To think Mr Collins from the Sweet Valley High books was a tad creepy?

[SamanthaBrique]

I found some SVH books in a free bookshop recently. I devoured them as s tween so thought I'd see how they stack up these days.

Apart from the twins being ridiculous (Jessica is a psychopath and Elizabeth sanctimonious) and the author's hatred of fat people, Mr Collins the English teacher was way too creepy. Why was he always hanging out with 16 year olds? Even at weekends he'd host picnics for them, he'd give up his free time to take them camping. Surely there was something dodgy going on??

In the only Sweet Valley University I have ever read Jessica had sex! There was no sex at all at SVH!

All the male teenagers needed to shave at least twice a day. I was most confused when I started going out with my (very fair) Dh who shaves once a week whether he needs to or not!

Youremywifenow that's what I was talking about up thread. It was so bad. They also rewrote the back story for half the characters!

wow I use to watch this show

No no Winston Egbert jumped off a balcony.

I remember Jessica was getting married but can't remember if it went ahead. Did her fiancé die in the car crash? Am I making that up?

I always felt bad for Caroline - the gossip.

Blue - his name was Sam

Rather bizarrely in the 'grown up' SV books Jessica & Todd were married with a daughter

No, Sam as her high school boyfriend who died when Liz drove drunk with him in the car (after Jess got someone to spike her drink at the jungle prom). She then met a James at a bike rally, in memory to Sam, who she fell for. He was being paid to be with her by Margo but fell in love with her and then was offed by Margo.

Thank you Helena dove. I knew he died of something dramatic.
In fact most people who do something 'bad' died. Poor deaf Regina who took cocaine died.
Who had a brain tumour?
I assume Enid must have died of something eventually for being fat and not cool.

I only discovered there was a life after sweet valley recently. I'm trying to resist reading Sweet Valley University.

Nah, Enid turned into a hard nosed career woman (ergo a bitch in Sweet Valley).

Did anyone read the SW saga books which took you back through the families history too about 200 years ago. There were two, one for the mothers family and one for the dads. They were actually ok.

Oh I loved those! Too many coincidences but they were enjoyable.

"Look right down any crowded hall
You'll see there's a beauty standing
Is she really everywhere
Or a reflection?"

I LOVED the books, and then the TV series. I wanted to be tall and willowy, and blonde, and a twin. Sadly I was none of these things. And now, looking back, crikey! What a load of crap! Loved the babysitters club too! The boxes they used to take to the houses with activities and stuff in to keep the "kids" busy.

Loved how bad they were! Everyone wanted to be their friend/boyfriend..or with the evil twin books be them! Then all the drama and many murder attempts..the whole vampire one as well!!

Found a recap website and wow..so funny lol yet when younger the books seemed amazing!

I read Sweet Valley Twins, Sweets Valley High and some of Sweet Valley University and watched the TV series. Loved it all, at the time. That follow up a few years ago was bloody dire. It was appallingly written. Jessica was still a bitch, Liz was still a wet fart.

What pissed me off is Liz had been dating Todd for 2 years when they went to SVU and sooooo much was made about her not being ready to sleep with him because she wanted to make the decision with her head blah blah. Ffs get a grip woman! Then she dated Tom Watts who she was madly in love with but couldn't possibly sleep with him either. I got too old and stopped reading before she ever lost her virginity. No idea who it was to in the end. Probably meaningless after all.

Jessica was awful. Such a whiney bitch who couldn't give a stuff about anyone except herself. Liz was far too goody two shoes.

What always struck me is how much happened to them but they didn't age within a series. They were 18 at university and soo much happened there wouldn't have physically been time.

No Enid wasnt overweight Robin Wilson was She lost the weight in SVH book 4 Power Play when they wouldnt let her join Pi Beta Alpha.

Francine hated fat people, that's for sure.

I remember that one Helena. I still have it along with a whole bunch more

There's even more SV?! With more grown up Jess?!
What annoyed me and a friend about the confidential book is that it says at the end about their mother who'd apparently been running a successful interior design business since 1935 that she had earned some money of her own, and was able to contribute to the cost of the wedding

I did love them. I really like the college ones. That's where it went really nuts and Jessica had sex. Agree that Elizabeth is super annoying

HarryPottersMagicWand Yeah!! They seemed to have about 4 winters in one year

I was seen as the overweight kid at school Looking back at photos though i wasnt. I gained weight from late teens onwards and then finally lost ten stone at 29.

So Robin is the character i most related to from SVH.

Sancia Yes, there were towns with a single black family in the US in 80's. I grew up in one.

I liked Steven.