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Sweet Valley High #11
Too Good to be True
A devil in disguise.
The Wakefield twins are wild with excitement. Glamorous, sophisticated Susan Devlin is coming to Sweet Valley from New York City. For two weeks, Elizabeth will show her around town while Jessica has the time of her life in New York.
At first, Suzanne seems to be the most perfect girl in the world. She's beautiful and friendly and not the least bit stuck-up. All the boys of Sweet Valley are absolutely crazy about her. But when Suzanne accuses Mr. Collins of trying to seduce her, Elizabeth knows there's more to Suzanne than meets the eye.
The Wakefield twins are wild with excitement. Glamorous, sophisticated Susan Devlin is coming to Sweet Valley from New York City. For two weeks, Elizabeth will show her around town while Jessica has the time of her life in New York.
At first, Suzanne seems to be the most perfect girl in the world. She's beautiful and friendly and not the least bit stuck-up. All the boys of Sweet Valley are absolutely crazy about her. But when Suzanne accuses Mr. Collins of trying to seduce her, Elizabeth knows there's more to Suzanne than meets the eye.
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
17 people are currently reading
575 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,844 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 - 30 of 75 reviews
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January 17, 2010Suzanne goes Medieval on everyone when she fails to seduce Mr. Collins. SEVENTY STARS.
February 13, 2023
In this one, Jessica goes to NYC and proceeds to dress like she’s on Gossip Girl while stealing people’s boyfriends, getting super drunk at fancy parties, and scoring herself some free dope ass jewelry along the way.
“She was strolling through the glittering aisles of Tiffany’s, and the owner rushed up to her, holding out a priceless emerald necklace. ‘It’s made for you, my dear,’ he said. ‘Look how the jewels match your eyes.’ He waved aside her protests that she can’t afford such an expensive necklace. ‘No, you must consider it a gift. It’s payment enough for me just to see you wearing it.’”
Okay, okay, so that last part didn’t actually happen, Jess was just daydreaming/channeling her inner Holly Golightly.
And yeah, some other drama unfolds meanwhile back in Sweet Valley, but for me, it was more about Jessica’s hilariously over-the-top experiences in NYC in this one. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Liz and Enid Rollins and Winston Egbert and the rest of the nerd crew are adorable and everything, but I’m Team Jessica all the way <3
“She was strolling through the glittering aisles of Tiffany’s, and the owner rushed up to her, holding out a priceless emerald necklace. ‘It’s made for you, my dear,’ he said. ‘Look how the jewels match your eyes.’ He waved aside her protests that she can’t afford such an expensive necklace. ‘No, you must consider it a gift. It’s payment enough for me just to see you wearing it.’”
Okay, okay, so that last part didn’t actually happen, Jess was just daydreaming/channeling her inner Holly Golightly.
And yeah, some other drama unfolds meanwhile back in Sweet Valley, but for me, it was more about Jessica’s hilariously over-the-top experiences in NYC in this one. I mean, don’t get me wrong, Liz and Enid Rollins and Winston Egbert and the rest of the nerd crew are adorable and everything, but I’m Team Jessica all the way <3
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October 2, 2014Jessica goes to big ole New York City to stay with Mr. wakefield's old friend. In exchange, daughter of said big-city friend comes to Sweet Valley! Jessica quickly discovers that everyone in NYC is rich but cruel, stylish but conniving. Oh no! NYC gal, Suzy, really brings the ruckus to Sweet Valley. Sure, she acts like she is as sweet as she is gorgeous, but she is just as cruel as the rest of those caviar-eating jerks in NYC. Her wily acts of deception are myriad! Elizabeth's necklace goes missing! Boys are led on! Worst of all, dreamy teacher Mr.Collins becomes the target of Suzy's sociopathic designs. But everything gets solved tidily! But Enid cries, for sure. Just another 100 pages of impeccable prose and peerless storytelling from Ms. Francine Pascal.
October 2, 2017
I didn't remember this book being so scandalous. Suzanne Devlin is the devil, but she is bright enough to realize how crazy Leave it to Beaver the Wakefields and the town of Sweet Valley as a whole is, so her 2 week stay is filled with drama culminating in a hideous scheme targeting Elizabeth's dear Mr. Collins. Jessica meanwhile finda herself in NYC, unable to hold her booze/keep up with Suzanne's "sophisticated" friends, and finding herself in the 4th or 5th potential date rape situation in eleven novels. So terrible. So fun to read.
September 11, 2023
Re-read 2023
When the teenage daughter of Ned Wakefield's college roommate comes to visit and Jessica is sent to NYC, things get pretty serious.
This was a heavier book in the series as it deals with sexual assault allegations against a much loved Sweet Valley High teacher.
Moments of greatness
Older brother Steve reappeared and that sets up the next book which is a favorite of mine.
Moments of confusion.
Jessica is assaulted and when she returns home, it's not mentioned as anything more than a quick romance.
Susanne makes a false allegation and is so quickly disposed of that I felt so many questions remained unanswered.
Note
You could probably play an irresponsible game every time a Wakefield cries. 😂
Goodreads review published 09/09/23
When the teenage daughter of Ned Wakefield's college roommate comes to visit and Jessica is sent to NYC, things get pretty serious.
This was a heavier book in the series as it deals with sexual assault allegations against a much loved Sweet Valley High teacher.
Moments of greatness
Older brother Steve reappeared and that sets up the next book which is a favorite of mine.
Moments of confusion.
Jessica is assaulted and when she returns home, it's not mentioned as anything more than a quick romance.
Susanne makes a false allegation and is so quickly disposed of that I felt so many questions remained unanswered.
Note
You could probably play an irresponsible game every time a Wakefield cries. 😂
Goodreads review published 09/09/23
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April 6, 2023This is the first occasion where the twins are separated for any great period of time. Jessica heads off to New York City to stay with Ned's old college friend, while the friend's daughter, Suzanne Devlin, heads to Sweet Valley to take Jessica's place.
At first, everyone thinks that Suzanne's the best thing to arrive in Sweet Valley since the Vanderbilts. She's stunningly beautiful, super sophisticated, and she has a vaguely European accent. Even Lila, who usually does her best to dispose of any girls she considers a threat, is all over her. The boys can't get enough of Suzanne—except, of course, for Todd, who has eyes only for Liz—and Winston even takes to serenading her outside the Wakefields' split-level home.
This is Sweet Valley High, though, so obviously something's not right. It turns out that Suzanne's even more two-faced than Jessica when she's on her latest quest to destroy some poor girl. You know she's pure evil, because she steals Elizabeth's lavalier—and everyone knows that if the twins go too long without those around their necks, their heads fall off. (Or is that another story...)
Despite (or perhaps because of) Winston's attempt at wooing her, Suzanne isn't interested in any of the usual Sweet Valley boys. She likes her man-meat a little older, and preferably in the form of a younger Robert Redford. She throws herself at Mr. Collins, pulling out all the usual stops, like pretending to drown and holding her own personal wet t-shirt contest in poor Roger's back yard. With Teddy Collins looking on. (No wonder Master Teddy wanted her to babysit.)
Meanwhile, Jess is off in New York chasing after Suzanne's boyfriend, Pete.
This is a thoroughly entertaining instalment in the series, but it definitely loses marks for the way it plays around with sexual assault and false accusations. These books normalise things they really shouldn't be normalising.
Moral of the Story? Don't go to New York.
[re-read - previously read around three times]
At first, everyone thinks that Suzanne's the best thing to arrive in Sweet Valley since the Vanderbilts. She's stunningly beautiful, super sophisticated, and she has a vaguely European accent. Even Lila, who usually does her best to dispose of any girls she considers a threat, is all over her. The boys can't get enough of Suzanne—except, of course, for Todd, who has eyes only for Liz—and Winston even takes to serenading her outside the Wakefields' split-level home.
This is Sweet Valley High, though, so obviously something's not right. It turns out that Suzanne's even more two-faced than Jessica when she's on her latest quest to destroy some poor girl. You know she's pure evil, because she steals Elizabeth's lavalier—and everyone knows that if the twins go too long without those around their necks, their heads fall off. (Or is that another story...)
Despite (or perhaps because of) Winston's attempt at wooing her, Suzanne isn't interested in any of the usual Sweet Valley boys. She likes her man-meat a little older, and preferably in the form of a younger Robert Redford. She throws herself at Mr. Collins, pulling out all the usual stops, like pretending to drown and holding her own personal wet t-shirt contest in poor Roger's back yard. With Teddy Collins looking on. (No wonder Master Teddy wanted her to babysit.)
Meanwhile, Jess is off in New York chasing after Suzanne's boyfriend, Pete.
This is a thoroughly entertaining instalment in the series, but it definitely loses marks for the way it plays around with sexual assault and false accusations. These books normalise things they really shouldn't be normalising.
Moral of the Story? Don't go to New York.
[re-read - previously read around three times]
June 15, 2015
Elizabeth really is too naive and trusting. I really wish she'd get mean and stop being stepped on.
Suzanne comes across as just some spoiled little brat who just wants attention. I mean, if her parents are as bad/neglectful as they came across when Jessica came over, I kinda get it. But still. She has no right to try and destroy Mr Collins's life and career like that.
I'm really pissed at Elizabeth for not taking his side right away. Also, didn't anyone interview Teddy? Teddy at least would have been a decent character witness, saying that Suzanne was mean and neglectful and not at all nice. I know they wouldn't be able to hang a judgment on that, but at least it would've raised awareness. People would have been all like, "Wait, that doesn't sound like the girl we met... what's going on?"
It's stuff like that that really makes me wary to be a teacher. I mean, luckily I'm a female, so it's unlikely a guy will rip his shirt and say I tried to attack him and take advantage of him, but yeah. It was just way too easy for Suzanne to cast doubt and cause havoc on Mr Collins's life. It makes me wonder if she's done this to boys her age too. I bet you if her boarding school is co-ed, she's probably tried a similar stunt to get guys kicked out.
I feel kinda bad that Jessica had such a terrible time in New York, but it doesn't excuse her behaviour. She knows that Pete is Suzanne's boyfriend, yet she still throws herself at him and tries to seduce him! I can understand flirting with him and what not, but she just keeps pushing and pushing, even though he says he's with Suzanne and that he loves her. It kinda shows how sad and pathetic Jessica's life is. She's so used to being flippant with guys and never getting into a serious long-term relationship, that she just expects guys to feel the same way. I bet you because she's always casually dated, meaning the guys were always technically allowed to date other girls, she just assumes that all guys want to date around.
Still. It really pisses me off that she can't understand and respect other people's relationships. Her meddling with Steven and his relationship with Tricia really gets to me! She blatantly lies and tries to manipulate him into breaking up with her!
Suzanne comes across as just some spoiled little brat who just wants attention. I mean, if her parents are as bad/neglectful as they came across when Jessica came over, I kinda get it. But still. She has no right to try and destroy Mr Collins's life and career like that.
I'm really pissed at Elizabeth for not taking his side right away. Also, didn't anyone interview Teddy? Teddy at least would have been a decent character witness, saying that Suzanne was mean and neglectful and not at all nice. I know they wouldn't be able to hang a judgment on that, but at least it would've raised awareness. People would have been all like, "Wait, that doesn't sound like the girl we met... what's going on?"
It's stuff like that that really makes me wary to be a teacher. I mean, luckily I'm a female, so it's unlikely a guy will rip his shirt and say I tried to attack him and take advantage of him, but yeah. It was just way too easy for Suzanne to cast doubt and cause havoc on Mr Collins's life. It makes me wonder if she's done this to boys her age too. I bet you if her boarding school is co-ed, she's probably tried a similar stunt to get guys kicked out.
I feel kinda bad that Jessica had such a terrible time in New York, but it doesn't excuse her behaviour. She knows that Pete is Suzanne's boyfriend, yet she still throws herself at him and tries to seduce him! I can understand flirting with him and what not, but she just keeps pushing and pushing, even though he says he's with Suzanne and that he loves her. It kinda shows how sad and pathetic Jessica's life is. She's so used to being flippant with guys and never getting into a serious long-term relationship, that she just expects guys to feel the same way. I bet you because she's always casually dated, meaning the guys were always technically allowed to date other girls, she just assumes that all guys want to date around.
Still. It really pisses me off that she can't understand and respect other people's relationships. Her meddling with Steven and his relationship with Tricia really gets to me! She blatantly lies and tries to manipulate him into breaking up with her!
August 18, 2015
Source: I own this book.
Cost: 25p at a car boot sale
Title: Too Good to be True
Series: Sweet Valley High #11
Author: Kate William and Francine Pascal
Overall Rating: 2.9 stars
In this one, Liz stays in Sweet Valley while Jess goes gallivanting in NYC, both neither get what they bargain for.
Liz expects her new friend Suzanne to be kind, modest and considerate when in reality the girl comes with an undercurrent of crazy with a capital C. After Mr Collins rejects her advances, she decides that she's going to try and make him lose his job and when Liz begins to doubt her, she turns against Liz too.
Jess expects NYC to chic and luxurious. What she gets instead is skeezy men and snobby rich people.
These books really make me want to create a drinking game and drink every time something stupid happens, but then I'd realise that I'd die because of alcohol overload.
They're addictive though, once you start, you can't really stop.
Cost: 25p at a car boot sale
Title: Too Good to be True
Series: Sweet Valley High #11
Author: Kate William and Francine Pascal
Overall Rating: 2.9 stars
In this one, Liz stays in Sweet Valley while Jess goes gallivanting in NYC, both neither get what they bargain for.
Liz expects her new friend Suzanne to be kind, modest and considerate when in reality the girl comes with an undercurrent of crazy with a capital C. After Mr Collins rejects her advances, she decides that she's going to try and make him lose his job and when Liz begins to doubt her, she turns against Liz too.
Jess expects NYC to chic and luxurious. What she gets instead is skeezy men and snobby rich people.
These books really make me want to create a drinking game and drink every time something stupid happens, but then I'd realise that I'd die because of alcohol overload.
They're addictive though, once you start, you can't really stop.
December 2, 2011
From the very beginning, Suzanne Devlin seems to be too good to be true--beautiful, modest, considerate and kind--hey, sounds like Elizabeth! In fact the whole town practically worships her.They think she is Christmas,Thanksgiving and the turkey all dressed up.
As Sweet Valley is cast under Suzanne's charming spell, some things do not quite add up. Mr. Collins is accused of attacking Suzanne and Elizabeth is accused of being insane.
I have to say that Suzanne is a bonified, tried and true witch. I so wanted her to get in trouble with the law. She seemed so perfect and yet she was crazy. Sadly that happens all too often in real life ...
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title: Too Good to be True (Sweet Valley High #11)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
As Sweet Valley is cast under Suzanne's charming spell, some things do not quite add up. Mr. Collins is accused of attacking Suzanne and Elizabeth is accused of being insane.
I have to say that Suzanne is a bonified, tried and true witch. I so wanted her to get in trouble with the law. She seemed so perfect and yet she was crazy. Sadly that happens all too often in real life ...
More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie
Book Details:
Title: Too Good to be True (Sweet Valley High #11)
Author: Francine Pascal
Reviewed By: Purplycookie
February 15, 2015
Suzanne lies, steals, manipulates people for her own selfish ends and falsely accuses someone of trying to rape her. According to DoormatLiz she is an evil monster.
PsychoJess lies, steals, manipulates people for her own selfish ends and falsely accuses someone of trying to rape her. She is one of the "heroines" of this story and DoormatLiz is "fiercely loyal" to her.
Ermmm...okay.
PsychoJess lies, steals, manipulates people for her own selfish ends and falsely accuses someone of trying to rape her. She is one of the "heroines" of this story and DoormatLiz is "fiercely loyal" to her.
Ermmm...okay.
June 12, 2008
LOOVVVED IT
June 25, 2012
Elizabeth and Jessica have a chance to either go to New York or show Suzanne all around town. At first each girl has a great time- Jessica in New York and Elizabeth with Suzanne. But then Jessica gets embarrassed by a boy and ends up being alone most of the time. Elizabeth at first thinks that Suzanne is great but then she accuses Mr.Collins of taking advantage of her. Things begin to come clear to Elizabeth when she talks to Mr.Collins and when she finds her necklace in Suzanne's suitcase. Suzanne tried to get Mr.Collins to kiss her but when he refused her she got furious. Elizabeth confronts her and with a little help from clumsy Winston gets her true identity revealed in front of the whole school.
July 8, 2016
Wow...these books have always been garbage, but this is one where they cross over into actual TRASH. Like, whatever-the-pre-teen-equivalent-of-soft-core-porn-is, Harold Robbins, Jackie Collins TRASH. The only reason I'm giving this the same rating that I've given all of the others I've read in the series so far is because there is no rating I can give that is less than one star. Jessica is shallow and whiny and almost gets date-raped - AGAIN (but this time in New York! Such glamour!). Elizabeth is naïve to the point of brain death until a "brilliant" 11th hour, hail-Mary pass to make the villain confess the entire plot - AGAIN. Roger Collins at least takes his shirt off a couple times in this one, which I can only imagine must have looked pretty nice.
January 26, 2012
Jessica leaves for New York City for a trip and is replaced with another Jessica, except her name is Suzanne. Everyone is horrified when she falsely accuses Mr Collins of molesting her. Why wasn't Elizabeth equally as horrified when Jessica did this to Todd? Double standard much? Also in this movel, Jessica gets drunk, passes out, nearly gets raped herself, and realizes how much she misses home (I doubt that she will continue to appreciate her life for more than one minute after her plane lands in CA).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 15, 2012This one is good fun. A lot of witty lines and fun camaraderie between the usual cast.
March 18, 2012
Reading this was nostalgic. SVH had sustained me throughout my growing years providing drama, romance and adventure. I used to lap up the details reg. the lives of the two desirable twins - Elizabeth and Jessica. I have been with them through all their ups and downs. If I had judged this book 2 decades earlier, it would have been 4 to 5 stars. But now my taste has changed, and I cannot but help thinking what was so extra ordinary about this never ending series, that I used to eagerly read a book or two a week and never be tired of it!
August 15, 2010
I read the first twelve in the Sweet Valley High series along with a cousin who was a preteen at the time - so we could talk about them together. Even though I was past my teenage years when I read these books, I had a lot of fun reading them. Very entertaining.
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August 2, 2013Graded By: Erin
Read the drinking game and review here.
Read the drinking game and review here.
April 28, 2014
Is it me or does Liz cry a lot? I'd like to see what happens to the twins in 30 years. SVH: The Therapy Years.
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September 17, 2014Man, maybe I just read all of these. Ha.
June 28, 2015
The introduction of the infamous Suzanne Devlin! My first inkling as to what a nemesis really was.
March 3, 2016
This is the best one yet, probably because Jessica's role was so minimal and mostly consisted of her getting put in her place.
June 29, 2022
It's a light spry book about subtle toxic people and the reason of their psychological problems in a simple interesting way. Highly recommended for YA read lovers.
December 28, 2024
TODD, I STG YOUR BODY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT KEEPS THE SCORE BECAUSE ONLY YOU (AND OKAY, ENID) SEEM TO HAVE ANY LONG-TERM MEMORY OF ALL THE CONS THAT HAVE BEEN RUN IN SWEET VALLEY
November 15, 2022
Too Good to Be True
Suzanne Devlin (the daughter of a friend of Ned’s) comes to visit and in exchange, Jessica gets to go to New York (after manipulating Elizabeth who actually won the trip).
Suzanne is smoking HOT, a good swimmer and all the SV guys lose their minds over her. She’s also the perfect house guest. (She cooks without poisoning anyone and she cleans without being nagged). But Elizabeth learns that her parents sent her away to boarding school at nine and are now trying to pawn her off on her boyfriend (to marry).
Who Suzanne wants is Mr. Collin’s. She fakes a drowning and cries hysterically in his arms. This doesn’t work. Later Liz’s signature lavaliere goes missing and we see that she has it in her pocket.
She tries again when Liz has to drop something off to Mr. Collings on the way to the beach. She flirts with him (because he’s shirtless) and when this fails to have the desired effect, she takes the hose he’s watering with and wets up her shirt. Because he’s male (and probably she has large boobs) he sneaks a peek so she sees this as a score. She wants to break him because he’s an authority figure that thinks he’s better than everyone else. But he dismisses her
Later she gets the chance when Todd gets tickets to a Lakers game and she volunteers to take Liz’s place because she’s supposed to babysit Teddy. She tries to sexually assault him at the door by rubbing her boobs on him and he flees. She totally ignores Teddy and starts snooping through his house. Then she takes a bath. When he gets back, she gets him to slyly cope a feel and then tries to liquor him up. He calls her out and kicks her out.
Later that night she tells Liz he tore her shirt and hints to Liz he drunkenly tried to force himself on her. Liz of course tells her parents.
They tell the principal. He tells the school board, now it’s all over SV. Weirdly he won’t defend himself. A lot of parents have been wanting him gone because they don’t like his teaching methods.
All the SVH students are gonna have a party at Lila’s and have pooled their money to buy Suzy a going-away present (a scarf). Elizabeth goes to put the scarf in her suitcase and finds her necklace.
Then she and Todd go to talk to Mr. Collin who confesses that he was set up. Liz confronts Suzy at the party, but she then just as quickly tells everyone Liz bumped her head on the pool. Everyone believes it because it’s happened before (in Dear Sister).
Liz confronts Suzy again (in the middle of the party) but she plays dumb. Liz gets ENRAGED and puts it all out about the rape attempt and her necklace. But Suzy just makes her look even more insane by pointing out she has *on* the necklace. But then the REAL Suzanne comes out when Winston tries to bring her some punch, and trips and spills it all over her expensive white dress! SHE GOES OFF and so does the mask. She tries to play it off but it’s too late. They’ve all seen her for for the nasty bitch she is. Winston later tells her he overheard the conversation in the coat room and did it on purpose.
Mr. Collins won’t lose his job because the whole class saw Suzy’s meltdown and will testify to the school board that she’s manipulative.
Plot B) Meanwhile Jess is in NY with the Devlins. Mr. Devlin is always gone and Mrs. Devlin makes her uncomfortable (even though she took her shopping and out to dinner) so she gets bored.
Suzanne’s boyfriend stops by. He comes to drop off some tickets for Suzy’s parents but they have plans so she gets (well her to ask him) to go to the concert with him.
The date doesn’t go well. Pete is late, he's not falling all over himself because of her (and the dress she borrowed from Suzy’s closet) and the music is instrumental. She’s pissed (he doesn’t even kiss her good night) and is determined to get him.
Jessica goes to one of Suzanne’s friend’s parties and ends up getting drunk as a skunk. She passes out on the bathroom floor and wakes up in a cab being driven back to the Devlin’s.
The next day they get Pete to take her out sightseeing and Jess throws herself at the guy when it’s clear he’s just not that into her. At the end of the day he takes her back to the apartment and offers her a drink. He makes her a brandy and then starts to make out with her. She’s into it at first but then he starts getting a lil too aggressive! He doesn’t stop when she says no and pins her to the coach. All the while he’s telling her this is what she wanted. She starts to blame Elizabeth because she probably knew this would happen. So she pushed Pete off her and threatens to call the police. He tells her no one will believe her and lunges at her and tries to tackle her. They’re wrestling when the lights come on and Mrs. Devlin is standing there frozen. Jessica bursts into tears. Pete jumps up and starts to apologize. They tell him they never wanna see him again. After that, Jess goes back to Sweet Valley.
My Thoughts:
Oh KAAAY! I think this one was the most shockingly bad character in the series (so far). And MOST of them are bad don’t get me wrong! But this character. I’ve never heard someone say oh I hate you but I’m gonna go out of my way and do nice things for you because your STUPID!?
I’d watch that food if I were the Wakefields cause this chick ain’t got em all. She might have slipped some poison in those *from-scratch* pancakes she made.
She may have even made the floors extra slippery so they’ll all slip up and fall on their asses. All that *niceness* would have been RED warning sign number 1.
This is one time I really wanted Jess around because since she’s a pycho path she would have been able to call this one out on her bs and it never probably would have gotten to attempted fake rape.
Suzy just seems to be like that type you’d see hanging around actors and celebrities and then going to their hotel room (knowing what was gonna happen) but then years later either saying she was pregnant or they raped her on social media to get some attention. She’d probably write a book about it.
I also call BS on Teddy crying himself to sleep and he’s six. PLEASE! First of all, he wouldn’t have been left on his own because he wouldn’t have *let* her leave him alone because he would have been walking around behind her asking her questions and talking her ear off. Two if by chance he *had* been left alone there would have been a trail of candy wrappers and broken things all around the living room.
Then there’s Mr. Collins. How at the end of this book he can be so calm and let this ride and have sympathy when this bitch almost got him unemployed with a six-year-old astounds me! I NEVER would have wanted to see this bitch’s face again.
Nor do I understand why he didn’t speak up for himself. “People are gonna believe what they wanna believe anyway?” That just makes you look even more guilty if you don’t speak up against a RAPE charge. They still might *anyway*and think your lying but being quiet isn’t the move. Especially to the PRINCIPAL and the SCHOOL BOARD! I seriously would have pressed charges against Suzanne.
Then is it just me or is it not crazy that all these kids pooled their money to buy a STRANGER a present? I wouldn’t have bout her butt a doggone thing 'cause I don’t know you like that. You roll in town for 2 weeks and I’m gonna buy you something for being hot. PLEASE! But it was probably these stupid SVH boys that put in the majority share. Which makes them a bunch of IDIOTS!
Maybe Bruce could get away with this. But Bruce doesn’t seem the type to trick because HELLO his big move is cheap wine and paper cups!
Then while Suzanne is crying fake rape, her man is trying to do a real rape. This book is 50 shades of f**ked up!
But as sad as it is to say this Jessica is just….I don’t fault ANY woman for the actions of men like Pete. But Jessica plays with fire too much. You don’t know nothing about this man. That’s what I hate about SVH. They’re just so ignorantly oblivious that you just want to shake the HELL out of them sometimes. Jessica does this in ALL-NIGHT LONG. In that book, she does the SAME exact thing. She teases Scott (a college man) in a skimpy bikini. YOU CAN NOT DO THAT! You can not think with the SV mindset that all these MEN want to do is just MAKE OUT. And if it’s happened to you once and scared you silly, why in the HELL would you do it again just so you could try to seduce another girl’s boyfriend? That’s why these books frustrate me so much! This one was just INSANE! Even more so than normal!
Rating: 6 This one was just horrible in SO MANY WAYS!
Suzanne Devlin (the daughter of a friend of Ned’s) comes to visit and in exchange, Jessica gets to go to New York (after manipulating Elizabeth who actually won the trip).
Suzanne is smoking HOT, a good swimmer and all the SV guys lose their minds over her. She’s also the perfect house guest. (She cooks without poisoning anyone and she cleans without being nagged). But Elizabeth learns that her parents sent her away to boarding school at nine and are now trying to pawn her off on her boyfriend (to marry).
Who Suzanne wants is Mr. Collin’s. She fakes a drowning and cries hysterically in his arms. This doesn’t work. Later Liz’s signature lavaliere goes missing and we see that she has it in her pocket.
She tries again when Liz has to drop something off to Mr. Collings on the way to the beach. She flirts with him (because he’s shirtless) and when this fails to have the desired effect, she takes the hose he’s watering with and wets up her shirt. Because he’s male (and probably she has large boobs) he sneaks a peek so she sees this as a score. She wants to break him because he’s an authority figure that thinks he’s better than everyone else. But he dismisses her
Later she gets the chance when Todd gets tickets to a Lakers game and she volunteers to take Liz’s place because she’s supposed to babysit Teddy. She tries to sexually assault him at the door by rubbing her boobs on him and he flees. She totally ignores Teddy and starts snooping through his house. Then she takes a bath. When he gets back, she gets him to slyly cope a feel and then tries to liquor him up. He calls her out and kicks her out.
Later that night she tells Liz he tore her shirt and hints to Liz he drunkenly tried to force himself on her. Liz of course tells her parents.
They tell the principal. He tells the school board, now it’s all over SV. Weirdly he won’t defend himself. A lot of parents have been wanting him gone because they don’t like his teaching methods.
All the SVH students are gonna have a party at Lila’s and have pooled their money to buy Suzy a going-away present (a scarf). Elizabeth goes to put the scarf in her suitcase and finds her necklace.
Then she and Todd go to talk to Mr. Collin who confesses that he was set up. Liz confronts Suzy at the party, but she then just as quickly tells everyone Liz bumped her head on the pool. Everyone believes it because it’s happened before (in Dear Sister).
Liz confronts Suzy again (in the middle of the party) but she plays dumb. Liz gets ENRAGED and puts it all out about the rape attempt and her necklace. But Suzy just makes her look even more insane by pointing out she has *on* the necklace. But then the REAL Suzanne comes out when Winston tries to bring her some punch, and trips and spills it all over her expensive white dress! SHE GOES OFF and so does the mask. She tries to play it off but it’s too late. They’ve all seen her for for the nasty bitch she is. Winston later tells her he overheard the conversation in the coat room and did it on purpose.
Mr. Collins won’t lose his job because the whole class saw Suzy’s meltdown and will testify to the school board that she’s manipulative.
Plot B) Meanwhile Jess is in NY with the Devlins. Mr. Devlin is always gone and Mrs. Devlin makes her uncomfortable (even though she took her shopping and out to dinner) so she gets bored.
Suzanne’s boyfriend stops by. He comes to drop off some tickets for Suzy’s parents but they have plans so she gets (well her to ask him) to go to the concert with him.
The date doesn’t go well. Pete is late, he's not falling all over himself because of her (and the dress she borrowed from Suzy’s closet) and the music is instrumental. She’s pissed (he doesn’t even kiss her good night) and is determined to get him.
Jessica goes to one of Suzanne’s friend’s parties and ends up getting drunk as a skunk. She passes out on the bathroom floor and wakes up in a cab being driven back to the Devlin’s.
The next day they get Pete to take her out sightseeing and Jess throws herself at the guy when it’s clear he’s just not that into her. At the end of the day he takes her back to the apartment and offers her a drink. He makes her a brandy and then starts to make out with her. She’s into it at first but then he starts getting a lil too aggressive! He doesn’t stop when she says no and pins her to the coach. All the while he’s telling her this is what she wanted. She starts to blame Elizabeth because she probably knew this would happen. So she pushed Pete off her and threatens to call the police. He tells her no one will believe her and lunges at her and tries to tackle her. They’re wrestling when the lights come on and Mrs. Devlin is standing there frozen. Jessica bursts into tears. Pete jumps up and starts to apologize. They tell him they never wanna see him again. After that, Jess goes back to Sweet Valley.
My Thoughts:
Oh KAAAY! I think this one was the most shockingly bad character in the series (so far). And MOST of them are bad don’t get me wrong! But this character. I’ve never heard someone say oh I hate you but I’m gonna go out of my way and do nice things for you because your STUPID!?
I’d watch that food if I were the Wakefields cause this chick ain’t got em all. She might have slipped some poison in those *from-scratch* pancakes she made.
She may have even made the floors extra slippery so they’ll all slip up and fall on their asses. All that *niceness* would have been RED warning sign number 1.
This is one time I really wanted Jess around because since she’s a pycho path she would have been able to call this one out on her bs and it never probably would have gotten to attempted fake rape.
Suzy just seems to be like that type you’d see hanging around actors and celebrities and then going to their hotel room (knowing what was gonna happen) but then years later either saying she was pregnant or they raped her on social media to get some attention. She’d probably write a book about it.
I also call BS on Teddy crying himself to sleep and he’s six. PLEASE! First of all, he wouldn’t have been left on his own because he wouldn’t have *let* her leave him alone because he would have been walking around behind her asking her questions and talking her ear off. Two if by chance he *had* been left alone there would have been a trail of candy wrappers and broken things all around the living room.
Then there’s Mr. Collins. How at the end of this book he can be so calm and let this ride and have sympathy when this bitch almost got him unemployed with a six-year-old astounds me! I NEVER would have wanted to see this bitch’s face again.
Nor do I understand why he didn’t speak up for himself. “People are gonna believe what they wanna believe anyway?” That just makes you look even more guilty if you don’t speak up against a RAPE charge. They still might *anyway*and think your lying but being quiet isn’t the move. Especially to the PRINCIPAL and the SCHOOL BOARD! I seriously would have pressed charges against Suzanne.
Then is it just me or is it not crazy that all these kids pooled their money to buy a STRANGER a present? I wouldn’t have bout her butt a doggone thing 'cause I don’t know you like that. You roll in town for 2 weeks and I’m gonna buy you something for being hot. PLEASE! But it was probably these stupid SVH boys that put in the majority share. Which makes them a bunch of IDIOTS!
Maybe Bruce could get away with this. But Bruce doesn’t seem the type to trick because HELLO his big move is cheap wine and paper cups!
Then while Suzanne is crying fake rape, her man is trying to do a real rape. This book is 50 shades of f**ked up!
But as sad as it is to say this Jessica is just….I don’t fault ANY woman for the actions of men like Pete. But Jessica plays with fire too much. You don’t know nothing about this man. That’s what I hate about SVH. They’re just so ignorantly oblivious that you just want to shake the HELL out of them sometimes. Jessica does this in ALL-NIGHT LONG. In that book, she does the SAME exact thing. She teases Scott (a college man) in a skimpy bikini. YOU CAN NOT DO THAT! You can not think with the SV mindset that all these MEN want to do is just MAKE OUT. And if it’s happened to you once and scared you silly, why in the HELL would you do it again just so you could try to seduce another girl’s boyfriend? That’s why these books frustrate me so much! This one was just INSANE! Even more so than normal!
Rating: 6 This one was just horrible in SO MANY WAYS!
June 19, 2019
Title: Too Good To Be True
Author: Francine Pascal, Kate William
Series: Sweet Valley High, 11
Format: ebook, bind-up
Length: N/A
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: A devil in disguise…
When glamorous, sophisticated Suzanne Devlin visits Sweet Valley from New York City, the Wakefield twins couldn’t be more excited. For two weeks, Elizabeth will show Suzanne around town while Jessica will have the time of her life in New York. Suzanne is perfect: beautiful, friend, and not the least bit stuck up.
But when Suzanne accuses their teacher, Mr. Collins, of trying to seduce her, Elizabeth knows there’s more to Suzanne than meets the eye. Can she stop Suzanne before it’s too late?
Favourite character: Winston
Least favourite character: Suzanne
Mini-review: Oh how innocent that 80s were... Suzanne doesn't accuse Mr. Collins of trying to seduce, she accuses him of molestation and attempted rape.
As I'm sure you can tell, this was a very dramatic book.
I honestly think Mr. Collins is the only sane person in Sweet Valley and it makes me feel bad, because he should live somewhere else. Somewhere he isn't going to be accused of rape just because one of his adoring fans couldn't handle rejection.
Anyone, Mr. Collins saw right through Suzanne, who's last name ironically contains the same letters plus one as the word devil. That can't be a coincidence... can it?
Fan Cast:
Elizabeth Wakefield/Jessica Wakefield - Lili Reinhart
Suzanne Devlin - Ella Purnell
Steven Wakefield - Timothée Chalamet
Todd Wilkins - Blake Michael
Mr. Collins - Armie Hammer
Winston Egbert - Joey Bragg
Alice Wakefield - Laura Dern
Ned Wakefield - Patrick Warburton
Tom McKay - Colin Ford
Aaron Dallas - Cody Christian
Cara Walker - Sofia Carson
Bruce Patman - Gregg Sulkin
Lila Fowler - Danielle Campbell
Pete McCafferty - Alden Ehrenreich
George Warren - Jordan Rodrigues
Olivia Davidson - Liza Koshy
Ken Matthews - Brandon Larracuente
John Pfeifer - Ryan Potter
Caroline Pearce - Rae Gray
Author: Francine Pascal, Kate William
Series: Sweet Valley High, 11
Format: ebook, bind-up
Length: N/A
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: A devil in disguise…
When glamorous, sophisticated Suzanne Devlin visits Sweet Valley from New York City, the Wakefield twins couldn’t be more excited. For two weeks, Elizabeth will show Suzanne around town while Jessica will have the time of her life in New York. Suzanne is perfect: beautiful, friend, and not the least bit stuck up.
But when Suzanne accuses their teacher, Mr. Collins, of trying to seduce her, Elizabeth knows there’s more to Suzanne than meets the eye. Can she stop Suzanne before it’s too late?
Favourite character: Winston
Least favourite character: Suzanne
Mini-review: Oh how innocent that 80s were... Suzanne doesn't accuse Mr. Collins of trying to seduce, she accuses him of molestation and attempted rape.
As I'm sure you can tell, this was a very dramatic book.
I honestly think Mr. Collins is the only sane person in Sweet Valley and it makes me feel bad, because he should live somewhere else. Somewhere he isn't going to be accused of rape just because one of his adoring fans couldn't handle rejection.
Anyone, Mr. Collins saw right through Suzanne, who's last name ironically contains the same letters plus one as the word devil. That can't be a coincidence... can it?
Fan Cast:
Elizabeth Wakefield/Jessica Wakefield - Lili Reinhart
Suzanne Devlin - Ella Purnell
Steven Wakefield - Timothée Chalamet
Todd Wilkins - Blake Michael
Mr. Collins - Armie Hammer
Winston Egbert - Joey Bragg
Alice Wakefield - Laura Dern
Ned Wakefield - Patrick Warburton
Tom McKay - Colin Ford
Aaron Dallas - Cody Christian
Cara Walker - Sofia Carson
Bruce Patman - Gregg Sulkin
Lila Fowler - Danielle Campbell
Pete McCafferty - Alden Ehrenreich
George Warren - Jordan Rodrigues
Olivia Davidson - Liza Koshy
Ken Matthews - Brandon Larracuente
John Pfeifer - Ryan Potter
Caroline Pearce - Rae Gray
May 18, 2022
For a book series aimed at pre-teens god do these books love attempted sexual assault- both in reality and false accusations.
In this book we’re subjected to Suzanne Devlin the shockingly beautiful, rich, glamorous, kind, helpful daughter of Ned Wakefield’s college roommate. And did I mention that she’s beautiful? Well she is- shockingly so.
The moment she steps off the plane in Sweet Valley and gushes about how happy and excited she is to be there it’s painfully obvious that she’s a villain. However, it takes several chapters before we’re subjected to her first inner-monologue and surprise! She’s terrible. She does several less than stellar things culminating in her spectacular performance wherein she accuses dear Mr Collins of attempting to sexually assault her (where have I read that plot line before??!) Everyone believes her immediately….except maybe they don’t? Unclear. Elizabeth is skeptical but also suggests that they collectively buy her a new blouse- obviously the only appropriate gift to give someone who almost got raped. Based off of tenuous evidence (does maybe stealing a necklace automatically make someone a false-accuser?) It takes brilliant Elizabeth and Winston Egbert to crack the case and show Suzy’s true form: thus exonerating Mr Collins (who never intended to defend himself?! Perfectly content to just let his life be ruined). Everything is right in the world again, but I mean isn’t Suzy a little right about Sweet Valley, and the Wakefields in particular, being terribly stupid and dull? Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Meanwhile Jessica is in New York. She makes a fool of herself in a couple social situations and continuously tries to seduce Suzy’s cool, handsome, rich boyfriend. The tables are turned when he actually tries to assault her (this is… at least the 3rd or 4th time this has happened to one of the sisters in 11 books?) Jessica is happy to get home but obviously lies and says she had a great time.
Overall these books send a stellar message to the youth of America. I don’t know what it is- but I’m sure it’s good.
In this book we’re subjected to Suzanne Devlin the shockingly beautiful, rich, glamorous, kind, helpful daughter of Ned Wakefield’s college roommate. And did I mention that she’s beautiful? Well she is- shockingly so.
The moment she steps off the plane in Sweet Valley and gushes about how happy and excited she is to be there it’s painfully obvious that she’s a villain. However, it takes several chapters before we’re subjected to her first inner-monologue and surprise! She’s terrible. She does several less than stellar things culminating in her spectacular performance wherein she accuses dear Mr Collins of attempting to sexually assault her (where have I read that plot line before??!) Everyone believes her immediately….except maybe they don’t? Unclear. Elizabeth is skeptical but also suggests that they collectively buy her a new blouse- obviously the only appropriate gift to give someone who almost got raped. Based off of tenuous evidence (does maybe stealing a necklace automatically make someone a false-accuser?) It takes brilliant Elizabeth and Winston Egbert to crack the case and show Suzy’s true form: thus exonerating Mr Collins (who never intended to defend himself?! Perfectly content to just let his life be ruined). Everything is right in the world again, but I mean isn’t Suzy a little right about Sweet Valley, and the Wakefields in particular, being terribly stupid and dull? Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Meanwhile Jessica is in New York. She makes a fool of herself in a couple social situations and continuously tries to seduce Suzy’s cool, handsome, rich boyfriend. The tables are turned when he actually tries to assault her (this is… at least the 3rd or 4th time this has happened to one of the sisters in 11 books?) Jessica is happy to get home but obviously lies and says she had a great time.
Overall these books send a stellar message to the youth of America. I don’t know what it is- but I’m sure it’s good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2017
The twin's father gets in touch with one of his college buddies! While talking, they agree to have a trade-off of children so that their children can visit each other's home states. One of the twins gets to visit the magnificent New York City and the other gets to show Suzanne around Sweet Valley! Will it be a dream come true for both of the twins? Or will the perfect dream turn into a nightmare?
Amazing as ever of course! I really just adore this entire series. I love the foreshadowing in each and every single book. And of course, this book was no exception. This book may have been filled with more foreshadowing and intrigue than many of the previous ones!
As usual, the story is too short. For this particular one, I feel there were many parts that just got rushed over in an attempt to keep it really short. Which really didn't feel fair to me. I wanted to see things that I sadly didn't get to see. It's too bad that the series can't be re-written and turned into longer pieces.
I fully recommend this book. I recommend the entire series. It's funny. It's enlightening. It's great for short and quick reads. It's thought-provoking. I could go on. I feel like each and every book in this series has had a small moral lesson tacked into it.
Amazing as ever of course! I really just adore this entire series. I love the foreshadowing in each and every single book. And of course, this book was no exception. This book may have been filled with more foreshadowing and intrigue than many of the previous ones!
As usual, the story is too short. For this particular one, I feel there were many parts that just got rushed over in an attempt to keep it really short. Which really didn't feel fair to me. I wanted to see things that I sadly didn't get to see. It's too bad that the series can't be re-written and turned into longer pieces.
I fully recommend this book. I recommend the entire series. It's funny. It's enlightening. It's great for short and quick reads. It's thought-provoking. I could go on. I feel like each and every book in this series has had a small moral lesson tacked into it.
May 18, 2020
Whenever the series shakes things up I am intrigued, and this one separates Jessica and Elizabeth over their two week Spring Break. Jessica is gallivanting in New York and Elizabeth is back in Sweet Valley showing around houseguest and "too good to be true" Suzanne Devlin. The parallel storylines make for some interesting comparisons when looking at the actions of Jessica and Suzanne and their underlying motivations. An alternate title could be "A Take of Two Seductions."
--
**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.
--
**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.
September 16, 2025
Since this was published in 1984, I guess I have to forgive the very very pre-#MeToo scene of "crazy bitches make up sexual assault allegations because they're mad at a man" bullshit.
Honestly, this was kind of fun, I have to admit. I remember this one from my youth, and especially I remember a very strong "hate her/wanna be her" response to Suzanne Devlin. Like, she was beautiful and glamorous and she'd lived in *~Europe~* and all that, but then she was also a lying, thieving jerk. I kind of appreciate the author for giving us a truly evil character with zero redeeming qualities, because that didn't often happen in teen books of yesteryear. I also liked how Jessica's experience in New York was handled, because it felt very realistic for her to have these pie-in-the-sky daydreams that ended up being lightyears away from what it actually ended up being like.
It was kind of annoying how everyone in Sweet Valley was so fucking dumb as to believe every word Suzanne said, even when things started getting weird. But I don't know, maybe when you're that pretty, your words can sound pretty too, even when they're not.
Honestly, this was kind of fun, I have to admit. I remember this one from my youth, and especially I remember a very strong "hate her/wanna be her" response to Suzanne Devlin. Like, she was beautiful and glamorous and she'd lived in *~Europe~* and all that, but then she was also a lying, thieving jerk. I kind of appreciate the author for giving us a truly evil character with zero redeeming qualities, because that didn't often happen in teen books of yesteryear. I also liked how Jessica's experience in New York was handled, because it felt very realistic for her to have these pie-in-the-sky daydreams that ended up being lightyears away from what it actually ended up being like.
It was kind of annoying how everyone in Sweet Valley was so fucking dumb as to believe every word Suzanne said, even when things started getting weird. But I don't know, maybe when you're that pretty, your words can sound pretty too, even when they're not.
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