Sweet Valley High #68: The Love Bet

Time elapsed in this book: 3 weeks

Length of their junior year: 4 years, 8 months, 1 week

Jessica’s love interest: Rock stars

Entertainment rating: 10/10

I love this book! The main plot is cute, the subplot is hysterical, both twins are scheming… it’s just plain fun. Pretty sure this was one of my favorites as a kid too.

There’s a new band in town! Baja Beat is led by Andy Jenkins, who’s dating Patty Gilbert’s cousin Tracy. Some people think it’ll be hard for them since the Droids already exist, but Dana says there’s always room for more music. I can’t believe anyone thinks there’s only room for one band at a school. At my high school, it seemed like everyone who played a guitar or drums or sang (or just wanted to be in a band…) was in a band. I remember going to a local band’s show one night and they’d added a new member, one of their friends who only played the trumpet. He randomly tooted his horn during their songs. In case you’re wondering: no, it was not good.

Dana says she’s given up on love ever since she broke up with Brent. I’m pretty sure this is a reference to the guy named Brett in Who’s Who but Dana actually ended up with Pete, not Brett, so it’s a continuity fail on all counts. She improvises a song called “Fed Up with Love” at a party and Aaron tells Todd that ever since his girlfriend Heather Sanford moved away, he’s given up on love too!

Todd and Liz discuss Dana and Aaron. Liz thinks they should set them up. Todd thinks they’re too different but says he’ll help her and that if “Operation Pair-Up” is a success, he’ll owe her three wishes. If it isn’t a success, she owes him three wishes.

Phase One of Operation Pair Up involves Liz roping friends into having a conversation that Dana “accidentally” overhears, saying Aaron was asking a bunch of questions about Dana at the party. Todd ropes friends into the same thing so Aaron overhears them talking about how Dana has a crush on someone.

Phase Two of Operation Pair Up involves getting Aaron and Dana on a date. Liz invites Dana to an old movie with her and Todd and says Todd might bring a friend. Todd does the same with Aaron.

Jess is appalled by Liz’s matchmaking. She thinks Dana and Aaron are too different, but mostly she’s offended that Liz might take Aaron off the market because Jess depends on him to be single and available when she needs a date. Jess is so good at looking at the bigger picture when the bigger picture is about her!

Baja Beat challenges the Droids, Spontaneous Combustion (who?), and the Suede Men (also who?) to a Battle of the Bands! Apparently more than one band already existed at SVH. Who knew? It’s sponsored by a radio station and the winning band gets an all-expense-paid weekend in Los Angeles, where they’ll open at a “hip music club!” Jess tells Lila they should become roadies for a band because if their band wins, they can go to Los Angeles and mingle with real rock stars, maybe even Jamie Peters!

Liz and Todd pick up Aaron and Dana for the movie. It’s clear they’re both aware the other might have a crush on them. After the movie, they go to Guido’s for pizza and discuss the film. Dana is surprised that Aaron has thoughtful comments and is more than just a jock. Then Aaron tells Dana that he liked her “Fed Up With Love” song and that falling in love is a waste of time. Sigh.

Jess talks to Andy about being a roadie, since she figures Baja Beat is the best bet to beat the Droids. Unfortunately, Andy says he has all the help he needs. He suggests she talk to Spy Lazarus from the band Spontaneous Combustion.

Todd tells Aaron that Dana called Liz and that it sounds like Dana really likes him. Aaron is flattered and excited, since he’s been thinking about her a lot and worried that he blew it by bringing up “Fed Up with Love.” Todd suggests that he invite Dana to a jazz festival that weekend for a double date with Todd and Liz.

At the jazz festival, Dana teaches Aaron about jazz and he compares it to soccer. Dana finds herself fascinated. Aaron invites her attend one of his games and says he’ll cheer her on in Battle of the Bands in return. Dana accepts and says that friends should take an interest in one another. Vibe killer!

Dana goes to the game and loves it. She’s confused about how she feels about Aaron but can’t deny she wants to be more than friends. She hopes that he’s changed his mind about love too!

Jess calls Spy, who confirms that Spontaneous Combustion needs roadies. Jess and Lila head over to his house. He lives on Wentworth Avenue, which Lila declares is the worst part of town (must be near the Shady Lady and the Martins). Jess insists that he’s a musician so he must be hot, but Lila points out that if he were really that hot, they’d have noticed him at school. Jess doesn’t want to admit that Lila’s right, so she says he’s probably always busy with his band.

Spy greets them at the door. He’s smoking a cigarette and described as “a tall, scrawny guy with very pale skin and dark, greasy hair.” He calls them “the Wakefield and Fowler chicks” and tells them the band has “always wanted babes for roadies.” Spy introduces them to the rest of the band (“Hal, Wheels, Pete, and Motorhead. You can call him Motor.”) and Jess thinks calling any them unattractive would be a compliment. I love this subplot so much!!

Liz gets tickets for a play and gives Dana two of the tickets, telling her that Aaron’s already made clear that he’ll pick up Dana himself. Dana can’t stop smiling and assumes Aaron feels the same that she does. An unsigned card falls out of her locker. It reads: “Roses are red, violets are blue, I’ve changed my mind, how about you?” Dana tells Liz it has to be from Aaron.

Liz knows the card isn’t from Aaron because she recognized his handwriting as Todd’s. What a dummy, at least type it out if you can’t disguise your own writing! She finds Todd and asks why he sent the card. Todd says he was trying to help, but Liz says it was a risk because if Dana mentions the card to Aaron and they figure out what Liz and Todd have been doing… Todd feels bad and apologizes.

Liz and Todd end up not being able to make the play. Dana’s excited it will now be her first date with Aaron! They have a great time and go to the Box Tree Cafe afterward. Aaron says there’s something he needs to tell her, and Dana says he doesn’t have to because his card said it all. She pulls out the card but Aaron says that’s Todd’s handwriting, not his. Dana suddenly realizes she’s been set up and thinks Todd and Liz were trying to make a fool out of her!

Jess and Lila hate their new gig. Jess wants to scream but thinks Pete screams for her when he starts singing. Lila calls it noise pollution. They play songs called “Hold Me Till I Hate You” and “Just Call Me Mr. Zero” and Jess thinks Spy was right when he wrote that song. These song titles… so good!!

Dana yells at Liz for trying to set her up. Liz then yells at Todd and accuses him of trying to sabotage the matchmaking.

Jess tells Liz says she’s had nightmares about touring the country with Spontaneous Combustion and that she has to wash her hair three times after every practice to get the smell of cigarettes out. She says Lila doesn’t do anything so she has to jump every time Spy or Wheels or Motor needs something. Liz asks if Jess is really hanging out with people named Wheels and Motor. Jess says Wheels had the nerve to ask her if she wanted to be his chick. Jess informed him that Jessica Wakefield is nobody’s chick!

It’s time for the Battle of the Bands! Before the Droids go on, Aaron finds Dana and tells her that Todd confessed all. Dana says Todd and Liz should have minded their own business, but Aaron says he’s glad they didn’t because he’s crazy about her. They share an electric kiss!

The Droids perform and it’s clear the audience prefers them over Baja Beat and the Suede Men, who’ve already played. It’s time for Spontaneous Combustion! Jess is over the gig, especially since Lila claimed to have a sprained wrist to get out of helping, and angrily plugs in the cords at random, figuring one outlet is as good as another. Spy plays the first electric guitar riff, but instead of an ear-splitting sound, there’s a flash of light and a small explosion! Jess slips off into the crowd.

The Droids win the battle in a landslide! Shocking, I know. Dana and Aaron then send both Liz and Todd typed apology letters (way smarter than Todd’s handwritten one…) asking to meet after school to kiss and make up. They both show up, realize Aaron and Dana set them up, but make up anyway.

Liz won the bet so she gets three wishes. She wishes that the two of them never have a pointless argument again (this will absolutely NOT come true), that they’ll always be together and be as happy as they are now (again, we’re only on book 68, there’s lots more time for them to fight and break up!), and that Todd gives her the best kiss ever! Todd says, “One Todd Wilkins Deluxe Smooch, coming right up!” I guarantee I swooned over this as a kid. What a great line!

I loved this book so much!

Up next: why is Charlie Cashman picking on Andy Jenkins?!