Enid's Story

Sweet Valley High Super Star #3

by Francine Pascal (Creator), Kate William

Elizabeth Wakefield becomes worried about her best friend, Enid Rollins, when Enid begins to argue with her mother and friends, becomes involved with Brian Foster and his fast crowd, and takes up drinking and smoking pot

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

213 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

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

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, E-nerd, I wish Sweet Valley wasn't such a bastion of conservative 1950s Loserville. There was something refreshing about seeing a SVH character known primarily for being "boring" getting drunk and high with a cute boy from her "old crowd" and finding out her dad was a loser drunk. Because let's be real- SVH does NOT have a proper representation of late 1980s stoner kids, especially for a BEACH town! Sigh. Unfortunately, the story goes super afterschool special, because of COURSE the drinking and weed lead to tragic consequences!

Oh, and chronologically impossible plot- Enid is digging on Jeffrey French again. Elizabeth has already returned to Todd after he'd moved back to Sweet Valley. And it's Christmas! So apparently her entire Jeffrey relationship (he was new in the fall! When she was still dating Todd. And Todd's family moved to and from Vermont and became millionaires all between like...October and November? Come on. Do better) couldn't have lasted more than a few weeks....also, this is the third Xmas of the SVH school year....but...whatever! Still a decent addition to the series. Because Enid Enerd as a 3D character is refreshing.

[Pastel Paperback · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3 1/2 stars!

While Lila's Super Star is my forever fave, Enid's is a close second. An overlooked Christmas title in the multitude of Sweet Valley holiday books, there's plenty of cheer: a skating party complete with hot cocoa, mall shopping for gifts, mistletoe hung at Casey's, a big Christmas Eve bash thrown by George and Robin, and a NYE party at Lila's.

Enid spends most of this book basically being in love with Elizabeth, yet having a crush on Jeffrey, Elizabeth's ex, and then spiraling due to family problems and feelings of inadequacy. There's drugs and drinking, and a crazy car ride down from Miller's Point, complete with an epic car explosion and a Christmas morning spent in the hospital.

Oh, and Jeffrey and Enid kiss at the end, but it's never brought up again in the series!

Always a fun re-read.

[Christie Maliyackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem from my childhood bookcase. All things nostalgia and sentiment from this book that was published THIRTY THREE years ago!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Source: I read this book online via Open Library.
Cost: Free

Title: Enid's Story
Series: Sweet Valley High Super Stars #3
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars

I expected more from this book to be honest, On the Run upped the game a little in my eyes and for some reason, this story fell flat. I don't understand why though. Enid is a character with a lot of potential, but in this book she was overdramatic and frankly, a little annoying. She ran away crying when her dad drank some alcohol, boo hoo, she made a stupid decision, boo hoo, she was in hospital, boo hoo. I found myself being quite cynical of her character, but kind of enjoying the story at the same time? I don't know. I just wanted a little bit more.

Something else that bugged me was the complete lack of girl code in this book from Jess and Enid, both trying to date Liz's ex, Jeffery.

Girls, please.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was WILD. Let's start with the first page-the first line of this book is "Finger, please! Enid Rollins requested." Kate Williams had no business starting us off like that. The plot of this book is woe-is-me Enid, with a side of miscommunication and a dash of after school special. It's Christmas break in Sweet Valley and Todd's family is going skiing in Utah. Liz has no idea how she's going to manage without Todd for a week, even though they did long distance when he moved to Vermont. She literally says him leaving is the worst thing that's ever happened to her and she's been kidnapped twice. Anyway, Enid and Liz go to the Dairi Burger and there's mistletoe so Liz has to kiss Jeffrey except this isn't just a peck on the cheek, they are full on making out. Then Liz thinks she has feelings for Jeffrey again, Jeffrey thinks he hasn't moved on from Liz and Enid thinks she's in love with Jeffrey. Enid and Jeffrey go out a bunch as friends and Enid thinks there's something more but then all Jeffrey talks about is Liz and Enid gets really upset. Also, Enid's dad is visiting Sweet Valley and it's causing a bunch of fights between her and her mother and then, when Enid goes to visit her dad he's plastered drunk even though it's noon. Finally, Enid is mad at Liz because of the whole Jeffrey thing (they kiss for a second time at some Christmas Eve party) so when this guy Brian who was part of the wild crowd Enid used to hang out with asks her out she says yes. They go out once and he seems like a good guy until they go to a party and he gets wasted but then after the Christmas Eve party she wants to make Liz and Jeffrey jealous so she goes out with him again. They go to Miller's point and both of them get high and drunk but then Enid realizes she wants to go home but Brian is like NO and then he drives over a guardrail and crashes the car. Luckily that's right when Liz/Enid's Father/Jeffrey/Jessica/Lila find them and Enid's dad rescues Enid right before the car explodes. In the end, everyone is fine, Brian and Enid's dad agree to go to rehab, Liz realizes she only loves Todd and Jeffrey and Enid decide to take there relationship one day at a time. Best twin was neither-Liz doesn't communicate, cheats on Todd and is mopey the whole book but Jess sees Enid at Miller's Point and just leaves her there with Brian and also wants to buy tacky sunglasses. To wrap it up, I felt bad for Lila (I know, I know but hear me out) who spends Christmas with the Wakefields while her dad is away for business.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have almost no recollection of this book, because let's be honest - nobody liked Enid. I probably saw this at the library numerous times as a child and skipped right past it to read about Crazy Margo or something. But I randomly found this on my bookshelf today (apparently I bought it at Half Price Books a few years ago?) and decided to read it.

This takes place at Christmas, which was a happy coincidence, and I'm surprised to say that I actually really liked it. As an adult I really feel for poor Enid, and I think Liz is a terrible friend to her. I spent this whole book just wanting to give Enid a hug. Unfortunately a lot is brought up here that is never mentioned again - like Enid's dad - but it was really fun to read.

Of course now I really want to re-read all the Christmas Sweet Valley High books. Crazy Margo here I come!

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enid is Elisabeth's best friend. She's gone through a rather wild period in her life but now is doing what she needs to do to succeed. Jeffrey is an ex-boyfriend of Liz's. Todd, Elisabeth's current boyfriend, is currently elsewhere. Brian is the bad boy that Enid ran with in the past.

The story involves a lot of wrong assumptions on Enid's part, attempts by her friends to help her, major depression on her part and a major decision to be made by her. Does she continue to try to keep her life straight, but maybe at a high price, or does she return to her wild ways and lose the friends she has.

The story shows the importance of finding out what is really going on and talking it out with people rather than making assumptions about them and possibly doing things based on those assumptions that would be totally wrong and self-destructive.

A very good story.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pretty shocked when the restaurant gave Brian a beer no questions asked. He must be what seventeen? I thought you had to be 21 to drink in America.

This was one of the better of the super stars. But Enid was such a little idiot in this one. She needed a backbone. She just gave up so easily and let herself become high and drunk. She needed to say to Brian and she knew very well he was a bad sort. But she still went along with him just because she was feeling sorry for himself. She was like woe is me. Nobody likes me. Boo-hoo!

She only has herself to blame nobody else is. Certainly not Jess and I didn't understand why everyone got mad at her-as if she was the one who got Enid drunk.

[Marsyee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I've read about Enid's dark past when she used to hang out with the wrong crowd, this book was a little different and it was even more emotional. Especially because it was set during a festive season where friendship, family bonds, and romance was involved. I'm glad substance abuse was talked about through this series, it makes this series relevant for all ages no matter how old it was published.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enid Rollins goes puff puff puff and immediately SHIT GETS REAL in Sweet Valley 😂

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been ages since I read this last, but certain things stick in my memory:
1) Enid has some awful luck when you look at her 'arcs' over the course of the series. She dates an exceptional ass only to have him dump her when he learns of her 'wild past'. The next guy cheats on her and then to top it off, crashes his plane and injures Enid in the process. She then has to battle the incredibly shallow Amy Sutton for Elizabeth's friendship, has to avoid Jessica's numerous sneaky ways of "helping" Liz find a better friend, gets to stand in Elizabeth's shadow for most of the time, and oh yeah, her father makes exactly one appearance and is drunk for it.

Which is just the stuff I can think of in 60 seconds.


That said, I love Enid. I'm just not so sure anyone else did/does.

Her Super Star book takes place at Christmas (prior to the evil twins!)and this year her father is supposed to be swinging by for a visit. For the life of me I cannot remember him really being mentioned aside from this, but hey. Momma Rollins can't keep her bitter, sarcastic commentary to herself so Enid is a little stressed out each time the phone rings and Dad is on the other line.

To add to the stress, Enid has broken up with her background boyfriend, Hugh, and her best friend, Liz, is moping around because Todd is out of town for the holiday. Spicing things up is the reappearance of Jeffrey French. You might recall that he was Elizabeth's boyfriend when Todd moved to Vermont. You might also recall that Enid was interested in him first, though he had no interest in her at the time. And she was cool with that.

Wellllllllllll, now he's fair game if you ignore the old "you don't date your best friend's ex" rule (which you kind of have to if you're friends with a Wakefield since they date a lot). And better still, he seems interested in Enid when they reconnect over various holiday events!

That is until Liz gets jealous and butts in and Jeffrey remembers that his only definable trait is that he was once Elizabeth Wakefield's boyfriend.

Enid, who thought Jeffrey was interested in her (and she was interested in him) is crushed, but probably wouldn't think too much beyond, "dammit, Liz, he's not your boyfriend and would it kill you to be faithful for once?" had things with her father not fallen through. Daddy's got a drinking problem that Enid's been in denial about for ages. When Enid shows up at his hotel for their first visit (ever in the series!) he's drunk off his arse and she's heartbroken for the obvious reasons as well as the part where her mother was right, and when you're sixteen that cannot happen.

So she's fighting with her best friend, who also seems a bit like her only friend, she's lacking in a boyfriend when she thought she had a viable option, and she's got family issues. Sounds like it's time for another character from her wild past to appear.

Enter cute older guy, Brian, who claims to have changed his ways just like Enid. Only he hasn't and while Enid is initially disguisted by this, she then figures that being good old Enid hasn't gotten her anywhere so at least back then she was too baked to realize she wasn't happy.

Naturally this spirals out of control and there's a car explosion and burn units and St. Liz remembers she loves Todd a minute too late to stop the damage.

A lot happens in a very short period of time, but the absolute best thing about this whole book (aside from Enid getting screen time)? Jessica/Lila. Their little zingers together are fantastic, especially when Liz is out to lunch mentally after a call from Todd.

[Car · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. Not exactly what I expected. I thought this would be about when Enid first moved to Sweet Valley and how she overcame the "wild crowd". Not about a little drama that came together over the course of a couple of weeks. Kind of a let down from my expectations.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember that on a car trip I finished this book, and then started it and read it again. My sister made fun of me, but it was so good and we hadn't packed anything else for me.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason I remember reading this book at all is because of her name. The whole time I read I was thinking, Who would name their kid "Enid"? Awful.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super star indeed... I loved all of the extras that came along with this series. It had some great moments.

[Melenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved these books as a child

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover just not the story.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always had mixed feelings about Enid, but her 'story' was actually one of my favorites.