Troublemaker

Sweet Valley High #47

by Francine Pascal (Creator), Kate William

Blind love...
No one at Sweet Valley High can understand why a shy, sensitive girl like Julie Porter is attracted to someone as conceited as Bruce Patman. But no matter what anyone says, Julie detects a warmth in Bruce's piercing blue eyes that's meant only for her.
Julie's longtime neighbor and friend, Josh Bowen, isn't fooled. He's trying to get into Bruce's fraternity and he knows what the arrogant senior is really like. When he hears that Bruce has invited Julie to a Phi Epsilon party as his date, he's sure that Bruce has a rotten trick in mind. Josh tries to warn Julie and she's furious. She's never had a serious boyfriend before, and she can't understand why everyone's trying to spoil her happiness. But will Bruce make Julie happy, or is he just out to break another heart?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Ebooks, Chick Lit

166 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1988

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

[Grace Chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tagline for this book is "Has Julie Porter fallen for the wrong guy?" And the answer is NO $HIT, SHERLOCK. Bruce Patman, the King Douche who drives a black Porsche with the license plate "1BRUCE1" is of course back to his wily, scoundrel ways. He uses poor lovestruck Julie as a pawn in his mean-spirited games during pledge season, as some hapless dude named Josh wants to get into the sorority that Douchey Bruce is a part of.

It's a little weird as Julie Porter was only mentioned briefly as the sister to Johanna Porter in #36 Last Chance...more than 10 books ago! Soo as the reader, I'm not invested in her and dont really care about her plight. Bruce on the other hand, is always the hunky narcissistic a$$hole I love to hate and his exploits are what keeps the book somewhat entertaining.

3 out of 5 other girls Bruce is juggling besides you. He may have asked YOU to the sorority party, but he's making out with everyone else while you're naively dreaming of being that one girl who tames him. KEEP DREAMING, GIRL. 💀

[Lydia Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Sweet Valley High books! Even if they aren't five stars, they are fun to read and the characters are really likable. *WARNING, SPOILERS!*

The only reason this book didn't get more stars is because what Bruce Patman did was NOT nice. In fact, all the way through the book, he was just mean and rude. If he was nice, it was part of his jokes and mean plans. Bruce can fool everyone for a while, but not very long.

But other than that, this book was good! It still has Jeffery French as Elizabeth Wakefield's boyfriend, which I LOVE! I do not like Todd Wilkins. Jeffery is funny, nice, understanding, and a good guy! And he's always nice to Elizabeth, even if she has to turn down a date for a friend.

Anyway, this book was about Julie and Josh, two neighbors who are really good friends. Josh is trying to get into a high school group that his brother was in and Bruce Patman is in charge. So the pledges are really embarrassing and will pretty much kill your reputation if you don't get into the group. And he does them all because he thinks that if he doesn't, his brother will be really disappointed and people will think he's weak for dropping out. But, he ends up hurting Julie bad on accident, just a little prank that Bruce thought was hilarious.

Can Josh make it up to Julie? I'll let you find out! I really enjoyed this book, I just hate what Bruce does to the poor boys.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Source: Kindle Unlimited
Title: Troublemaker
Series: Sweet Valley High #47
Author: Francine Pascal // Kate William

I will never understand the fascination with Bruce Patman in this series. Time after time he has proven that he is a despicable human being and yet, people like Julie are continually falling for him. And I get we all love a bad boy, but not a fucking douchebag Chris, okay? Like, he didn't realise what a good thing he had with Regina, so he ruined it with Amy, and now he's ruined it with Amy, he's decided to play a mean and cruel joke on Julie because he knows it'll hurt her. And for what, so Josh can join his stupid fraternity.

Also where are these people coming from? I don't think we've ever heard of Julie or Josh before this book.

[PurplyCookie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why does everyone seem to get linked to Bruce Patman? Ok, don't answer with the obvious: that every woman does yearn to change the smoldering bad boy that Bruce is.

This time around, the arrow has hit shy, sensitive girl Julie Porter and she decides that only she has detected some degree of warmth within Sweet Valley's resident I'm-so-rich-and-good-looking-and-I-know-it boy. Only Julie's longtime neighbor and friend, Josh Bowen sees the truth since he actually had to deal with Bruce since the former's set on joining Phil Epsilon fraternity.



More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie


Book Details:

Title: Troublemaker (Sweet Valley High #47)
Author: Francine Pascal (Creator)
Reviewed By: Purplycookie

[Hil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book's main character is someone who has randomly appeared who we've never heard of before but who is supposed to be someone Liz has had this special friendship with for years (probably due to the Sweet Valley Twins books being launched after the SVH books, thereby inadvertently creating back stories all over the place)...I really enjoyed this one. In my head, it played out like a perfect 80s high school movie. Even the dialogue was fairly realistic and well written for once. Whoever the ghost writer was on this one, it seemed like a better style so I hope they write more in future. Now, on to find out about these 'slam books'...

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

For Christmas, I received the next 12 books (through 60) and a few of the SVH Super Specials, so my collection is growing and just looking at it in my nostalgia bookcase brings me joy, Marie-Kondo-style. This book was a pretty weak one, mostly revolving around Julie Porter, a character mentioned previously in the book about Johanna, her older sister, who was a high school dropout turned math whiz. Julie, a somewhat dorky musician, has a crush on Bruce Patman and a boy next door best friend named Josh who is obsessed with joining Patman's Phi Epsilon fraternity (because apparently high schools have Greeks in 1980s California). Julie and Elizabeth play duets on their recorders together (yes, it's as dull as it sounds), Julie moons over Bruce while Bruce torments and hazes her friend. At one point, there's a hazing prank that has Josh unknowingly kiss Julie in the dark (so...a nonconsensual kiss, since she thought she was kissing Bruce, who was actually interested in gorgeous senior ballet dancer, decidedly NOT Julie). Julie gets mad and Josh realizes he's in love with Julie and it all winds up ok. Subplot was Jessica playing the role of Essie in You Can't Take it With You, her ego crushed when she realizes that she is chosen because she's a crappy dancer and the role is a comedic one. All ends well when people still applaud and love her because she's Jessica Wakefield. Not a particularly memorable SVH, but I am super excited because Slam Book Fever is next, and that book inspired a slew of drama in my 5th grade class when we passed it around and ended up making our own slam books-- I can't remember anything about the story, but I'm looking forward to reading it and reminiscing.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such great memories...I still own them all. I can't believe this is where my reading addiction started, but I am okay with that.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this back in secondary school... 'Sweet Valley High #47 - Troublemaker' by Francine Pascal

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the cover but just not the story.

[Forever Young Adult]

Graded By: Erin

Read the drinking game and review here.

[Felicia Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the series again. :D

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Troublemaker Sweet Valley High
Plot: Julie’s closest guy friend -Josh Bowman- has decided to pledge the SVH fraternity and takes all their demeaning tasks because his brother was a member and that means something to him. Julie at the same time sees Bruce practically send Josh to the hospital (making him eat until he can’t eat anymore a whole table full of desserts) because he apologizes and fakes sincerity Julie’s head is in the clouds and is even more in love with Bruce. Bruce pretends like he’s interested in Julie and asks her over to his house for some pledge thing or the other. Despite Elizabeth’s warning and Josh’s warning, Julie thinks like a fool it’s different with her (we all know it’s not). She tells them she’s aware of Bruce’s reputation and she’s not as naïve as they think she is. Even though they try to tell her Bruce has been seeing someone else that doesn’t fit her description. So, she goes over to his mansion and he spends half his time with her and half with another girl (going back and forth between the two)- Which I gotta say is BOLD. But then when Julie thinks he’s about to get intimate and romantic with her (which I wonder would she have given him some) someone comes back and they start kissing and it’s not Bruce... It’s Josh! Julie gets pissed when she sees Bruce with the other girl laughing his ass off and storms out thinking Josh is in on it. Josh continues to take “his brothers” bs and kisses Julie again in the halls during another task. He feels bad about what he did to Julie and tries to find a way to talk to her in the lunchroom without drawing attention to himself, but he’s stopped. Bruce demands that he take something over to Julie –(jello?) and Josh is torn. He doesn’t want to hurt Julie further because he realizes he does have feelings for her. So he walks over to the lunch line, gets the jello, and then dumps it on Bruce. He apologizes to Julie and they make up (and probably out later).

My Thoughts: Everyone is saying they haven’t heard of Julie. Julie is *not* a random character. She just hasn’t been introduced in SVH. Julie was a very big part of Sweet Valley Middle and she and Elizabeth and Amy-the old tomboy Amy- hung out all the time under the tree outside the cafeteria and have lunch together. I just don’t understand why it’s that way with us sometimes. And I gotta say I’m guilty of this. When I was in HS (just like Julie) I had a Josh. We hung out all the time and I didn’t realize he was the right person for me because I had my eyes on the WRONG people. But I am SO glad that Julie saw this and actually gave Josh a chance because it’s something I really wish I would have done even today. As for Josh, I would have quit a long time ago. I would have bounced when they sat all that food down in front of me. Coming from a person that had paresis I’m not gonna make my self throw up for NOBODY! And these are the guys you want as future brothers. OH, HELL NAH! And Josh was smart to finally drop all that frat because of all the dumb stuff. Like Winston said it’s cool when it’s just harmless silly stuff but when it comes down to your well being it’s not worth it.

Rating: 5

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has Julie Porter fallen for the wrong guy? YES! Bruce Patman is only the answer if you’re named Regina Morrow. But even then he wasn’t the answer when he cheated on her and indirectly caused her death! Anyway it’s pledge season for the fraternity at Sweet Valley High, Phi Epsilon, and Josh Bowen, some random dude who’s neighbours with Julie Porter is desperate to join to follow in his brothers legacy. Bruce is in charge of the pledging and is being horrible to these boys and everyone’s like just wait Josh it will be better when you get in. Julie Porter falls in love with Bruce Patman and doesn’t realize he’s a complete jerk even though her new/old best friend and recorder buddy Elizabeth is like he’s a jerk. There a big Phi Epsilon party hosted by Bruce and Julie goes with him but Bruce is also with the girl Danielle. Julie doesn’t know until someone turns on the lights and she sees the guy she’s kissing isn’t Bruce but is actually Josh. She gets mad at Josh but after he pours jello on Bruce they make up and realize they love each other and get together. The b-plot is Jessica trying to get a part in the school play that involves ballet not realizing it’s a comedic part. Jess gets the part and decides she’s ok with being a comedian and steals the show. Both twins were pretty good in this book but Liz plays the recorder and that’s her only personality trait and that just screams REJECT so Jess is better. The only bad thing about this book was no one cares about Julie Porter or Josh Bowen but glad they’re happy I guess. And obviously, the recorder. I can’t get over it.

[Dr. Aditi Kapoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not love this book, especially the main story but liked the side story of Jessica trying out for the play and practising ballet with hilarious results! It touches upon an important topic of pledging but could have been made more interesting. It leaves out what finally happens to Liz's music practice. Was it for a a reason?

[Louise Grant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another ok read, but goodreads you gave the synopsis all wrong for this book

[Lizzie the Book Hoarder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julie likes Bruce and agrees to a date but is Bruce genuine or is he planning something?

Jessica subplot of trying out for a play.

[K.L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Julie's best friend Josh is pledging Phi Epsilon, Bruce Patmans fraternity. This rests in him behaving like a dick to Julie - who he actually has a crush on. Boring

[Reading with Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jesus, I guess good old Sweet Valley High is none too worried about harassment lawsuits 😳

[Kodie · Rating 1 out of 5]

You cheat on one girlfriend who then uses cocaine once and dies and you go back to being a terrible person.

[ThymeOperator · Rating 4 out of 5]

What even was this? How does Bruce exist?? The stars are for how much I laughed.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce continues to outdo himself.

[Kortney Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Kind of at a loss, lol. This book is standard campy SVH but the thing that stood out was the plot of the fraternity, pledging, and hazing. Pretty unrealistic in the high school setting. Also, why did it take Josh so long to get it together?

[Keli Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loooovved it

[Candace C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still great after all these years!