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Sweet Valley University #23
Sweet Kiss of Summer
Endless summer...
Elizabeth Wakefield has lost her summer love. In the midst of a passionate kiss, head lifeguard Ryan Taylor missed a critical save. Now Ryan has disappeared. Can Elizabeth find Ryan and make him hers again before the summer is over?
Nina Harper is determined to get even! Convinced that her new boyfriend, Paul Jackson, is a spy for the rival beach, Nina creates the ultimate test to prove his guilt. Will her plan backfire and destroy her chance for an unforgettable summer?
Winston Egbert is one persistent guy. No one wants to be a lifeguard more than Winston - but no one's less qualified. Can Winston make a miraculous rescue and show everyone he's not a beach-blanket bozo?
Join Elizabeth, Jessica, and their friends from Sweet Valley for an unforgettable summer at the beach.
Elizabeth Wakefield has lost her summer love. In the midst of a passionate kiss, head lifeguard Ryan Taylor missed a critical save. Now Ryan has disappeared. Can Elizabeth find Ryan and make him hers again before the summer is over?
Nina Harper is determined to get even! Convinced that her new boyfriend, Paul Jackson, is a spy for the rival beach, Nina creates the ultimate test to prove his guilt. Will her plan backfire and destroy her chance for an unforgettable summer?
Winston Egbert is one persistent guy. No one wants to be a lifeguard more than Winston - but no one's less qualified. Can Winston make a miraculous rescue and show everyone he's not a beach-blanket bozo?
Join Elizabeth, Jessica, and their friends from Sweet Valley for an unforgettable summer at the beach.
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,847 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 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 4, 2017
So concludes the first SVU Lifeguards trilogy, in which Liz still thinks it is up to her to "save" Ryan.
He has disappeared since the last book, when being with Liz distracted him from life guarding and almost causing him to miss a critical save. But despite the fact that she has Tom back home and she shouldn't have time for Ryan's bullshit, she won't let things with him go. He has abandoned the squad right before their Triathlon against the South Beach squad, and they need him as a participant.
And Liz thinks she can be the one to make him come back. She visits him in Tilton not once, not twice, but THREE times. And every single time Ryan won't tell her what his problem is. But Saint Elizabeth is nauseating in her crusade to prove to her heart that Ryan always cared about her after all. After many slammed doors in her face, she finally follows him and a redhead into a church, assuming they are planning their wedding. Insert eye roll here. That's where Liz FINALLY finds out that Ryan is an alcoholic. Which only makes her love him more. I think this is at least the 50th alcoholic guy she's cheated on Tom or Todd with. Liz is a picker of winners. And also a sanctimonious bitch. But you knew that.
Quotes:
"As their eyes met, Elizabeth felt as though lightning had pierced her soul. She knew that as long as she lived, she would remember the heat of this moment."
(Don't be so dramatic, Liz.)
"Something in [Liz] resisted the idea of researching history papers and saving the world and doing all the other serious, grown-up things that lay around the corner."
(Only Liz would think that saving the world was on her resume).
"But of course [Liz] couldn't do that because she was the RESPONSIBLE Wakefield twin, even in this crazy mixed-up summer, and she had to tell Nina that Captain Feehan was looking for Paul."
(I still can't believe how the twins are never allowed to progress past their stereotypical book roles.)
"[Jessica] was in a very good mood. It was lots of fun being officially allowed to lie and scheme."
He has disappeared since the last book, when being with Liz distracted him from life guarding and almost causing him to miss a critical save. But despite the fact that she has Tom back home and she shouldn't have time for Ryan's bullshit, she won't let things with him go. He has abandoned the squad right before their Triathlon against the South Beach squad, and they need him as a participant.
And Liz thinks she can be the one to make him come back. She visits him in Tilton not once, not twice, but THREE times. And every single time Ryan won't tell her what his problem is. But Saint Elizabeth is nauseating in her crusade to prove to her heart that Ryan always cared about her after all. After many slammed doors in her face, she finally follows him and a redhead into a church, assuming they are planning their wedding. Insert eye roll here. That's where Liz FINALLY finds out that Ryan is an alcoholic. Which only makes her love him more. I think this is at least the 50th alcoholic guy she's cheated on Tom or Todd with. Liz is a picker of winners. And also a sanctimonious bitch. But you knew that.
Quotes:
"As their eyes met, Elizabeth felt as though lightning had pierced her soul. She knew that as long as she lived, she would remember the heat of this moment."
(Don't be so dramatic, Liz.)
"Something in [Liz] resisted the idea of researching history papers and saving the world and doing all the other serious, grown-up things that lay around the corner."
(Only Liz would think that saving the world was on her resume).
"But of course [Liz] couldn't do that because she was the RESPONSIBLE Wakefield twin, even in this crazy mixed-up summer, and she had to tell Nina that Captain Feehan was looking for Paul."
(I still can't believe how the twins are never allowed to progress past their stereotypical book roles.)
"[Jessica] was in a very good mood. It was lots of fun being officially allowed to lie and scheme."
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February 3, 2024This book was horribly written by the ghost writer. Full of adjectives. Characters acting out of character particularly Liz and Nina and Winston. I felt like I was reading a totally different series.
September 5, 2023
I wasn't able to get the second book from ILL, which is a bummer because this finale was SO BAD and I wanted to laugh at it more.
Everything about this book is ludicrous. EVERYTHING.
Everything about this book is ludicrous. EVERYTHING.
January 28, 2019
Well, summer break has come to a close for the Sweet Valley gang. It’s Labor Day weekend at the beach—this is the ‘90s and school starts after Labor Day—and the lifeguards gear up for the end of summer triathlon, and everyone gets ready to say goodbye. Will any of the friends or romantic partners stay in touch when the kids go back to school? You’ll have to read on in the series to find out.
In a way, this volume feels like the end of the series, because it’s the end of a precious era to teenagers: summer vacation. Everyone hugs and kisses their friends goodbye, sheds tears and promises to keep in touch; if you shed a tear alongside them, I won’t blame you. This is a very heartfelt volume of the Sweet Valley series, and while I’ve lost all credibility saying, “This is one of my favorites!” because there are so many books I love, this is a particularly lovely one.
Just a warning, though. The next book in the series is a Thriller Edition, and the book after that—both of which I’ve read by now—doesn’t address any of the characters from these summer books. Laurie John is always wonderful at recapping all the characters’ journeys, but for some reason, in SVU #24: His Secret Past, she acts like they never went on summer vacation at all! I was a little shocked, so I think it’s a good warning to pass along.
http://hottoastyrag.weebly.com/svu-23...
In a way, this volume feels like the end of the series, because it’s the end of a precious era to teenagers: summer vacation. Everyone hugs and kisses their friends goodbye, sheds tears and promises to keep in touch; if you shed a tear alongside them, I won’t blame you. This is a very heartfelt volume of the Sweet Valley series, and while I’ve lost all credibility saying, “This is one of my favorites!” because there are so many books I love, this is a particularly lovely one.
Just a warning, though. The next book in the series is a Thriller Edition, and the book after that—both of which I’ve read by now—doesn’t address any of the characters from these summer books. Laurie John is always wonderful at recapping all the characters’ journeys, but for some reason, in SVU #24: His Secret Past, she acts like they never went on summer vacation at all! I was a little shocked, so I think it’s a good warning to pass along.
http://hottoastyrag.weebly.com/svu-23...
February 26, 2017
SWEET VALLEY UNIVERSITY
Written by Francine Pascal
General Review for series as I cannot remember each novel.
I read Sweet Valley University when I was in junior high school to high school. While there is sexual content it is very mild (not explicit) compared to teen books today. If you like the Sweet Valley High you will love this series as it continues with the twins' story as they attend University and are away from their parents. I am not sure how they would relate to teens today as this was before cell phones were common and social media. They are fun teen romances with "real-life" situation. I did not complete the series as I started to save for school so I wasn't able to collect them any further (they are out of print). I still have the books I bought and may try to read one again (I did reread the series a few times).
Written by Francine Pascal
General Review for series as I cannot remember each novel.
I read Sweet Valley University when I was in junior high school to high school. While there is sexual content it is very mild (not explicit) compared to teen books today. If you like the Sweet Valley High you will love this series as it continues with the twins' story as they attend University and are away from their parents. I am not sure how they would relate to teens today as this was before cell phones were common and social media. They are fun teen romances with "real-life" situation. I did not complete the series as I started to save for school so I wasn't able to collect them any further (they are out of print). I still have the books I bought and may try to read one again (I did reread the series a few times).
June 22, 2013
I remember the cover just not the story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews