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Sweet Valley High #123
Elizabeth's Rival
Elizabeth's summer job as a camp counselor is spoiled when she meets Nicole, a girl who has fallen for the same boy as Elizabeth, and Lila feigns a love for the great outdoors when she falls for the handsome Luke.
199 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,149 books1,884 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 29, 2012
Welcome to "Where the Buffaloes Roam," or SVH #123, "Elizabeth's Rival."
By buffalo I am referring to the twins. God knows when they are put out to pasture they will always stray. And if you thought this only applied to Jessica, ha! You are in for a rude awakening.
So, instead of a normal review, I think I'll sum up this book with a poem. After all, don't we get a hilarious SVH poem every other book? I actually do write poetry (of the non-SVH kind), and I think that makes it all the more fun. As Jessica would say (chant): Ready? Okay!!
Off into the woods of Camp Echo Mountain, Montana they will go
Where (Dizzy) Liz will suck and Lila meets Bo
And since Christian Gorman died
Jessica has sworn off guys
Until Paul rages at her dumb blonde hair and blue eyes
They are all junior counselors
(And not very good ones at that)
Jessica's are wannabees (Imagine that!)
Dizzy Lizzie can't seem to do anything right
She's an exhausted doormat who can't put up a fight
And speaking of fights, she kinda had one with Todd
That's why she wants to lick the sweat off of Joey's bod
But there's one little problem, and her name is Nicole
Elizabeth's "hate at first sight" (now isn't that bold?)
See, Maria is Elizabeth's old friend
Now she's back in Diz's life again
But from New York she also brought Nicole Banes
Who is ruining Diz's mojo and driving her insane
Liz stays up all night to write the camp play
Which Nicole steals without a thought or a sway
In a reversal of fortune, Jess must save Liz
So she steals a videotape from some kid
Her name is Maggie and she films everything
Including the one where Nicole confesses and Diz screams
Oh, hooray, Jess, you sociopath no more!
You have showed us what your character is for.
And isn't it hilarious when you reminisce
About how lying to be with guys before was just "acting," but this?
It's real with Paul, so you have to get back to your usual self
Like Bo & Lila when they stop playing and admit to their wealth
This is a summer miniseries and so it wouldn't be complete
Without a story that didn't come in threes
Right now I am not on the edge of my seat
For Diz got a beating, but Wakefields' always win
And Jessica's back, she'll continue to sin
Lila will ride off into the sunset with Bo
But Nicole called Todd, and now he's here, shit! Oh no!!
Until next time...
By buffalo I am referring to the twins. God knows when they are put out to pasture they will always stray. And if you thought this only applied to Jessica, ha! You are in for a rude awakening.
So, instead of a normal review, I think I'll sum up this book with a poem. After all, don't we get a hilarious SVH poem every other book? I actually do write poetry (of the non-SVH kind), and I think that makes it all the more fun. As Jessica would say (chant): Ready? Okay!!
Off into the woods of Camp Echo Mountain, Montana they will go
Where (Dizzy) Liz will suck and Lila meets Bo
And since Christian Gorman died
Jessica has sworn off guys
Until Paul rages at her dumb blonde hair and blue eyes
They are all junior counselors
(And not very good ones at that)
Jessica's are wannabees (Imagine that!)
Dizzy Lizzie can't seem to do anything right
She's an exhausted doormat who can't put up a fight
And speaking of fights, she kinda had one with Todd
That's why she wants to lick the sweat off of Joey's bod
But there's one little problem, and her name is Nicole
Elizabeth's "hate at first sight" (now isn't that bold?)
See, Maria is Elizabeth's old friend
Now she's back in Diz's life again
But from New York she also brought Nicole Banes
Who is ruining Diz's mojo and driving her insane
Liz stays up all night to write the camp play
Which Nicole steals without a thought or a sway
In a reversal of fortune, Jess must save Liz
So she steals a videotape from some kid
Her name is Maggie and she films everything
Including the one where Nicole confesses and Diz screams
Oh, hooray, Jess, you sociopath no more!
You have showed us what your character is for.
And isn't it hilarious when you reminisce
About how lying to be with guys before was just "acting," but this?
It's real with Paul, so you have to get back to your usual self
Like Bo & Lila when they stop playing and admit to their wealth
This is a summer miniseries and so it wouldn't be complete
Without a story that didn't come in threes
Right now I am not on the edge of my seat
For Diz got a beating, but Wakefields' always win
And Jessica's back, she'll continue to sin
Lila will ride off into the sunset with Bo
But Nicole called Todd, and now he's here, shit! Oh no!!
Until next time...
October 28, 2024
Elizabeth is insufferable and the dialogue is beyond cheesy.
March 5, 2019
3.5 stars
Best quote in this book is from Elizabeth "I'm so in love with Todd, I can't even imagine being unfaithful" - clearly she's already forgotten about Luke and Ken! Doesn't take her long to cheat on Todd again either and I thought Jessica was meant to be the flighty one!!
Best quote in this book is from Elizabeth "I'm so in love with Todd, I can't even imagine being unfaithful" - clearly she's already forgotten about Luke and Ken! Doesn't take her long to cheat on Todd again either and I thought Jessica was meant to be the flighty one!!
March 29, 2020
Book one in the summer camp miniseries opens with the twins getting ready for a month-long stay at a summer camp in Montana, where they will be junior counselors. A few others from the Sweet Valley gang will also be there, including Lila, Winston and Aaron. Toddy-boy is away at basketball camp for the summer.
Liz is ecstatic because she has just learned that one of her bff's from middle school, Maria Slater, will also be at the camp and is also moving back to Sweet Valley. Maria can't wait for Liz to meet her best friend Nicole from New York, who will also be there as a counselor. Liz is just sure that this 27th summer of their junior year is going to be the best! She is in for a rude awakening.
Jess is swearing off boys for the summer, since she is still bummed about her boyfriend Christian's death. And I must say, Jessica is so refreshing in this book. We get a role reversal of sorts.
First, Liz has what she deems as "hate at first sight" upon meeting Nicole. Nicole is a grade A biatch so I don't blame her. Then, she is swept off her feet by the gorgeous senior drama counselor, Joey Mason. It is quite funny to see how smitten she is with this guy, meanwhile lamenting to herself that she loves Todd SO much and would never cheat on him. How's that selective memory working for ya, Liz?
Liz's assigned group of 6 campers all try to make her life a living hell, and they give her the brilliant nickname of Dizzy Lizzie, or Diz for short.
Meanwhile, Jessica's group of 6 are all little angels and worship her, wanting to be like her, etc. It's so refreshing to see Jessica actually acting like a normal human being in this book, and being successful at the things Liz usually is while Liz is failing dismally.
The one thing Liz really wants to do is write the camp play for the summer. She stays up late every night writing, and is so excited to finally turn in her play. She is crushed and furious to learn that Nicole has stolen her play and is passing it off as her own. Did I mention that Nicole also has a huge crush on Joey?
Jessica saves the day when she goes to watch a videotape that one of her little campers has made. Maggie goes around taping people without their knowledge and is therefore privy to lots of juicy gossip. Jessica holds a special assembly of the whole camp for them to watch the tape and specifically a scene where Nicole is taunting Liz about stealing her play, and admits the whole thing. Liz's good name is restored, Nicole is furious, and Liz starts to get in on with Joey (who has been wishy washily dating Nicole at this time as well).
Oh, and because it's too good to be true, Jessica falls for the brother of one of her campers, who lives in town. His name is Paul and he is actually quite rude to her from the start, but this just makes her more determined to get to know him better.
The B story is all about Lila. She falls for a fellow counselor named Bo, who is supposedly very outdoorsy and adventure-loving (the polar opposite of Lila). They both end up spouting many lies to each other about their daring adventures, only for it to finally come out that Bo is really a chicken butt and just made the whole thing up to impress her - and better yet, he is also insanely rich like Lila. So hilarious.
The book ends with Joey and Liz emerging from the lake holding hands, then Liz spotting a good-looking dude standing next to a black BMW and talking to Nicole. Uh oh, Toddy boy is in town! I wonder what will happen next?
Liz is ecstatic because she has just learned that one of her bff's from middle school, Maria Slater, will also be at the camp and is also moving back to Sweet Valley. Maria can't wait for Liz to meet her best friend Nicole from New York, who will also be there as a counselor. Liz is just sure that this 27th summer of their junior year is going to be the best! She is in for a rude awakening.
Jess is swearing off boys for the summer, since she is still bummed about her boyfriend Christian's death. And I must say, Jessica is so refreshing in this book. We get a role reversal of sorts.
First, Liz has what she deems as "hate at first sight" upon meeting Nicole. Nicole is a grade A biatch so I don't blame her. Then, she is swept off her feet by the gorgeous senior drama counselor, Joey Mason. It is quite funny to see how smitten she is with this guy, meanwhile lamenting to herself that she loves Todd SO much and would never cheat on him. How's that selective memory working for ya, Liz?
Liz's assigned group of 6 campers all try to make her life a living hell, and they give her the brilliant nickname of Dizzy Lizzie, or Diz for short.
Meanwhile, Jessica's group of 6 are all little angels and worship her, wanting to be like her, etc. It's so refreshing to see Jessica actually acting like a normal human being in this book, and being successful at the things Liz usually is while Liz is failing dismally.
The one thing Liz really wants to do is write the camp play for the summer. She stays up late every night writing, and is so excited to finally turn in her play. She is crushed and furious to learn that Nicole has stolen her play and is passing it off as her own. Did I mention that Nicole also has a huge crush on Joey?
Jessica saves the day when she goes to watch a videotape that one of her little campers has made. Maggie goes around taping people without their knowledge and is therefore privy to lots of juicy gossip. Jessica holds a special assembly of the whole camp for them to watch the tape and specifically a scene where Nicole is taunting Liz about stealing her play, and admits the whole thing. Liz's good name is restored, Nicole is furious, and Liz starts to get in on with Joey (who has been wishy washily dating Nicole at this time as well).
Oh, and because it's too good to be true, Jessica falls for the brother of one of her campers, who lives in town. His name is Paul and he is actually quite rude to her from the start, but this just makes her more determined to get to know him better.
The B story is all about Lila. She falls for a fellow counselor named Bo, who is supposedly very outdoorsy and adventure-loving (the polar opposite of Lila). They both end up spouting many lies to each other about their daring adventures, only for it to finally come out that Bo is really a chicken butt and just made the whole thing up to impress her - and better yet, he is also insanely rich like Lila. So hilarious.
The book ends with Joey and Liz emerging from the lake holding hands, then Liz spotting a good-looking dude standing next to a black BMW and talking to Nicole. Uh oh, Toddy boy is in town! I wonder what will happen next?
June 12, 2023
Just a few dozen of this series left, and I think I may be able to finish them this year (know anyone looking to buy the entire collection? When I'm done, putting the 200ish+ books on eBay or something). There's no true nostalgia left because I have never read any of these mid 90s installments, but this book is one of 3 where the twins, Lila, Winston, and apparently a character from the later SV Twins series are all camp counselors for the summer. You know- summer! When the twins and friends are done with their junior year getting ready for their 13th time being sixteen year old juniors in high school. At any rate, I liked this one a little more than other recent books in this series because Elizabeth cannot catch a break and everyone hates her and it's kind of hysterical to see her being unable to command the respect of even a half dozen 5th graders. 2 stars. Onward.
January 27, 2022
2.5 stars purely for Lila’s hilarious quotes.
Liz is insufferable in her “oh I love Todd, I’d never betray hi… ohHhh new boy! *swoon*.”
I make this about the eighth person she’s cheated on him with
I loved Jess in this she was really likeable with the wannabes :) v cute and nice to see her not being the scheming one just for a change
Maria slater turning up was pointless, it could’ve been done without her and Nicole is obvs a bitch from hell
Liz is insufferable in her “oh I love Todd, I’d never betray hi… ohHhh new boy! *swoon*.”
I make this about the eighth person she’s cheated on him with
I loved Jess in this she was really likeable with the wannabes :) v cute and nice to see her not being the scheming one just for a change
Maria slater turning up was pointless, it could’ve been done without her and Nicole is obvs a bitch from hell
May 28, 2023
Liz just needs to know camping can be more spontaneous than school.
April 6, 2012
The twins, along with their friends, find themselves as camp counselors in Camp Echo Mountain in Montana. Elizabeth's reunited with her close friend Maria Slater who then introduced her to Maria's new best friend Nicole Banes. Unfortunately for the Lizzie and Nicole, they don't want to share Maria's friendship and aren't looking forward to sharing the affections of Joey.
Glad to see Liz dropping her forever goody two shoes persona and giving Nicole a run for her money. Of course most readers are more amazed at the personality reversal of the twins--meaning Jessica saving Liz for once.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Elizabeth's Rival (Sweet Valley High, #123)
Author Francine Pascal
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Glad to see Liz dropping her forever goody two shoes persona and giving Nicole a run for her money. Of course most readers are more amazed at the personality reversal of the twins--meaning Jessica saving Liz for once.
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title Elizabeth's Rival (Sweet Valley High, #123)
Author Francine Pascal
Reviewed By Purplycookie
May 13, 2011
The first in three-book story arc which sees the Wakefield twins working as counsellors at a summer camp. This book sees the twins somewhat swap personalities, with Jessica shining in her role as a responsible counsellor, and Elizabeth caught up in a jealous rivalry with fellow counsellor Nicole. There is an interest subplot with Lila and a love-interest, and a not-so-interest subplot with Winston trying to become a 'cowboy'.
June 21, 2013
I remember the cover but just not the story.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews