Bittersweet Valley

Bittersweet Valley

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In this biweekly episodic podcast, 30-somethings Emily and Elizabeth discuss Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High series. In addition to revisiting the books they loved as childhood best friends growing up in MA in the 90’s, they also discuss how issues of gender, sexuality, class, and race are addressed in these books, through a lens of YA today.

Emily Squires and Elizabeth Lake


    • Aug 9, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 51m AVG DURATION
    • 40 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Bittersweet Valley

    Lila is a prodigy marimba player & Regina's Legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 34:55


    In this episode we discuss books 72 and 73, Rockstar's Girl and Regina's Legacy.

    Everyone Wants to Be Well Rounded

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2022 74:52


    Today we talk about books 70 and 71: Ms Quarterback and Starring Jessica!

    Spy Lazarus and Neal

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 70:36


    Here are the recaps of books 68 and 69! 

    Not the Parent Trap

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 44:26


    Join us as we talk about books 66 and 67!

    Andrea is not Tricia, Steven & Trouble in Paradise?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 64:31


    We are back with books 64 and 65!

    Magenta Galaxy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 65:32


    A bit late! Yikes! Sorry everyone! In this episode we read books 62 and 63. 

    An Accident and a Wedding

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2022 66:10


    We talk about books 60 and 61!

    Todd is back...is that a good thing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2022 69:59


    It's the moment we've been waiting for! Todd is back in Sweet Valley, but what does that mean for Elizabeth? Grab a drink and a snack, this one is good! Join us for books 58 and 59.

    good thing sweet valley
    Olivia is a stalker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2022 41:45


    Join us for books 56-57! 

    Jessica Has a Stalker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2022 45:02


    Hello everyone! We/I (Emily) apologize for the delay with this episode. Life was happening the last week or so. It's here now, so join us as we discuss books 54 and 55!

    Rick Andover is back and Elizabeth reads another sports book

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 47:43


    Today we discuss books 52 and 53: White Lies and Second Chance

    Bonus Episode: Our Favorites from 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 41:35


    It's that time of year! Elizabeth and Emily share three of their favorite reads from 2021. 

    Amy Sutton's Big Break?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 55:52


    In this episode we talk about books 50 and 51.

    big break amy sutton
    The Crystal Ball

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2021 64:13


    In this episode we discuss book 48, Slam Book Fever and book 49 Playing for Keeps.

    Bonus Episode with Special Guest Katie: We read three thrillers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 71:54


    In this episode we talk about three of the SVH super thrillers!

    Throwback to Recorders in Music Class

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 65:31


    In today's episode we talk about books #46 Decisions and #47 Troublemaker.

    Jessica Shouldn't Give Relationship Advice

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2021 61:18


    In this episode we look at books 44 Pretenses and 45 Family Secrets.

    Sandy and Manny

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 65:35


    In this episode we discuss book 42 Caught in the Middle and book 43 Hard Choices. 

    Just Say No To Drugs

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021 64:19


    We're back with season 2!!!! We're starting off with book 40 On the Edge and book 41 Outcast. 

    Bonus episode: Summer Reads 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2021 21:34


    It's another bonus episode! We share our favorite SVH books this season and what we are reading and want to read this summer. 

    Season 1 Finale: A Worse Bruce

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2021 88:52


    We did it! I finished season one! We end with book #39 Secret Admirer and a special edition, Perfect Summer. Please subscribe and leave a comment wherever you get your podcasts!

    The Bridgewater Ball

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2021 41:41


    Kristen joins us again as we discuss books #37 Rumors and #38 Leaving Home.Thanks for listening and please subscribe, rate and leave a comment wherever you get your podcasts.

    An MLM fail and Women in STEM

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 74:21


    This is a long one, but very worth it! Beth and I are joined by Kristen again to discuss #35 Out of Control and #36 Last Chance.Please subscribe and leave us a review wherever you get your podcast!

    An Underwhelming Romeo and Juliet

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 66:03


    In this episode we discuss books 33, 34.

    Introducing Jeffrey French with special guest Kristen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2021 72:03


    Hello Sweet Valley fans! I (Emily) am so sorry for the delay in uploading this week's episode but it's worth it! Our very long time friend, Kristen, joins us to share her ideas and thoughts on this crazy world with Liz, Jess and their friends. Books discussed:#31 Taking Sides#32 The New JessicaIntro/Outro music

    books taking sides jeffrey french
    Old Friends and Sorority Sisters

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 51:50


    In books 29 and 30, we talk about Liz's friend triangle and Steven's plans to take off on an 'ocean liner.'Intro/Outro Music

    old friends sororities sorority sisters
    A Nightmare Girlfriend and a Mysterious Singer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2021 34:58


    Today we discuss books 27 and 28: Lovestruck and Alone in the Crowd.Intro/Outro music

    Mom Guilt in the 80s

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2021 42:58


    Today we discuss books 25: Nowhere to Run and 26: Hostage. Mom guilt was real back in the 80s (apparently). Intro/Outro music

    Jessica is Actually a Matchmaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2021 50:58


    In episode 11, we find out Todd is moving and Steven still needs to be free to live his life as Tricia would have wanted. Jessica's match making attempt is actually successful! Find out how in this week's episode.Intro/Outro music

    Jessica Runs Away

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 39:28


    In this episode, Jessica feels under appreciated and we learn that DeeDee is a stage 5 clinger (see episode 4). intro/outro music

    He's Too Hot to Be Poor

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2021 31:45


    Welcome to episode 9! In this episode we laugh over Jessica and Lila's confusion over how their latest crush is handsome and yet 'only' a construction worker (their words, not ours) in book 19. Then in book 20 we hear about Enid's plane crash and Liz's audacious plan to help her move on from her accident. Intro/Outro music 

    Bruce Has a Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 31:59


    In this episode we chuckle over cat-fishing in the 80s and are surprised to learn that there's a softer side to Bruce. Listen along as we recount books #17 (Love Letters) and #18 (Head Over Heels). Intro/Outro Music

    Roger and Betsy Get Make Overs

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 24:47


    In Episode 7 we discuss books 15 and 16: Promises and Rags to Riches. We mourn the Sweet Valley's loss of Tricia (Steven's girlfriend) and her sister Betsy needs Elizabeth to help her turn her life around. Then, Roger finds out he is a member of the wealthy Patman family and has to learn to navigate more luxurious lifestyle. Intro/Outro music

    Our First Thriller

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 26:07


    In this episode, we talk about what we remember about reading what was probably our introduction to the thriller genre. Join us as we remember books 13 and 14. Intro/Outro music: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Z8epllSjbb 

    Jessica is Not a Nurse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 21:59


    Join us in episode 5 as we talk about books 11 and 12: Too Good to be True and When Love Dies.Intro/Outro Music from Epidemic Sound

    Bonus Episode: What We Read in 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 50:22


    In this special bonus episode, we each pick three of our favorite reads from this year to share with each other (and you!).Books mentioned:Sweet Valley: The Magic Christmas (Sweet Valley Twins) and A Christmas Without Elizabeth (Sweet Valley Twins) Bent Heavens by Daniel KrausTeenage Dick by Mike LewSitting Pretty by Rebekah TaussigSuch a Fun Age by Kiley ReidClap When You Land by Elizabeth AcevedoOur Time is Now by Stacey AbramsIntro/Outro Music: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/dDe9fAmjj8/Merry Christmas Day (instrumenta) by the Stonekeepers

    Jessica is Not a Star

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 37:27


    **We are alerting our listeners to a discussion of suicide in the second part of this episode. If you or someone you know is struggling, there is help. Please reach out. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is open 24 hours and can be reached at: 800-273-8255. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/In this episode, we talk about books 8, 9 and 10.Intro/Outro music: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Z8epllSjbb 

    A Cautionary Tale

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 37:04


    Emily and Elizabeth talk about books 5, 6, 7. Join us as we discuss Jessica finding herself in a not so safe situation (again) and Elizabeth's inexplicable coma recovery.Intro/Outro music from Epidemic Sound:https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/Z8epllSjbb 

    So Many Dances

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2020 48:11


    In episode 2  we discuss books 2 (Secrets), 3 (Power Play), 4 (Playing with Fire). Join us as we remember Enid receiving actual letters in the mail from a childhood friend, Jessica's desperate attempt to be homecoming queen and Robin's obsession with joining the sorority at Sweet Valley.https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/lq3QZEMpw4 

    We Wished We Were Twins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 35:00


    In our first episode, we introduce ourselves (Emily and Elizabeth), reminisce reading the Sweet Valley High books, and begin with Book 1, Double Love. Intro/Outro Music from Epidemic Sound:https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/lq3QZEMpw4 

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