Don't Go Home with John

Sweet Valley High #90

by Francine Pascal (Creator), Kate William

To tell the truth. . .

John Pfeifer, handsome sports editor for The Oracle, is suddenly showing a lot of interest in popular Sweet Valley High junior Lila Fowler. Lila's never dated a guy like John before serious, intense, and super smart and she's definitely interested. When John finally asks her out, Lila can hardly wait for their first date. But the evening turns sour when John tries to take things too far.

Though Lila manages to get away without getting hurt, she's too embarrassed to tell anyone what happened. When John crashes Lila's long-planned costume party, Lila blurts out the whole story to her guests. Now all of Sweet Valley High knows about Lila's dangerous date, and everyone has an opinion about who's responsible. The school has become a jury. Will they find John guilty? Or Lila?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Romance, Childrens

152 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1992

About the author

Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.

Reviews

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t Go Home With john
Lila is sitting around talking about her big, upcoming, costume ball. Jessica, Maria, and Rosa, and Amy are complaining about what to wear. Jessica wants to go as Romeo and Juliet, but Sam says not gonna happen. Winston wants to go as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Rosa doesn’t even have a date. Lila says she wants to go as either Princess Diana or Marie Anntoinette. She says she wants to “express her character”. To this they start to tease her that maybe she should be a butterfly because she likes to flit around. Lila says she might surprise them and they tease her about it being John Pfifer (the sports editor of the Oracle). They’ve been running into each other a lot. Jessica says he’s not her type. He’s kinda average and he’s too serious. Lila says she can be serious too and Jessica says very serious about shopping.

Lila is attracted to John because unlike most boys he doesn’t think she’s fluff, but there are some things about John she’s unsure about. One he *is* a little more serious than she’s use to and two he has an unpredictable temper. Especially when his ex-girlfriend Jennifer Mitchell’s name comes out. Lila is out shopping for her party when she runs into John again. They go to have coffee and he tells her his good news. He’s been picked to intern with the LA Suns. He says he needs this because his confidence took a hit when he and Jennifer broke up. Lila tells him Jennifer is the last person he should be thinking about.

Jessica tries to convince Sam to be Romeo but he refuses and says he’s not wearing tights. He doesn’t care what she says. Then they start to make out. Lately they’re finding it harder and harder to pull away. Jessica worries they’ll lose control. Sam says nothing will happen that they don’t want it to. Liz, suggest they get more involved with group activities. It gets so bad that the next morning, Jessica doesn’t have her math homework done because Sam came over the night before and she got “distracted”. Liz makes her promise not to get carried away. Jessica thinks Liz wouldn’t understand. She and Todd can *not* be that passionate. So, from now on she decides she just won’t go anywhere with Sam without being in a group and the PDA will be well public.

Liz overheard John through the door of the Oracle office telling someone that “You know how girls are. They say they want something and if you give it to them they get mad’. Liz can’t believe his tone, but brush’s it off. When she tries to get all up in his business and interrogate him about Lila he says he wants to ask her out, but she’s not in his league and he doesn’t want to get rejected again. Liz tells him only one way to find out. And he does. He walks her to class and asks her out for Saturday. Lila is all to happy to tell her friends (including Caroline) about her date Saturday. Liz, Todd, Enid, and Dana are talking about the party too. Todd wants to go as a horse, but Liz wants to go as Anthony and Cleopatra. Hugh wants to go as a chicken. Dana says she wants to go as Madonna and Sean Penn (meaning she and Aaron are having problems).

Prince Arthur is writing Liz more frequently. (But wasn’t he in the TWINS series. Not this one). Liz and Todd can’t seem to compromise on a costume idea. Todd says the perfect thing would be to go as a cowboy and a dance hall girl. Jessica announces that Liz has another letter from the prince. The third in three weeks. Todd finds this suspicious but Liz says she knows how to write an old friend a letter without making it seem like she’s interested. Todd drops it knowing he’s getting a little too cautious (and jealous). The next time Jessica and Sam go out, she goes to the extreme and sits in the back seat.

The date starts off ok. Lila and john have a candlelight dinner at the Box Tree Café. John invites Lila to the beach and she invites him to be her date at the party. Then they go to Miller’s Point. They make out but then the kisses turn more aggressive. Lila tells John to stop and that she wants to go home, but he acts like he doesn’t hear her and starts to take off his belt telling her he knows she wants it. Lila has to jab him in the neck with the keys to get him off her. He tries to get her to get back in the car, but Lila ends up walking home. The next morning, Lila wakes up with flashbacks of the night before. Jessica calls but she tells Eva to tell her she’s not up yet and she’ll call her back. Lila decides to just do nothing and pretend last night never happened.

When she does talk to Jessica, somehow, she’s able to turn the subject to what she and Sam will be wearing. Jessica says it’s a secret. (Lila makes the date sound like it was just so-so). Then she says her dad just came home. Lila doesn’t think Jessica will believe her, but then she reminds herself that this *does* happen and has happened to a lot of girls. She decides to call the hotline Amy works at, but then thinks they’ll blame her for the short, black, Lycra, dress she wore. Or they’ll know it’s her and know about her reputation. So she hangs up and starts to cry.

Sam and Jessica are out walking Prince Albert and they start to talk about Lila’s date. Jessica tells Sam something is wrong because she knew Eva was lying and because Lila wouldn’t hold back anything from her even if the date was boring. She just has a feeling something went wrong. Monday comes around and Lila wishes she could turn back time and tell John she was busy last Friday. For a minute she considers not going to school, but then decides just to face it. Maybe then just maybe by the end of the day things will just be as if it’s a normal day.

When she sees John at school, he gives her the cold shoulder and she imagines that he told everyone. Lila’s friends press her but she says it wasn’t so great. But, they won’t let her off the hook without details. Lila again says there’s nothing to tell. Amy says she saw John and if looks could kill. Lila tells them she has to go and rushes off. Jessica and even Caroline notice Lila’s lack of makeup and out of fashion dress and know that somethings definitely up. Even Eva notices something’s off and asks Lila is she ok after school. Lila thinks about how everyone believed Chris over Liz when he lied after she turned him down and said they went to Miller’s Point. If they thought Liz was loose no way would they believe Lila.

Jessica calls but Lila makes up an excuse to get oft the phone quick. Jessica and Sam decide to go as Princess Leia and Hans Solo. While working on their costumes, Jessica tries to bring up Lila but Sam doesn’t want to talk about her. He says if they’re going to not have any physical contact then maybe they should be friends. Jessica doesn’t want this but agrees to it. Lila drops Jessica off at home one day and tells her she’s thinking of canceling the party but the only thing she’ll say is that “she’s busy”. Lila decides that she’s going to have to tell John he can’t come to her party. So she tells him in the Oracle office after school. He just says cooly that she’s the boss.

In the car, Lila can’t hold it in anymore and breaks down. Still, she won’t tells Jessica she can’t tell her what happened. Lila goes to the party as Peter Pan. Liz and Todd go as the sun and the moon. Enid and Hugh go as the body and receiver of a telephone. Lila sees a pirate with a bright blue bunny and the pirate turns out to be John. He just laughs it off when she tells him to get out or she’ll have him escorted out. Hearing him tell Julie they should get out of there and go someplace private makes Lila snap. She tells Julie don’t go home with him or she’ll be sorry. Then she demands that he tell Julie why and how he raped her. John just stands there cooly and denies it and says what happened was anything but. Lila gets upset and runs up to her room and Sam and Todd escort John out.

Since Lila won’t come out of her room that night or come to the phone the next morning, after the third time Jessica goes over to her place. Liz ends up telling her mother about what happened and she says she hopes it doesn’t get worse. A lot of people might not believe Lila. It turns out she’s right. Jessica vows to Lila they’ll let everyone at school know about John. She thinks about how lucky she is to have Sam and he’s there when she gets home. Basically their “friendship” reverts back to relationship. At school, John is just as cool and arrogant as ever. He’s not shamed in the least. Liz has lunch with Enid, Todd, Ken, and Terry. The girls at school think she’s telling the truth but she probably got what she asked for. The boys are saying Lila knew what she was doing and she’s putting the blame on john. John is telling everyone it was Lila’s idea. Ken says you can’t blame john for getting the wrong idea. No one is as critical of John as they are Lila. Liz is surprised by this, but Todd says just like she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. They only have Lila’s word. No evidence.

Lila sees everyone staring at her at lunch and tells Caroline, Jessica, and Amy she knows they all think it’s her fault. The truth is she’s starting to think so too. Amy suggest she call the hotline. Amy says if she could just talk to someone whose gone through what she has, she’ll feel better. She says this is why girls don’t speak out. Not only that they’re afraid people will turn on them, but that their afraid they’re right. Caroline says she even had a cousin that it happened to.

Jessica tries to find out something from Jennifer to support the accusations but Jennifer says she can’t help her. She broke up with John because he was too controlling. Jessica wants her to talk to John and tell him he needs help, but Jennifer isn’t convinced he does and even so she says he won’t listen to her. Lila is on her way to her table at lunch, when John gets in her path. Now she’ll have to pass him and she knows he’ll say something. Liz and Enid come up beside her and lead her pass John-ignoring him-. Susan Wyler comes to see Lila and she tells her she went out with John after Jennifer and before her. They went to the beach one night and she had to fight him off. The only thing that saved her was another couple showing up. She says she saw how they were treating Lila and she had to say something. She admires Lila for speaking up.

She says she’s willing to speak up now too. She says together if they can get him to get help, they’ll have won. Lila and Susan write John a note to meet them at the Dairi Burger. Now all Lila has to do is get to school early and slip it in his locker. Jessica catches her and asks if she’s backing down. Lila tells her about Susan’s visit and their plan. Lila confronts John at the Dairi Burger in front of his friends. They all just kind of brush her off until Susan makes her appearance and tells what happened to her. One of the basketball players is the brother of a friend of Susan’s and he know she wouldn’t lie. So, he gets up and leaves. Soon the other’s follow and tell John -as the girls suggested- he needs to get some help.

My Thoughts:
Hmm interesting.. I’m not really sure what Lila and Susan were thinking in thinking they could strong hold John into getting help. He doesn’t even seem to think he *has* a problem. Now had they gone to the police or maybe the principal or maybe his parents *that* might have been a little more effective because they probably would have *made* him go. But even then if they somehow got him to go physically that’s not a guarantee that he would have taken it in. I’m not really sure *what* it would take, but I do think that he should be on some kind of list so girls will know not to go out with him.

I’m actually surprised that Lila *didn’t* hire security to stand at the door of her party. I know this is SV were “nothing is ever suppose to go wrong and the sun shines all the time” BUT She could have easily had someone there to not only escort him out BUT to arrest him as soon as they “requested” his ID.

It also kind of surprised me that the girls weren’t more supportive of Lila. There wasn’t ONE girl in the school outside of the main circle who was quick to stand up for her. I guess I’m so use to seeing today when one woman comes forward a whole SLEW of women IMMEDIATELY come right behind them with charges and support. Action against these kinds of men just seems a little swifter today. Or maybe *IM* just seeing more of it in the news.

It’s also very surprising and sad that Lila -and so many other women that have gone through this- blame themselves. Or someone else blames them. This brought back a bad memory for me of a similar situation I faced when I was in college and what I admire also that Lila did was use quick thinking to get out of the situation. She used the car keys. When your in a situation like that sometimes you kind of have to use either what you can find or your surrounding to maneuver a way to get free of the person. You have to use quick thinking. Especially in a situation where the person might have the upper hand in weight or strength. I was happy that Lila made a very smart choice also to have conseling.

Rating: 6

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not this book actually being good?? I knew I needed to read it as soon as I saw it. The cover is insane and I figured a Sweet Valley High book about rape would be distastefully hilarious, I mean it was published in 1993. I was shocked at how well Pascal captured the feelings of shame, denial and isolation Lila experienced following her attack. When Lila finally shares her experience with others her moment of relief immediately turns to regret when her story is met with skepticism and victim blaming. So much of Lila's experience resonated with me in ways I wasn't prepared for. This book was seriously ahead of it's time in how consent was discussed and packaged for a young audience.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough but good read

I was a preteen when this book first came out. It was one of the first books for teens that addressed gendered violence outside stranger danger.

Reread proved why it'd been in my head for nearly 30 years. Lila is framed as the wanton while clean cut John is being smeared. There were a lot of realistic talking points from the time. And still are, frankly.

I appreciated the social issue aspect as I do a deep dive back into Sweet Valley High. A lot of people spoke down about the series being too soap like. Soaps were openly discussing teen topics in the early 90s. Lila's story was a chance for readers to follow through with the outcome outside of TV.

Still don't like Elizabeth.

[Felicia Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was good. But John wasn't a very nice guy.

[May · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only "Sweet Valley High" book I've ever read (thanks to a classmate who lent the book to me). It's the SVH edition where Lila Fowler almost got raped by a certain "John Pfeifer," the "handsome sports editor for The Oracle" (quoted from the book description).

Hmm, I'm guessing this is the only SVH book I'll appreciate. Its theme seem "deeper" than the rest (just a guess, though, 'coz as I said, I've not read the others; but I do hear plots from some people who read the series). The others seem, well, cheesy (hey, this is just MY opinion, so don't let it bother you much). Also, I can't seem to relate with the "girls" and "guys" of SVH. Finally, I've no intention of completing the over 100 books to its name. My goodness, I'm not sure if there's other book series that is as N-U-M-E-R-O-U-S as this one!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a really tough few days and I needed a nostalgic read, and this book happened to come in through Interlibrary Loan. This definitely isn't a light and cheery book, but SVH always makes me feel better anyway.

It's been a long time since I've read this one, but I used to read Jessica's Secret Diary 3 over and over again and it has this story practically verbatim, so it feels like I've read it countless times. The only real difference is we see Lila's perspective here, but otherwise it's the same story. This was one of the first times Sweet Valley really "went there", and shortly after this book the series became darker and more fleshed out starting with the Margo story arc.

It's annoying that nothing really happens to John other than a few people shunning him, but I know he eventually gets his comeuppance towards the end of the series, which helps.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been re-reading some of my old YA books from years past while social distancing and most of the sweet valley is straight up crack. They’re ridiculous, fluffy, and generally don’t handle serious topics well. Even the few other books in the series that included sexual assault did a terrible job of tackling the subject. This is the exception.

For a sweet valley it does a realistic job with showing Lila’s trauma and unlike everyone else’s (looking at you Wakefield’s) it doesn’t magically get better or disappear after one book. Lila is shown as still coping in later books. Which is a standard I don’t usually expect from Sweet Valley...or anyone would expect from Sweet Valley.

[SweetAileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated this book because this was the first time I've read something as a tween that discussed the matter of rape and actually made me more aware of the subject. And it didn't introduce it to me in a way that made me feel uncomfortable and I also liked how they didn't romanticize it either.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the things Sweet Valley does best- misogyny, very special episodes/afterschool special style, toxic masculinity, and glossing over big issues- in one book. Lila Fowler is psyched when John Pfieffer breaks up with his girlfriend so she can have a shot at a real boyfriend with someone she thinks is a solid guy. The problem is John is apparently a closet date rapist, and after their big date, when Lila puts on the breaks at Miller Point during a kissing session (all of their clothes still on), and John gets pissed off, she runs away, traumatized that he wouldn't listen to her "no". In the aftermath, Lila lets her hair go greasy and she is sad, and John is more of a dick than ever, and people find the whole thing so hard to believe. Eventually, opinion turns to Lila's side of the story when John shows the world his asshole side, but there are never any charges brought, never any consequences for John (is he still the sports editor for the Oracle? I think so? I don't know-- seems like it.), and Lila remains pure as a Sweet Valley virgin can be and eventually starts being bitchy Lila again. Trashy 1990 classic. 3 stars.

[weneedtotalkaboutkevind · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I picked up Don’t Go Home with John thinking it’d be your typical Sweet Valley High drama—love triangles, parties, the usual—but wow, this one really took a turn. Lila Fowler finds herself in a pretty scary situation with John Pfeifer, and the book dives into some pretty serious stuff like consent and date rape. It definitely wasn’t the light, breezy read I was expecting.

I have to give it credit for not sugarcoating anything. Lila’s story felt real, and I think it was a bold move for a series like this to tackle such a tough topic. That said, some parts felt a little too dramatic for my taste, and the message was pretty in-your-face, which got a little tiring.

Still, it’s an important read for Sweet Valley fans, especially if you’re into the more intense storylines. Just don’t expect your usual high school fluff!

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet Valley High really goes there and goes there well. Jess does a fantastic job sticking up for Lila and helping her and even Liz and Enid stand up to John on Lila’s behalf. I really enjoyed this one and I think it stands the test of time and the way Lila handles it is similar to how someone in the same situation as Lila now would handle it. I also enjoyed how it was a Lila focused book as I’m Lila’s number 1 fan and I love exploring her character more. If you’re looking for one to read, read this one.

[Marsyee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was seriously a good read. I'm glad that Kate William wrote about rape and sexual harassment in this series. My tears kept welling up, in fear and pity for Lila Fowler. Realistic and agonising, Don't Go Home With John is now one of my faves from SVH series.

[K.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lila is almost raped by John Pfeiffer at Millers Point, and while some kids believe her, others believe John. Jess is incredible in this book, having Lilas back 100% and most of the girls back and support her.
Quite a realistic portrayal of a serious matter for Sweet Valley

[Carla Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entire review here, but also spoilers. https://thingscarlalovesofficial.word...

[n]

The assault book! Lila is nearly date raped. Also ties into The Fowlers of Sweet Valley, in that Lila’s mother comes back home to support her daughter.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Not as pulpy as the cover makes it look, the subject matter is actually handled seriously and thoughtfully. Well, for Sweet Valley that is.

[Chitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a teen, I never got into the SV series because I found it insipid and boring. Read 3-4 books at best. This one though, had a lasting impression on me because it spoke of date rape, victim blaming and the strength of a sisterhood. It challenged stereotypes - showed the popular, “nice guy” as a creep and the vain, snooty girl as vulnerable.

The fact I remember it years later, made me want to leave this review.

[Angie Binner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wanted to see what a teen romance was but this one didn't have much of a plot and was so dated. The conflict was there but was so minor that it almost didn't have one. Interesting to read but fluff.

[Mikaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of all the Sweet Valley High books i have read, this one would have to be my favourite. I don't think it was neccesarily due to the fact it was about teen rape or anything like that but it really showed a vulnerable side to Lila and you got to see under the rich girl stereotype. Anyway it was a pretty good book. Every teenage girl should read this.

[hannaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

John was way out of character in this one, just saying.

Also, Lila is the best character in the series, hands down.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is not a lot that I did not like about this wonderful series.

[Megan Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very important book for all young girls to read. Still quite relevant even today.

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover but just not the story.