Showdown

Sweet Valley High #19

by Francine Pascal (Creator)

More than she bargained for...

When Lila Fowler's mysterious new boyfriend finally appears at her pool party, Jessica Wakefield is dazzled. Jack is handsome, sexy, and exciting—even more perfect than Lila described him. So Jessica wastes no time making sure he notices her, too.

Unknown to Lila, Jack dates both girls—Jessica during the week and Lila on weekends. But the sight of Lila's happy face on Monday mornings is more than Jessica can stand! Jessica's twin sister, Elizabeth, warns her to drop Jack before she really gets hurt. But Jessica would rather get Lila out of the picture. Then Jack will be hers—all hers.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Romance, Teen, Chick Lit, High School

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1985

About the author

Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved these books when I was growing up. My dad's secretary had a daughter that was a few years older than me, and I would get her hand me down books, many of which were SWH. When I was in law school and had no time to read for fun (much like now...) I decided to see if I could find some of the series on Amazon. I knew that I could read one of these books in about an hour, that it would be entertaining and nostalgic, and that it might keep me sane.

So I did - found the first 25 books or so, plus the "Legacy" books that I loved, all for under $20.

Delight.

I only made it through the first 18 or so during law school. Then we moved and the books were lost in the shuffle.

A year later, I'm an attorney, which means I have no time to read for fun. And we moved again. But this time the books showed up! I spent my first night in our new home in a glorious bubble bath with "Showdown." It was as just as I remembered, definitely cheesy, but quick moving stories that are fun to read.

So there we go. Hopefully I will make it to my interminable "to read" list full of grown up books soon, but for now I'm enjoying my visits in Sweet Valley.

[Tara Calaby]

This basically has to be amazing. It's about Lila and Jess and how they're the original (and best) frenemies. The only way it could've been better is if Bruce were somehow fighting for Jack's affections as well.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Toward the end of Head Over Heels Lila meets Jack, a construction worker on a site near her father's office. He seems far too attractive to really be working class, so she decides he must have a mysterious story behind his manual labouring job. Because no one smart or good looking ever has to worry about making rent, amiright?

Anyway, by the time Showdown begins, Lila's completely enamoured of the Jack she's created in her own mind. Jack doesn't exactly help, fuelling her fantasies with talk of a privileged former life that seems to meet even Lila's lofty standards. Is this Lila's happily ever after?

You're kidding, right? This is Sweet Valley.

You see, Jessica thinks Jack is pretty hot too. She and Cara have a pact not to go after the same boys, but this is Lila, which basically makes Jack even more attractive to Jess. She flirts outrageously with him, hands him her number, and is gleeful when he calls.

From this point on, Jack plays the two-timing cad role perfectly. He spends the weekends with Lila, and sees Jess mid-week. Jess's relationship with him is a secret, which means she's left to fume when Lila boasts about her perfect dates with Jack, only being appeased when Jack tells her that Lila has completely the wrong idea and that he only sees her as a friend.

Meanwhile, Jack tells Lila that he wants her to be his wife one day and she decides that means they're engaged. (I want to roll my eyes at all this, but I remember what I was like at sixteen and I'm pretty sure I would have been just as gullible and ridiculous as Lila is in this book.) It's a secret engagement, though, on Jack's say-so. Wouldn't want his other girlfriend finding out!

With all this build-up, you'd assume that the climax would involve Lila walking in on Jess and Jack. You'd be wrong. You'd be right if you assumed that Nicholas Morrow's school friend would recognise Jack from back when they were all at Prep school together and Jack was a complete psychopath who flipped out on his girlfriend because he's been unstable ever since he lost his entire family. You'd also be right if you assumed that Jessica would find a regular pharmacy of illegal drugs in Jack's bathroom while visiting his hovel and would be stupid enough to confront him about them. You'd continue to be right if you assumed that everything would end with a knife fight and Jessica disarming Jack with a perfectly executed cheerleading kick.

Don't let anyone tell you that cheerleading is a waste of time.

The subplot in this one is ~thematically linked~ to the main plot, which is quite surprising for Sweet Valley. Liz receives a group of photos to publish in the Oracle and it turns out that one of them shows her beloved Enid's boyfriend cheating on her with Robin. Who used to be fat. When confronted, George and Robin say that it just happened and that they didn't mean to cheat on Enid, or Robin's boyfriend, Allen. Apparently they just fell and accidentally snogged for half an hour or something. It happens.

This is a thoroughly fun book, and not just because it's Lila-centric. The plot is pleasantly tropey without being too predictable and Jack the Ripper Labourer is a great villain from the daytime soap mould.


Moral of the Story? Everyone cheats.


[re-read, previously read a couple of times]

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read 2024

I didn't intend to read this title next but since it ended up on my reading shelf right away, I plunged right in.

Jessica and Lila fight for the affections of a new arrival to Sweet Valley. Elizabeth tries to find out who is the mysterious photographer sending pictures to the school newspaper. Oh and there's trouble in paradise for Enid and George.

It all makes for an exciting installment in the SVH series. Really enjoying re-reading childhood favorites. The majority of the series is available on Kindle Unlimited.


Goodreads review published 13/01/24

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I had read this one before, but upon finishing it I can safely say I haven’t, because I would have remembered that crazy ending! (I do remember the following book really well, though, and hope to eventually track down a copy of it.)

I’m surprised it took 19 whole books for Jessica and Lila to fight over the same guy! The reveal of who Jack really is was so hilariously dramatic, and I was cackling over how ridiculous the whole ending is. Naturally, that craziness is what made me rate this 4 stars, because I just had way too much fun reading it.

I also love how Nicholas’ friend is like, “Eh, he sort of of looks familiar, but I have no idea who he is”, and then when he hears the name Jack suddenly he knows exactly who he is and has every detail of his life story. It just made me laugh that the name “Jack” tips him off, but not, you know, actually SEEING the guy. Oh, Sweet Valley - never change.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*REVIEW in Progress* These are just random thoughts

Jessica decides to go after Lila's new boyfriend, Jack. Shame on her! I have such a love/hate relationship to her character. I actually feel bad for Lila in this book, for a few reasons. That is rare as I am not a fan of her. The subplot involving a mystery photographer is actually my favorite part of this book. And the picture of the football player kissing a teddy sounded so cute, I wish I could see it! What high schoolers can get a pilots license?! Never heard of that before. And the ending is a major 'To Be Continued...' cliffy.

[Aurora Dimitre · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's not every day your 'perfect love interest' turns out to be a knife-wielding, psychotic druggie, is it

[Hillary]

See, here's what's great about Sweet Valley High: Jack uses drugs, but that doesn't mean anything so, just to get the point across, Jack uses ALL THE DRUGS. Seriously, every single one they could think of.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the most exciting sweet valley book I’ve read since the one where Elizabeth got in a motorcycle accident. Anyways, let me review.
This whole book was the definition of “Deja Vu” by Olivia Rodrigo lol, and add the fact that the guy was a raging psychopath.
I almost felt sorry for Lila in this book- she really did like Jack, and Jessica kept trying to steal him from her, which was wrong, even if he was crazy.
Also, is it weird that I picture Jessica and Elizabeth as Rikki from H20 and Todd as Zane?

[Starry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jessica decides to try and win Lila's new boyfriend for herself... but as all readers can plainly see he is no prize and not worth the bother, being a big fat lying psycho and someone is going to get burned. Although the escalation to the point of danger is a bit ridiculous to say the least there is always the sheer joy of seeing a small number of teenagers disarm a knife wielding ..... (here I'm struggling to find a word for a highwayman who sticks his dates up) .... and I had no idea that a cheerleader kick is a useful form of martial arts but in this book it is definitely what saved the day, so we are so glad that Jessica is the co Captain of the cheerleading squad.

[Sarah Baines · Rating 1 out of 5]

With friends like these, who needs enemies!

I admit to skipping large parts of this - funny how the teenage me lapped them up!! I didn't think anything of it way back when, but it amazes me now that Lila and Jessica are friends. Maybe now I'm older and wiser these books are like a hilariously bad horror film - best enjoyed with a glass or two of vino!!

[The Kawaii Slartibartfast · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, Jess and Lila meet this guy John. John basically plays them both and J & L are such intelligent, self-aware young women that they go along with it. Turns out J-Dawg is a flaming druggie and a socipath who threatens Jessica.

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover just not the story

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica, Sweet Valley's resident sociopath, decides she's going to steal her best friend's boyfriend and lands herself in some very hot water.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, I wanted such a better "showdown" this this. It was more like, "watch two 'best' friends get manipulated by a mysterious stranger with some serious mental issues. Hopefully he will get the help he needs.

--
**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.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dollar Tree Tom Ripley

It was pure chaotic mess.
Jessica and Lila fought over a walking red flag.

I’m just gonna have to get used to this series acting like it’s cool that these sophomore/junior aged high school girls are being pursued by these 18-19 year old boys. SMH they literally have full on work shifts and everything. Clocking into work but worried about their girlfriends that are at least two years away from graduating high school.

The story really spiraled into a full-on chaotic unhinged mess. And I loved it. The book dragged for the most part but the unhinged ending made up for it (barely).

Elizabeth stay in people’s business. Sometimes not by choice but goodness.

We shall see how she helps her bestie, Enid, in this next book.

Also, I’m waiting for Elizabeth to just snap and go off on everybody.

[ThymeOperator · Rating 4 out of 5]

The clam special is BACK! These 1980s teenagers are still obsessed with out-of-date things like The Beatles instead of Duran Duran, full-length sweater dresses lined with buttons are somehow sexy, Jessica is a bigger b**** than ever, and the pop psychology is just staggering in its hilarious implausibility. The icing on the cake is all the condescending rubbish about how surely Jack must be more than 'just' a construction worker. Manual labour!? (Referred to in exactly those terms.) The horror!

It was just awful, from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it. Couldn't stop laughing.

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was kind of dull. Jessica and Lila are fighting over Jack. He sees one during the week the other on weekends. Its typical teen stuff at least for Sweet Valley High. Lila gets sick and is so desperate to keep Jessica away from Jack she tries to keep their date.
There's hints that he's not a great guy. Nicholas Morrow knows him from somewhere and when it finds out where it ends in an overly dramatic fashion, mostly cause Jessica is an idiot and confronts someone who's probably dangerous.
The b plot involves Enid's boyfriend cheating on her with Robin which sets up the next book about a plane crash and guilt keeping people together.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica tries to steal mysterious (and supposedly wealthy) Jack away from Lila — while Jack is playing both of them, feeding each with lies of falling in love and naming stars in the sky after them (Jack was laying it on THICK!) Not to mention we find out Jack is a con man, a thief AND a druggie. It’s unfortunate he physically assaults Jessica when she finds his drug stash, because no one deserves that. Yet we find ourselves with multiple narcissistic sociopaths in Sweet Valley. I guess like does attract like!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like Jessica dating Jack after Lila invited him to a party is kind of a gray area morally. Anyway I’d only read this once or twice before so I didn’t remember Jack’s real identity. It was pretty obvious he wasn’t actually a long-lost prince or whatever. Personally I think they should have exaggerated his negative traits and saved the story for a Sweet Valley Thriller.

[K.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jess and Lila are competing for the handsome mysterious Jack, who promises both girls the world, he of course turns out to be a con artist, who nearly stabs Jessica when she realises that he's also a druggie.
Meanwhile Liz discovers that Enids boyfriend George is cheating on her with their friend Robin

[Stephanie Duerr · Rating 2 out of 5]

It sad that this series groomed a whole generation of girls. Jessica is the absolute worst!

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The clam special is back! And Jack who secretly dates both Jessica and Lila then turns out to be on ALL the drugs and attacks Jessica with a knife. But don't worry, Elizabeth saves the day! There's also a stupid b-plot about Penny Ayala's younger sister being a star photographer.

[Dr. Aditi Kapoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It sets the offset of the end of Enid and George's story ahead while Jess and Lila continue to be just that: themselves as they date the same person. It's a fun read.

[Janejellyroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica and Lila frequently butt heads in a way that makes them awkward friends, but in this book Jessica engages in a full-on plot to steal Lila's boyfriend, a supposed dream guy who may be too good to be true. This is an . . . odd plot for a book for kids, but it's exactly what I thought glamorous teens were doing when I was 10 which made it perfect.

[BookLuva28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, in the little cabinet under the sink, she found an unmarked rectangular box. Eagerly she pried the lid open. What she saw inside made her gasp. Drugs. All kinds of drugs. And not the prescription kind she was hoping to find. There were pills of all different colors and sizes, a jar of whitish powder, a plastic bag full of marijuana, pipes, rolling papers, and various other accessories...
Oh, to find that buried treasure would only be the purrrfect antidote to an otherwise boring day! >:D bruhahaha

Although I had expected Showdown to have more scandalously fun and epic backstabbing shenanigans between arch rivals Jess and Lila, the overall book in the series continues to be the silly teen soap/melodrama I have unabashedly come to adore. I obviously enjoy reading books I may have missed in my teens. My only gripe with this addition to the SVH saga, was that I wanted the central plot to be focused more on Jess and Lila. A down and dirty good cat fight between essential "mean girls" competing for the same guy is where I was lead to, but then the subplot curved it towards the drama developing between George and Enid to set you up for the next book.
Very clever bitches, luckily I have the next one. (cue wicked laugh)

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

Title: Showdown
Series: Sweet Valley High #19
Author: Francine Pascal, Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars

"She threw herself into Elizabeth's arms and cried with abandon."

Ugh. This book is definitely the cheesiest so far. Jack is such a sleeze ball and everything he says should have alerted Jess to what his true motives were, of course he wasn't going to stay faithful to her when he's saying things like, "That star is called Jessica now, and everytime I look at it, I'll think of you," and then he goes on a date with her best friend. Right okay.

It's all so dramatic, he uses drugs. GASP. He stole money. GASP. He tried to kill Jess. GASP. So much drama.

Let's put this book through the SVH checklist:

1) The Twins are Perfect Description: Check
2) Jess is Selfish: Check
3) Liz is the older twin:
4) Liz is all knowing: Check

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jessica and Lila both want construction worker (but mysterious, older, and obviously with secrets and supposedly estranged from a wealthy and powerful family), and crazy ass Jack, who is hot, but a thief who apparently loves all drugs, is happy to oblige and make out with these teenage girls. Hottie Nicholas Morrow figures out who Jack is, but will it be too late? So much wrong with this installment, but also, it so Sweet Valley right.

[Keli Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted my hair to look like Lila Fowlers so much....:)

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would not have wanted to grow up without them...Whether they were fighting each other or combining forces to take over the world, the Wakefield twins had it going on.

[Tanya Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun reading for the early teen years. Loved them from the age of 12 - 15