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Sweet Valley High #37
Rumors
Painful lies...
It's every girl's dream at Sweet Valley High to attend the fabulous Bridgewater Ball, and Susan Stewart has the chance to go with handsome, wealthy Gordon Stoddard. Nobody knows where Susan gets her money and style - or who her real parents are - but everyone agrees she's beautiful, friendly, and fun to be with.
Then jealous Lila Fowler starts spreading vicious rumors about Susan's mother - who she really is and why she abandoned Susan. No one wants to talk to Susan anymore, not even Gordon. To clear her name, Susan has to find out the truth about her parents. But is she better off not knowing?
It's every girl's dream at Sweet Valley High to attend the fabulous Bridgewater Ball, and Susan Stewart has the chance to go with handsome, wealthy Gordon Stoddard. Nobody knows where Susan gets her money and style - or who her real parents are - but everyone agrees she's beautiful, friendly, and fun to be with.
Then jealous Lila Fowler starts spreading vicious rumors about Susan's mother - who she really is and why she abandoned Susan. No one wants to talk to Susan anymore, not even Gordon. To clear her name, Susan has to find out the truth about her parents. But is she better off not knowing?
168 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1987
38 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,849 followersFrancine 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.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 22, 2008
Okay, not much to snark at in this book, because it's actually quite decent. Still, for your reading pleasure, here's a recap of the A and B plot.
The A Plot:
My only reason for calling this the A plot is that this is what the title is about and what's described on the back of the book, but really more time is spent on the B plot. Guess the ghost writer didn't have enough time to think up the details for this one.
Susan lives with her guardian whom she calls Aunt Helen. She doesn't know who her mother really is, but Aunt Helen has promised to tell her when she turns 18. She doesn't mind not knowing too much, because she loves Aunt Helen and has a good life. Her boyfriend, Gordon is the son of one of the more snobbish families in town - so snobbish they put even Lila to shame actually - but she believes that he's nothing like them, and is happy to spend time with him, even if it means spending time with them as well. In fact, the first time we meet her, she's out playing golf with the in-laws.
Gordon has asked Susan to the Bridgewater Ball - an event only the most important people in Sweet Valley can go to, and the frustrates Lila to the point of distraction that not only is she not able to go without an invite (because in her eyes it's galling that she's not considered 'one of the most important people in SV') but nobody has invited her either! And here that nobody Susan is going just because she landed a rich boyfriend. Who does she think she is anyway?
That's when it dawns on Lila that since nobody knows who Susan is, she might as well make up a past for her - or rather, invent a mother. She drops a few well-placed hints to Cara and Caroline, who are still the two largest gossips in town despite attempting to mend their ways, and soon everybody knows that Susan's mom is in fact NOT somebody famous or well-off, but in the hospital for the criminally insane for having killed somebody.
Immediately most of the student body starts treating Susan like a pariah, because everybody knows that the faults of the mother is the shame of her daughter as well, and how DARE she pretend she's somebody, hanging out with the rich, when in reality she's little better than a criminal herself. Even her oh-so-wonderful boyfriend Gordon believes the rumours over her protestations that she still knows nothing about her mother, and - blaming it on his parents - cancels their date and unceremoniously dumps her.
Susan rushes home in tears and BEGS Aunt Helen to tell her who her mother is, but despite seeing how distraught Susan is, all Aunt Helen does is cry "I can't!" and rushes from the room. Suspicious much?
Elizabeth and Allen Walters are the only people who don't believe in the rumours and who don't care about them even if they were true. Elizabeth, because she'd never do such a thing, Allen, because he's in love with Susan. They try to cheer up Susan as best they can, and Allen asks her out on the evening of the Ball to give her something else to think about, and she immediately accepts, making him "the happiest guy in school".
Meanwhile Lila has managed to suck up to Gordon enough that he's asked her to the ball instead. What a bitch!
In the midst of all this, famous director Jackson Croft is coming to Sweet Valley to do a casting call for a new movie he's making. Completely out of the blue he turns up at Susan and Helen's house to talk to Aunt Helen. Turns out that he's the father of Susan!!! He and Helen(!!!) had a 'thing' 17 years ago. He left Helen to pursue his career not knowing that she was pregnant, and has now come back to see the daughter he only just discovered that he had. Logically he assumes that Susan knows, and therefore unthinkingly reveals to her who her mother is. Susan is immediately shocked into tears and then angry that 'Aunt Helen' would hide this from her for so many years, but with the help of Jackson she realizes what a selfless thing her mother has done - allowing her to grow up as the daughter of somebody grand, rather than the bastard child of a simple waitress.
While the immediate love and understanding between Susan and Jackson seems rather unrealistic, I did find this following quote from Susan about her mother really sweet: "When I was little I used to wish that whoever my real mother was would go away and leave me alone with you so - so you could be my mother. I never let myself love you as much as I wanted to, because I thought I should save it for my mother, but now I can!"
Now everybody knows who Susan is. Granted, her mother is just a waitress, but her father is a famous director! That's good enough for anybody! Even Gordon who re-invites Susan to the ball - without uninviting Lila first. Oooh burn! Susan, however, has discovered who her *real* friends are, and tells him "I'm busy on Saturday - and every day after that!" Yay! And Lila, who overheard the invitation, now knows Gordon for the pig he is, and dumps him in front of everybody. Go Lila!
The B Plot:
Because of a sex-ed class about older women being able to get pregnant too, Jessica convinces herself that her mother is pregnant. She overhears her and Ned talking about names, and about something the twins shouldn't know yet, her mother is cranky and gets cravings AND she finds a bag of baby-clothes in her mother's closet.
That Jessica goes off on a wild goose chase is nothing new, but she manages to convince both Elizabeth and Steve that she's right, none of them realizing that there may be other, perfectly valid, reasons for her behaviour. Because they can't think of any, they don't exist.
The three kids are convinced that their parents won't tell them, because they're worried about what their reaction will be, so they start a campaign to show their parents how much they love babies... only to end up having Ned and Alice ask them which one is in trouble!
Finally they decide that enough is enough and ask their parents straight out (which I would just have done from the start, instead of all this sneaking around. But I guess that doesn't make a good storyline), and it turns out that no, Alice is NOT pregnant. The clothes were for a baby-shower, she and Ned were talking about going away on vacation and leaving the twins home alone, and the rest were just coincidences! Good job, jumping to conclusions, girls. Jessica is used to being wrong, but Elizabeth is properly chastened to have let Jessica drag her along like that.
Thus ends one of the more decent SVH books :)
The A Plot:
My only reason for calling this the A plot is that this is what the title is about and what's described on the back of the book, but really more time is spent on the B plot. Guess the ghost writer didn't have enough time to think up the details for this one.
Susan lives with her guardian whom she calls Aunt Helen. She doesn't know who her mother really is, but Aunt Helen has promised to tell her when she turns 18. She doesn't mind not knowing too much, because she loves Aunt Helen and has a good life. Her boyfriend, Gordon is the son of one of the more snobbish families in town - so snobbish they put even Lila to shame actually - but she believes that he's nothing like them, and is happy to spend time with him, even if it means spending time with them as well. In fact, the first time we meet her, she's out playing golf with the in-laws.
Gordon has asked Susan to the Bridgewater Ball - an event only the most important people in Sweet Valley can go to, and the frustrates Lila to the point of distraction that not only is she not able to go without an invite (because in her eyes it's galling that she's not considered 'one of the most important people in SV') but nobody has invited her either! And here that nobody Susan is going just because she landed a rich boyfriend. Who does she think she is anyway?
That's when it dawns on Lila that since nobody knows who Susan is, she might as well make up a past for her - or rather, invent a mother. She drops a few well-placed hints to Cara and Caroline, who are still the two largest gossips in town despite attempting to mend their ways, and soon everybody knows that Susan's mom is in fact NOT somebody famous or well-off, but in the hospital for the criminally insane for having killed somebody.
Immediately most of the student body starts treating Susan like a pariah, because everybody knows that the faults of the mother is the shame of her daughter as well, and how DARE she pretend she's somebody, hanging out with the rich, when in reality she's little better than a criminal herself. Even her oh-so-wonderful boyfriend Gordon believes the rumours over her protestations that she still knows nothing about her mother, and - blaming it on his parents - cancels their date and unceremoniously dumps her.
Susan rushes home in tears and BEGS Aunt Helen to tell her who her mother is, but despite seeing how distraught Susan is, all Aunt Helen does is cry "I can't!" and rushes from the room. Suspicious much?
Elizabeth and Allen Walters are the only people who don't believe in the rumours and who don't care about them even if they were true. Elizabeth, because she'd never do such a thing, Allen, because he's in love with Susan. They try to cheer up Susan as best they can, and Allen asks her out on the evening of the Ball to give her something else to think about, and she immediately accepts, making him "the happiest guy in school".
Meanwhile Lila has managed to suck up to Gordon enough that he's asked her to the ball instead. What a bitch!
In the midst of all this, famous director Jackson Croft is coming to Sweet Valley to do a casting call for a new movie he's making. Completely out of the blue he turns up at Susan and Helen's house to talk to Aunt Helen. Turns out that he's the father of Susan!!! He and Helen(!!!) had a 'thing' 17 years ago. He left Helen to pursue his career not knowing that she was pregnant, and has now come back to see the daughter he only just discovered that he had. Logically he assumes that Susan knows, and therefore unthinkingly reveals to her who her mother is. Susan is immediately shocked into tears and then angry that 'Aunt Helen' would hide this from her for so many years, but with the help of Jackson she realizes what a selfless thing her mother has done - allowing her to grow up as the daughter of somebody grand, rather than the bastard child of a simple waitress.
While the immediate love and understanding between Susan and Jackson seems rather unrealistic, I did find this following quote from Susan about her mother really sweet: "When I was little I used to wish that whoever my real mother was would go away and leave me alone with you so - so you could be my mother. I never let myself love you as much as I wanted to, because I thought I should save it for my mother, but now I can!"
Now everybody knows who Susan is. Granted, her mother is just a waitress, but her father is a famous director! That's good enough for anybody! Even Gordon who re-invites Susan to the ball - without uninviting Lila first. Oooh burn! Susan, however, has discovered who her *real* friends are, and tells him "I'm busy on Saturday - and every day after that!" Yay! And Lila, who overheard the invitation, now knows Gordon for the pig he is, and dumps him in front of everybody. Go Lila!
The B Plot:
Because of a sex-ed class about older women being able to get pregnant too, Jessica convinces herself that her mother is pregnant. She overhears her and Ned talking about names, and about something the twins shouldn't know yet, her mother is cranky and gets cravings AND she finds a bag of baby-clothes in her mother's closet.
That Jessica goes off on a wild goose chase is nothing new, but she manages to convince both Elizabeth and Steve that she's right, none of them realizing that there may be other, perfectly valid, reasons for her behaviour. Because they can't think of any, they don't exist.
The three kids are convinced that their parents won't tell them, because they're worried about what their reaction will be, so they start a campaign to show their parents how much they love babies... only to end up having Ned and Alice ask them which one is in trouble!
Finally they decide that enough is enough and ask their parents straight out (which I would just have done from the start, instead of all this sneaking around. But I guess that doesn't make a good storyline), and it turns out that no, Alice is NOT pregnant. The clothes were for a baby-shower, she and Ned were talking about going away on vacation and leaving the twins home alone, and the rest were just coincidences! Good job, jumping to conclusions, girls. Jessica is used to being wrong, but Elizabeth is properly chastened to have let Jessica drag her along like that.
Thus ends one of the more decent SVH books :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2021
Susan spends the whole book fretting about who her real mother is...Is she a glamorous movie star? A high-powered socialite? When-SURPRISE!-It's been her humble guardian, waitress "Aunt Reister" this whole time!
Personally I would've been super pissed if my "guardian" had kept this secret from me for 16 years, but that's my own personal baggage.
Oh and Susan finds out her real dad is the venerable Hollywood director, Jackson Croft. So she comes from a "glamorous" family after all!
The whole school is in awe of her but she realizes who her true friends are, she gets with the shy nerdy photographer Allen and dumps her snooty rich kid bf Gordon, and she hugs her mom and dad joyfully and tearfully, the end!
Personally I would've been super pissed if my "guardian" had kept this secret from me for 16 years, but that's my own personal baggage.
Oh and Susan finds out her real dad is the venerable Hollywood director, Jackson Croft. So she comes from a "glamorous" family after all!
The whole school is in awe of her but she realizes who her true friends are, she gets with the shy nerdy photographer Allen and dumps her snooty rich kid bf Gordon, and she hugs her mom and dad joyfully and tearfully, the end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2025
Rumors
Susan lives with her guardian “Aunt Helen”. She doesn’t know who her mother nor father are. Her aunt Helen promises she’ll tell her when she turns 18. During a golf game with her boyfriend Gordon’s snobby family he asks Susan to the Bridgewater Ball-an event that only the richest families get invited to-. Not even Lila Fowler has an invite. Nor does she have a boyfriend important enough to ask her. Lila is jealous that Susan is going with Gordan so she starts a rumor to Caroline and Cara that her real mother isn’t famous. She’s in the hospital for the criminally insane for having murdered someone. And it works. The student body start treating her as if she has the plague. Gordan calls off the date with her and dumps her, despite her pleas that she doesn’t know anything about what’s being said about her. Susan rushes him and BEGS her aunt to tell her the truth, but she just cries she can’t. Then rushes out the door to go to work. Allen Waters who’s in love with Susan doesn’t believe the rumors and asks her out on a date the night of the ball. She accepts. Lila pretends she doesn’t want to but has gotten Gordan to ask her to the dance. Susan’s father turns out to be Jackson Croft-a famous movie director-, who’s come to Sweet Valley to shoot a movie. He lost his son in a car accident and has just discovered he has a daughter and he comes to see Aunt Helen. He and Aunt Helen had a thing 17 years ago, and he left to pursue his career. Never knowing she was pregnant. He reveals the truth to Susan when she comes home, assuming she knew that Aunt Helen was really her mother. And is shocked because Aunt Helen kept it a secret. At first, Susan is angry that her mother lied to her, but then she has a change of heart and realizes her mother just wanted her to have something better than the life of a bastard, single, a waitress. The father offers Susan a chance to live with him, but she tutnd him down and tells him that know that she knows what her mother did and who she is, she’d rather stay with her. Gordan tries to re-invite Susan to the dance, but she tells him she has plans that night (and every night). He then tries to go back to Lila but she dumps him. The other plot is about because Jessica’s been taking a sex ed class and Cara puts the idea in her head that woman can get pregnant after 40 her mom is pregnant because she shows certain signs. But it turns out she’s not. The baby clothes she finds in the closet are for a friend’s baby shower.
My Thoughts: Raise your hand if you could see through Gordan the first time we’re introduced to him (raises hand). Also, if the plot twist wasn’t a twist at all and you saw that coming too (raises hand). The B plot reminded me of the SVT book Center of Attention where Alice gets sick and they all think she’s either dying or pregnant. (I think dying). You would think they’d know to just ask her by now. And then this is the umpteenth book where just OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER one of the SVH students has a crush on someone but is just too shy to tell them. Then the other person’s significant other (if they have one) turns out to be an ass or either Elizabeth pushes them to talk to the object of their affection. I’m starting to realize how repetitious this series is.
Rating: 5
Susan lives with her guardian “Aunt Helen”. She doesn’t know who her mother nor father are. Her aunt Helen promises she’ll tell her when she turns 18. During a golf game with her boyfriend Gordon’s snobby family he asks Susan to the Bridgewater Ball-an event that only the richest families get invited to-. Not even Lila Fowler has an invite. Nor does she have a boyfriend important enough to ask her. Lila is jealous that Susan is going with Gordan so she starts a rumor to Caroline and Cara that her real mother isn’t famous. She’s in the hospital for the criminally insane for having murdered someone. And it works. The student body start treating her as if she has the plague. Gordan calls off the date with her and dumps her, despite her pleas that she doesn’t know anything about what’s being said about her. Susan rushes him and BEGS her aunt to tell her the truth, but she just cries she can’t. Then rushes out the door to go to work. Allen Waters who’s in love with Susan doesn’t believe the rumors and asks her out on a date the night of the ball. She accepts. Lila pretends she doesn’t want to but has gotten Gordan to ask her to the dance. Susan’s father turns out to be Jackson Croft-a famous movie director-, who’s come to Sweet Valley to shoot a movie. He lost his son in a car accident and has just discovered he has a daughter and he comes to see Aunt Helen. He and Aunt Helen had a thing 17 years ago, and he left to pursue his career. Never knowing she was pregnant. He reveals the truth to Susan when she comes home, assuming she knew that Aunt Helen was really her mother. And is shocked because Aunt Helen kept it a secret. At first, Susan is angry that her mother lied to her, but then she has a change of heart and realizes her mother just wanted her to have something better than the life of a bastard, single, a waitress. The father offers Susan a chance to live with him, but she tutnd him down and tells him that know that she knows what her mother did and who she is, she’d rather stay with her. Gordan tries to re-invite Susan to the dance, but she tells him she has plans that night (and every night). He then tries to go back to Lila but she dumps him. The other plot is about because Jessica’s been taking a sex ed class and Cara puts the idea in her head that woman can get pregnant after 40 her mom is pregnant because she shows certain signs. But it turns out she’s not. The baby clothes she finds in the closet are for a friend’s baby shower.
My Thoughts: Raise your hand if you could see through Gordan the first time we’re introduced to him (raises hand). Also, if the plot twist wasn’t a twist at all and you saw that coming too (raises hand). The B plot reminded me of the SVT book Center of Attention where Alice gets sick and they all think she’s either dying or pregnant. (I think dying). You would think they’d know to just ask her by now. And then this is the umpteenth book where just OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER one of the SVH students has a crush on someone but is just too shy to tell them. Then the other person’s significant other (if they have one) turns out to be an ass or either Elizabeth pushes them to talk to the object of their affection. I’m starting to realize how repetitious this series is.
Rating: 5
December 28, 2024
I almost felt bad for Susan in this but she felt as superficial as her boyfriend in a way. nicer that lila but still too stuck on popularity and privilege. What her family does in this is just pathetic and annoyed me and her instant okay to it all is no better!
Jessica yet again finds info and must stick her nose where it shouldn't be and drags her siblings in with her, but in this case, I get it. Lila is terrible and never gets her due as usual. Honestly how can anyone ever be friends with her? She smiles as she stabs those closest to her in the back!
Jessica yet again finds info and must stick her nose where it shouldn't be and drags her siblings in with her, but in this case, I get it. Lila is terrible and never gets her due as usual. Honestly how can anyone ever be friends with her? She smiles as she stabs those closest to her in the back!
October 19, 2019
How is it possible that everyone in SVH is beautiful? Beautiful Susan doesn't know who her parents are- rumor has always been that her mother is someone famous or powerful. Her boyfriend is a rich douchebag. She doesn't seem to have any other friends. The plotline about her real parents is total soap opera. In other news, the twins think their mom is pregnant. A very random SVH book, but Lila is awful in it, so that makes it better. 2 stars.
August 22, 2023
This is the 37th book in the series.
Susan likes Gordon. Something seems to be wrong with Susan's mother. Thre's going to be a ball for a bunch of ultra-rich snobs. Her father left long ago.
As of this volume, Jeffrey French is Elizabeth's boyfriend.
Lila Fowler doesn't like Susan so she starts a bunch of nasty rumors, not caring at all what effect it will have on Susan, such as losing her boyfriend.
Plot theme 2 is the girls and Steven concerned that their mother might be pregnant and doing everything can to see if that is true.
As rumors do the one about Susan's mother grows and becomes darker and nastier.
What happens afterwards is quite interesting. Susan has a major revelation about her mother. A guy that makes movies becomes an important character.Liz might leave the United States for a while.
A bigfoot eats Lila and dies of food poisoning.
Actually, no. I'd feel sorry for the Bigfoot.
Another book with an actual lesson in it. Don't start rumors. They can have really bad consequences for other people.
Susan likes Gordon. Something seems to be wrong with Susan's mother. Thre's going to be a ball for a bunch of ultra-rich snobs. Her father left long ago.
As of this volume, Jeffrey French is Elizabeth's boyfriend.
Lila Fowler doesn't like Susan so she starts a bunch of nasty rumors, not caring at all what effect it will have on Susan, such as losing her boyfriend.
Plot theme 2 is the girls and Steven concerned that their mother might be pregnant and doing everything can to see if that is true.
As rumors do the one about Susan's mother grows and becomes darker and nastier.
What happens afterwards is quite interesting. Susan has a major revelation about her mother. A guy that makes movies becomes an important character.Liz might leave the United States for a while.
A bigfoot eats Lila and dies of food poisoning.
Actually, no. I'd feel sorry for the Bigfoot.
Another book with an actual lesson in it. Don't start rumors. They can have really bad consequences for other people.
December 19, 2024
An immediately predictable Great Expectations rip-off...reinforced by the baby clothing store shopping bag actually being called Great Expectations! As soon as Jackson starts being mentioned, you know where it's all going. I did enjoy Susan telling Gordon to walk, and Lila dumping a drink over his head. I still can't understand how Jess and Lila are even friends - they're so awful to each other, especially in this one. It was hilarious, though. I just can't understand how any real teenagers would care about these things or gossip to quite this degree - or why, even if you felt you had to hide being an unmarried mother back in those days, you would work yourself to the bone to pay for your daughter to go to expensive tennis lessons and country club balls. Protecting her from stigma doesn't equate to killing yourself to make her a rich snob!
July 30, 2020
Another entertaining and quick read from the world of Sweet Valley. I’ve read this one already about 2 years ago and as I read it, I started remembering all of what happened. But that didn’t take away my enjoyment.
I always love the Wakefield family moments in these, most specifically with the twins and Steven.
It’s a shame the student body of SVH is so shallow as to completely change their opinion on someone based on their parents and what they do or who they are. In the end, the students only accept Susan again because her father is a famous director which is kind of unfair, I hope that’ll change for her.
I suppose Lila did receive some karma in the end for what she did to Susan but I think her punishment should’ve been something greater.
I still highly enjoyed it though! <3
I always love the Wakefield family moments in these, most specifically with the twins and Steven.
It’s a shame the student body of SVH is so shallow as to completely change their opinion on someone based on their parents and what they do or who they are. In the end, the students only accept Susan again because her father is a famous director which is kind of unfair, I hope that’ll change for her.
I suppose Lila did receive some karma in the end for what she did to Susan but I think her punishment should’ve been something greater.
I still highly enjoyed it though! <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2023
The book where a nobody is a somebody. Susan, some nobody I’ve never heard of before is apparently so cool and elegant even though she doesn’t know who her parents are and lives with her guardian. Of course, her guardian ends up being her mother and her father ends up being some famous film director. Anyway, Susan basically learns nobody (her boyfriend Gordon) really liked her and only liked her because she was mysterious but it’s ok because she gets a new boyfriend in Allen and a new friend in meddling Elizabeth Wakefield. The far more entertaining b-plot is the twins thinking there mother is pregnant. Spoiler alert, she isn’t. Both twins were good in this book but Jess was more entertaining. All in all, this one was pretty mediocre.
April 10, 2019
It could possibly get another star simply for Dana’s skintight leopard print jeans 😂
This storyline is so utterly contrived, even by SVH standards. What we learn in this book is that film directors are jerks, posh people are jerks, and the girls at SVH are jerks for basically ignoring Susan until the end of the book.
The Alice sub-plot is hilariously stupid!
Already dreading the next book, from what I remember it was as dull as dishwater as Jess would say.
This storyline is so utterly contrived, even by SVH standards. What we learn in this book is that film directors are jerks, posh people are jerks, and the girls at SVH are jerks for basically ignoring Susan until the end of the book.
The Alice sub-plot is hilariously stupid!
Already dreading the next book, from what I remember it was as dull as dishwater as Jess would say.
August 10, 2024
Re-read 2024
I am re-reading one of my fave series from childhood-the Sweet Valley High series. Gosh, I devoured these as a girl in grades 6-8! Here I am re-reading #37 which is about classmate Susan who wishes to find out more about her birth mother. In pursuit of finding more answers, Lila Fowler decides to spread a terrible rumor about Susan. What ensues are some events that only happen in teen television series nowadays but it didn't dampen my reading experience.
Meanwhile, Jessica convinces Elizabeth and Steven that their parents are hiding the fact that Mrs.Wakwfield is pregnant again! Like many of the titles, a light-hearted storyline accompanies a more serious topic.
Thanks to Kindle Unlimited for making sure that fans like me can revisit our favorite youthful reads.
Goodreads review published 07/08/24
I am re-reading one of my fave series from childhood-the Sweet Valley High series. Gosh, I devoured these as a girl in grades 6-8! Here I am re-reading #37 which is about classmate Susan who wishes to find out more about her birth mother. In pursuit of finding more answers, Lila Fowler decides to spread a terrible rumor about Susan. What ensues are some events that only happen in teen television series nowadays but it didn't dampen my reading experience.
Meanwhile, Jessica convinces Elizabeth and Steven that their parents are hiding the fact that Mrs.Wakwfield is pregnant again! Like many of the titles, a light-hearted storyline accompanies a more serious topic.
Thanks to Kindle Unlimited for making sure that fans like me can revisit our favorite youthful reads.
Goodreads review published 07/08/24
December 10, 2017
After my disappointment from “Jealous Lies”, I doubted I would love this book until I read more pages. This book has more mean girl excitement, a cooler plot, and a funnier subplot. I know that this book is meant to be mine.
December 15, 2021
Susan is dating posh and preppy Gordon, but rumours start to spread that her unknown mother is actually a convict - or a loony!! (Nice going Lila!!!!) Naturally Gordon dumps her for Fowler pastures, but the truth always wins out in the end
May 31, 2024
I know I say this in almost every review but: truly the dumbest b-plot.
February 27, 2025
3.5 stars!!!!
May 17, 2025
Who is Susan Stewart? Do we ever hear about her after this book?
Also, I still want an explanation on why Alice was waxing poetically about baby names.
Also, I still want an explanation on why Alice was waxing poetically about baby names.
May 18, 2024
this was my purse book for a few months. nothing revelatory, but a fun distraction from life and better than scrolling your phone.
December 20, 2011
Susan lives with her guardian whom she calls Aunt Helen. She doesn't know who her mother really is, but Aunt Helen has promised to tell her when she turns 18. She doesn't mind not knowing too much, until, her life was turned upside down when Lila started the rumor mill running. Apparently Lila dropped hints about Susan's real mother's supposed "identity"--that of being in the hospital for the criminally insane for having killed somebody.
She then become the newest pariah resulting in her being dropped like a hot potato by her boyfriend, Gordon and consequently being uninvited to the most exclusive and snobbiest party of the year. Apparently this is because everybody knows that the faults of the mother is the shame of her daughter as well, and how dare she pretend she's somebody, hanging out with the rich, when in reality she's little better than a criminal herself.
The only ones to stand by her were Liz and Allen Walters (who's obviously carrying a torch for her) even when Susan's Aunt Helen refuses to reveal the former's mother's identity. In typical Sweet Valley fashion, famous director Jackson Croft comes to town to do a casting call for a new movie he's making. Completely out of the blue he turns up at Susan and Helen's house to talk to Aunt Helen. Turns out that he's the father of Susan and it was revealed that he and Helen had an affair 17 years ago. He left Helen to pursue his career not knowing that she was pregnant, and has now come back to see the daughter he only just discovered that he had.
Now everybody knows who Susan is. Granted, her mother is just a waitress, but her father is a famous director. That's good enough for anybody! what hypocrites these people are! Fairy tale ending: Susan and Jackson find themselves having a very caring father-daughter relationship, Allen proves himself as Susan's knight in shining armor, Gordon gets dumped, and Lila dumps Gordon in front of everyone when he conveniently forgets to un-invite her after inviting Susan as his date the second time around.
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Book Details:
Title: Rumors (Sweet Valley High #37)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
She then become the newest pariah resulting in her being dropped like a hot potato by her boyfriend, Gordon and consequently being uninvited to the most exclusive and snobbiest party of the year. Apparently this is because everybody knows that the faults of the mother is the shame of her daughter as well, and how dare she pretend she's somebody, hanging out with the rich, when in reality she's little better than a criminal herself.
The only ones to stand by her were Liz and Allen Walters (who's obviously carrying a torch for her) even when Susan's Aunt Helen refuses to reveal the former's mother's identity. In typical Sweet Valley fashion, famous director Jackson Croft comes to town to do a casting call for a new movie he's making. Completely out of the blue he turns up at Susan and Helen's house to talk to Aunt Helen. Turns out that he's the father of Susan and it was revealed that he and Helen had an affair 17 years ago. He left Helen to pursue his career not knowing that she was pregnant, and has now come back to see the daughter he only just discovered that he had.
Now everybody knows who Susan is. Granted, her mother is just a waitress, but her father is a famous director. That's good enough for anybody! what hypocrites these people are! Fairy tale ending: Susan and Jackson find themselves having a very caring father-daughter relationship, Allen proves himself as Susan's knight in shining armor, Gordon gets dumped, and Lila dumps Gordon in front of everyone when he conveniently forgets to un-invite her after inviting Susan as his date the second time around.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title: Rumors (Sweet Valley High #37)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
April 25, 2016
Source: I read this book online via Open Library.
Cost: Free
Title: Rumors
Series: Sweet Valley High #37
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars
Susan is going to the Bridgewater Ball! How fancy! With her fancy boyfriend Gordon! But oh no! Lila isn't happy! (Is Lila ever happy?) And she decides to spread a rumour that Susan's mother in criminally insane and killed somebody! So of course, Susan must be crazy too!
This book is awful, it plays on the fact that poor Susan never knew who her parent's were and really that's just bullying. But it leads to Susan asking her Aunt Helen who her parent's were and it turns out her father is a rich film director and her mother, you'll never guess, is AUNT HELEN.
Shocking.
Cost: Free
Title: Rumors
Series: Sweet Valley High #37
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars
Susan is going to the Bridgewater Ball! How fancy! With her fancy boyfriend Gordon! But oh no! Lila isn't happy! (Is Lila ever happy?) And she decides to spread a rumour that Susan's mother in criminally insane and killed somebody! So of course, Susan must be crazy too!
This book is awful, it plays on the fact that poor Susan never knew who her parent's were and really that's just bullying. But it leads to Susan asking her Aunt Helen who her parent's were and it turns out her father is a rich film director and her mother, you'll never guess, is AUNT HELEN.
Shocking.
June 12, 2008
great book
June 8, 2010
I'm going to go ahead and start posting these here. Review forthcoming.
October 24, 2010
Good stuff, just good stuff. I enjoyed all of them. I really can't say enough about this wonderful series.
January 3, 2012
This wasn't what I expected.
June 21, 2013
I remember the cover but just not the story.
Read
August 1, 2013Graded By: Erin
Read the drinking game and review here.
Read the drinking game and review here.
June 28, 2014
So many feels...
June 17, 2016
The twins think their mum is pregnant, and this girl who doesn't know who her real mum is finds out. Not bad.
December 5, 2008
Read this back in secondary school... 'Sweet Valley High #37 - Rumors' by Francine Pascal
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews