Nowhere to Run

Sweet Valley High #25

by Francine Pascal (Creator)

What will The Droids do without Emily?

Elizabeth Wakefield is surprised when Emily Mayer tells her she wants to join the school newspaper. After all, Emily's a musician, not a writer. Why would The Droids' crack drummer turn to writing, especially when the band is so popular?

Emily confides to Elizabeth that she's having problems at home.  er stepmother has imposed a strict curfew and gets annoyed whenever Emily practices her drumming. What's worse, Emily's father seems to agree with his new wife. Emily's certain her stepmother is out to get her—and she's succeeding. Can Elizabeth help Emily before the situation at the Mayer home reaches the breaking point?

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

153 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1985

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

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hit close to home. I connected so hard with what Emily was going through. I don't think parents realize how hard new family members (stepparents) and rules and such are for a teenager. Hard for anyone but teens are extra hormonal, trying to learn to become their own person, etc and to have someone come and shut that down, tell you to be someone you aren't , deciding your friends and hobbies for you is an awful thing to go through! This brought up some hard memories and feels with all that going on. Dan is one sweet guy though and I hope for the best with him and Emily! I didn't get into the Wakefield story at all in this one. Maybe is was truly boring or maybe too caught up with Emily. But I will say Alice should understand that teens often aren't as close to their parents as parents might like. Get over it and don't take it so personal Alice! So there are my random thoughts as I read this book. Although in a technical note, the author obviously knew nothing about the Heimlich on infants!

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh boy, this one made me a little rage'y. This is our first story with Emily Mayer, the super cool drummer of The Droids, and it's your classic evil stepmother plot. The aptly named, Karen, is a total witch despite Emily's good faith attempts to roll with her new rules, and Emily's father shows a complete lack of understanding. The drama escalates throughout the book in a fairly standard way, but what got me was the utter lack of nuance in the book's conclusion. Everything is wrapped up WAY too fast and in my opinion, the person who owes Emily the biggest apology is let off the hook. I was annoyed!!!

--
**Review Note - I have been re-reading the Sweet Valley High series one book at a time for my podcast, “Lessons From Sweet Valley.” The following is the unique SVH rating system that I use on goodreads for these books alone…

5 Stars - The book is worthy of being read outside of the series purely as an exemplary example of YA fiction.
4 Stars - The book contains an element, storyline or theme that sets it apart from your average SVH tome.
3 Stars - The book adequately meets the expectations of an SVH book as it exists in the Sweet Valley universe.
2 Stars - The book falls below the SVH standards in terms of subject matter, characters or overall story.
1 Star - Offensive by SVH standards! Any of those re-reading the series should skip entirely

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nowhere to Run
Plot: Emily Mayer drummer of Sweet Valley’s local bands, may be forced to turn in her kit and sticks for good. Ever since her Dad remarried the spoiled but attractive Karen, she might as well have her name changed from Emily to Ella. Emily can’t stay out past 9 on the weekdays. She can only practice her drums between certain hours. (And not even then because Karen bitches about waking up the baby *her new stepsister*). She doesn’t approve of her friends. Last but not least she’d rather she join the Oracle than be in the band. Emily loves the Droids, but she just can’t seem to connect to any of them when it comes to her family drama. So, she turns to Elizabeth. (Of course, she does). Yet, there’s someone in her band that she wouldn’t mind getting closer to. Dan and she seem to have *something*. Just she doesn’t know what that something is yet. That is until Dan get’s an eyeful of what’s going on in his potential girlfriend’s life, which he stops by to check out her new cymbals and Karen (can I call her the bitch?) basically degrades her in front of him. Because of his feelings for her he puts himself out there, only to have her push him away because of embarrassment. In a effort to be what Karen wants (So she won’t convince her Dad to send her away) she sells her drums. Only Dan buys them “for a friend”. Only we know there is no *friend”. (Making him my second favorite to Nick Morrow). Emily then quits the Droids. Things come to a head when Karen (who doesn’t know what the hell she’s doing as a wife or a mother, yet Mr. Mayer worships the ground she stands on and thinks she can do no wrong) almost kills her baby and Emily saves it from chocking to death. The Dad comes down on Emily HARD, and she tries to run away to her mother, who (surprise surprise) isn’t dead. She just ghosted her family (making her no better than Karen). Emily soon finds this out when she calls her last number and see’s she’s run off and got married again. Grandma Wakefield has a heart to heart with her and she and her family reconnect. Karen apologizes and says she’s been jealous. And all is well. We also learn that Alice is jealous of her husband’s parent’s, because the twins prefer them to her. Then it lead’s into the next book. A classmate (Eddie) stops Regina with a strange woman, but she’s suppose to still be in Switzerland.

My Thoughts (sighing where to start)
*Don’t you just HATE it when people THINK that a particular person is your life is SO innocent and nice because they act that way in front of THEM, but they really AREN’T because you know how they’ve been TO YOU and it’s anything but? Then they get on YOU like but they’re so sweet or nice or something. Doesn’t it make you wanna SCREAM? YEAH BUT THERE!
*And then let’s talk about SORRY ASS PEOPLE that just BOUNCE and leave behind people that love them and are left with a huge ass hole in their hearts are pretty much DAMAGED FOR ETERNITY while their thoughtless living out their best lives without a damn care in the world of the pain they’ve inflicted on the (daughter, son, husband, wife, lover). Why the hell would Emily even TRY to find this woman? And when that karma catches up to her and this man leaves her butt with that child and she realizes oh ish. That’s what I did to my daughter, and the guilt hits, and she tries to contact Emily, only Emily cuts her the hell off that’s the book I wanna read. As you can see I’m not sympathetic to Emily’s mother. “Liz she had problems, from what I heard.” Just ain’t doing it for me. But if it’s drugs or alcohol I hear they mess you up. I just don’t have anything for people who leave. Cause of what I’ve been through.
*Then I REALLY don’t understand how Elizabeth is the go all fix all person to EVERYONE at SVH. So you feel closer to Elizabeth a girl you hardly know than people you’ve been in your band with for YEARS. But then I also know that yes even people in your life you’ve known FOREVER don’t get it sometimes. But why Elizabeth all the time. I guess it’s the twin’s series and it’s a way to connect them into everything, but sometimes…
*I personally would have hauled off and slapped Karen if she’d called my mother a tramp and insinuated, I was one by association. He REALLY would have sent me away. And I’m not violent, which says something. I wanted to slap Karen. But you know what this brings back a sour memory so I’ll skip it.
*And what’s so abnormal about a parent calling you at school and wanting to take you to the beach? I would have LOVED for one of my parents to do this. Wouldn’t have questioned it in the slightest. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM. On a whim, I use to have my grandparent check me out from school. Jessica COME ON! Would u really rather be in school?
*Emily is just as insane as Karen tho. I think she’s been around her too long. Dan tries to get her to stay in the Droids. She get’s mad and tells him she’s out. But then she get’s mad when he tries to get “his friend” the drum kit, because he doesn’t care if she stays in the band. REALLY EMILY. Do you hear yourself. Dan you a JOB ahead of you.
*This whole family is crazy because Mr. Mayer.. just as crazy as his women and daughter. He sides with Karen ALL THE TIME. Emily plays her music too loud. Can’t hardly practice without getting jumped on, but then its “why’d you do that? Why’d you sell your drums?” And I’m just shaking my head at this family.
*And NO at the end of this book I didn’t like Karen any more than I did in the beginning of it. I guess we’re suppose to soften to her because things will get better now that she’s apologized. Emily’s a much better person than I’ll ever be. Id still be weary.

Rating: 7 A lot of this one I could relate to and it made me MAD! They were all RIDICULOUS in my opinion. Emily was ridiculous because of how she treated Dan. Karen was ridiculous because your jealous of your husband’s DAUGHTER and the attention he gives his CHILD. Mr. Mayer is ridiculous because he’s so P-WHIPPED that he can’t see his wife is a bitch and takes her side over his kids. I feel very sorry for that baby and Dan (who I love for buying her drums and giving them back to her).

[Hil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good SV book - for once a believable storyline with lots of frustration and tension.

[Jennifer Dombrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nowhere to Run is book 25 in the Sweet Valley High series of Young Adult books by Francine Pascal.

Nowhere to Run is one of the best Sweet Valley High books I am rereading as an adult.

This book is about Emily Mayer, a budding star of Sweet Valley High's rock group, The Droids, experiencing significant problems in her home life. The difficulties are her father, Mr. Mayer, has remarried, and Karen, her stepmother, has never liked Emily, but Emily can get by. But then Karen and Mr. Mayer had a baby, the adorable Karrie. And suddenly, nothing Emily did was right to Karen, and life at home became unbearable.

It didn't help that Mr. Mayer, who was once so close to Emily before he married Karen, had suddenly started siding with Karen. Mr. Mayer would hear nothing that Karen did wrong; he said she has to deal with a new baby and Emily, so he told Emily to give Karen a break.

Things got so bad that Karen started talking about sending Emily to boarding school as she told Mr. Mayer that Emily needed the discipline she would get at that place.

Karen said nasty things and called Emily an ugly name in front of Dan Scott, a member of The Droids she wanted to get to know better. After that, Emily avoided Dan because she was so embarrassed.

Emily wanted to spend the night at the Wakefield house after a fight with Mr. Mayer and Karen, but her dad said if she were not home in an hour, her drums would be outside. Emily went home, and the next day she quit The Droids and sold her drums. Emily tried hard to get along with Karen, but Karen continued to be nasty toward her. Emily wanted to tell herself she was happy and convince everybody at school who asked that she was happy. But she wasn't satisfied without her music.

Then while we read about the drama that is Emily's life, Mrs. Wakefield is starting to feel not needed by her kids anymore. Grandma and Grandpa Wakefield visited from Michigan for three weeks, and Jessica and Elizabeth wanted to spend all their time with them.

Mrs. Wakefield brought steaks home for a home-cooked meal as she wanted to spend more time with the twins, and they had plans to go out for Chinese with their grandparents.

Another time, Mrs. Wakefield took the day off work to take the twins shopping, and Grandma Wakefield planned to take them on a hot air balloon!

I was caught up in the drama of Emily's life and couldn't put my Kindle down until I finished this book. I am not sure how I feel about it yet, but the book would have been as good even if there was no part about the grandparents visiting and Mrs. Wakefield wanting to spend more time with her kids. I have to ponder it some more.

The only problem was it made me cry at the end, albeit they were tears of joy, the day before Easter, but still, Easter is a time to rejoice, not cry, even if they are good tears! Still, I am happy I read this book on any day.

At the very end, Bruce and Elizabeth were talking, and his dad had the first cell phone I saw mentioned in this series! He didn't call it a cell phone; he said it is for those too lazy to get up and answer the phone and to have it on you at all times.

[Dove Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are you kidding me?

My childhood trauma filled with emotional abuse and manipulation demands that whoever came up with this plot be yeeted into the sun.

You cannot abuse a child for 90% of the book, love-bomb them at the end, and tell them that’s healthy and that’s just how families can be.

Source: The person who had no idea she was being emotionally abused/love-bombed until she was 24.

On the one hand, this is one of the few SVHs so far in the run that I’ve actually cared about – silly boy drama has been tedious, as has the vicious bullying that never ends and never gets addressed. This book had a character I was interested in, a plot that wasn’t about the downfall of some girl because she had the misfortune of existing in the same town as Jessica Wakefield.

But boy did it swing and miss with the ending and the B-plot. The B-plot has Alice Wakefield, a woman who has shown less that zero interest in her kids for the whole run of Twins and all of High thus far, weeping and wailing at the sky that they don’t want to hang out with her any more. Which coincides with the week her in-laws visit. Yeah, I see you, you needy, jealous, insecure asshole. Grow up. I’m sure that by the next book you’ll be back to completely ignoring them.

The lead, Emily is being bullied and harassed constantly by her stepmother, named – humorously enough – Karen. Since the birth of Karen’s baby, the abuse has upped. She constantly changes the rules, so that Emily has no chance of not breaking them because they were changed without telling her. Yeah, no, that’s not worry about being a bad stepmother, that’s gaslighting. She slut-shames Emily in front of her friends for talking to a boy. She is just a nasty piece of work.

But by the end of the book everyone’s hugging and talking about what a magical bond exists between mothers and daughters.

Again, my childhood trauma wants a word with you. Books like this are the reason I had no idea I was being abused. Books like this are the reason I hated myself and wanted to not exist, because books like this explain that if you just hit the right plot points, your abusive parent will stop abusing you and love you like a normal parent does.

They won’t. They’re not capable.

This book is fucking toxic.

[Jacquelyne · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are some snoozefests in the sweet valley universe but this one takes the cake. Emily is being emotionally abused by her stepmother and neglected by her p**** whipped spineless father. Her stepmother clearly has a personality disorder because the woman is off her rocker, snapping at her for no reason, classist assumptions regarding being in a band, sexist remarks about Emily’s deadbeat mother. Her father, who lacks a spine like Gumby, takes the stepmothers side and clearly doesn’t give a flying f*** about his oldest daughter. It all wraps up in a pretty bow after Emily saves the baby from choking (stepmother was too moronic to realize babies + beads = choking hazards). All is forgotten and the moral of the story is you have to forgive your parents no matter how terrible they are. Thank god I’m a millennial, I re wrote the story in my head where Emily ran away and never spoke to either of them again because that’s the only reasonable way for the story to end.

Side plot where Ms Wakefield is struggling with having a career and being a mother. Sprinkle in some misogynistic comments by her father in law. Oh and grandma is getting her PhD so the author didn’t know which way to go with this one, are women allowed to have careers and interests outside the house or should they feel guilty? And why doesn’t Mr Wakefield make dinner more often (vs sitting and making comments about how amazing it is she can cook and work long hours but apparently his penis gets in the way and he can’t do it)? Who knows, sweet valley is like the less fun bigoted twilight zone.

Thank god the next one had a hostage situation (and multiple mentions of deafness = the person is defective, yes this was mentioned in this book).

[ThymeOperator · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first one to make me angry rather than laugh.

For the first 50 pages, I was thinking Emily showed no understanding for her stepmother. Seriously, drum practice in a house with a baby?? Grow up, Emily.

But then her stepmother crosses lines into the territory of abuse, and Emily's father just rolls with it...and yet they all live happily ever after, in the end, even though all three of them were awful people. Ridiculous.

Furthermore, the writer for this one is an idiot. Emily's half-sister is referred to as a step-sister and said to be not her sister at all. We're told early on that Liz has no clothes that Jessica wants, after 24 books of Jessica raiding her closet (which she did later in this book, even). The twins' grandmother is supposedly doing a PhD, which is depicted as a bunch of entry level classes attended with 18-year-olds.

And I love how we're meant to regard her, and Alice Wakefield, as so progressive for taking classes and having a career...whilst simultaneously being told that they still have to do all the cooking for their husbands. Grandpa can't survive, even though he's retired and has all the time in the world - he needs takeaways and Grandma feels so guilty about it. Maybe Grandpa should take some classes himself...learn how to heat up canned soup, at the very least!

Can't wait to see Regina taken hostage, in the next instalment. That's gotta be more believable than this nonsense!

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will always have a special place in my heart as it’s the first Sweet Valley book I ever read. This was the book that got me hooked on this series. To be honest though, this book is terrible. Emily’s stepmother is straight up abusive and emotionally controlling of both Emily and her father. Yet she comes and preforms this big monologue in front of the whole Wakefield family and suddenly Emily forgives her. And they all lived happily ever after. Not only does Emily’s stepmother just stop being abusive, she and Dan Scott, fellow Droid decide the 2 of them will make beautiful music together. Now what’s that supposed to mean Ms. Francine Pascal and Kate Williams? Finally, the b-plot is Mrs Wakefield feeling like her daughters don’t need her any more. Maybe that’s because you’re such a terrible mother Mrs. Wakefield? Anyway, Mrs. Wakefield compares her situation to Emily’s. Because your children spending time with there grandparents who live on the other side of the country is the same as abuse. To conclude, Elizabeth was the better twin, Dana Larson seems like a crap friend and I can’t wait for the next book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this one, Elizabeth becomes the sympathetic friend to Droids drummer, Emily Mayer. Emily and her stepmother are at odds and her father just wants Emily to keep the peace. Also, Jessica and Elizabeth welcome their paternal grandparents from Michigan and Alice gets a little jealous and feels like the twins don't need her anymore.

I think what I appreciated with this story was there wasn't a lot of boy crazziness going on or a focus on all the parties the teens go to but rather a subject that many readers could relate. But I feel like Emily's father and stepmother need some counseling. I hate that terrible words were said to Emily and there was no serious remorse about that event.

Also, please know that the Heimlich maneuver done on baby Karrie was not what someone should do when a baby is choking.

I am enjoying my re-reading of my childhood favorites.

Goodreads review published 31/07/24

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily has a stepmother that makes the Wicked Witch of the West look like an amateur. Nothing Emily does is enough. The rules keep changing. She ends up being used as unpaid help (more things she has to do than the average teenager.)

Emily is an excellent drummer and is on the Droids band but even that is threatened by the stepmother. Emily confides to Elizabeth but things get a lot worse for her anyhow. Meanwhile the twin's mother is having some problems of her own.

In desperation Emily decides to run away although she's really not prepared for all that entails.

The book gives the reader a good idea of the types of problems a young person can encounter if a marriage fails and then there's a new marriage that will take a lot of getting used to. The step-relations can turn out okay but, as in this case, they can go way off the rails.

[Starry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wakefield home becomes a haven for Emily, drummer of the Droids who is having some trouble at home because she has a bitchy step mom and a baby half sister and her life is an emotional hell right now. Basically Emily can't put a foot right with this woman and is not even allowed to bang her drums. She jumps through a million hoops to try and make her home life happier but it's just not going to happen. As a last resort she decides to sell her drums. Even this will not please step monster Karen (yes its 2020 comedy gold, her name is legit Karen) I have to say I did get the feels a tiny bit because I'm a sucker.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the less fluffy of the SVH books so far, this one was filled with family melodrama- not for the Wakefields (though the insecure mom bit was a weird subplot- I suppose in the 1980s this was trying to show working mom guilt as a thing that even affects perfect Alice?)- but for Emily Mayer, a previously almost never mentioned character who seems to be a genuinely good kid who has a shitty stepmother. At least that's a realistic storyline- more than a lot of these stories. As always, a welcome distraction from real world awfulness- 2.5 stars.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the better books in the series so far. Emily’s storyline truly packed a punch, or should I say slap. Her stepmother worked every last one of my nerves, and don’t even get me started on her father. Just… unbelievable. Meanwhile, the twins didn’t bring much to the table this time; their subplot felt like filler compared to the emotional weight of Emily’s arc. But the real highlight? Regina’s return from Switzerland! She barely stepped back into the scene and is already in danger. This setup has me seriously bracing for what’s next. My heart can’t take it.

[anolinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Emily! Karen was so awful to her. And her dad was even worse - he was supposed to stand up for her! Honestly, both of them were so terrible that I don't really buy them coming around in the end, but fortunately for her they did. And she even got her drums back!

Jessica seemed weirdly out of character to me. No boy-chasing, sincerely enthusiastic about spending time with her grandparents... not really buying that one either.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why are stepmothers in this series always so awful? Also, Emily needs to learn that if her dad has a kid with another woman, that's her HALF sister not her stepsister....

The B plot in this is so ridiculous. Alice fears she's losing the twins because her in-laws are visiting for their yearly 3-week visit and the girls want to spend time with them instead of the mother they see every day. Yeah, just let that sink in.

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emily's new stepmother is making her life a misery, and even worse, she's got Emily's dad on board when it comes to sending Emily off to boarding school. After Emily saves her new baby sisters life, she thinks things will improve, but it takes the intervention of Liz Wakefield to help sort out Emily's family problems

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one aptly named the evil stepmother Karen, who very much lives up to the name. I definitely had empathy for Emily and all the family dynamics going on in this book, including the longing for a solid family unit, as well as a lovely relationship with your grandparents. I guess not all of us get that picture perfect life that the Wakefield twins of Sweet Valley do!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually one of the better stories so far. I felt legitimately bad for Emily Mayer. Could have done without Alice Wakefield's insecurity, though.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

The evil step mothers name is Karen and her baby is Karrie. Emily slaps her while Karrie is choking on a button and it's just typical SVH chaos.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Source: I own this book.
Cost: 50p in a charity shop

Title: Nowhere to Run
Series: Sweet Valley High #25
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars

I actually own this book, and I remember reading it as a kid, and hating it. Now as I read it, I didn't hate it. I just didn't love it either. For me, I think it's the whole evil parents vibe that you get from this book. Emily does nothing that wrong other than wake up her little sister, but her parents actually act like she is satan on Earth and try to send her to a boarding school.

I just didn't like how angry everyone was in this book, there was a lot of shouting. Alice was angry. Emily was upset. Karen was angry. Mr. Mayers was angry.

Just a lot of bad vibes.

[BookLuva28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of family drama in this one!

Enough to want to a punch a hole through a wall. Emily's father (Mr.Mayer) was a complete, infuriating asshole/idiot. And Karen, Emily's stepmother, was a living nightmare who controlled Mr. Mayer like a little mindless puppet. Dysfunctional would be an understatement to desribe this family. But, I have to say that the events that took place seemed very true to life even though the outcome is usually happy-go-lucky.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Mayer's stepmom has always been a complete bitch. And now she apparently has some postpartum hormonal rage to go along with her bithciness. And Emily's dad is standing by his woman. So, Emily's life is pretty much miserable. She quits the Driods, sells her drum set and saves her baby sisters life. In the end, its enough for her step mom and dad to allow her to remain in Sweet Valley and not send her off to boarding school. A happy ending. Sigh.

[Zawani · Rating 3 out of 5]

people said, falling for the same guy is the ultimate test of friendship. Maria, Elizabeth and Tia did- and got through it. But Tia scared theres much harder test, the competition to scholarship, and there they are, headed for it.

[Kristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a SVH book this one was actually pretty legit. The storyline was something that could actually happen for once and I think the way it was handled was well thought out, if a little dramatic. But it wouldn't be SVH without crazy drama!

[Ashley Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book stressed me out. A lot. Emily's stepmom is a raging thundercunt. As is her dad. I can't deal with this one.

Luckily, in this book we also learn that Alice Wakefield is just as much of a tool as her asshole daughter.

Ugh.

[Hillary]

I think it's time we had a frank discussion about these book covers: Why does no one in Sweet Valley have boobs?! Is there something wrong with their water? Maybe they don't have water, it's only rained once in 25 books and that was more of a sprinkle...

[Keli Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOOOVVVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why must Liz always help everyone?! Still, I liked this one, and liked Emily a lot, so it was interesting.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such great characters and awesome stories... I loved every minute of Francine Pascal's series. It was a great way to spend my childhood.