Almost Married

Sweet Valley High #102

by Francine Pascal

Trouble in paradise...

Elizabeth Wakefield and Todd Wilkins are living together! Their parents are away, so Todd has set up house at the Wakefields'. he wants to create the perfect love nest, but Elizabeth has more important things on her mind.

Not only has Elizabeth discovered that her mother was once married to Mr. Patman, Bruce's father, but now they're having an affair!

Horrified by their parents' behavior, Elizabeth and Bruce decide to investigate. What could down-to-earth Alice Wakefield and flashy Hank Patman possibly see in each other? Through their sleuthing, Bruce and Elizabeth begin to understand their parents' attraction—because they too are feeling an attraction—to each other.

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

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

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

[Ashley Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband says I’m cheating on my reading goal for the year with these trashy books. I say shut it. This trash is treasure.

Four solid stars. As a firm member of the Todd Wilkins is Trash camp? This one slaps as the kids say.
As a solid Bruce Patman fan girl? Again with the slaps.
Also, as a confirmed member of the Elizabeth Wakefield Is the Worst sorority? SOLID
And once again are reminded that Lila Fowler is queen. Is she a major player here? Nope. But she’s in it, and she’s the best part of the book. Even in a very minor capacity.

And once again? Minimal Enid. Solid four stars.

[PurplyCookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing how utterly boring I find the whole Elizabeth-Todd golden couple of Sweet Valley concept, I found myself liking the book. Well, other than the fact that Todd's hopes of a romantic few days were drastically dashed with Elizabeth's detective investigation with Bruce (with a few of Jessica's humorous manipulations thrown in); I must say that it was the "past" affair of Mrs. Wakefield and Mr. Patman which drove this book home.

Kind of hard to imagine an unlikely couple in Alice Wakefield and Hank Patman but there you go. Apparently, they were engaged to be married but then she meets Ned Wakefield, who had rescued her from drowning.


More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie


Book Details:

Title: Almost Married (Sweet Valley High #102)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sooo many typos in this book that its difficult to imagine that it was proofread even once before going to print. Beyond that, the story drags- when it could have been a fun plot-- Todd and Elizabeth shack up for thr week at the Wakefields house while both of their parents are out of town. No real hanky-panky because they're prudes, but Todd tries hard. Elizabeth though, feels crowded and winds up spending a ton of time with Bruce Patman, apparently forgetting his attempted date-rapey past, as they try to figure out how and why their parents ever could have been in love/married. B-plot revolves around Jessica forcing Todd to do all her chores as blackmail for not telling their parents that he's sleeping over all week. I was relieved when this one was over. Just one star.

[Pages · Rating 2 out of 5]

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Omg- how much did I hate liz in this book!! What on earth.... Not much of a fan of Todd either but err she nearly drowned so all is forgiven?? She is always in danger- sweet valley is a death trap- cant forgive everything she does.

Everyone gets over everything in five seconds. Jess- err your boyfriend died- Sam?

The story is outrageous- I still have a bee in my bonnet about their age and the freedom they have.

I'm a hundred year old grown up so am noticing things I would never have as a teen reading these for the first time.

They are entertaining but these twins- they're not very likeable as main characters are they?

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Alice and Ned away, Todd decides to move into the Wakefields for the week so that he and Liz can pretend to be married - without the sexy times of course!!! Sadly for Todd, Liz seems to find his presence annoying, and is more focused on Bruce Patman, who manages to cock-block Todd several times in hilarious fashion. Todd also has to suffer Jessica who has promised to keep her mouth shut about him staying over if he and Liz do all her chores and basically treat her like a princess. She's hysterical in this book, and so is Bruce.
The Wakefield parents return to discover a party in progress, and the truth about Todd - and Alice explains her past with Hank Patman, and they all agree to help reunite Bruce's parents with a little help from Jess

[Amy]

When Elizabeth's parents go away for the weekend Todd convinces her that he should "move in" while they are gone. He immediately turns into a middle-aged man and becomes so boring, even Elizabeth gets tired of him. Meanwhile, Jessica is awesome as usual and uses the situation to blackmail Todd and Elizabeth into doing all her chores. There was also stuff about Bruce Patman and I find it absolutely UNREALISTIC that he would even consider falling for Elizabeth.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lore in Sweet Valley books is insane. There was a moment where recent past events were rehashed and the craziest shit happens (Jessica spiked Elizabeth’s drinks,Elizabeth drove Jessica’s boyfriend home but crashed, resulting in the bf dying, Elizabeth stood trial for VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER,etc)

Anyway, Bruce is also an underrated character, he is so much more interesting than Todd. So I enjoyed the Bruce/Elizabeth plot.

[Melanie Chua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgic read, but was dismayed to discover Todd's insecurity and Elizabeth's selfishness now that I'm reading it as an adult. I was such a fan of both when I was in high school.

[Maris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the very first novel I've ever read. I was still in grade school then. I liked it so much that I developed a love for reading and for the Sweet Valley series. Its been more than 10 years since I last held a Sweet Valley book. I idolized Francine Pascal when I was in grade school and I sometimes miss reading her works. If not for this book, I wouldn't be a fan of reading now.

[Candace C · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars
My rating has changed about this one. Re-reading as an adult & realizing my favorite couple should not be together at all has made me dislike Todd Wilkins even more! I'm also starting to dislike Elizabeth as well.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a fun trip down memory lane.

Also, the laundry mat / coffee bar / video rental place sounded kind of awesome, just sayin’.

[jenn]

I thought I would hate this, as Todd is prominently featured, but Patman abounds and evens it all out.

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I recall Elizabeth is the one that is getting married.