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Sweet Dreams
P. S. I Love You
Vintage paperback
133 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews
May 26, 2008
I read this book more than a decade ago. It belonged to my cousin and I would raid her bookshelf ever time I went to her house.
I've read several Sweet Dreams series book, but this is the only one whose title I remember. It's a tear-jerker, and even though at 9 years old I was too young to know about boyfriends and girlfriends and those types of relationships, I could still empathize with Mariah's pain.
I wish I had a copy of this book. It's very memorable.
I've read several Sweet Dreams series book, but this is the only one whose title I remember. It's a tear-jerker, and even though at 9 years old I was too young to know about boyfriends and girlfriends and those types of relationships, I could still empathize with Mariah's pain.
I wish I had a copy of this book. It's very memorable.
July 27, 2011
I read this book when, I think, I was 14 (that was a very long time ago!)and I still remember it clearly.
I have seen alot of debating going on lately re: fiction targeted towards our young teen women and graphicness and such, that I almost feel that our female authors who write to this demographic go for shock factor rather than a simple,sweet romance, which teach these young women about how to be treated by their significant others. This book is clean, no sex, no foul language, etc. It is a book which I will seek out for my niece when she gets to be the appropriate reading level for it.
I have seen alot of debating going on lately re: fiction targeted towards our young teen women and graphicness and such, that I almost feel that our female authors who write to this demographic go for shock factor rather than a simple,sweet romance, which teach these young women about how to be treated by their significant others. This book is clean, no sex, no foul language, etc. It is a book which I will seek out for my niece when she gets to be the appropriate reading level for it.
January 24, 2014
This is the only teen romance book that I remember the title of from way back when. I also remember the heartache, and the very real tears I shed for these characters. I even remembered Paul Strobe's name.
And so I am not rating this as an adult who went back and read a book that she loved from her youth, but rather as the child whose heart was shredded by this book, who still remembers it and always will.
And so I am not rating this as an adult who went back and read a book that she loved from her youth, but rather as the child whose heart was shredded by this book, who still remembers it and always will.
November 2, 2013
This book is one of the first romance novels I ever read. I found it at my local library when I was 10 years old which started my love for all things romance. As a 10 year old girl, this book moved me and I remember crying a lot for the characters. I decided to order a used copy from Amazon because I was curious to see how I'd feel about it as an adult.
Well, I finished it quickly and it was quite nostalgic to read it. The writing is simple and not as earth shattering as I remembered it as a 10 year old. But I did feel a bit emotional at the end just as I did back when I first read it. I do love how this is an innocent, sweet first love and coming of age story about an awkward 16 year old who is unsure about certain aspects of life. By the end, circumstances lead her to learn, develop and grow as a character. I would recommend this to young preteens if they can handle some of the outdated 80s references.
Well, I finished it quickly and it was quite nostalgic to read it. The writing is simple and not as earth shattering as I remembered it as a 10 year old. But I did feel a bit emotional at the end just as I did back when I first read it. I do love how this is an innocent, sweet first love and coming of age story about an awkward 16 year old who is unsure about certain aspects of life. By the end, circumstances lead her to learn, develop and grow as a character. I would recommend this to young preteens if they can handle some of the outdated 80s references.
December 30, 2021
Oh, man - thanks to my GR friend Cassandra for reminding me of this Sweet Dreams series, which was a much-beloved resource in my coming of age!
I distinctly remember my friend and I stealing these from her big sister and reading them up in the attic (where we also kept the Ouija Board) so that her very territorial sister wouldn’t find out and yell at us even more than usual.
(It wasn’t a nice attic, either - it was a cramped and precarious one, as depicted in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and entering and exiting involved climbing atop a washing machine to reach the three steps that dropped down from the trap door in the ceiling.)
We read countless books in this series, but this particular one was Sweet Dreams #1 - the face that launched a thousand ships!
Most notably, since this was pre-Internet and pre-streaming TV and probably even pre-cable TV for us, I remember that the book covers of the series served as a fashion guide for we Midwestern girls who had little other recourse for information aside from the Penney’s catalog and the YM (Young Miss) and Seventeen magazines you might be able to score at the local Grove Drugs (which also had a diet soda shoppe called for a time, horrifyingly, The Slimmery).
(Again to clarify - this is not the 1950s, sadly, but rather the 80s in the Upper Midwestern USA!)
I am absolutely, positively certain that this particular cover prompted my acquisition of a peasant blouse, which I may have worn with pride (during the one month it was warm) with a kind of faux-turquoise-trimmed cowboy belt and an acid-washed denim and eyelet lace skirt.
I’m praying I didn’t pair this with matching jelly shoes and bracelets, but to be honest, I probably did.
Otherwise, aside from poorly-interpreted fashion influences, I recall the books being fairly wholesome for the time, though rife with 80s teen story tropes such as standing up to snobs and bullies and finding-love-on-the-other-side-of-the-tracks drama. Since we were literally, in our town, on the wrong side of the tracks, I loved the class warfare aspects of the books, including this one. I also recall a lot of “young love who dies in their prime” plot twists to which we also aspired.
(Part 1 of a series in which I reflect on how my friend’s big sister’s Sweet Dreams books influenced my 80s Midwestern fashion desert clothing endeavors.)
I distinctly remember my friend and I stealing these from her big sister and reading them up in the attic (where we also kept the Ouija Board) so that her very territorial sister wouldn’t find out and yell at us even more than usual.
(It wasn’t a nice attic, either - it was a cramped and precarious one, as depicted in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and entering and exiting involved climbing atop a washing machine to reach the three steps that dropped down from the trap door in the ceiling.)
We read countless books in this series, but this particular one was Sweet Dreams #1 - the face that launched a thousand ships!
Most notably, since this was pre-Internet and pre-streaming TV and probably even pre-cable TV for us, I remember that the book covers of the series served as a fashion guide for we Midwestern girls who had little other recourse for information aside from the Penney’s catalog and the YM (Young Miss) and Seventeen magazines you might be able to score at the local Grove Drugs (which also had a diet soda shoppe called for a time, horrifyingly, The Slimmery).
(Again to clarify - this is not the 1950s, sadly, but rather the 80s in the Upper Midwestern USA!)
I am absolutely, positively certain that this particular cover prompted my acquisition of a peasant blouse, which I may have worn with pride (during the one month it was warm) with a kind of faux-turquoise-trimmed cowboy belt and an acid-washed denim and eyelet lace skirt.
I’m praying I didn’t pair this with matching jelly shoes and bracelets, but to be honest, I probably did.
Otherwise, aside from poorly-interpreted fashion influences, I recall the books being fairly wholesome for the time, though rife with 80s teen story tropes such as standing up to snobs and bullies and finding-love-on-the-other-side-of-the-tracks drama. Since we were literally, in our town, on the wrong side of the tracks, I loved the class warfare aspects of the books, including this one. I also recall a lot of “young love who dies in their prime” plot twists to which we also aspired.
(Part 1 of a series in which I reflect on how my friend’s big sister’s Sweet Dreams books influenced my 80s Midwestern fashion desert clothing endeavors.)
June 4, 2012
I have kept this book since I was 14 years old and still sometimes reread it. :) I have the sequel as well: Falling In Love Again.
February 11, 2009
I remember reading this book back when I was still in high school. This is the book that launched Sweet Dreams booming success and enabled Sweet Dreams to capture a larger market share (in the Philippines at that time) compared to Mills and Boons.
If my memory serves me right the book is all about a young girl who went to stay in Palm Springs over the summer and fell in love with Paul Strobe (?). The PS I love you is a sticker that she got which stands for Palm Springs I Love you but the guy gave it a different meaning for her.
If my memory serves me right the book is all about a young girl who went to stay in Palm Springs over the summer and fell in love with Paul Strobe (?). The PS I love you is a sticker that she got which stands for Palm Springs I Love you but the guy gave it a different meaning for her.
May 7, 2012
I will never forget this book. I was a freshman in high school (i think), when i read this book. #1 book for the SweetDreams collection. I had to hide from my mom so I can cry while reading. Ugh, I can still recall how heartbroken I felt when I was done reading .. a definitely good read for teens!
February 24, 2010
Synopsis (taken from http://sweetdreamsseries.com):
When her father left after the divorce, Mariah lost her sense of family. Now she's lost her special summer, too. Instead of fulfilling her dream to become a writer, Mariah has to help her mother with a house-sitting job in very rich, very snobby Palm Springs. People with a lot of money make Mariah uncomfortable. Until she meets Paul Strobe, the rich boy next door. Paul's not a snob and he doesn't act superior. In fact, his sandy sandy hair and piercing blue eyes break down all Mariah's defences. With Paul, Palm Springs becomes the most romantic place on Earth. But Paul has to go into the hospital for some tests and then an operation. He's seriously ill and all his family's money can't help him. Will Mariah lose Paul, too, just when she's found her first love?
This is one of the books I bought as a young adult reader that I still have sitting on my bookshelf. It was a surprise because the hero dies at the end of the book - not your typical romance. But I found the book sweet and touching.
When her father left after the divorce, Mariah lost her sense of family. Now she's lost her special summer, too. Instead of fulfilling her dream to become a writer, Mariah has to help her mother with a house-sitting job in very rich, very snobby Palm Springs. People with a lot of money make Mariah uncomfortable. Until she meets Paul Strobe, the rich boy next door. Paul's not a snob and he doesn't act superior. In fact, his sandy sandy hair and piercing blue eyes break down all Mariah's defences. With Paul, Palm Springs becomes the most romantic place on Earth. But Paul has to go into the hospital for some tests and then an operation. He's seriously ill and all his family's money can't help him. Will Mariah lose Paul, too, just when she's found her first love?
This is one of the books I bought as a young adult reader that I still have sitting on my bookshelf. It was a surprise because the hero dies at the end of the book - not your typical romance. But I found the book sweet and touching.
July 30, 2017
I read this book almost 20 years ago and I still remember it! I got it from the library van during the summer holidays. It was my first all nighter aswell as my first teenage romance novel! Although Amy's head is filled with enough romantic, fairy tale nonsense, I will def be passing this one on to her! Ohhh and it made me cry....Paul Strobe, I still love you......
March 14, 2013
I read this book for the first time when I was about 11. I won it in the library's summer reading program; I was always winning things that summer. It took me a while to read it, because I didn't think the girl on the cover was very pretty--AND it had been published in 1981, which seemed very old to me. That's how I judged books in 1991: their covers and their publication dates.
Anyway, at the time, I loved it; I remember thinking it was very well-written. I thought about it again when my parents moved to Palm Springs several years ago, and I thought about it a couple of weeks ago when I met a girl with the same name as the protagonist. My mom gave away my awarded copy years ago, but I was able to find the same version on Amazon recently, and have whizzed through its 182 pulpy pages over the past three days or so.
I've been somewhat disappointed that it's not nearly as well-written as I'd remembered, though there are only a few typos. Mostly, it's not entirely vapid, as many in the Sweet Dreams series (which I devoured) were. The heroine is thoughtful and interesting and believable, and the romance is innocent and sweet and touching. I think I'll pass it along to my tutee, if she likes romances; it's probably the right reading level for her, and it does move along pretty well, with nice short chapters.
Anyway, at the time, I loved it; I remember thinking it was very well-written. I thought about it again when my parents moved to Palm Springs several years ago, and I thought about it a couple of weeks ago when I met a girl with the same name as the protagonist. My mom gave away my awarded copy years ago, but I was able to find the same version on Amazon recently, and have whizzed through its 182 pulpy pages over the past three days or so.
I've been somewhat disappointed that it's not nearly as well-written as I'd remembered, though there are only a few typos. Mostly, it's not entirely vapid, as many in the Sweet Dreams series (which I devoured) were. The heroine is thoughtful and interesting and believable, and the romance is innocent and sweet and touching. I think I'll pass it along to my tutee, if she likes romances; it's probably the right reading level for her, and it does move along pretty well, with nice short chapters.
April 9, 2012
The first book i read that made me cry! In the very late 80's,i was about to go into my teenage years,and i realized then that this whole relationship thing wasn't always a fairy tale.i was so passionate about this book that i told my classmates to read it,they all cried too.
July 7, 2019
I read this when I was a teen. Found the book in my old room. Sat down and read it again. Loved it all over again
May 7, 2024
Oh 1980s, how I miss thee!
I owned this book in the 80s. I did not remember the ending, so I was unprepared.
I do wish today's books were written like this one. Very clean. Very sweet. And the story had such depth. And no agenda. Just lovely storytelling.
Yes, if I had a DeLorean I'd go back to this much nicer time. But I would not get that spiral perm...
I owned this book in the 80s. I did not remember the ending, so I was unprepared.
I do wish today's books were written like this one. Very clean. Very sweet. And the story had such depth. And no agenda. Just lovely storytelling.
Yes, if I had a DeLorean I'd go back to this much nicer time. But I would not get that spiral perm...
July 15, 2021
When I read it for the forst time I was in similar age the protagonist and omg I ATE THIS SHIT UP.
Lately I've been in sort of nostalgia mood and I've dug up some of my fave Sweet Dreams.
This was a mistake.
I REPEAT: THIS WAS A MISTAKE.
It's not nearly as well written as I remembered it to be. It's just cringe.
Take this advice from me: let the past stay in the past. don't ruin your sweet dreams teen memories.
Lately I've been in sort of nostalgia mood and I've dug up some of my fave Sweet Dreams.
This was a mistake.
I REPEAT: THIS WAS A MISTAKE.
It's not nearly as well written as I remembered it to be. It's just cringe.
Take this advice from me: let the past stay in the past. don't ruin your sweet dreams teen memories.
February 2, 2017
Two thing are wrong with this book; the overall flow is off; and the development of the romantic relationship is totally unbelievable.
However, the rest of the book is great.
P.S I Love You by Barbara Conklin, the very first Sweet Dream Romance, published 1981. I hunted for this book in particular for years through every second hand book store and book fair, only to find it after my passion for the series (and romance novels) had disappeared.
Mariah is the shy and awkward 16-year-old girl with big plans to be a best-selling author and have all of the boys suddenly realise she’s amazing and lining up to ask her out. First, she has to write her book and she plans to do it over summer break. But Mum has other plans; she takes a house sitting job in Palm Springs, moving Mariah and Kim (the little sister) against their will.
As soon as they arrive, they meet Paul Strobe, the boy next door. He’s a real sweety (a little too sweet at times, but still, totally dreamy) and he gives Mariah a book (HUSBAND MATERIAL!!!!).
As they fall in love, things become complicated with Paul having to go into hospital for tests and then surgery.
There’s something off with the writing. The actions of the characters don’t flow, as if the author forgot to mention that “Mum is standing by the window” at the start of the paragraph, so I’m picturing “Mum sitting on the lounge”, then bam! at the end of the paragraph “Mum paces away from the window”. I found it jarring, which in turn, made it hard to settle into the story and follow.
The other problem was Mariah and Paul’s romance. That happened too quickly. Not enough time was given for them to develop trust and start sharing things; it was all suddenly “I love you” all over the place and lots of kissing. A bit more time and more banter and emotional responses (a LOT more of that, please) and it would’ve been great.
The good things;
The characters were consistent and well formed.
Paul was sooooooooooooooo sweet.
Mariah’s dream of being a writer and the little things she does (like going to the library and finding where her book would be put on the shelf and making a space for it) is very honest.
It’s funny.
No “bad guy” to be defeated.
Isn’t focused on getting a boyfriend just for the sake of being “normal”. In fact, Mariah, though she is disappointed she hasn’t had a romance yet to use in her story, seems fine with being a single woman. A very nice change to the romance hungry teens portrayed in other Sweet Dream books.
Good morals.
And the overall fear of what’s going to happen when Paul goes to the hospital. This one had my stomach in knots for most of the story.
Unfortunately, not all of the Sweet Dreams that followed were this good (in my opinion). P.S I Love You is special and it was an honour to read it.
However, the rest of the book is great.
P.S I Love You by Barbara Conklin, the very first Sweet Dream Romance, published 1981. I hunted for this book in particular for years through every second hand book store and book fair, only to find it after my passion for the series (and romance novels) had disappeared.
Mariah is the shy and awkward 16-year-old girl with big plans to be a best-selling author and have all of the boys suddenly realise she’s amazing and lining up to ask her out. First, she has to write her book and she plans to do it over summer break. But Mum has other plans; she takes a house sitting job in Palm Springs, moving Mariah and Kim (the little sister) against their will.
As soon as they arrive, they meet Paul Strobe, the boy next door. He’s a real sweety (a little too sweet at times, but still, totally dreamy) and he gives Mariah a book (HUSBAND MATERIAL!!!!).
As they fall in love, things become complicated with Paul having to go into hospital for tests and then surgery.
There’s something off with the writing. The actions of the characters don’t flow, as if the author forgot to mention that “Mum is standing by the window” at the start of the paragraph, so I’m picturing “Mum sitting on the lounge”, then bam! at the end of the paragraph “Mum paces away from the window”. I found it jarring, which in turn, made it hard to settle into the story and follow.
The other problem was Mariah and Paul’s romance. That happened too quickly. Not enough time was given for them to develop trust and start sharing things; it was all suddenly “I love you” all over the place and lots of kissing. A bit more time and more banter and emotional responses (a LOT more of that, please) and it would’ve been great.
The good things;
The characters were consistent and well formed.
Paul was sooooooooooooooo sweet.
Mariah’s dream of being a writer and the little things she does (like going to the library and finding where her book would be put on the shelf and making a space for it) is very honest.
It’s funny.
No “bad guy” to be defeated.
Isn’t focused on getting a boyfriend just for the sake of being “normal”. In fact, Mariah, though she is disappointed she hasn’t had a romance yet to use in her story, seems fine with being a single woman. A very nice change to the romance hungry teens portrayed in other Sweet Dream books.
Good morals.
And the overall fear of what’s going to happen when Paul goes to the hospital. This one had my stomach in knots for most of the story.
Unfortunately, not all of the Sweet Dreams that followed were this good (in my opinion). P.S I Love You is special and it was an honour to read it.
Read
April 30, 2015Updated review: I re-read this book some 30+ years after I bought it. My copy is worn from reading it so often back in the day that it's barely held together. The cover is taped together, but it's no longer connected to the book binding.
Anyway, my taste in books and writing styles have obviously changed in the last three decades. The writing style was a tad simplistic for me now, but it's totally appropriate for a teenage romance. I cried at the end - as always. Maybe not quite as much as I used to, but still. All in all, maybe not quite as beloved as it was the first time I read it, but it was still a good, fast read.
I read this book the year it came out, way back when I was a teenager. I was totally into the whole Sweet Dreams line of romance books geared towards teens. I remember skipping this one at first, because I hated the title. A friend of mine told me I *had* to read it so I finally did and I'm so glad. I loved it!! It remained my favorite of the series and I'm 99% sure I still have my copy somewhere. I plan to dig it out soon and re-read it (again) since it's been a couple years since I have. I cry each and every time I read it, but it's so worth it.
I know there was a sequel, but I could not bring myself to read it for fear that it couldn't possibly live up to the first.
Anyway, my taste in books and writing styles have obviously changed in the last three decades. The writing style was a tad simplistic for me now, but it's totally appropriate for a teenage romance. I cried at the end - as always. Maybe not quite as much as I used to, but still. All in all, maybe not quite as beloved as it was the first time I read it, but it was still a good, fast read.
I read this book the year it came out, way back when I was a teenager. I was totally into the whole Sweet Dreams line of romance books geared towards teens. I remember skipping this one at first, because I hated the title. A friend of mine told me I *had* to read it so I finally did and I'm so glad. I loved it!! It remained my favorite of the series and I'm 99% sure I still have my copy somewhere. I plan to dig it out soon and re-read it (again) since it's been a couple years since I have. I cry each and every time I read it, but it's so worth it.
I know there was a sequel, but I could not bring myself to read it for fear that it couldn't possibly live up to the first.
May 16, 2013
While this book isn't what wold be considered high literature, as other reviews here back up, for its target audience - the teen crowd - it is quite the book. Not many books for this age group deal with the fear of death on top of the fear of losing all else. I recall crying, truly crying, at the end. I learned, thanks to this book, to cherish the time I have with my friends because you never know when they can be taken away. Sadly this is a lesson I've had to put to use more than once.
For today's teenager a world without cell phones might not be as strange as it would have been a handful of years ago thanks to the rise in popularity of historical fiction and steam punk. If you can find a copy, IF, then this is one to give to a teen you know.
For today's teenager a world without cell phones might not be as strange as it would have been a handful of years ago thanks to the rise in popularity of historical fiction and steam punk. If you can find a copy, IF, then this is one to give to a teen you know.
March 30, 2017
One of the early Sweet Dreams books I read and probably the first "sad" book I remember reading. The story is vastly different from most others I read in those years, in that it felt much more real and wasn't all "happily ever after" like the majority of teen books back then (or even now). In that sense, it was probably one of the romance books that impacted me as a young teen - or perhaps I should say pre-teen as I think I read it back in 5th or 6th grade (took it from my older sister's shelf). I remember bits and pieces of the story even now, decades later.
June 25, 2009
I read this book so long ago, but I remember it was the first book to ever make me cry. And it really is what got me hooked on reading and realizing how words could bring you into an amazing different world and could stir up so many emotions.
July 24, 2007
And my five amazing stars mean "this book is like eating an entire bowl of 1982 covered in treacle." Outstanding for the nostalgia effect.
November 9, 2010
I really enjoyed this book as a teenager. It spoke to me at the time in a way most books did not! I have recently purchased it again and look forward to sitting down and reading it again.
Read
August 10, 2011Loved it! The very first book that made me cry. I read it a long time ago, probably 18 or 19 yrs ago? Wow!!!... Paul Strobe I love you.
August 6, 2014
I read this book more than 10years ago. Whenever i hear this phrase 'p.s i love you' I would always associate it with Paul Strobe. Such a wonderful story.
April 1, 2016
This is the first book I remember picking out myself. I cried my heart out! It was a very sad love story.
March 17, 2021
I found myself deep in the trudging mud of a reading slump and needed a quick fix. My older sister recommended this book gifted by our aunt and simply implied of a wholesome plot. Little did I know, after the span of 3 hours that I would snap out of reality and crave reading again. Is this a competitor to the great romance masterpieces of the world? Absolutely not. But is it a masterpiece nonetheless? H*LL YES! A recommended read for anybody who wants to turn off their brain and enjoy the simple things in life with such a predictable plot. I threw the book at my sister’s face after I was done and demanded more. Ive nearly reached my 20’s without any romance close to what I’ve just read, but I’ll live vicariously through these one dimensional mc’s! Anyway, this book is worth the quick read!
Read
July 26, 2025My first romance book just re-read it again. Bawled my eyes out the first time. Bawled on the second reading because I knew what was coming.
This time it hit differently. Kinda corny. I did have a good chuckle when Mariah thought maybe a perm was the to improve her mousy brown hair. Only in the eighties would a perm be a solution to a problem.
This time it hit differently. Kinda corny. I did have a good chuckle when Mariah thought maybe a perm was the to improve her mousy brown hair. Only in the eighties would a perm be a solution to a problem.
September 21, 2019
It's kind of hard to rate this book. I read it for pure nostalgia, having been a fan of stealing my sister's copies of the Sweet Dreams books as a child. If I were going into this blind, I probably would be mocking it to shreds right now, but sipping on that sweet nostalgia juice was a good time. If you didn't grow up with these, maybe don't bother, but if you did, go sink into the embarrassment.
August 12, 2018
First book I ever broke my heart crying too!
October 26, 2019
3 stars for the writing / 5 stars for nostalgia- averages to 4. It was better in my memory.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 222 reviews