Sweet Valley Diaries

The Wakefields have had spring and summer treks to NorCal, Malibu, France...and now, the icing on the cake: Walkersville, Kansas. How will these small town rubes handle the Blonde Invasion? As guest Megan Keller and Marissa are here to tell you: poorly. They handle it poorly.   Season 6 of Sweet Valley Diaries is coming in April! Some music from this episode comes from Purple Planet Marissa, world...

Hiatus, schmiatus -- back by popular demand, it's Don Flaxbart (Also featuring Marissa). Listen as father and daughter discuss the heavy implications of Jessica's scheming -- even heavier than usual this time! -- as she helps nearly ruin one young man's life and another's journalism career. But don't worry, it's all okay in the end. Oh, except for the murdered girl. But any...

Allison Chin returns to investigate: what's the deal with Jade Wu's dad? And we consider the "traditional Chinese" art of...dicing? And who or what exactly is out of reach in Out of Reach? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We did it!!! Book 50!! In this Season 5 finale (not counting next week's Extra Drama), actor Allison Chin and Marissa examine the intricate dance (get it?) that is the portrayal and treatment of sophomore Jade Wu. All the misunderstandings, overreactions, and Elizabeth-day-saving of a regular Sweet Valley High novel, now with the added ingredients of assimilation, racism, broad cultural genera...

Gossip Guys'  Andy Greene and Aaron Davitian are experts in one teen soap opera, and now they've been indoctrinated into another. How do the world and characters of Gossip Girl map onto those of Sweet Valley, CA? You're about to find out.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Jessica is changing her entire personality for a boy and the changes are...bad. And hilarious. Hosts of the Gossip Guys podcast, Andrew Greene and Aaron Davitian marvel at the sparkling prose of PLAYING FOR KEEPS, and at a certain sexpot named Pamela Janson.    • Gossip Guys Podcast  Music in this episode courtesy of Purple Planet Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Omigod you guys, Gladiator Heather sent in her very own copy of the official 1988 Sweet Valley High Slam Book! Denise and Marissa read personal messages  straight from Liz and Jessica themselves, and don't dwell too much on the idea that the very thing that caused such chaos at Sweet Valley High in Book 48 was marketed to tweens as some kind of super good fun-time school activity. Advertising...

From the vantage point of 2020, it's unclear whether Sweet Valley High #48, SLAM BOOK FEVER, captured a phenomenon or started one . What we know for sure is that teenagers writing down all their opinions about each other could never, ever go wrong, hurt anyone's feelings, or spawn false rumors. Denise Boylan is back to talk about the Pandora's box Amy Sutton has opened onto an unsuspec...

Marissa Wasseluk-Stuart is back for a promised discussion of the 1999 teen rom-com DRIVE ME CRAZY. We promise, it has at least a little something to do with Sweet Valley High #47. What? Listen to find out!   Discussed in this episode: Drive Me Crazy film Drive Me Crazy music video Hallmark movie Advent Calendar Never Have I Ever Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Marissa Wasseluk-Stuart returns to talk about the other Porter sister, Julie. Julie's friend Josh is pledging SVH fraternity Phi Epsilon, Elizabeth is back at recorder practice, Jessica is auditioning to be the lead in a play she knows nothing about, and Bruce Patman is his old self again, only worse. But who is the Troublemaker?! Listen to find out...that it is almost certainly Bruce! Adverti...

Marissa and her guest Mary Kate have been friends since middle school. In this extra drama, they reminisce not so much about small town life in Northwest Indiana, but about leaving that small town life behind. Also, we talk a little bit about DECISIONS, promise! Read more about the Polar Bear Run event that's a part of Kuvia at University of Chicago. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.co...

Marissa's BFF Mary Kate Battles is back for more Robin Wilson drama! A lot has changed since POWER PLAY -- now Robin's a star diver with a big decision on her hands. But never mind all that; let's talk about the haunting melodic potential of the humble recorder! Mars & MK discuss the very relatable and universal pressures of life in Sweet Valley, California, where everything and no...

In FAMILY SECRETS, Kelly Bates is plagued by a recurring dream. She only remembers scant details, but hey, that's all you need when consulting 1996's ILLUSTRATED DREAM DICTIONARY, a book Marissa has had on her shelf since middle school (probably). What does the book say about Kelly's dream? Shey Lyn Zanotti returns and even offers up a dream of her own for scrutiny.   ILLUSTRATED DREAM...

See No Evil ...never before has one phrase simultaneously served as the rear cover headline, the main character's flaw, and the costume that she wears to the Big Dance. Guest reader (and former Sweet Valley High reader!) Shey Lyn Zanotti joins Marissa to dissect all the ways that long-lost (and heretofore forgotten) Wakefield cousin Kelly Bates turns a blind eye to the evils around her. And fo...

Marissa and guest reader Katie LaDue bring their personal baggage to bear on Steven's behavior, then on Abbie's. Then things turn to the baggage that other people (like the Wakefield Twins, say) bring into their assumptions about others. All the armchair psychology two book nerds can cram into 16 minutes of bonus content! • • • "I've learned that people will forget what you said, p...

Cara and Steven grace the outside of PRETENSES, and they are certainly featured on its inside. But Marissa and her return guest, Steven Wakefield romance specialist Katie LaDue, agree that this is really is really Abby Richardson's story. Who is Abby Richardson? Listen to find out; then feel free to immediately forget as she drifts back into the sundrenched scenery.   Further reading: This is...

Adaora Nwandu Earl returns to discuss pre-reading predictions for  Book 43: HARD CHOICES, the challenges of asserting yourself with family, and strong female relationships in Sweet Valley...all in just over 10 minutes. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

"Enid's grandma moves in" might sound like the least interesting chapter of our soap opera, like, ever. But think again: Nana's a citizen of Sweet Valley now and she brought the drama along with her from Chicago. Guest reader Adaora Nwandu Earl returns! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Manuel Lopez is the first Latinx character in Sweet Valley who gets any kind of spotlight. And he's the greatest guy in history! Aisha Bhoori is back for a quick look at Manuel's perfection and how it illustrates the "model minority" myth.  Sweet Valley Diaries: overanalyzing '80s tween pulp since 2006! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Sandra Bacon and Manuel Lopez may not be the stars of the Sweet Valleyverse, but if SVH is going to attempt to dip its toes in the murky waters of racial prejudice and interracial romance, you'd better believe that Diaries is ready to talk SO MUCH about it. No mere hour can contain Marissa and her guest, the brilliant Aisha Bhoori, on this week's extremely special and (weirdly/unfortunatel...

Marissa and her guest, expert in melodramatic Lifetime Original movies Megan Tripp, brainstorm the LOM version of Molly Hecht’s ON THE EDGE/OUTCAST saga. Listen to more Lifetime movie talk on Megan's  Not Another Bad Movie Podcast Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Season 5 Premiere! We’re back, baby! And all our Sweet Valley Friends are back too. Except…you know…Regina. Who better to focus on in the aftermath of a beloved character’s untimely death than the background player everyone is holding responsible for said death? Lifetime Original Movie podcaster/enthusiast Megan Tripp joins Marissa for a particularly Lifetime Original episode of our  teen soap pul...

What’s so special about Special Editions? Usually it’s travel to an exotic location, or an old enemy returning to town for Christmas. But WINTER CARNIVAL is the Super Edition that proves all it takes to be Super is a super-duper High number of ways that Jessica betrays Elizabeth! But you know what they say about Jessica: That’s just Jessica! Marissa is joined by her cousin, original Sweet Valley S...

The world is in quarantine. The podcast is on hiatus. But promises were made. Now, one woman must take on the personalities of two California teens in crisis...but not the California teens you're thinking of. In this world, Valley is the rival high school. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Lessons literature/life taught Marissa and guests Anjali and Greg Kasunich this week: Don’t do cocaine Don’t gossip As a society, let’s take a guilt Porsche. Check rich people’s mailboxes for car keys. Seriously, don’t even think about going near anyone who knows about cocaine Links to boost your mood: Sophie Strauss,  Gone  music video (d. Gregory JM Kasunich) Dr. Anjali Kasunich, ND Advertising...