Time elapsed in this book: 4 weeks
Length of their junior year: 3 years, 8 months
Jessica’s love interest: Sheffield Eastman
Entertainment rating: 10/10
I remember reading this book for the first time. I was in 5th or 6th grade, busy checking out all the Sweet Valley books from the library that I could find. One day, one of my friends (also a huge Sweet Valley fan) told me, “Did you know there’s a whole book where Liz has to choose between Todd and Jeffrey?” I did NOT know this. We agreed we had to get our hands on it!! I tracked down a copy of this book and then proceeded to swoon over what I considered the most epic love story in the course of history.
Everyone’s buzzing with the news that Todd Wilkins is moving back to Sweet Valley! I’m buzzing with this news too because, you know, swoon. Jeffrey wasn’t at the party where this was announced, so Liz breaks the news to him at school. He’s stunned and eventually says he looks forward to meeting Todd (he says this despite the fact that Todd and Jeffrey already met during Christmas break; I guess that Super Edition isn’t canon). Liz is pleased that Jeffrey is so mature.
Liz wonders if she’ll have to choose between Jeffrey and Todd and feels insecure because Todd hasn’t sent her a letter saying he’s moving back. Jess thinks Liz should stick with Jeffrey because he’s more fun than Todd and just as cute. Others share the news that Todd’s dad is now president of Varitronics, so they’re moving into a mansion and Todd will be attending Lovett Academy instead of Sweet Valley High. Liz knows Todd is no longer dating Suzanne Devlin (who he fell in love with during another Christmas break; I guess that Super Edition is canon… who can keep track?!) but doesn’t know how he feels about her. On Friday, a letter finally arrives from Todd, looking it like it got lost in the mail. In it, Todd says he wanted Liz to be the first to know he’s moving back to Sweet Valley! He says he never stopped loving her and asks where he stands with her.
Liz puts on the locket Todd gave her before he left (the one she swore she’d never take off) to greet him when he arrives. He asks if her wearing the locket means what he thinks it means. Liz says no, it doesn’t mean anything. Her parents invite Todd over for dinner later that week, during which Jess grills Todd about Lovett Academy. Jess now thinks Liz should date Todd because he goes to a posh school now and Jess expects to meet hot, rich boys through him. At the end of the night, Liz walks Todd out to his car and thinks that it feels weird not to kiss him goodnight.
Friday night, Jeffrey brings Liz flowers and takes her on a date to the Valley Inn. It’s super fancy, and he hopes that it’ll be enough to keep her, since he knows Todd wants her back. After dinner, they go to a scenic overlook at Las Palmas Canyon (not Miller’s Point; this is the classier version) and kiss. Jeffrey tells her that being with her has been the happiest time of his life and that he thinks they belong together. He asks if she feels the same way. Liz says she isn’t sure but that he’ll be the first to know when she figures it out. She then tries to kiss his hurt away. Just what everyone wants: a makeout session with someone who isn’t sure if they love you.
Winston has a party on Saturday, and everyone there is busy betting on who Liz will choose. Ken thinks it’ll be Todd; Aaron thinks it’ll be Jeffrey. Naturally, these dudes are betting on their best friends. Jess introduces Todd to Jeffrey, who greet each other awkwardly.
Later that week, Todd gives the twins a tour of Lovett. Jess is excited about the boys there, and she quickly meets a hottie named Sheffield Eastman. Sheffield is wearing a sports jacket and looks like a young Paul Newman. Jess is smitten and tells him to get her number from Todd. Liz meets a girl named Courtney Kane, who knows Lila from the country club. Courtney’s gorgeous and mentions what a great time she had with Todd the night before. Todd explains that Courtney’s dad is the chairman of the board for Varitronics so he was Courtney’s date to a business event. Uh, what? Anyway, Liz is jealous. When Todd drops them off, he tentatively kisses Liz. They’re about to enjoy a real kiss, but then Liz remembers she has a boyfriend and darts out of the car.
Todd’s planning a formal housewarming party, which Lila’s heard all about from her pal Courtney. Liz wonders whether Todd will ask Courtney or Liz to be his date. Again, Liz seems to forget that she has a boyfriend.
Courtney, however, has not forgotten that Liz has a boyfriend and decides to use this to her advantage. She goes horseback riding and runs into Sheffield at the stables. Courtney thinks Sheffield is gorgeous but boring. She also thinks he’s useful. Courtney tells Sheffield that she doesn’t want Todd to get hurt when he hears that Jeffrey gave Liz a ring! Sheffield is surprised and says Todd was planning to ask Liz to be his date for the party (apparently Todd has forgotten Liz has a boyfriend too). Sheffield, naturally, repeats this gossip to Todd, who believes it and is devastated. He decides to ask Courtney to be his date instead.
Sheffield takes Jess out on a date to a fancy Italian place called Venezia that Courtney recommended. He says that outside of school, he enjoys sports and charitable work. Jess wrinkles her nose at charitable work but then figures that if you’re rich, it’s fashionable to throw your money at some causes. As Sheffield drones on about charity, Jess starts to think he’s a bit boring… but then he suggests a moonlight stroll by the marina and kisses her and Jess is swept away!
On Thursday, Liz gets an invitation in the mail for Todd’s party, which is on Saturday. Talk about a last minute invite! It’s addressed to “Miss Elizabeth Wakefield and Friend” because invites to fancy housewarming parties in Sweet Valley are as formal as wedding invitations. I guess Jeffrey isn’t getting his own invite from Todd. Also, what a snub to write “and Friend” instead of listing Jeffrey’s name! Liz cries because this means Todd isn’t asking her to be his date. Again, she forgets that she has a boyfriend. Just break up with Jeffrey already, Liz!!! Sheesh. Jess tries to console her but then gets excited when Sheffield calls to invite Jess to go to the party as his date.
Jeffrey is excited when Liz asks him to be her date for the party and realizes that it means he won the contest for Liz’s heart! But when she picks him up for the party (his car is getting repaired), he realizes that she wanted to be Todd’s date. Jeffrey is miserable and so is Liz. When they arrive, Todd and Courtney greet them at the door, amplifying Liz’s unhappiness.
Jess has an amazing time dancing with Sheffield and can’t wait to show him off to her SVH friends. Lila is there with Drake Howard, a Sweet Valley College sophomore she occasionally dates. I didn’t realize he was still around, since he was last mentioned in book 22. Jess brings Sheffield over to her friends, and Bruce asks him about Lovett. Jess is thrilled because this is the perfect opportunity for Sheffield to brag about his credentials. At first it goes well. Then Sheffield mentions that he’s going to take a semester off to do his senior project, which involves him living and working at a homeless shelter to understand how to help people more effectively. He’s selling his Mercedes to help fund this. Lila is delighted. Jess is appalled. The awkward mood is broken when Bruce pushes Ken and Winston into the pool. Jess wants to push Sheffield and his project into the pool.
Elsewhere, Jeffrey spies Courtney putting something into Liz’s jacket. He follows Courtney as she scurries off, sure she’s up to no good. Shortly thereafter, Liz picks up the jacket and finds a note in the pocket, ostensibly from Todd, asking her to meet him at the gazebo. Liz is confused because the handwriting isn’t Todd’s (and she would know, since they’ve been writing letters to each other), but it’s signed with Todd’s name so she figures it must be from him. She tells Jess about the note, and Jess tells her not to bother meeting Todd because private school boys aren’t as good as they’re cracked up to be. Liz can’t resist, though, so she heads to the gazebo, where Courtney has lured Todd, saying she has a headache. As soon as Liz arrives, Courtney starts kissing him! Liz can’t believe what she’s seeing and rushes off, driving away from the mansion in tears.
Jeffrey figures out what happened. He thinks about keeping his mouth closed, but he doesn’t want to win Liz by default and thinks that even if no one else knew, he’d know. He has to tell someone, and that someone is Todd. Jeffrey is way too noble for this series. No wonder I found him kinda boring as a kid.
Liz drives to Secca Lake, where she’d spent many romantic nights with Todd, and cries. Then Todd appears in his brand-new BMW! Jeffrey told Todd everything! Todd says he’s done with Courtney’s lies, and Liz tells him he’s the one that she wants. They kiss!
Up next: Will Liz and Todd’s relationship be different with him at Lovett??