Enid's Story

Sweet Valley High Super Star #3

by Francine Pascal (Creator), Kate William

Elizabeth Wakefield becomes worried about her best friend, Enid Rollins, when Enid begins to argue with her mother and friends, becomes involved with Brian Foster and his fast crowd, and takes up drinking and smoking pot

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Chick Lit, Romance, Collections, Teen

213 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Francine 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.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, E-nerd, I wish Sweet Valley wasn't such a bastion of conservative 1950s Loserville. There was something refreshing about seeing a SVH character known primarily for being "boring" getting drunk and high with a cute boy from her "old crowd" and finding out her dad was a loser drunk. Because let's be real- SVH does NOT have a proper representation of late 1980s stoner kids, especially for a BEACH town! Sigh. Unfortunately, the story goes super afterschool special, because of COURSE the drinking and weed lead to tragic consequences!

Oh, and chronologically impossible plot- Enid is digging on Jeffrey French again. Elizabeth has already returned to Todd after he'd moved back to Sweet Valley. And it's Christmas! So apparently her entire Jeffrey relationship (he was new in the fall! When she was still dating Todd. And Todd's family moved to and from Vermont and became millionaires all between like...October and November? Come on. Do better) couldn't have lasted more than a few weeks....also, this is the third Xmas of the SVH school year....but...whatever! Still a decent addition to the series. Because Enid Enerd as a 3D character is refreshing.

[Pastel Paperback · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3 1/2 stars!

While Lila's Super Star is my forever fave, Enid's is a close second. An overlooked Christmas title in the multitude of Sweet Valley holiday books, there's plenty of cheer: a skating party complete with hot cocoa, mall shopping for gifts, mistletoe hung at Casey's, a big Christmas Eve bash thrown by George and Robin, and a NYE party at Lila's.

Enid spends most of this book basically being in love with Elizabeth, yet having a crush on Jeffrey, Elizabeth's ex, and then spiraling due to family problems and feelings of inadequacy. There's drugs and drinking, and a crazy car ride down from Miller's Point, complete with an epic car explosion and a Christmas morning spent in the hospital.

Oh, and Jeffrey and Enid kiss at the end, but it's never brought up again in the series!

Always a fun re-read.

[Christie Maliyackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem from my childhood bookcase. All things nostalgia and sentiment from this book that was published THIRTY THREE years ago!

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Source: I read this book online via Open Library.
Cost: Free

Title: Enid's Story
Series: Sweet Valley High Super Stars #3
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William
Overall Rating: 3 stars

I expected more from this book to be honest, On the Run upped the game a little in my eyes and for some reason, this story fell flat. I don't understand why though. Enid is a character with a lot of potential, but in this book she was overdramatic and frankly, a little annoying. She ran away crying when her dad drank some alcohol, boo hoo, she made a stupid decision, boo hoo, she was in hospital, boo hoo. I found myself being quite cynical of her character, but kind of enjoying the story at the same time? I don't know. I just wanted a little bit more.

Something else that bugged me was the complete lack of girl code in this book from Jess and Enid, both trying to date Liz's ex, Jeffery.

Girls, please.

[Tiffany Spencer]

Enid’s Story
Liz is helping Enid wrap Christmas presents. We find out that Enid and Liz were unlikely friends. Enid has a past of running with a wild crowd and doing things like cutting school, getting high, and goofing off. But after a bad accident with her boyfriend, George Warreen, she straightened up. A lot of Enid’s friends dropped out and ended up in drug treatment centers, but Enid is now a straight A student.

They discuss vacation plans. Todd is in Utah, so they’ll have lots of time together. Liz will miss him, but not much she can do about it. Enid can’t complain. She just broke up with Hugh Grayson. So, she’ll have Liz all to herself. Enid was going to Lake Tahoe with her mom, but her dad called and asked to spend Christmas with her. Her mother wasn’t thrilled with it. She and Enid’s dad aren’t on good terms. To prove this point, Adele comes into Enid’s room and starts to talk about how disappointed her aunt Nancy is, and that she should call her to explain. This irritates Enid. She has a right to spend time with her father if she wants to.

At lunch (the day school lets out for winter break), there’s talk about the annual skating party (a new tradition). Enid decides that when she sees how sad Liz is that Todd is leaving after school, she’ll have to do something to cheer her up. So, after school, she takes her to the Dairi Burger. By the time they get there, Liz is feeling better. She has to go back to the car to get her jacket.On the way in she runs into Jeffrey.

Everyone notices that Liz and Jeffrey are under the mistletoe, so… Jeffrey takes Liz in a melodramatic embrace and bends her back. Liz knows it doesn’t mean anything, but she can’t help feeling sparks. Enid didn’t see it. So, Liz tells her what happened. She says it was “no big deal”. Jessica, Lila, and Cara had brought candy canes -as an excuse to flirt-. Jessica taunts boys to kiss her under the mistletoe, and it’s Bruce who ends up making the move. The other boys shy away from it. Jessica tries to flirt with Jeffrey, but he kind of brushes her off and tells her he’ll see her at the skating party. (At first, he thinks its Liz and he smiles, but its clear he’s disappointed when he sees it’s Jessica).

Liz asks Jessica what they were talking about, but she blows it off. Jessica decides it might be fun to shoot her shot at getting Jeffrey (even tho he dated her sister). Jeffrey comes over to Enid’s table, and starts to talk about how kissing Liz must have made him look, but Enid says don’t sweat it. Liz thought it was no big deal. Enid asks if he misses her, but he says nah. He’s over it. While Jeffrey is asking her about presents for his mother, Enid is thinking it’s a shame they can’t be *friends* now that he and Liz aren’t together.

Jeffrey says there’s no reason they can’t be, and suggests they go to the skating party tomorrow. Enid says yes. Enid is about to tell Liz on the way home, but Liz asks her to go shopping the next day. Liz realizes that Enid wants to go to the party, and tells her its fine. She’s not up to going to the party, and will go shopping by herself. Enid is partly relieved and partly feeling guilty because she doesn’t want Liz to be depressed. When Enid gets home, her father has called, but her mother hasn’t taken down his number.

She says it's too hard to talk to him after what he put her through, and mentions his drinking problem briefly. Then she dismisses it. Leaving Enid to think winter break isn’t getting off too a good start. Liz lets Jessica convince her to go to the skating party. It’s just been a day, still Liz decides to write Todd a letter. While, she does she briefly thinks of Jeffrey and tells herself it doesn’t mean she’s being unfaithful. She’s just lonely.

Liz immediately sees Enid and Jeffrey skating together. Enid tells her it doesn’t mean anything. He just gave her a ride (downplaying it). Liz is like mmm. But, she’s thinking, then why didn’t you tell me this yesterday (and says this). Enid has to point out that Jeffrey isn’t her boyfriend anymore. He can come to the party with whoever he wants to. Then Liz backs off and apologizes.

While skating, a cute boy catches Jessica’s eye. Lila says his name is Brian and he used to go to Big Mesa, but now he’s in college. So, Jessica wobbles over to him (pretending she can’t skate), and starts up a conversation. Enid bumps into Jessica, and to her annoyance, Brian seems to know Enid. Brian to talk to Enid, but she’s outta there like she’s seen a ghost (a ghost, it turns out from her past). And just that fast, Brian has lost interest in Jessica, and tells her see ya. But Jessica is now interested in the story on Brian and goes back to see what she can find out from Lila and Amy. While Enid skates with Jeffrey, he compliments her, but she thinks of how Elizabeth now is avoiding her (and skating on the other side of the rink). She shrugs it off.

Jeffrey takes Enid home, and they make plans to see a horror movie later. Now, Enid is starting to feel more than friendship. But if they were to date, Liz wouldn’t like it. Not that she had any claims on him. Still, Jeffrey probably just thinks of her as a friend anyway. Enid thinks if it comes to that I’ll deal with it. Enid wraps Liz’s gift (a heart-shaped pink satin box covered in lace). Enid’s dad calls, and says he’ll be in town tomorrow evening. Jeffrey and Enid talk about how on the low Liz is girly and Enid starts to wonder if Jeffrey misses her again. Jeffrey says it’s great they can still be friends. So, this gives Enid confirmation that this is all he wants. But, Enid thinks things could change.

So, Enid decides she’ll give Jeffrey a Christmas present and see how he reacts to this. She’s on her way out the door, but Liz calls. She hasn’t really spoken to her since the party. She invites Liz to come shopping with her, but she says she’s not up for the crowds. So, she suggests the beach but Liz says that’s ok and they end the call. She runs into Jessica, who asks her about Brian/ Enid warns her to stay away from him. He’s not what she thinks. She asks who she’s shopping for, but Enid evades the question. Jessica pokes some more and asks if she’s going to George and Robin’s party and Enid says she wouldn’t miss it.

She decides on a black and white postcard of a famous skater for Jeffrey -that they’d talked about earlier-. Her dad calls when she gets home, and he tells her they can have lunch tomorrow and go shopping. He tells her to come to the hotel he’s staying at noon, Her mother is mad because she brought tickets to see the Nutcracker, and they have an argument over her dad doing it on purpose. Her mother ends up apologizing, and promises not to try to come between her and her father again. Jeffrey calls, and invites her over. He says “in an intimate way” that he has something to ask her.

Jeffrey likes his present (and the ice cream), and he gives Enid a poetry book. But Enid wonders if he was thinking of Liz since this is her favorite poet. He asks if it means something that Elizabeth brought him some Christmas cookies. Then he starts asking her if she’s mentioned him. Now Enid feels like a fool. She tells him she might have made them for a lot of people. But he says she said she made them just for him. Now Enid is feeling resentful of him, and she says she doesn’t know how she feels. Maybe he should ask her. Then she says she has to go.

Jeffrey, suggest they do something later. Enid just says maybe, and she doesn’t know. She wants to confront Liz, but instead she goes home. Jeffrey calls and ask her to go to the race track, but she says she has something to do with her mother. He asks if she’s going to the party. She says she’ll let him know. Then Brian calls, and asks if she wants to have dinner. But, she says she doesn’t hang out with the old crowd. But he says he’s changed. Enid doesn’t know. He goes on to tell her he’s always liked her and how he’s turned things around since he’s been in college.

So, she decides maybe she should give him the benefit of the doubt. Brian compliments her right away. He takes her to a Tai restaurant. After dinner, Brian takes Enid to a party with some of his friends. But at this party, there’s drinking and pot. Enid looks for Brian and see’s a lot of people she recognizes from her old crew.

(Waiting to Exhale, anyone?) Enid finds Brian-already drunk- and demands he take her home-but he’s drunk. So, she calls a cab, and knows she won’t be going out with this guy again. More than that she wants to talk to Jeffrey. Enid thinks how crappy this holiday is turning out, and goes to bed. On Christmas Eve, Todd calls Liz and tells her to look up at the Big Dipper and think of him. Lila is temporarily staying over with them btw.

Enid goes to meet with her father and finds him in the Oak Room at the bar. He’s piss a** drunk. He’s falling off the bar stool and slurring. He gives a bunch of excuses about needing a pick me up and then lays a guilt trip on Enid about how she use to drink. So, Enid up and leaves. She gets mad at her mother for getting nasty with him every time she calls. She lets her mother have it when she gets home. Her mother tells her this is on her father. Not her. He’s the one with the problem. She explains that she tried to help him, but he’s the one that has to make the change. Enid wonders why seeing her couldn’t make him stop. Her mother says it has to be something drastic. Maybe he just hasn’t meet the crisis point.

Jeffrey calls her (Sonja?). He asks about the party, and asks if he can pick her up. She agrees. At the party, Liz tells Jeffrey she might have thought she wanted him to be in love with her, but she’s in love with Todd (and she hopes they can be friends). He admits he’s been spending time with Enid, but he might see her as more. Liz gives them her consent. He says he’ll talk to her tonight. There’s mistletoe over them, and they kiss. Only this time there’s no magic. Unfortunately, Enid sees and thinks she can’t win. Jeffrey will never be over Elizabeth.

Enid goes outside and has a pity party for one. Jessica runs into Brian. So, she goes over to him. But he’s clearly more interested in if Enid’s there (which pisses Jessica off and she walks away). But she’s over it when she sees Steven talking to a cute guy. Brian finds Enid-whose thinking of how she can leave- and apologizes. He says it was just the temptation from being around old friends. He asks her to give him another chance.

Liz tries to talk to Enid. Enid brushes her off to dance with Brian. Jeffrey tries to interrupt. Enid *politely* points him in Liz’s direction. Enid then decides to leave with Brian. He takes her to Miller’s Point. She’s not sure she wants to be there with him, but she’s not sure that she doesn’t. She doesn’t feel anything when he kisses her. He tries to relax her by giving her a joint. She thinks what the hell after the vacation she’s had. She starts to vent to Brian about her mom and dad. Then she vents to him about Liz. Then she starts to get drunk off bourbon.

Then she starts to cry. Enid drinks some more, and then they have this off the wall conversation about the 12 Days of Christmas. Jessica starts to conversate and dance with Steven’s friend Micheal. Jessica then suggests they go somewhere to “look at the stars”. When they get to Miller’s Point, they run into someone playing their music loudly. Jessica bangs on the door and demands they turn their music down, and is stunned to see … it’s Enid and Brian. Jessica goes back to Micheal’s car and tells him they should go back to the party.

When he finds out Enid is missing, Mr. Rollins goes to look for her. He decides no more and smashes his liquor bottle. Meanwhile, Brian decides to take Enid on a joy ride, instead of taking her home like she begs him to. Jessica goes back to the party, intending to gossip, but ends up feeling guilty because everyone is mad at her that she just left Enid there. She volunteers to look for her with the others. Meanwhile, Brian decides to take Enid back to Miller’s Point-for what reason I don’t even want to think about-. Then there’s a crash. Enid wakes up (upside down), and Enid is looking at her father. He gets her out, and then there’s an explosion. Enid blacks out, and when she wakes up its Christmas.

Her mother, Liz, Jessica, and Lila are there. Her father and Brian are ok. They’re in the burns unit. Enid and her mom apologize to each other. Enid promises she won’t get wasted again and that she’ll try harder to communicate her feelings. Her mom promises she’ll try to understand more. Enid visits her dad, and he tells her as soon as he gets out, he’s going to check himself into a rehab center. At the NYE party, Todd comes back. There’s a NYE party thrown by Lila and Jessica. Brian has called Enid and says he’s also going to get help, and that he’ll be in the hospital a while. Jeffrey and Enid decide to take it one day at a time and kiss.

Rating: 6 This one wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I got a little flash of nostalgia thinking about the skating party and how way back when the rink used to be the place to be on the weekends. Only it was roller skating, not ice skating. I remember going ice-skating once and not even wanting to attempt it. So, I just watched. But still while it was better than Bruce’s story (the last one I read), it annoyed me slightly. It just irritates me when the girl mopes the whole book because her boyfriend is going somewhere for a SHORT amount of time. GET OVER IT! HELL BE BACK! So, what you can’t spend every waking minute together. Thank GOD, I was never like this in high school. Then Enid annoyed me because somehow I thought Enid would be smarter than to let herself get involved with *this* guy again. The *very* one she warned Jessica not to fool with.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was WILD. Let's start with the first page-the first line of this book is "Finger, please! Enid Rollins requested." Kate Williams had no business starting us off like that. The plot of this book is woe-is-me Enid, with a side of miscommunication and a dash of after school special. It's Christmas break in Sweet Valley and Todd's family is going skiing in Utah. Liz has no idea how she's going to manage without Todd for a week, even though they did long distance when he moved to Vermont. She literally says him leaving is the worst thing that's ever happened to her and she's been kidnapped twice. Anyway, Enid and Liz go to the Dairi Burger and there's mistletoe so Liz has to kiss Jeffrey except this isn't just a peck on the cheek, they are full on making out. Then Liz thinks she has feelings for Jeffrey again, Jeffrey thinks he hasn't moved on from Liz and Enid thinks she's in love with Jeffrey. Enid and Jeffrey go out a bunch as friends and Enid thinks there's something more but then all Jeffrey talks about is Liz and Enid gets really upset. Also, Enid's dad is visiting Sweet Valley and it's causing a bunch of fights between her and her mother and then, when Enid goes to visit her dad he's plastered drunk even though it's noon. Finally, Enid is mad at Liz because of the whole Jeffrey thing (they kiss for a second time at some Christmas Eve party) so when this guy Brian who was part of the wild crowd Enid used to hang out with asks her out she says yes. They go out once and he seems like a good guy until they go to a party and he gets wasted but then after the Christmas Eve party she wants to make Liz and Jeffrey jealous so she goes out with him again. They go to Miller's point and both of them get high and drunk but then Enid realizes she wants to go home but Brian is like NO and then he drives over a guardrail and crashes the car. Luckily that's right when Liz/Enid's Father/Jeffrey/Jessica/Lila find them and Enid's dad rescues Enid right before the car explodes. In the end, everyone is fine, Brian and Enid's dad agree to go to rehab, Liz realizes she only loves Todd and Jeffrey and Enid decide to take there relationship one day at a time. Best twin was neither-Liz doesn't communicate, cheats on Todd and is mopey the whole book but Jess sees Enid at Miller's Point and just leaves her there with Brian and also wants to buy tacky sunglasses. To wrap it up, I felt bad for Lila (I know, I know but hear me out) who spends Christmas with the Wakefields while her dad is away for business.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have almost no recollection of this book, because let's be honest - nobody liked Enid. I probably saw this at the library numerous times as a child and skipped right past it to read about Crazy Margo or something. But I randomly found this on my bookshelf today (apparently I bought it at Half Price Books a few years ago?) and decided to read it.

This takes place at Christmas, which was a happy coincidence, and I'm surprised to say that I actually really liked it. As an adult I really feel for poor Enid, and I think Liz is a terrible friend to her. I spent this whole book just wanting to give Enid a hug. Unfortunately a lot is brought up here that is never mentioned again - like Enid's dad - but it was really fun to read.

Of course now I really want to re-read all the Christmas Sweet Valley High books. Crazy Margo here I come!

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enid is Elisabeth's best friend. She's gone through a rather wild period in her life but now is doing what she needs to do to succeed. Jeffrey is an ex-boyfriend of Liz's. Todd, Elisabeth's current boyfriend, is currently elsewhere. Brian is the bad boy that Enid ran with in the past.

The story involves a lot of wrong assumptions on Enid's part, attempts by her friends to help her, major depression on her part and a major decision to be made by her. Does she continue to try to keep her life straight, but maybe at a high price, or does she return to her wild ways and lose the friends she has.

The story shows the importance of finding out what is really going on and talking it out with people rather than making assumptions about them and possibly doing things based on those assumptions that would be totally wrong and self-destructive.

A very good story.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pretty shocked when the restaurant gave Brian a beer no questions asked. He must be what seventeen? I thought you had to be 21 to drink in America.

This was one of the better of the super stars. But Enid was such a little idiot in this one. She needed a backbone. She just gave up so easily and let herself become high and drunk. She needed to say to Brian and she knew very well he was a bad sort. But she still went along with him just because she was feeling sorry for himself. She was like woe is me. Nobody likes me. Boo-hoo!

She only has herself to blame nobody else is. Certainly not Jess and I didn't understand why everyone got mad at her-as if she was the one who got Enid drunk.

[Marsyee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I've read about Enid's dark past when she used to hang out with the wrong crowd, this book was a little different and it was even more emotional. Especially because it was set during a festive season where friendship, family bonds, and romance was involved. I'm glad substance abuse was talked about through this series, it makes this series relevant for all ages no matter how old it was published.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enid Rollins goes puff puff puff and immediately SHIT GETS REAL in Sweet Valley 😂

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been ages since I read this last, but certain things stick in my memory:
1) Enid has some awful luck when you look at her 'arcs' over the course of the series. She dates an exceptional ass only to have him dump her when he learns of her 'wild past'. The next guy cheats on her and then to top it off, crashes his plane and injures Enid in the process. She then has to battle the incredibly shallow Amy Sutton for Elizabeth's friendship, has to avoid Jessica's numerous sneaky ways of "helping" Liz find a better friend, gets to stand in Elizabeth's shadow for most of the time, and oh yeah, her father makes exactly one appearance and is drunk for it.

Which is just the stuff I can think of in 60 seconds.


That said, I love Enid. I'm just not so sure anyone else did/does.

Her Super Star book takes place at Christmas (prior to the evil twins!)and this year her father is supposed to be swinging by for a visit. For the life of me I cannot remember him really being mentioned aside from this, but hey. Momma Rollins can't keep her bitter, sarcastic commentary to herself so Enid is a little stressed out each time the phone rings and Dad is on the other line.

To add to the stress, Enid has broken up with her background boyfriend, Hugh, and her best friend, Liz, is moping around because Todd is out of town for the holiday. Spicing things up is the reappearance of Jeffrey French. You might recall that he was Elizabeth's boyfriend when Todd moved to Vermont. You might also recall that Enid was interested in him first, though he had no interest in her at the time. And she was cool with that.

Wellllllllllll, now he's fair game if you ignore the old "you don't date your best friend's ex" rule (which you kind of have to if you're friends with a Wakefield since they date a lot). And better still, he seems interested in Enid when they reconnect over various holiday events!

That is until Liz gets jealous and butts in and Jeffrey remembers that his only definable trait is that he was once Elizabeth Wakefield's boyfriend.

Enid, who thought Jeffrey was interested in her (and she was interested in him) is crushed, but probably wouldn't think too much beyond, "dammit, Liz, he's not your boyfriend and would it kill you to be faithful for once?" had things with her father not fallen through. Daddy's got a drinking problem that Enid's been in denial about for ages. When Enid shows up at his hotel for their first visit (ever in the series!) he's drunk off his arse and she's heartbroken for the obvious reasons as well as the part where her mother was right, and when you're sixteen that cannot happen.

So she's fighting with her best friend, who also seems a bit like her only friend, she's lacking in a boyfriend when she thought she had a viable option, and she's got family issues. Sounds like it's time for another character from her wild past to appear.

Enter cute older guy, Brian, who claims to have changed his ways just like Enid. Only he hasn't and while Enid is initially disguisted by this, she then figures that being good old Enid hasn't gotten her anywhere so at least back then she was too baked to realize she wasn't happy.

Naturally this spirals out of control and there's a car explosion and burn units and St. Liz remembers she loves Todd a minute too late to stop the damage.

A lot happens in a very short period of time, but the absolute best thing about this whole book (aside from Enid getting screen time)? Jessica/Lila. Their little zingers together are fantastic, especially when Liz is out to lunch mentally after a call from Todd.

[Car · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. Not exactly what I expected. I thought this would be about when Enid first moved to Sweet Valley and how she overcame the "wild crowd". Not about a little drama that came together over the course of a couple of weeks. Kind of a let down from my expectations.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember that on a car trip I finished this book, and then started it and read it again. My sister made fun of me, but it was so good and we hadn't packed anything else for me.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason I remember reading this book at all is because of her name. The whole time I read I was thinking, Who would name their kid "Enid"? Awful.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super star indeed... I loved all of the extras that came along with this series. It had some great moments.

[Melenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved these books as a child

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover just not the story.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always had mixed feelings about Enid, but her 'story' was actually one of my favorites.