Listen Now

Ned and Alice Wakefield don't get a lot of love here at Sweet Valley Diaries, but they're both hurting now, so...eh, we still have some criticisms. Everyone's a great fictional parent in hindsight! PLUS learn the exciting comedy origin story behind Marissa's friendship with our fabulous guest Rebecca Russell. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Rebecca Russell joins Marissa for the first book in the Great Wakefield Divorce (!?) Trilogy. Everything's on the line (and/or the party line) and no questions will be answered! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Marissa, Katie, Kat, and Kyle cram in all the YA book and book podcast nerdiness that will fit into the 10 minutes we had left in the recording studio! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Steven/Tricia/Cara love triangle expert Katie LaDue is back, joined by Kat Rebar and, to a lesser extent, Kyle Rebar to talk about this book and its stunning lack of ghosts. But what it lacks in ghosts, it makes up for in hang-gliding accidents and trauma responses! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Inspired by Elizabeth's attempts at reinvention in book 63, Caitlin and Marissa compare notes about times they've made big change (plus a lengthy tangent about high school theater typecasting). Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Now who's new? Elizabeth is reinventing herself, and this time it goes way beyond a two-week perm. Caitlin McCann is back to dissect Liz's meteoric rise to the top of the local surfing beat, and the self-sabotage that sends her crashing back to status quo. Check out Caitlin's The Lit Review Follows SVD on Instagram and Twitter Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Marissa and Julia compare notes on their respective high school dance experiences; 20-year-old crush gossip is spilled. Sweet Valley Diaries on Instagram and Twitter Marissa's Substack, Metaforia Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

At long last, it's an all-Elizabeth-and-Jessica book! No school (almost)! No friends (almost)! No teachers! Just our twins and the most ridiculous dinner date disguise debacle since Mrs. Doubtfire. Julia Kenney Smith joins Marissa in the (actual) studio! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Did you notice how there was no big, lusty "Boys" description of Patty's boyfriend, Jim Hollis, in BOY TROUBLE's main episode? Even though he's the boy that's the source of the titular trouble? It's because he doesn't really get described. This extra drama is kind of a thought experiment around why. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Patty Gilbert is having a scheduling nightmare! Her boyfriend is home from college for the first time in a month...and her sister is home from NorCal for the first time in 6 months! This is a bigger crisis than it sounds like. Also, there are handpainted t-shirts in this one. Marissa Wasseluk returns to mark this auspicious Season 7 premiere! Follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok Subscribe to Marissa's Substack, Metaforia Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Picture this: it's December 1989. You're at the Walden Books inside the mall. As you browse the latest soapy middle-grade serials, what to your wondering eyes should appear but an ENTIRE book all about the elusive, elegant, rich, and endlessly scheming Lila Fowler. Your favorite character in the Sweet Valley High series. Fast forward: it's 22 years later, and two Elder Millennials named Marissa are going to retell the story of this very important novel to you. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, GLADIATORS! Thanks to guest reader Marissa Wasseluk and Purple Planet Music. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

On this very special narrative-style hiatus bonus episode: A listener’s email leads down an internet research rabbit hole of ridiculous proportions. Caution: there will be dolls. Watch the Bandai Sweet Valley High Dolls ad on YouTube Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In which two professional filmmakers/screenwriting professors attempt to break story on a film adaptation of Sweet Valley High Book 60: THAT FATAL NIGHT.     Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

It's the (main episode) Season 6 finale and all the stars are out: Terry Adams! Zack Johnson! Skip Harmon! You know, all your favorites. Oh, and the Wakefields and such are there too. But let's quit beating around the bush: this is the book where Ken Matthews becomes (temporarily???) blind in a car accident. Director (and former guest reader!) William J. Stribling is along for the ride...but, you know, figuratively. Safer that way.   Blind on the Move: Do Blind People Count Their Steps? Florence Nightingale Effect Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Sweet Valley High may not be historical fiction, but it IS fiction from history. Novelist Libbie Hawker is back to talk rich historical details like in-car CD players and VHS recording. Plus: What's up with Dominique Roy? The metaphorical resonance of the Dairi Burger, Rich kids being out-riched by richer kids and SO! much! more! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

So, Liz and Todd are IN LOVE AGAIN, and all is right with the world...except for the fact that Todd goes to a fancy school an hour away, they're both too infatuated with one another to keep up with their commitments, and it's about to be Snobs vs Slobs (yes, somehow Sweet Valley is the slobs) in the big Battle of the Schools! Not to mention, Courtney Kane is back, and she's pissed! Author (and OG Gladiator!) Libbie Hawker helps walk us through this morass.   Gotta Grow Up Sometime podcast More on Swans Crossing HawkerBooks.com   Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Shey Zanotti is back, and memories of (the very much still alive) Jeffrey French abound. Remember the time he scared away those thugs who wanted to steal Ronnie's car? Remember the time Elizabeth thought he was falling in love with Enid? Or perhaps the time she thought he had fallen in love with Olivia. So many memories! This, and some fresh new ideas for The Creek, in today's Extra Drama! Media referenced in today's episode: Beverly Hills, 90210 Clueless Gilmore Girls Dawson's Creek New Girl Cheers Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

#1 Jeffrey French fan Shey Lyn Zanotti is back, and she's not the only one! Remember Todd Wilkins, Elizabeth's first love, who moved away to Vermont...at some point earlier in junior year? Can you believe that was 35 books ago? Now the Wilkinses are returning, and richer than ever. So what does that mean for Liz and her new longtime beau (yes, it's still junior year, but don't get hung up on that) Jeffrey? Well, the title of the book may give us a clue...   Young Paul Newman thirst trap Eric Stolz Flowers in the Attic Baby-Sitters Club Club/Sweet Sweet Valley Guys #10 Shey's previous appearance, FAMILY SECRETS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS with Dad Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Chris and Paris from Terrible Book Club return! Jessica slums it in electronics class and Lila scams her pedagogically lazy dressmaking instructor in the TEACHER CRUSH b-plot. Plus, super-spoilers for Olivia's future! Extra drama indeed!  Listen to Terrible Book Club More about The Zorn Palette Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Terrible Book Club’s Paris and Chris dare to join Marissa to tackle this downright nerve-wracking tale of Olivia Davidson and her lust for painting teacher Stuart “Call me Stuart” Bachman. A book that is truly challenging to read in public. * * * Listen to the Terrible Book Club Podcast! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands