**This blog contains adult language.**
Warning: Spoilers Ahead!!! This is a recap blog which means I read the book and tell you everything that happens so you don't have to read it yourself. Do NOT continue to read unless you want to know what cold-hearted-bitch move the twins made this book.
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From the Back of the Book: Three's a crowd... Elizabeth Wakefield is ecstatic. Her dearest childhood friend, Amy Sutton, is moving back to Sweet Valley. Elizabeth can't wait to see her again and introduce Amy to her current best friend, Enid Rollins. Amy is an undeniable hit at Sweet Valley High. She's glamorous and vivacious, and she becomes the newest member of the cheerleading squad. But to Elizabeth's shock, Amy and Enid seem to be heading for a showdown. Will the prospect of having two best friends leave Elizabeth with none?
Meet the Cast
*Elizabeth Wakefield – identical twin of Jessica and massive fucking martyr.
*Jessica Wakefield – identical twin of Elizabeth with narcissistic and histrionic tendencies
*EvilNed Wakefield – neglectful patriarch of the clan and successful lawyer
*VileAlice Wakefield – neglectful matriarch of the clan and an interior designer
*Steven Wakefield – older brother, university student and general asshole
*Enid Rollins – Liz's best friend and generic good-girl type
*Todd Wilkins – Liz's douchebag former boyfriend currently exiled to Vermont
*Lila Fowler – Jessica's self-absorbed best friend and representative of SV new money
*Bruce Patman – school dick and representative of SV old money
*Winston Egbert – stereotypical school nerd
There are more but these are the main characters that plague us book after book.
This book was published in 1986 and this is my first time reading it. The cover kills me. The girl in the pink on the left is the only one who actually looks like she might represent a teen in the 80's. The other two dress like middle-aged country club moms.
In the last book, The Droids held a songwriting contest and shy Lynne entered anonymously. Guy fell in love with the song and transferred that love to the singer. Jessica held a rock-a-thon to raise money for cheerleading outfits and then got pissed when one of the cheerleaders announced their family was moving. Elizabeth.....well, she was there I guess.
Missing, Presumed Dead: Bruce and Regina were mentioned once but never seen topside so I have to assume they're still under ground. Patty, who only existed for one book and was never seen again, is still gracing the milk cartons. We saw Robin in this book but George was absent so I guess she left the dungeon without him. Can't say I blame her. Despite being the focus of the last book, Lynne and Guy have fallen off the radar entirely. It's like they never existed at all.
Released from the Wakefield Dungeon: Robin made her official exit (I can't count the Super Edition since they don't exist in this universe). She clearly locked the door tight behind her because no one else escaped.
We begin with Liz hanging out by the pool with Jess and Enid. Ghostie gives us the usual spiel about Jess and Liz being “identical opposites”. For some reason, this time it centers around Liz liking tailored, classic clothes and Jess liking the current trends. I have no idea why this matters but that's what we're focused on.
Liz introduces the A-plot right away by telling the others how excited she is that Amy is going to arrive soon. They're just waiting for Amy's mom to finish up some work stuff and then they'll be moving into the house vacated by the cheerleader who is moving away. That was convenient. Is Sweet Valley filled to capacity or something? Do they have to have someone move away for someone new to come? Enid pretends to be excited but she's nervous. Jess simply doesn't care. She and Amy weren't close all those years ago and she figures they won't be close now.
Since Jess doesn't care about the A-plot, she introduces the B-plot. Since Helen is moving away to make room for Amy, the squad is going to have to hold tryouts again. Ghostie reminds us that the last time the cheerleaders held tryouts, Jess made Annie so miserable she tried to self-delete. Jess is hoping that things go smoother this time. There isn't much to say about the B-plot so Jess throws a C-plot in as well. She and Cara are going to write a “Dear Miss Lovelorn” column for the school paper.
I hate that we get hit with all the sub plots so early these days. Maybe we could just focus on the main one for a bit, Pascal?
The phone rings and Liz goes inside to answer it. It's Amy and she gives a tentative arrival date of the following Sunday. Liz is super excited but then she remembers that she's supposed to go on a ski trip with Enid. Apparently Enid's aunt owns a cabin at Lake Tahoe and has invited the girls for the weekend. Liz and Enid have both been looking forward to the trip but Liz doesn't want to be away when Amy arrives. She runs out and asks Enid to postpone the trip. Enid reluctantly agrees even though it will inconvenience her aunt.
Inconveniencing her aunt becomes a recurring theme in this book.
We skip to the next day at lunch. Jess asks Lila when the D-plot arrives. Lila says cousin Christopher will show up soon and they'll all fall head over heels for him because he's the dreamiest, most amazing man ever. She plans to throw a huge welcome party once he arrives.
We land in Enid's head. She reminds us that she had a rough start in Sweet Valley before meeting Liz in 10th grade. She'd been part of a rough crowd that did drugs and got in trouble. Because of that rough start, she finds her friendship with Liz more meaningful. Enid is worried she might lose Liz to Amy. She feels “possessive” of Liz and doesn't want to share her with anyone.
Enid admits she's grown dependent on Liz and she feels jealous of Amy already.
I kind of forgot how much I hate Enid. It's all coming back to me now.
Jess and Cara turn in their first column for the C-plot. Jess is already losing interest because she's fallen in love with some guy named Jay who never existed before and will probably cease to exist after this book. It's a good thing Jean-Claude only exists in that alternate reality or he might be jealous. Jay, unfortunately, is going out with a senior named Denise and the two of them seem pretty tight. Jess decides to use the column to break them up.
At least she's creative.
We take a sudden skip to Saturday. Liz is headed out the door to meet Enid at the beach when the phone rings. It's Amy and she's arrived a day sooner than expected. Liz decides to run over and see her on the way to the beach. She figures she'll only be 10 or 15 minutes late so she doesn't even bother trying to let Enid know.
Liz almost doesn't recognize Amy when she sees her. Amy has turned into a beautiful, fashionable young woman. Things are chaotic at the house with movers underfoot, so Liz invites Amy to come back to the Wakefield compound to spend the night. Amy gets the okay from her mother and then goes inside the house to pack a bag. By the time she's done and they're headed back to Liz's house, it's after 11:30 and Liz is an hour and a half late to meet Enid on the beach.
Liz finally remembers that she was supposed to be meeting her friend. Instead of driving to the beach, she calls Enid's house and then acts surprised when Enid doesn't answer. SHE'S AT THE FUCKING BEACH WAITING FOR YOU! She knows she should go to the beach but she doesn't want to leave Amy alone. I don't know why Amy can't just go with her. Liz just decides that Enid will understand and she does nothing.
The day passes without Liz bothering to call Enid with an explanation and/or apology. To Liz's surprise, Jess and Amy get along fabulously. Amy seems to have way more in common with Jess now but Liz pretends not to notice. They stay up late talking – mostly about this boy Amy has a crush on. He never becomes important so I'm not going to bother telling you about him.
The next morning, Liz finally calls Enid to apologize for ditching her. Enid seems a little hurt but Liz demands forgiveness and is granted it. She asks Enid to meet her and Amy for brunch so the can get to know each other and Enid agrees.
Enid is being too nice here.
The meeting doesn't go well. Amy clearly doesn't want to know Enid and spends most of the time talking about herself. Enid isn't impressed. She thinks Amy is a boy-crazy, superficial, airhead. She isn't wrong. It's pretty clear they don't like each other but Liz pretends not to notice that either.
We skip to the next week at school. Amy is instantly popular and doesn't seem to have any time for Liz. She makes time for Jess and Lila though. Liz is jealous. She seems to want middle school Amy back and doesn't want to accept that high school Amy has grown up and changed. Liz keeps trying to schedule time with Amy but Amy stands her up over and over.
Enid reminds Liz that they need to reschedule with her aunt for the ski trip. They decide on the following Saturday and Liz asks if she can invite Amy. Enid really doesn't want her around but she knows it's important to Liz so she gives in and says Amy can come. Liz asks Amy and she accepts the invitation but it's pretty clear she isn't excited about it. Liz ignores that.
We check back in with the C-plot for a few paragraphs. Jess fakes two letters to Miss Lovelorn and then answers them herself for the column. The first letter is from a “junior boy” who is worried that he doesn't have enough in common with his senior girlfriend. Miss Lovelorn advises him to date someone his own age instead. The second letter is from a “senior girl” who feels like her relationship with her junior boyfriend won't last past graduation since they'll be in different schools next year. Miss Lovelorn also advises her to break up with her boyfriend because their relationship is doomed. Because of the details provided, everyone at school thinks Denise and Jay wrote the letters and gossip starts flying around. Later, Jess sees the two of them together and it's clear they've been fighting. She feels victorious.
We flash by the B-plot like a cheetah with a jet pack. Amy decides she wants to try out for the cheerleading squad. Liz is crushed because it means Amy will have even less time for her.
Liz needs to buy a fucking clue at this point. It's getting embarrassing.
Suddenly it's Monday again. I have no idea why the ski trip didn't happen. I guess maybe the aunt had a conflict or something so now it's going to be on the Saturday coming up. Jess is horrified when she hears about their plans. Lila is having her big party for D-plot Christopher that evening and she can't believe that Liz would pick a skiing trip over the party. Liz and Enid discuss it but decide not to change plans again because it's the best weekend for Enid's aunt to host and because Lila throws a party at least once a month.
Liz is still desperately trying to spend time with Amy but they're just not connecting. She finally starts to admit that they don't really have anything in common anymore. Amy is way more like Jess and Lila now. Liz keeps trying, though. She just can't let the idea go.
Amy makes the squad and the B-plot concludes. Honestly it wasn't much of a sub plot at all. There could have been some good drama coming from it but Pascal and Ghostie just dropped the ball.
After tryouts we get this weird interlude where we're in the head of some cheerleader named Sandra. She has a best friend on the squad named Jean. Sandra continually feels like she's in Jean's shadow. The only thing Sandra has that Jean doesn't is that stupid sorority the twins are in. Jean tried to get in the year before but didn't make it. Since Helen is leaving, there will be an opening soon. Jean wants Sandra to submit her but Sandra secretly doesn't want to.
What the hell was that? Why was that there?
Liz finally hangs out with Amy the evening after tryouts. Liz tries to get Amy excited about the ski trip but Amy wants to go to Lila's party instead. She begs Liz to reschedule the ski trip yet again. Liz knows it's the wrong thing to do but she calls Enid to ask to move the trip yet again. Enid wants to just go without Amy because she really doesn't want to inconvenience her aunt. Liz throws a fit so Enid agrees to talk to her aunt. Liz can tell she's upset but chalks it up to Enid being jealous.
Liz is such a jerk.
The next day at school, Jess corners Jay at lunch. He's miserable because Denise has broken up with him over the fake Miss Lovelorn letters. She pounces immediately and asks him out. I'm not sure why he agrees to go but he does. We skip immediately to the actual date. Jay is distant because he's still in love with Denise and wants her back. Jess lies and tells him that Denise has been cheating on him. Jay believes her. He's crushed but decides making out with Jess will make him feel better.
We skip to the night of Lila's D-plot party. It's a costume party so Liz puts on her ski clothes and goes as a skier. She hopes it will send a message to Enid that she wishes they were Tahoe instead. I mean, they could have been if Liz wasn't such a jerk. Jess dresses up as Cleopatra and Amy goes as a ballerina. I think Lila is Princess Diana for some reason.
Liz and Enid are supposed to ride to the party together but Amy calls at the last minute to beg for a ride. When Liz lets Enid know, Enid decides to get a ride with someone else. Liz is pissed and again sees it as a sign that Enid is being jealous. She can't figure out why Enid has chosen to be so “difficult” about everything.
I hate Liz.
When they get to the party, Liz is delighted to find out that Enid is also dressed in her ski clothes. They're both ridiculous. It turns out Enid knows the D-plot. Cousin Christopher was a counselor at some summer camp Enid went to a few years ago. The two of them are excited to see each other and we quickly see that Christopher is nothing like his cousin Lila. Amy is pissed because she thinks Christopher is pretty cute and she intended to have all his attention. She spends the entire night following Enid and Christopher around and trying to interrupt all their conversations. When Enid won't “buzz off”, Amy gets hostile with her and threatens to take both Christopher and Liz away from Enid.
Enid tells Liz that Christopher is going to drive her home. A few minutes later, Amy rocks up to tell Liz that she's getting a ride home from Christopher as well. Liz is confused because she knows that he's taking Enid home. Amy admits she schemed to get him away from Enid and Liz finally sees her true colors. Amy accuses Liz of picking Enid over her and storms off.
Liz tries to talk to Enid but Enid is also pissed. She thinks Liz has been prioritizing Amy lately and she's hurt. She also storms off. Liz is suddenly left with the prospect of having no friends at all.
It's what she deserves.
But we all know it won't happen.
Sigh.
We skip to Sunday. Liz calls Enid but she says she needs space. Liz calls Amy but she's at the beach with Jess and Lila. Liz finally admits that Enid is the better friend to her. She ignores Enid's request for space and goes over to her house. They make up of course. Enid reveals that Amy has been telling her to stay away from Liz behind the scenes. I have no idea why we weren't shown that in the actual book.
Then again, given Enid's habit of lying, I'm not sure whether to believe her. She might be making it up to make Amy look super bad.
Oh, yeah, Enid also tells Liz that she has a date with Christopher later. I wonder if he'll survive into the next book.
I bet we never see him again.
Jess decides to quit the paper which concludes the C-plot for us. Jay ends up getting back with Denise if anyone cares. Since they'll probably cease to exist after this book, I can't be arsed.
We end the book with Sandra again. I guess they were the E-plot and I didn't realize it. Sandra just repeats that she doesn't want to nominate Jean for the sorority because she wants something that Jean doesn't have. Then the book ends.
I guess we have that to look forward to.
Dude. I only had 4.5 pages of notes for this one. Nothing happened. I think Pascal and Ghostie ran out of ideas ten books ago.
That might have been a generous estimate.
Coming Up Next: We have another Super Edition that won't shape the world in any way because it takes place in an alternate universe. After that, I guess we deal with Sandra, Jean and the sorority. Yay.
