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Sweet Valley High #18
Head Over Heels
Bruce Patman and Regina Morrow in love? No one at Sweet Valley High can believe it. Regina is beautiful and shy, one of the nicest girls at school. Bruce is a real snob, and the only person he's ever cared about is himself.Jessica Wakefield figures the romance can't last. She knows Bruce too well. She's even willing to bet Lila Fowler that Bruce and Regina break up within two weeks. The stakes are high, and Jessica can't afford to lose. If she has her way, Regina and Bruce won't be happy for long.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
74 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,139 books1,851 followersFrancine 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 9, 2023
“Why do you ask, Liz?” Olivia inquired.
“I don’t know,” she said slowly. “I guess I’m just thinking out loud.”
“When I think out loud, you can’t hear a thing.” Winston laughed.
You and me both, Winston ol’ buddy, you and me both.
(4.5 stars.)
February 15, 2024
Re-Read 2024
I think that Regina Morrow and Bruce Patman(whom I never liked) might just be my favorite SVH couple. Too bad no one at school, including the Wakefield twins believe in this relationship. What follows are a series of antics that do bring about a HEA for the moment.
Enjoying my revisit of these novels.
Goodreads Review Published 14/02/24
I think that Regina Morrow and Bruce Patman(whom I never liked) might just be my favorite SVH couple. Too bad no one at school, including the Wakefield twins believe in this relationship. What follows are a series of antics that do bring about a HEA for the moment.
Enjoying my revisit of these novels.
Goodreads Review Published 14/02/24
August 8, 2019
I want to reread this series from my childhood, hopefully will review this then.
April 30, 2025
Head Over Heels (Updated)
Liz wakes Jessica up and then goes downstairs to have breakfast. Liz tells her mother she needs to use the Fiat because there’s a special meeting after school about the carnival that will raise money for handicapped children. It won’t be a full-blown carnival. Just a tent or two. Liz is the chairperson and Mr. Collin’s is over it. Jessica comes downstairs and complains about a 15 page history term paper she has to write.
When they get to school, they see Regina getting out of Bruce’s car and Liz says they’ve been seeing a lot of each other lately. It’s clear that neither twin thinks much of Bruce. Jessica says she doesn’t understand what Regina sees in Bruce. Liz agrees and says Regina is too nice. Jessica wonders what he’s up too and Liz says he’s killing her with kindness. Jessica snaps it won’t last and rushes off to meet up with Cara. It goes into how Regina’s beauty and personality make her stand out and also that she’s deaf.
Liz tells Todd she hopes Regina doesn’t get hurt. Not all boys are as wonderful as he is (SNORTS). Todd says he’s also worried. He doesn’t trust Bruce. They’ll just have to hope the beast doesn’t break the beauty’s heart. At lunch, Lila sees Bruce and Regina and says pretty romantic. She can’t believe anyone would stay with Regina that long. Jessica shrugs it off and says it won’t last. Lila still doesn’t like Regina for getting the cover of the magazine over her and bad mouths her outfit and calls her boring. Jessica is distracted because she hasn’t found a topic for her paper and Lila calls her out on not listening. Lila says she doesn’t have a topic either. She taunts Jessica by telling her how he’s taking her everywhere and buying her expensive ruby pendants and taking her to dinner at his place (topics she knows that will provoke Jessica).
Jessica says she gives it two weeks. The day of the carnival they won’t even be on speaking terms. Lila asks if she’d like to make a bet. If they’re not together by the carnival, Lila will do her term paper. If they are Jessica will write hers. Jessica says she’s on (even tho she doesn’t know if Bruce really is serious or not). She thinks if they don’t break up she might have to “help” them,
A young, man catches Lila’s eye when she goes to meet up with her father at the site of one of her father’s buildings. He tells her his name is Jack and he works on the construction crew. (This will eventually be the headquarters of her father’s computer company). The whistle blows and he has to get back to work. He tells her it was nice to have meet her. She thinks she wouldn’t mind running into him again. He didn’t seem to be impressed that she was his boss’s daughter. Rather they were equals.
At the carnival committee meeting, Skye is chosen to be parent advisor. Mr. Collins says that Liz should meet with her and exchange ideas. Olivia is put over prizes and decorations. Mr. Collins says Mr. Fowler has donated the lumber. Ken says he can get together a crew to help build the booths. Regina says she’ll be over the refreshments. Enid says she’ll help. Todd and Roger will be over games and Winston will be the master of ceremonies.
At the beach they talk about how their happy Ken is helping and how he’s running for the head of the centennial committee. Lila tells Jessica about Jack. Jessica asks where she found him and she says he was just hanging around her father’s office. She doesn’t want to tell her about him being on the construction crew. Jessica asks what his last name is. Lila says she didn’t get around to that but she doesn’t need his last name to find him again.
They see Bruce and Regina looking happy. Jessica says give it time (rather give *her* time), Regina has dinner at the Patman’s. It’s … awkward. The mansion is as big as hers but it’s kind of foreboding and Mrs. Patman keeps talking way to loud. Also, the light is kind of dim so it’s hard to read her lips. She seems offended that Regina’s mother got picked to be the advisor but Regina says she’s sure her mother will love to work with her and she slightly warms up after that and says she’ll give her a call.
At Miller’s Point, Bruce tells Regina he loves her (he’s never told this to any other girl) and he wishes he could bring her hearing back with a kiss. He says she’s brave and he wishes she could hear him say he loves her. She says she doesn’t need to hear it to know he loves her and that she loves him too. Bruce says nothing should ever keep them apart and Regina says nothing ever will because she’ll never let it.
Skye Morrow isn’t happy after the conversation she had with Mrs. Patman. She tells her husband they want to match what they raise at the carnival. She says she didn’t like the way Mrs. Patman made it sound like a contest and she didn’t like how she spoke of how Regina’s adjusted to her “little problem”. She talked as if Regina had two heads and claimed she wanted to give hundreds to help the handicapped. Mr. Morrow tells her the children won’t care where the money comes from (or who). Skye says maybe she should have trusted her impulses and told Mr. Collins she wasn’t the right choice for the project. She just can’t seem to be objective.
Nick tells her she’ll do fine. She thanks him and says she’s going to lie down. She feels another headache coming on. The story is Kurt was a football player and Skye was a top fashion model. They meet and feel in love and got married. They had everything money, looks, etc. Kurt took all his money and bought a computer company. Skye got pregnant and gave up modeling to be a house wife. But after she found out she was pregnant with Regina, she got offered a assignment that she couldn’t turn down. Only she had to lose 10lbs. She took the job meaning for it to her last. But against her doctor’s wishes she started to take diet pills.
The pills damaged the tissue in her unborn child’s ears.When Regina went ao a special boarding school, she began to suffer from bliding headaches. Sometimes so suffer she couldn’t leave her bed for days. Mr. Morrow knew the headaches were caused by anxiety and grief. Regina knew nothing about this. When around Regina she pretends to be fine. But now that Regina got the cover of Inugue, the headaches are more often. As if, she’s noticed her daughter close to getting what she couldn’t achieve.
Regina comes home to her family having champagne and she finds out that there’s a chance her hearing will be restored. There was a boy who had his hearing restored and there’s a doctor named Max Freedman who her father has seen her medical records to and he thinks she’s a good candidate. The only thing is the treatments have to be given for a year and he’s located in Switzerland. Her mother says it’ll just be for a year. Her family promises they’ll all visit and maybe she can come home for Christmas for 2 weeks. Regina asks can the procedure be put off. Her father says they can get her a tutor or they can wait until the term ends. But Regina says longer than that. Her father says it needs to be done soon as possible, but Regina says forget it.
She’s family in a nice place and she has friends. She says she’s the one that has to make the decision and she’s not going, runs upstairs to her room, and slams the door. When Regina comes down the next day, they tell her mother is doesn’t feel well. Shes still upset over what Regina said. She tells her dad that she’s grateful for what he did but she has a life in SV. He tells her he understands but just consider having the surgery and she says she will.
Liz goes to meet with Skye but she’s forgotten all about Liz coming and tells her about the headaches -swearing her to secrecy- and then the reason behind them and what happened the night before. She asks Liz to talk to Regina -since she admires her-. Liz says she’ll try to convince her to have the surgery if she comes to her. Jessica runs into Ken whose mad that Bruce is running against him for head of the Centennial (at the mall). She gets an idea when Ken says he doesn’t stand a chance because of Bruce’s popularity now that he’s dating Regina. Jessica will tell Regina Bruce is using her to get votes.
Jessica rushes home and tells the carnival committee they should have a mother daughter fashion show feating Skye and Regina. Nick has invited over Donald Essex-the boy his father reasearched that successfully did the surgery. He tells her sometimes people get scared of the thought of being “normal” all of a sudden -and this sparked something in me- but she says it’s not that. If it was just *her* she had to consider she’d hop on a plane in a minute. He tells her he’s not there to pressure her.
Jessica meets with Regina and Mrs. Morrow and they both agree to do the fashion show. While Mrs. Morrow leaves to get them ice tea, Jessica plants the idea in Regina’s head that Bruce is using her to get votes to head the Centennial. On her way out, she runs into Donald Essex and teases that if he sticks around she might just tell him about the carnival (and calls her). On their date, Regina and Bruce go on a picnic. She tries to hint around to see if he’ll confess about running to head the Centennial but he does. When she flat out asks, he says he doesn’t want to talk about it-thinking to himself the reason was because he wanted it to be a surprise and he wonders who told-. Regina takes this to mean Jessica was right and throws his necklace and bracelet at him and calls off their relationship. She decides to do the treatments so she can get as far away from SV as possible.
Todd and Liz go to the Morrows and run into Donald. Donald is confused to see Todd and starts talking about the carnival as if he knows Liz. Liz tells Todd she’s never seen him before, but Todd gets an attitude and says it doesn’t look that way. Before this also Donald tells Regina there was also someone he called off the treatment for initially but she broke up with him because he didn’t tell her about it.
Liz and Regina talk in the Oracle office. Regina tells her she’s not going to be able to be in the fashion show but her mother is going to come up with something to take its place. She tells her her mother feels bad that she hasn’t helped much but things have been crazy around her house. She says she’s leaving for Switzerland Friday morning. She thanks her for keeping quiet about it. She says she doesn’t want anyone to find out before she goes. Liz says she’ll miss her but she’ll be excited for her to come back. Regina admits that she’s not certain -and the doctors aren’t- that they can completely restore her hearing. She’ll have go to through a lot of tests, but she says it’s worth a try.
Liz asks what Bruce said and she admits she really hasn’t talked to him about it. Then she tells Liz everything. Liz admits to her that she’s never been a fan of Bruce’s and that she thinks Regina is too good for him and she thinks she’s doing the right thing. She’d never forgive herself if she didn’t try. After this Liz talks to Mr. Collins. He says its easy for two people to have a misunderstanding. He tells her to try to keep an open mind. When Liz talks to Jessica later, she acts like she doesn’t know anything about Regina and Bruce’s break-up. Oh and Jessica asks about Donald and Liz figures out what happened.
Jessica happily tells Lila she has to write two term papers. Bruce sees Todd and Liz and invites Liz over to his house. Liz tells him Regina thought he was using her and Bruce says he was just trying to surprise her. Then she tells him she’s going to Switzerland. Before he can run to her, she tells him about the treatments and he realizes that if he makes up with her she won’t go. Liz asks what he’ll do and he says he doesn’t know and starts to cry.
That night, Bruce can’t sleep and writes Regina a letter. The next day he gives Liz the letter to slip to Regina before she leaves hoping by the time she gets it it’ll be too late for her to decide to stay because of him. Liz goes over to Regina’s to say goodbye and she slips the letter in her scrapbook. Liz goes back and they all agree that Bruce really has changed and deserves to win the Centennial honor. Noone has voted yet. Regina finds the letter on the plane and the necklace and realizes Bruce must really love her if he wanted to do the right thing by her.
The carnival is a success. Skye gives a talk about Regina and the importance of helping kids like her. Bruce wins the contest. Liz apologizes to him for misjudging him. He says he just hopes Regina knows how he feels and Liz says she thinks she does. Jessica decides to go after Jack to get back at Lila because she got a D on her paper and Lila got a B.
My Thoughts:
I had the same original thoughts for this review but I had some additional ones. So, I’ll start with the original thoughts. I still thought this *would* have been touching if I didn’t know what came next (in the book Over The Edge). Maye then I would have believed that Bruce actually gave a damn about this girl. HE DOESN’T! Please don’t let this book fool you! Bruce Patman DOES NOT CHANGE! It’s honorable what he did here. I’ll give him credit for that. But some people just are always gonna be exactly who they are and Bruce is a PRICK in all the SVH books I’ve read. What I didn’t understand is why he wouldn’t just tell her he was running for the Centennial honor and what she even had to do with this at all to make it such a big surprise. I was wondering if the Morrows were one of the founding famile.
I also didn’t get why egina was so quick to hop to the conclusion that Bruce was using her for her popularity. It took her two hot seconds to jump down his throat about it. But I guess they are in "high school". This kind of thing *can* happen with teenagers. This kind of thing can happen with *adults* but I just thought it was interesting that to "love Bruce SOOO much" she sure didn't trust him as far as she could throw him.
And then when I thought about it she really was better off leaving to handle her own business. How long do you think Bruce is gonna be faithful while she's in Switzerland for a year? EXACTLY! Then there was the bit about the guy at Regina's house that had the treatment that the parents fly out to talk to Regina and him mistaking Elizabeth for Jessica. Then Todd gets jealous about it. REALLY? And they didn't figure this out AS SOON AS IT HAPPNED! But even they realize how asinine this is. As they very well should!
As I’m reading this in 2025 and I thinking about personal events in my own life I know now what I didn’t when I read this years ago. That you don’t turn down chances like this for someone else. I’ve been diabetic since I was 12 years old and recently, I was told (just like Regina) I would possibly be a good candidate for a kidney and a pancreas. Do you really think I’d turn that down for someone even if I had to go to another state or country? Opportunities (rather blessings) like this are VERY RARE! Even if Bruce *would* have went to her I think Regina was a little short sighted and just didn’t realize what she would have been turning down. Donald’s words also kind of hit me about the fear of being normal after not being normal for so long.
Then again, I hate when these couples act like it’s the end of the world if they’re apart for a year. A YEAR? Years go by quicker than you know. If you blink a year is gone. Then I was thinking this too. Bruce Patman is one of the richest kids in SVH. As out there an idea is this is. You have the money. If you love her *soo* much go with her. There are probably high schools in Switzerland. Yes, I know. Bruce’s mother and father might have something to say about this but if he told them if was a expensive private school idk maybe they’d go for it. I’ve heard crazier things in this series so why not. Then I thought of an additional something why didn't any of Regina's family go with her. In particular, Skye. To feel so guilty about what she did she'd rather speak at a carnival benefiting other disabled kids rather than be on a flight being there to support her own daughter. How messed up is that? It's not like she's even working.
Rating: 6
It's a beautiful story about sacrificing your own selfish desires to do what's best for the person you love. But it's soured by the knowledge of what will happen in a few books from now.
Liz wakes Jessica up and then goes downstairs to have breakfast. Liz tells her mother she needs to use the Fiat because there’s a special meeting after school about the carnival that will raise money for handicapped children. It won’t be a full-blown carnival. Just a tent or two. Liz is the chairperson and Mr. Collin’s is over it. Jessica comes downstairs and complains about a 15 page history term paper she has to write.
When they get to school, they see Regina getting out of Bruce’s car and Liz says they’ve been seeing a lot of each other lately. It’s clear that neither twin thinks much of Bruce. Jessica says she doesn’t understand what Regina sees in Bruce. Liz agrees and says Regina is too nice. Jessica wonders what he’s up too and Liz says he’s killing her with kindness. Jessica snaps it won’t last and rushes off to meet up with Cara. It goes into how Regina’s beauty and personality make her stand out and also that she’s deaf.
Liz tells Todd she hopes Regina doesn’t get hurt. Not all boys are as wonderful as he is (SNORTS). Todd says he’s also worried. He doesn’t trust Bruce. They’ll just have to hope the beast doesn’t break the beauty’s heart. At lunch, Lila sees Bruce and Regina and says pretty romantic. She can’t believe anyone would stay with Regina that long. Jessica shrugs it off and says it won’t last. Lila still doesn’t like Regina for getting the cover of the magazine over her and bad mouths her outfit and calls her boring. Jessica is distracted because she hasn’t found a topic for her paper and Lila calls her out on not listening. Lila says she doesn’t have a topic either. She taunts Jessica by telling her how he’s taking her everywhere and buying her expensive ruby pendants and taking her to dinner at his place (topics she knows that will provoke Jessica).
Jessica says she gives it two weeks. The day of the carnival they won’t even be on speaking terms. Lila asks if she’d like to make a bet. If they’re not together by the carnival, Lila will do her term paper. If they are Jessica will write hers. Jessica says she’s on (even tho she doesn’t know if Bruce really is serious or not). She thinks if they don’t break up she might have to “help” them,
A young, man catches Lila’s eye when she goes to meet up with her father at the site of one of her father’s buildings. He tells her his name is Jack and he works on the construction crew. (This will eventually be the headquarters of her father’s computer company). The whistle blows and he has to get back to work. He tells her it was nice to have meet her. She thinks she wouldn’t mind running into him again. He didn’t seem to be impressed that she was his boss’s daughter. Rather they were equals.
At the carnival committee meeting, Skye is chosen to be parent advisor. Mr. Collins says that Liz should meet with her and exchange ideas. Olivia is put over prizes and decorations. Mr. Collins says Mr. Fowler has donated the lumber. Ken says he can get together a crew to help build the booths. Regina says she’ll be over the refreshments. Enid says she’ll help. Todd and Roger will be over games and Winston will be the master of ceremonies.
At the beach they talk about how their happy Ken is helping and how he’s running for the head of the centennial committee. Lila tells Jessica about Jack. Jessica asks where she found him and she says he was just hanging around her father’s office. She doesn’t want to tell her about him being on the construction crew. Jessica asks what his last name is. Lila says she didn’t get around to that but she doesn’t need his last name to find him again.
They see Bruce and Regina looking happy. Jessica says give it time (rather give *her* time), Regina has dinner at the Patman’s. It’s … awkward. The mansion is as big as hers but it’s kind of foreboding and Mrs. Patman keeps talking way to loud. Also, the light is kind of dim so it’s hard to read her lips. She seems offended that Regina’s mother got picked to be the advisor but Regina says she’s sure her mother will love to work with her and she slightly warms up after that and says she’ll give her a call.
At Miller’s Point, Bruce tells Regina he loves her (he’s never told this to any other girl) and he wishes he could bring her hearing back with a kiss. He says she’s brave and he wishes she could hear him say he loves her. She says she doesn’t need to hear it to know he loves her and that she loves him too. Bruce says nothing should ever keep them apart and Regina says nothing ever will because she’ll never let it.
Skye Morrow isn’t happy after the conversation she had with Mrs. Patman. She tells her husband they want to match what they raise at the carnival. She says she didn’t like the way Mrs. Patman made it sound like a contest and she didn’t like how she spoke of how Regina’s adjusted to her “little problem”. She talked as if Regina had two heads and claimed she wanted to give hundreds to help the handicapped. Mr. Morrow tells her the children won’t care where the money comes from (or who). Skye says maybe she should have trusted her impulses and told Mr. Collins she wasn’t the right choice for the project. She just can’t seem to be objective.
Nick tells her she’ll do fine. She thanks him and says she’s going to lie down. She feels another headache coming on. The story is Kurt was a football player and Skye was a top fashion model. They meet and feel in love and got married. They had everything money, looks, etc. Kurt took all his money and bought a computer company. Skye got pregnant and gave up modeling to be a house wife. But after she found out she was pregnant with Regina, she got offered a assignment that she couldn’t turn down. Only she had to lose 10lbs. She took the job meaning for it to her last. But against her doctor’s wishes she started to take diet pills.
The pills damaged the tissue in her unborn child’s ears.When Regina went ao a special boarding school, she began to suffer from bliding headaches. Sometimes so suffer she couldn’t leave her bed for days. Mr. Morrow knew the headaches were caused by anxiety and grief. Regina knew nothing about this. When around Regina she pretends to be fine. But now that Regina got the cover of Inugue, the headaches are more often. As if, she’s noticed her daughter close to getting what she couldn’t achieve.
Regina comes home to her family having champagne and she finds out that there’s a chance her hearing will be restored. There was a boy who had his hearing restored and there’s a doctor named Max Freedman who her father has seen her medical records to and he thinks she’s a good candidate. The only thing is the treatments have to be given for a year and he’s located in Switzerland. Her mother says it’ll just be for a year. Her family promises they’ll all visit and maybe she can come home for Christmas for 2 weeks. Regina asks can the procedure be put off. Her father says they can get her a tutor or they can wait until the term ends. But Regina says longer than that. Her father says it needs to be done soon as possible, but Regina says forget it.
She’s family in a nice place and she has friends. She says she’s the one that has to make the decision and she’s not going, runs upstairs to her room, and slams the door. When Regina comes down the next day, they tell her mother is doesn’t feel well. Shes still upset over what Regina said. She tells her dad that she’s grateful for what he did but she has a life in SV. He tells her he understands but just consider having the surgery and she says she will.
Liz goes to meet with Skye but she’s forgotten all about Liz coming and tells her about the headaches -swearing her to secrecy- and then the reason behind them and what happened the night before. She asks Liz to talk to Regina -since she admires her-. Liz says she’ll try to convince her to have the surgery if she comes to her. Jessica runs into Ken whose mad that Bruce is running against him for head of the Centennial (at the mall). She gets an idea when Ken says he doesn’t stand a chance because of Bruce’s popularity now that he’s dating Regina. Jessica will tell Regina Bruce is using her to get votes.
Jessica rushes home and tells the carnival committee they should have a mother daughter fashion show feating Skye and Regina. Nick has invited over Donald Essex-the boy his father reasearched that successfully did the surgery. He tells her sometimes people get scared of the thought of being “normal” all of a sudden -and this sparked something in me- but she says it’s not that. If it was just *her* she had to consider she’d hop on a plane in a minute. He tells her he’s not there to pressure her.
Jessica meets with Regina and Mrs. Morrow and they both agree to do the fashion show. While Mrs. Morrow leaves to get them ice tea, Jessica plants the idea in Regina’s head that Bruce is using her to get votes to head the Centennial. On her way out, she runs into Donald Essex and teases that if he sticks around she might just tell him about the carnival (and calls her). On their date, Regina and Bruce go on a picnic. She tries to hint around to see if he’ll confess about running to head the Centennial but he does. When she flat out asks, he says he doesn’t want to talk about it-thinking to himself the reason was because he wanted it to be a surprise and he wonders who told-. Regina takes this to mean Jessica was right and throws his necklace and bracelet at him and calls off their relationship. She decides to do the treatments so she can get as far away from SV as possible.
Todd and Liz go to the Morrows and run into Donald. Donald is confused to see Todd and starts talking about the carnival as if he knows Liz. Liz tells Todd she’s never seen him before, but Todd gets an attitude and says it doesn’t look that way. Before this also Donald tells Regina there was also someone he called off the treatment for initially but she broke up with him because he didn’t tell her about it.
Liz and Regina talk in the Oracle office. Regina tells her she’s not going to be able to be in the fashion show but her mother is going to come up with something to take its place. She tells her her mother feels bad that she hasn’t helped much but things have been crazy around her house. She says she’s leaving for Switzerland Friday morning. She thanks her for keeping quiet about it. She says she doesn’t want anyone to find out before she goes. Liz says she’ll miss her but she’ll be excited for her to come back. Regina admits that she’s not certain -and the doctors aren’t- that they can completely restore her hearing. She’ll have go to through a lot of tests, but she says it’s worth a try.
Liz asks what Bruce said and she admits she really hasn’t talked to him about it. Then she tells Liz everything. Liz admits to her that she’s never been a fan of Bruce’s and that she thinks Regina is too good for him and she thinks she’s doing the right thing. She’d never forgive herself if she didn’t try. After this Liz talks to Mr. Collins. He says its easy for two people to have a misunderstanding. He tells her to try to keep an open mind. When Liz talks to Jessica later, she acts like she doesn’t know anything about Regina and Bruce’s break-up. Oh and Jessica asks about Donald and Liz figures out what happened.
Jessica happily tells Lila she has to write two term papers. Bruce sees Todd and Liz and invites Liz over to his house. Liz tells him Regina thought he was using her and Bruce says he was just trying to surprise her. Then she tells him she’s going to Switzerland. Before he can run to her, she tells him about the treatments and he realizes that if he makes up with her she won’t go. Liz asks what he’ll do and he says he doesn’t know and starts to cry.
That night, Bruce can’t sleep and writes Regina a letter. The next day he gives Liz the letter to slip to Regina before she leaves hoping by the time she gets it it’ll be too late for her to decide to stay because of him. Liz goes over to Regina’s to say goodbye and she slips the letter in her scrapbook. Liz goes back and they all agree that Bruce really has changed and deserves to win the Centennial honor. Noone has voted yet. Regina finds the letter on the plane and the necklace and realizes Bruce must really love her if he wanted to do the right thing by her.
The carnival is a success. Skye gives a talk about Regina and the importance of helping kids like her. Bruce wins the contest. Liz apologizes to him for misjudging him. He says he just hopes Regina knows how he feels and Liz says she thinks she does. Jessica decides to go after Jack to get back at Lila because she got a D on her paper and Lila got a B.
My Thoughts:
I had the same original thoughts for this review but I had some additional ones. So, I’ll start with the original thoughts. I still thought this *would* have been touching if I didn’t know what came next (in the book Over The Edge). Maye then I would have believed that Bruce actually gave a damn about this girl. HE DOESN’T! Please don’t let this book fool you! Bruce Patman DOES NOT CHANGE! It’s honorable what he did here. I’ll give him credit for that. But some people just are always gonna be exactly who they are and Bruce is a PRICK in all the SVH books I’ve read. What I didn’t understand is why he wouldn’t just tell her he was running for the Centennial honor and what she even had to do with this at all to make it such a big surprise. I was wondering if the Morrows were one of the founding famile.
I also didn’t get why egina was so quick to hop to the conclusion that Bruce was using her for her popularity. It took her two hot seconds to jump down his throat about it. But I guess they are in "high school". This kind of thing *can* happen with teenagers. This kind of thing can happen with *adults* but I just thought it was interesting that to "love Bruce SOOO much" she sure didn't trust him as far as she could throw him.
And then when I thought about it she really was better off leaving to handle her own business. How long do you think Bruce is gonna be faithful while she's in Switzerland for a year? EXACTLY! Then there was the bit about the guy at Regina's house that had the treatment that the parents fly out to talk to Regina and him mistaking Elizabeth for Jessica. Then Todd gets jealous about it. REALLY? And they didn't figure this out AS SOON AS IT HAPPNED! But even they realize how asinine this is. As they very well should!
As I’m reading this in 2025 and I thinking about personal events in my own life I know now what I didn’t when I read this years ago. That you don’t turn down chances like this for someone else. I’ve been diabetic since I was 12 years old and recently, I was told (just like Regina) I would possibly be a good candidate for a kidney and a pancreas. Do you really think I’d turn that down for someone even if I had to go to another state or country? Opportunities (rather blessings) like this are VERY RARE! Even if Bruce *would* have went to her I think Regina was a little short sighted and just didn’t realize what she would have been turning down. Donald’s words also kind of hit me about the fear of being normal after not being normal for so long.
Then again, I hate when these couples act like it’s the end of the world if they’re apart for a year. A YEAR? Years go by quicker than you know. If you blink a year is gone. Then I was thinking this too. Bruce Patman is one of the richest kids in SVH. As out there an idea is this is. You have the money. If you love her *soo* much go with her. There are probably high schools in Switzerland. Yes, I know. Bruce’s mother and father might have something to say about this but if he told them if was a expensive private school idk maybe they’d go for it. I’ve heard crazier things in this series so why not. Then I thought of an additional something why didn't any of Regina's family go with her. In particular, Skye. To feel so guilty about what she did she'd rather speak at a carnival benefiting other disabled kids rather than be on a flight being there to support her own daughter. How messed up is that? It's not like she's even working.
Rating: 6
It's a beautiful story about sacrificing your own selfish desires to do what's best for the person you love. But it's soured by the knowledge of what will happen in a few books from now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
December 7, 2022Bruce Patman is actually in love—with someone other than himself. He's fallen for Regina Morrow, the rich, beautiful new girl, who is a recent cover model and the most inspirational of all the inspirationally disabled girls. (In case you've forgotten, she's deaf, but can read lips and speak perfectly. A nice, non-confronting disability that doesn't inconvenience anyone but her.) Now that he and Regina are together, Bruce has changed. He's opening car doors for Regina and buying her expensive jewellery and even inviting her to the Patman mansion for dinner. (He still wears a teeny-tiny bathing suit, though, so it's not like everything has changed.)
Regina's in love too. She's never so much as kissed a boy before Bruce, and now she's head-over-heels. But just as she gets her first boyfriend and starts to really feel like she's a part of the Sweet Valley crowd, her family drops an amazing bombshell on her: there's a doctor in Switzerland who should be able to give her the ability to hear. The downside is that she'll have to move there for an entire year, leaving behind Bruce and the first time she's felt like a ~normal~ teenager.
As much as I prefer the real Bruce to the lovestruck changeling he was replaced by as soon as Regina walked into his life, this is actually one of the better-written books, I think. The inspirationally disabled trope gets really old really quickly when it comes to Regina (especially when she manages to read lips that she can't even see), but she and Bruce are actually a likeable pairing and I do appreciate the fact that Regina's health and future are shown to be more important than her brand-new high school romance.
Moral of the Story? Love turns cheating players into crying pussycats.
[re-read. previously read around 2 times]
Regina's in love too. She's never so much as kissed a boy before Bruce, and now she's head-over-heels. But just as she gets her first boyfriend and starts to really feel like she's a part of the Sweet Valley crowd, her family drops an amazing bombshell on her: there's a doctor in Switzerland who should be able to give her the ability to hear. The downside is that she'll have to move there for an entire year, leaving behind Bruce and the first time she's felt like a ~normal~ teenager.
As much as I prefer the real Bruce to the lovestruck changeling he was replaced by as soon as Regina walked into his life, this is actually one of the better-written books, I think. The inspirationally disabled trope gets really old really quickly when it comes to Regina (especially when she manages to read lips that she can't even see), but she and Bruce are actually a likeable pairing and I do appreciate the fact that Regina's health and future are shown to be more important than her brand-new high school romance.
Moral of the Story? Love turns cheating players into crying pussycats.
[re-read. previously read around 2 times]
March 29, 2016
Source: I read this book online via Open Library.
Cost: Free
Title: Head Over Heels
Series: Sweet Valley High #18
Author: Francine Pascal, Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars
1BRUCE1
We got the whole spiel about how perfect the twins are. SIGH. We were doing so well. *sweeps up confetti*
This one was okay, Bruce wasn't being a Prat-man (See what I did there) he was all in love, but of course Jessica has to make it about her and try to split them up. ANOTHER SIGH. Why can't anybody in this town be happy without Jessica intervening.
There was nothing overly special about this book other than Bruce crying like a little girl, the rest of it was a pretty standard SVH book.
Cost: Free
Title: Head Over Heels
Series: Sweet Valley High #18
Author: Francine Pascal, Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars
1BRUCE1
We got the whole spiel about how perfect the twins are. SIGH. We were doing so well. *sweeps up confetti*
This one was okay, Bruce wasn't being a Prat-man (See what I did there) he was all in love, but of course Jessica has to make it about her and try to split them up. ANOTHER SIGH. Why can't anybody in this town be happy without Jessica intervening.
There was nothing overly special about this book other than Bruce crying like a little girl, the rest of it was a pretty standard SVH book.
March 2, 2017
Ahh Bruce is a sweetie in this! An unusual turn for him. Lila and Jessica both upset me with their antics. And Elizabeth was just blah in this one. Regina is a sweet girl but too emotional. Does not think with her head ever. And naive...Bad combo. So Bruce really was the star of this book. Who would have ever thought that possible....
Not sure what is up with this guy Lila is going after. It felt a bit out of place in the story. Love that Jessica still falls short of "winning" but annoyed that she doesn't' ever change or get that what she did is so very wrong. And the reason was no better!
Not sure what is up with this guy Lila is going after. It felt a bit out of place in the story. Love that Jessica still falls short of "winning" but annoyed that she doesn't' ever change or get that what she did is so very wrong. And the reason was no better!
December 12, 2017
Reading this book was a true time machine in generic society's discussion about the disability and deaf communities. Also, the sexual predatory behavior previously exhibited with both Wakefield twins is so easily forgiven by the writer and the characters that I had trouble taking the story line seriously at all, especially considering that Bruce and Regina have zero in common besides wealth and good hair. 1.5 stars. Need a break from the 1980s pulp fiction for a week or two. Am starting to read them with trepidation rather than nostalgia.
January 24, 2019
The book in which Bruce Patman is no longer a douche.
November 27, 2025
Oof I keep forgetting how offensive Regina being deaf is. I mean the girl is full on deaf but it doesn't affected her speech? I'm half deaf and that affected how I talk, people think I sound like a baby, or even that I have some kind of European accent. I've been asked if I'm from France or England a few times in my life, so I call BS on that. Also Regina with no hearing can still somehow hear better than me with hearing aids and only one ear. Seriously she hears people who aren't facing her at all. And you're telling me considering how close the Morrows are they never learned sign language? But never mind there's a cure for deafness and the book revolves around Regina possibly going to Switzerland for a year. This also left me conflicted. It felt more like the surgery was more to soothe her mother's guilty conscience than to actually help Regina. Also after years of deafness I don't think I'd want that surgery and have heard of others who don't either. But some do. I just wish it felt more like her choice and not her mother's.
Anyway the book is about Jessica and Lila betting that Bruce and Regina will break up and Jessica being terrible making it happen. But while it seems Bruce has changed for the better anyone who has read the series knows he doesn't and Regina comes to a tragic yet almost hilarious end in the fear mongering 80s and 90s (say no to drugs kids)
There's also a carnival going on which wasn't that important something about raising money for the hospital. This was incredibly offensive and I don't get offended that easily.
Anyway the book is about Jessica and Lila betting that Bruce and Regina will break up and Jessica being terrible making it happen. But while it seems Bruce has changed for the better anyone who has read the series knows he doesn't and Regina comes to a tragic yet almost hilarious end in the fear mongering 80s and 90s (say no to drugs kids)
There's also a carnival going on which wasn't that important something about raising money for the hospital. This was incredibly offensive and I don't get offended that easily.
March 12, 2022
Like Bruce, I too am sad that Regina has left for Switzerland- she was a really likeable character! Oh, and I like the redemption arc they have Bruce.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2018
Back on the Sweet Valley track!
Like Elizabeth, I don't really buy Bruce's transformation - but hey, one of the reasons why Lila and Bruce worked so much in SVU was because they were both fabulously rich (and obnoxious), so they were on equal footing. Since Regina is also from a wealthy family, Bruce's lifestyle is nothing new to her, so if anyone can make him step up and offer something more, it's her. I just wish we had seen more of their earlier interactions - did he try it with the old Bruce Patman personality first, or did he realize right away she wasn't going to be won over by his usual "charms"?
The rest of this book was fairly mediocre. lol @ Jessica not thinking through the ramifications of her bet with Lila. lol @ Bruce actually inviting Elizabeth over to his house - and her accepting! and no one commenting! - after he tried to rape her in the seventh book. I guess we're all ignoring that now.
Like Elizabeth, I don't really buy Bruce's transformation - but hey, one of the reasons why Lila and Bruce worked so much in SVU was because they were both fabulously rich (and obnoxious), so they were on equal footing. Since Regina is also from a wealthy family, Bruce's lifestyle is nothing new to her, so if anyone can make him step up and offer something more, it's her. I just wish we had seen more of their earlier interactions - did he try it with the old Bruce Patman personality first, or did he realize right away she wasn't going to be won over by his usual "charms"?
The rest of this book was fairly mediocre. lol @ Jessica not thinking through the ramifications of her bet with Lila. lol @ Bruce actually inviting Elizabeth over to his house - and her accepting! and no one commenting! - after he tried to rape her in the seventh book. I guess we're all ignoring that now.
July 28, 2011
Jessica Wakefield scheming? Well, then, it must be a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday or the 8th day.
Regina is a good character, but this book (and all the ones with her, really) are an insult to deaf people since Regina is deaf. No one in Sweet Valley (including Regina) has ever heard of Sign Language, and they always feel *so sorry* for her. As if she can't be happy and lead a normal life without hearing. So, of course, in this book Regina must go to Switzerland so she can be magically cured of being deaf (or, rather, so her mom can be let off her guilt trip for affecting the tissue of her daughter's ears with diet pills she once took as a model).
I'm not even deaf, and I was very insulted. I'm pretty sure, just like Mel Gibson, there are very few groups of people Sweet Valley hasn't offended.
Regina is a good character, but this book (and all the ones with her, really) are an insult to deaf people since Regina is deaf. No one in Sweet Valley (including Regina) has ever heard of Sign Language, and they always feel *so sorry* for her. As if she can't be happy and lead a normal life without hearing. So, of course, in this book Regina must go to Switzerland so she can be magically cured of being deaf (or, rather, so her mom can be let off her guilt trip for affecting the tissue of her daughter's ears with diet pills she once took as a model).
I'm not even deaf, and I was very insulted. I'm pretty sure, just like Mel Gibson, there are very few groups of people Sweet Valley hasn't offended.
August 11, 2020
Darling deaf girl, Regina, is in love with the horrid Bruce Patman (richest douchebag in Sweet Valley) and in what can only be described as a miracle, it seems to be somewhat redeeming his character. In the short time they have been dating he seems to have given her an implausible amount of jewellery and the poor girl is so in love with him that she won't even consider leaving the country for maybe a year to undertake surgery and treatment to be able to hear even though this new opportunity is another miracle. Two miracles in one book! But alas we all know she is going to stay unless something happens... which it does.... giving us two heartbroken teenagers... although angel Elizabeth helps out to make sure that this is not quite the end of the story.
January 23, 2009
I read the Sweet Valley High series 20 years ago, okay? DO NOT JUDGE.
*grins sheepishly*
*grins sheepishly*
January 31, 2012
I like the new, nice Bruce :)
Read
August 1, 2013Graded By: Erin
Read the drinking game and review here.
Read the drinking game and review here.
Read
January 21, 2015Bruce: Crazy good looking, insanely wealthy, enjoys teeny tiny bathing suits, and! now with feelings.
June 11, 2025
Character redemption 👏will it last the next 200 books? Most likely not…
February 5, 2023
A standard entry in the SVH series. Downsides include the narrative endlessly telling us that Regina is “one of the good ones” (her disability isn’t even noticeable, she can pass as a hearing person, and gosh, she’s just sooooo super beautiful), while also telling us that she’s so very very vulnerable and is a precious flower that must be treated with kid gloves because she’s deaf.
You can’t have it both ways. Her deafness either needs accommodation or it doesn’t, and since everyone marvels at how she passes for a hearing person (literally, every damn time she’s on screen), then it’s just insulting to infantilise her purely because of her hearing impairment – particularly when Regina herself repeatedly states that she is finally living a “normal” life (her words, not mine). Because if it doesn’t impact her life, then it’s not a vulnerability. Just to be clear, I’m highlighting the ghostwriter’s clumsy handling of the situation, and not stating that in real life there is no nuance to how disability affects life (I’m disabled myself, hence this pinged so hard with me).
Also, the ghostie never once thought of Regina needing to lip read, with most of her conversations taking place while walking side by side with someone, driving in a car, hugging her boyfriend, or lying on the ground looking at the stars. Unless Regina’s (so very beautiful) eyes are on pivoting stalks, there is no way she would have been able to follow what was being said. I understand that lip-readers can guess missed words, but when the entirety of plot-relevant conversations take place while she cannot see the other person’s face, it just reeks of a forgetful writer, who has ticked off the “Regina is deaf but beautiful” description, and then written her as a character with perfect hearing.
Add to that, this book handwaves all of Bruce’s toxic behaviour that led up to this. Let’s not forget that he refused to take no for an answer from Elizabeth, and she only got away from him because she bit him. He is a sexual predator, not a woobie tamed by the magical disabled girl.
This is not a good book. It treats disability very badly, and forgives someone who attempted to sexually assault another character. In fact, it doesn’t even forgive him, it just never addresses it beyond “boys will be boys”.
Sweet Valley High is really teaching me to loathe Francine Pascal and her toxic messages of alleged girl power. It gets two stars because this series has done so much worse. Which is nothing to brag about.
You can’t have it both ways. Her deafness either needs accommodation or it doesn’t, and since everyone marvels at how she passes for a hearing person (literally, every damn time she’s on screen), then it’s just insulting to infantilise her purely because of her hearing impairment – particularly when Regina herself repeatedly states that she is finally living a “normal” life (her words, not mine). Because if it doesn’t impact her life, then it’s not a vulnerability. Just to be clear, I’m highlighting the ghostwriter’s clumsy handling of the situation, and not stating that in real life there is no nuance to how disability affects life (I’m disabled myself, hence this pinged so hard with me).
Also, the ghostie never once thought of Regina needing to lip read, with most of her conversations taking place while walking side by side with someone, driving in a car, hugging her boyfriend, or lying on the ground looking at the stars. Unless Regina’s (so very beautiful) eyes are on pivoting stalks, there is no way she would have been able to follow what was being said. I understand that lip-readers can guess missed words, but when the entirety of plot-relevant conversations take place while she cannot see the other person’s face, it just reeks of a forgetful writer, who has ticked off the “Regina is deaf but beautiful” description, and then written her as a character with perfect hearing.
Add to that, this book handwaves all of Bruce’s toxic behaviour that led up to this. Let’s not forget that he refused to take no for an answer from Elizabeth, and she only got away from him because she bit him. He is a sexual predator, not a woobie tamed by the magical disabled girl.
This is not a good book. It treats disability very badly, and forgives someone who attempted to sexually assault another character. In fact, it doesn’t even forgive him, it just never addresses it beyond “boys will be boys”.
Sweet Valley High is really teaching me to loathe Francine Pascal and her toxic messages of alleged girl power. It gets two stars because this series has done so much worse. Which is nothing to brag about.
December 19, 2024
Maybe the most backwards, uneducated presentation of being deaf ever written. Bruce's whole love for her seems to be founded on how 'brave' Regina is, and she somehow doesn't find this patronising. Her family and friends all insist that she's making the wrong decision if she stays deaf and opts out of this experimental treatment that could let her hear for the first time in her life - when in reality people in her position commonly prefer to remain deaf, because suddenly gaining the ability to hear doesn't mean your brain has developed to process the chaos of sound. My good friend's mother went through this very thing, and when the operation ended up reverting and she once more lost her hearing, she was relieved. She doesn't feel like she needs to be 'cured' (as this book kept saying). She leads a perfectly normal life.
I loved when Jessica was shamed for asking to speak to Regina on the telephone - because supposedly deaf people can't use a phone. My grandfather invented the world's first telephone for the deaf...in the 1960s, TWO DECADES before this book was written. Moreover, in the previous book it was mentioned that Regina was spending every night on the phone with Bruce!
Just as believable is Bruce, who was a borderline rapist before, but since meeting brave little Regina, he's had a COMPLETE personality reversal literally overnight and Liz, who was nearly sexually assaulted by him and whose sister actually WAS assaulted by him (removing a girl's bikini without permission - AT A PARTY FULL OF EVERYONE THEY KNOW)...kisses him!!! Everyone hails Bruce as a hero! And he buys Regina a RUBY. He's 17!!!!! HILARIOUS.
I think this might be the cringiest, most maddening SVH book in the series so far!
I loved when Jessica was shamed for asking to speak to Regina on the telephone - because supposedly deaf people can't use a phone. My grandfather invented the world's first telephone for the deaf...in the 1960s, TWO DECADES before this book was written. Moreover, in the previous book it was mentioned that Regina was spending every night on the phone with Bruce!
Just as believable is Bruce, who was a borderline rapist before, but since meeting brave little Regina, he's had a COMPLETE personality reversal literally overnight and Liz, who was nearly sexually assaulted by him and whose sister actually WAS assaulted by him (removing a girl's bikini without permission - AT A PARTY FULL OF EVERYONE THEY KNOW)...kisses him!!! Everyone hails Bruce as a hero! And he buys Regina a RUBY. He's 17!!!!! HILARIOUS.
I think this might be the cringiest, most maddening SVH book in the series so far!
September 14, 2020
Does romantic love have the magical power to instantly transform people for the better? That is the question brought up in this book which plays out a "beauty and the beast" fairy tale narrative between the angelic Regina and the devilish Bruce. While the "love" between Regina and Bruce seems over the top, this is so accurate of teenage relationships, where everything lives in extremes. When one ounce of stress is put on Bruce and Regina's relationship, it crumbles like a house built on sand. It will be interesting to see how this story plays out in future books to see if Bruce is indeed a changed man (teenager). I have to say, I am doubtful as true change often comes as a result of some sort of inner work. Many characters in this book would benefit from a good therapist.
--
**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.
--
**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.
August 5, 2022
No more, please😅
These stupid books were my childhood, and I was hoping they'd retain a certain nostalgic charm, but OH MY GOD they're terrible.
I had especially high hopes for this one, because I remembered loving Bruce and Regina and sobbing over her death later in the series when she tried cocaine just once and keeled over, leaving him free to be a date rapey creep once more. But it's so bad. SO BAD.
The writing is just so flat. The author is so bored by their own story they don't notice that multiple times people who are already standing "stand up and walk to the window".
Was there ever a more boring boyfriend than Todd Wilkins? I can at least congratulate myself that even at 9 years old I could tell he was a total yawn-fest.
Anyway this was a fun little walk down memory lane but I think I've seen enough. Unless I come across whichever one had the school fat girl lose so much weight in 2 weeks (so what, she was a size 8 instead of a 6 like the perfect twins?) she can become a cheerleader. As a chubby kid I thought that was amazing. (Like come on Francine, at least have her transform over the summer, or a semester abroad or something.)
These stupid books were my childhood, and I was hoping they'd retain a certain nostalgic charm, but OH MY GOD they're terrible.
I had especially high hopes for this one, because I remembered loving Bruce and Regina and sobbing over her death later in the series when she tried cocaine just once and keeled over, leaving him free to be a date rapey creep once more. But it's so bad. SO BAD.
The writing is just so flat. The author is so bored by their own story they don't notice that multiple times people who are already standing "stand up and walk to the window".
Was there ever a more boring boyfriend than Todd Wilkins? I can at least congratulate myself that even at 9 years old I could tell he was a total yawn-fest.
Anyway this was a fun little walk down memory lane but I think I've seen enough. Unless I come across whichever one had the school fat girl lose so much weight in 2 weeks (so what, she was a size 8 instead of a 6 like the perfect twins?) she can become a cheerleader. As a chubby kid I thought that was amazing. (Like come on Francine, at least have her transform over the summer, or a semester abroad or something.)
April 24, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
Not much happened in this one unless your name is Regina or Bruce. The Wakefield twins were basically set dressing, and Todd… he becomes more grating as this series goes on. Just needy and whiny.
The saving grace? Regina and Bruce’s storyline. It actually made me care. Spending time developing Regina’s backstory and her mother’s backstory had me invested. Regina continues to be a standout character. And Bruce showed surprising emotional growth (who knew?). If the whole book had focused on them, this could’ve been a four-star read.
Instead, it dragged—filler vibes all around.
Grown men flirting with teenage girls? I know the guys are not much older than the girls, like 18 or 19 but these girls are 16! It still feels weird. Like, you’re college aged and these girls still have another year of high school before they can even graduate. Git! Go on! . Sweet Valley needs a background check system.
But yeah Regina and Bruce were everything. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out. And the next book seems like it’s actually gonna be interesting. Jessica getting revenge. I’m ready!
Two stars. One for Regina and one for Bruce.
Not much happened in this one unless your name is Regina or Bruce. The Wakefield twins were basically set dressing, and Todd… he becomes more grating as this series goes on. Just needy and whiny.
The saving grace? Regina and Bruce’s storyline. It actually made me care. Spending time developing Regina’s backstory and her mother’s backstory had me invested. Regina continues to be a standout character. And Bruce showed surprising emotional growth (who knew?). If the whole book had focused on them, this could’ve been a four-star read.
Instead, it dragged—filler vibes all around.
Grown men flirting with teenage girls? I know the guys are not much older than the girls, like 18 or 19 but these girls are 16! It still feels weird. Like, you’re college aged and these girls still have another year of high school before they can even graduate. Git! Go on! . Sweet Valley needs a background check system.
But yeah Regina and Bruce were everything. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out. And the next book seems like it’s actually gonna be interesting. Jessica getting revenge. I’m ready!
Two stars. One for Regina and one for Bruce.
October 20, 2019
2.5 - Has nostalgia blocked all of my memories of these books? This one was particularly bad...and when I say bad, I mean Jessica. Not only does she try to break up a couple for her own personal gain but she also tries to CALL A DEAF GIRL ON THE PHONE.
Speaking of the deaf representation, it's not the best...we have to "fix" her and she's referred to as "really special" a little too much. PLUS we find out that the reason she lost her hearing was because her mother took diet pills when she was pregnant!
There were a few redeeming qualities...the mother tries to right her wrongs and Bruce is actually selfless for once and shows some vulnerability. But still...yeeesh!
Speaking of the deaf representation, it's not the best...we have to "fix" her and she's referred to as "really special" a little too much. PLUS we find out that the reason she lost her hearing was because her mother took diet pills when she was pregnant!
There were a few redeeming qualities...the mother tries to right her wrongs and Bruce is actually selfless for once and shows some vulnerability. But still...yeeesh!
August 11, 2025
So it was diet pills that Regina’s mom took (who was a model at the time) when she was pregnant that caused Regina to be born deaf. Not sure if that can really happen, though taking diet pills while pregnant (or in general) sounds like a recipe for disaster. The diet culture of the 80’s and 90’s was the absolute worst.
On a side note, I do find the relationship between Regina and Bruce quite sweet, and I’m curious to see where this will go, especially if she’s in Switzerland for a year getting some experimental treatments to get her hearing back. Again, not sure if that’s really a thing — but only in sweet valley!
On a side note, I do find the relationship between Regina and Bruce quite sweet, and I’m curious to see where this will go, especially if she’s in Switzerland for a year getting some experimental treatments to get her hearing back. Again, not sure if that’s really a thing — but only in sweet valley!
June 26, 2020
Decent, entertaining for the most part. The ending wasn't really as satisfying as I'd hoped, but that's okay, it IS a tween book. I wonder what happens to Bruce while Regina is away, considering I've read multiple books ahead of this one and he goes back to his normal, arrogant self. I wish he didn't though. Anyways, I am hoping to get the next book after this one since the ending has Lila still talking to Jack. I really want to know what happens with that. Good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2020
I’m trying to squeeze a few more of these in before my Kindle Unlimited subscription expires!
I forgot how much I liked Regina, even though she had the misfortune of being with Bruce. But, this one was a little low on plot overall.
I forgot how much I liked Regina, even though she had the misfortune of being with Bruce. But, this one was a little low on plot overall.
December 15, 2021
Despite all appearances to the contrary, Bruce Patman has a heart, and it seems he's lost it to Tragically Deaf Regina Morrow. Jess of course won't stand for this kind of nonsense, and bets Lila that they won't last a week... cue shenanigans
December 5, 2017
This book isn’t interesting enough for me.
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