For the Love of Ryan

Sweet Valley University #21

by Francine Pascal (Creator)

The summer's really heating up...

Ryan Taylor is a hunk with an attitude. He's learned about life the hard way, and now no ties can hold him down - especially the emotional kind. But will his troubled past keep him from the Wakefield twin he secretly desires?

Jessica Wakefield always gets what she wants. And now she wants head lifeguard Ryan Taylor. Can Jessica beat the competition and swim her way into Ryan's heart?

Elizabeth Wakefield can't do anything right! And if she messes up one more time, she won't make lifeguard this year. Elizabeth needs to prove she can work harder than anyone else. But if gorgeous Ryan Taylor doesn't cut her a break soon, she may drown in the attempt.

Join Elizabeth, Jessica, and their friends from Sweet Valley for an unforgettable summer at the beach.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Chick Lit

235 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

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

[kylajaclyn]

Oh, look what just rolled out of the ocean! An exclusive excerpt from Liz Wakefield's summer diary:

Dear Diary,

So I don't know what's going on at here at the beach, but no one seems to understand that I'm Elizabeth Wakefield. I'm Elizabeth Wakefield! I'm the perfect one. Jessica is the screw-up. I thought everyone knew this. Well, it turns out Ryan Taylor, the head lifeguard, didn't get the memo. He won't cut me a break! Sheesh! I have been busting my beautiful and perfect butt for him every day only to get chastised and ridiculed. To make matters worse, Nina, my supposed best friend, is totally on his side! She doesn't realize that I'm always right. She won't tell him that messing up is so unlike me, and that if it happens he should cut me some slack. You know Jess wouldn't stand for this!

And speaking of Jess, she has a thing for Ryan. I'm trying to be happy for her. Really. But it doesn't matter that I have a boyfriend back home. I think I know why I can't do anything right. I find Ryan attractive. There. I said it. He's been so rude to me, but still I've fallen in love. I'm not the least bit concerned about my boyfriend back home, because we are in different zip codes right now. So kissing another man here wouldn't count, right?

You never let me down, diary.

Love,
Liz

Dear Diary,

Oh boy. I went to the staff bonfire tonight and then left to get kerosene at Ryan's house, thinking he was out of town. Boy did I get the shock of my life! He kissed me so passionately I thought he'd never eaten in his life. I immediately forgave him for how awful he's been, because it turns out it's me he's wanted the whole time. But Jess walked in on us, and now she furious. Well, so what! I'm furious at her. She had to go and bring up Tom, which is such a childish move. I don't remind her when SHE has a bf back home. She should have the common decency to leave Tom out of this. After all, once we're back home, we will forget this summer ever happened, right?

Love,
Liz

[E.H. Nolan]

It’s summer for the Sweet Valley college kids, and that means only one thing: lifeguard duty and summer flings and beach rentals and sun and sand—I guess it means a lot of things! These next few volumes in the Sweet Valley University series are fantastic; I actually read two in one day because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.

Jessica, Elizabeth, Nina, and Winston have rented a beach house for the summer and hope to all get jobs as lifeguards, but with the handsome, hunky, hard-nosed Ryan as the lifeguard captain, not everyone will make it on the squad. And with perhaps the most interesting twist of the series so far, Elizabeth is goofing off, flirting, and acting irresponsibly—while Jessica is the dependable overachiever! It’s a genius plot twist, and Laurie John writes the role reversal incredibly well. Both twins are surprised by their own and each other’s behavior, and it makes waves, no pun intended, in everyone else’s summer fun, too.
​
There are a few new characters to get to know this summer in this book, and it’s easy to envelope them into the fold of the gang you already know. A few of the old standbys are missing, but they might come by for a visit sometime during the summer. After all, it’s a long summer. . .

http://hottoastyrag.weebly.com/svu-21...

[Alex]

I remember as a kid thinking Ryan was so mysterious and hot.... yikes. Re-reading this as an adult made me want Elizabeth to run for the hills every time he appeared.

[Susan]

Very Baywatch

[Rachel]

Liz you hussie.

[Sheila Read]

I loved reading these kinds of books when I was a kid.