger on. 

Join us for a discussion of the lost art of seduction vis a vis phone number shenanigans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and, despite Robert’s valiant efforts to avoid it, Strindberg’s Miss Julie.

Is it fiction or a natural fact?

This week we ask: do opposites attract?

Regina (and Robert) are head over heels for Bruce,

But is it really true love, or just a convenient excuse?

Is he trying to garner votes for a major role

Thats a huge deal in this city:

PRESIDENT of the Sweet Valley Centennial Student Committee.

This week, we ponder one of life’s greatest questions: what is love (baby, don’t hurt me)? Does it take two to tango, or can Caroline Pearce dance a pas-de-deux on her own? Caroline has created a dream boy, but Jess and Lila are pulling out all the stops (and checking train schedules) to ensure that he must show up in reality. Meanwhile, Caroline unearths a dramatic secret that threatens to tear the Wakefields apart.

Roger’s world turns upside down when he learns he’s been a millionaire’s son all along! His new life involves a Cruella-like “aunt” (in pink silk lounging pajamas, mind you), social warfare vis-a-vis tennis, and an absolutely overwhelming number of forks. 

Join us as we discuss this masterclass in gold digging, paternity as legal fiction, and the blandest psychosexual role-play in history, in “Which Fork Is This?” (Sweet Valley High #16, Rags to Riches)

It may be the dog days of summer in 2023, but it’s certainly fall in Sweet Valley, bringing us ghostly resonances, trick-or-treating, spooky secrets, and a bitter competition for something called Fall Dance Queen; join us in reviewing SVH #2, Secrets.

A promise is a promise and a promise must be kept. Or must it? This week, we delve into promises both lighthearted (taking care of loved ones) and gravely serious (eating pizza safely). 

Are promises made to be broken? Tune in to "Promises Are Okay; Art School Saves” (Sweet Valley High #15, Promises) to find out.

Listen along as Pardo argues with herself on my behalf about Mrs. Doubtfire, pleads for us to #believehomosexuals (no homo), and dives into the most evocative passage of a person on a deck chair in the history of literature.

When the very rich--and it must be said, very hot--Nicholas Morrow breezes into the twins' pool party and sets his very intense eyes on Liz, several people end up weaving some pretty tangled webs.

Will Liz go out with Nicholas? Will it destroy what she has with Todd? And what are beef tournados, anyway? Tune in to "Beef Tournados and Call it a Night" (Sweet Valley High #14, Deceptions) to find out.

Welp, Liz is in a bunker, but at least Jess is getting the chance to meet a new hottie! There’s repression, obsession, and lots of digressions in this one, but all turns out ok in the end. 

Join us for Episode 14, It’s Kind of Nice to Have Liz in a Bunker (Sweet Valley High #13, Kidnapped!), and try to remember that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.