St. Martin's Press to Release Adult Sweet Valley High Novel!
By Jamey Giddens on February 11, 2010
Okay, St. Martin's Press is fast becoming my favorite publishing house. First they released my literary heroine Jackie Collins' latest tome, Poor Little Bitch Girl on Tuesday, now comes news of an adult follow-up to the monster hit teen book series Sweet Valley High!
In 2008, publisher Random House released an updated version of Sweet Valley High where Jessica and Liz had cell phones, drove a red Jeep, instead of a classic Fiat spider and were "perfect size fours" instead of "perfect size sixes". The revamped book series boasted All My Children alum Leven Rambin on the cover in the dual role of Jessica and Elizabeth.
Last year, Variety reported Sweet Valley High would be making its way to the big screen via a Universal movie penned by Juno and United States of Tara scribe Diablo Cody. It looks like Sweet Valley is definitely making a comeback. Now if someone will just take Jem and the Holograms to the big screen my work will finally be done!
Okay, St. Martin's Press is fast becoming my favorite publishing house. First they released my literary heroine Jackie Collins' latest tome, Poor Little Bitch Girl on Tuesday, now comes news of an adult follow-up to the monster hit teen book series Sweet Valley High!
According to EW.com, St. Martin's has confirmed plans to publish Sweet Valley Confidential, a novel for fans who grew up in the 80's and 90's with identical twin sisters Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, their friends, rivals and boyfriends in fictional SoCal paradise of Sweet Valley, California. The new novel, which will follow scheming, boy crazy, fashion-obsessed Jess and her level-headed, straight A student sis Liz into adulthood, is being penned by Francine Pascal, who orignally conceived the Sweet Valley saga as a proposed daytime soap opera, before opting to turn her story bible into a book series.
Sweet Valley High ultimately made it to television, at any rate, as a syndicated, weekly dramedy starring real life twins Brittany and Cynthia Daniel as Jessica and Liz, respectively. The series (which did not do the franchise justice) ran from 1994-97 (See clip after the jump).
In 2008, publisher Random House released an updated version of Sweet Valley High where Jessica and Liz had cell phones, drove a red Jeep, instead of a classic Fiat spider and were "perfect size fours" instead of "perfect size sixes". The revamped book series boasted All My Children alum Leven Rambin on the cover in the dual role of Jessica and Elizabeth.
Last year, Variety reported Sweet Valley High would be making its way to the big screen via a Universal movie penned by Juno and United States of Tara scribe Diablo Cody. It looks like Sweet Valley is definitely making a comeback. Now if someone will just take Jem and the Holograms to the big screen my work will finally be done!
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Comments
25 December 2008
3 hours 5 min
Oh jamey, I loved Sweet Valley High and Elizabeth and Jessica, I had all the books at home.
I didn't like the tv show either but I must say that the actresses looked the part.
25 August 2008
9 hours 29 min
Will be interested in seeing the big screen version of Sweet Valley. I actually found the TV series enjoyable enough, if a bit cheesy (although one could say the same about the books). It wasn't no Saved by the Bell or anything, but it was entertaining lol
Ahhhh now I loved Jem, absolutely loved it. How awesome would a live action Jem TV series be? It's amazing how catchy the songs from the series still sound to me, I can pick any song on Youtube from the show and enjoy it. That Britta Phillips sure could wail hahahaha
22 January 2008
6 hours 15 min
Troymclure, I love those girls, but I hated the show's cheesy, overly slapsticky tone. the SVH books were soap operas in book form. Ripe with drama, intrigue and pot boiler saga. The movie should be interesting, but I am more excited about the adult novel! I would love to see where Jessica is in 2010. I predict she's a hot shot fashion PR executive, while Elizabeth is of course political journo. She and Todd broke up after university, now he is running for Senate. Lila Fowler is married to Bruce Patman, who cheats on her. She pops pills. Winston is a billionaire, having started a social media networking site. LOL Okay, now I will let Francine do her thing!
22 January 2008
6 hours 15 min
How awesome would a live action Jem TV series be? It's amazing how catchy the songs from the series still sound to me, I can pick any song on Youtube from the show and enjoy it. That Britta Phillips sure could wail hahahaha
***
Supposedly Universal in considering a big screen Jem, based on the success of the Transformers and GI Joe movies. Cross your fingers! Although, if I even see the name Taylor Swift mentioned I will barf all over myself.
25 August 2008
9 hours 29 min
Oh no, not Taylor Swift, that just wouldn't work! LOL If it's live action, it's too bad Britta Phillips couldn't reprise Jem's singing voice, but I'm assuming they'd want someone who could act AND sing to play Jem/Jerrica.
I think the Stingers had the best songs, Destiny, Under My Spell, Mind Games, it's too bad the show was cancelled shortly after they were added. I think everything turned really complex at about that point
I'm still pissed that the rest of the series wasn't released on DVD, it would have been if they hadn't split season three up into two parts! Grrrrrr
8 December 2009
4 weeks 4 days
Omg, I LOVED Sweet Valley High (the books, didn't really watch the series)!!!. I used to sit in the school library reading my Sweet Valley High books, even though I was supposed to be doing some actual school work, and would check them out by the truckload. Between Sweet Vally High, The Babysitters Club, R.L. Stine and Judith Krantz life couldn't get much better!
I miss Jem and would love to see a new updated cartoon or even a live action version. I must admit though that while I loved the Holograms, them heffas, The Misfits.....they had my heart. Then again, I think it's just my love of the bad girls.
25 December 2008
3 hours 5 min
Jamey, I agree about the tv show, it was too cheesy and campy. The books were pure soap in a tweenie kind of way. I'm not excited about the movie either because I don't think it will be faithful to the soapiness considering Cody's involvement (I think she is great but I wouldn't call her soapy)
The new books has me all excited
22 January 2008
6 hours 15 min
OMG I LOVED the Stingers and Stinger Sound! MEMORIES! Christina Aguilera might work as Jem and Jerrica. My fave Jem song was "I've Got My Eye On You" by Jem and the Holgrams. I also loved "Winning is Everything" by The Misfits. Jem was SUCH a soap opera. Secret identities, corporate intrigue. Sibling rivalries. Cliffhangers. Good stuff.
Did any of you guys read the Sweet Valley High special edition books about this evil third twin who tried to kil Jess and Liz at Christmas? SCARIER than Stephen King!
8 May 2008
7 hours 55 min
Jamey, you should be a writer, you ideas are way better than whats on the soaps these days.
25 August 2008
9 hours 29 min
troymcclure:
Diablo Cody has a column in EW, and I remember one issue she talked about taking the reigns of the Sweet Valley High movie and how she spoke with Francine Pascal about her vision. She seems uber excited about it, so I will wait until I see the finished product before judging. That said, I didn't think Juno was as great as I expected it to be. It got such rave reviews I thought I would absolutely love it, but I didn't. Love Michael Cera though.
Jamey:
I read a couple of the special edition books, I remember one where they went to some ski lodge and Liz was pissed at Jess and had a dream that Jess had died and she was devastated. It always amazed me how selfish and evil Jess could be and yet Liz always forgave her and loved her.
I loved many of the Misfits songs, but I think my faves "You Oughta See the View" and "We're off and Running", oh and "I Am a Giant", I could go on and on I guess LOL But I think when the Stingers were added to the show there were so many places it could go, with Riot fascinated with Jem, but with no feelings toward Jerrica at all, Rio getting all possessive over Jem even though his gf is Jerrica (seriously, how did he have any right????? hahahaha). Do you remember the episode Midsummer Night's Madness? Egads what a mind bender that was. It made me dizzy
22 January 2008
6 hours 15 min
I liked Juno, but it's a nerd movie. I do NOT want Sweet Valley to be a nerd movie. It's okay to make Winston, Enid, etc. have strong voices, but if she makes Jessica and Lila out to be one note, shallow beeyouches I won't be happy. LOL
1 April 2009
7 hours 10 min
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THE WAKEFIELD SISTERS!!!!!! They were cool waaaaaaay before Brandon and Brenda!
My mom still has all my SVH books, packed up. These days, I see the 'newer covers' at my bookstore and wish I was 13 again.....
Never watched the Show (either)...By 1994 I was 20 and.....well, very into Brandon and Brenda. LOL!
Thanks for including Pictures of "Elizabeth and Jessica". I can't stop looking at them....I feel so young again!!
8 May 2008
7 hours 55 min
Jamey, is the sisters going to be adults in the new movie or what, just asking?
28 June 2008
10 weeks 5 days
I LOVED the Sweet Valley High books...damn me for giving all of my childhood books away! I wish Francine would give a hint on what the girls would be doing...like did Elizabeth end up with Todd (I think that was her longtime boyfriend's name). Who was Jessica's rich friend? I love that they are bringing back all of this old stuff...I hope they do not bring back moon boots and parachute pants from my generation..
I also loved Gem...I wish the cartoon network would play that one! There is only so much of the Smurfs I can endure!
We do not want to see a Gem movie...look how they butchered Josie and the Pussycats!
7 December 2009
2 hours 8 min
Looking forward to grown up Wakefield twins in 2010, but not holding much hope for the movie version.
I hopped, skipped and spun a cartwheel when I heard the TV version was coming out, but didn't realise my joy will be short-lived. I loved the Daniels' as the twins, but I expected something along the lines of Swans Crossing and not the mess we were given.
As a fan who still silently curses the girls who stole my copies way back in boarding school, I am looking forward to the possibility of Jessica actually being the one who turned Suzy-homemaker or Liz having a lovechild with Bruce.
25 August 2008
9 hours 29 min
SWANS CROSSING!!!!! LOL OMG, I totally thought I was the only one to remember that show :oX It was sooooooooo bad and cheesy and terrible and yet it was my guilty pleasure. Sarah Michelle Gellar totally made that show though, she was a riot.
3 August 2009
26 weeks 4 days
Jamey I am right there with you!! I would love to see a Jem and The Holograms movie!!!!! I for one cannot wait to read Sweet Valley Confidential!!! I know I am a nerd, but I still have ALL of the SVH books....LOL
9 December 2009
4 days 12 hours
If I had known how soapy the SVH books were I would have read them back in the day. I did watch the show though. It was horrible, but I always liked Brittany Daniels for some reason.
I LOVED Jem as a kid!! One of the best cartoons ever. My favorite songs were "Glitter and Gold" and "Only Me and the Music". If they did a live action movie they'd have to find some unknown to play Jem....definitely not that Taylor Swift girl.
I remember Swans Crossing too!!! So cheesy and fun. I loved Sarah Michelle Gellar on that show. I was sad when it got cancelled, but then SMG showed up on AMC so it was all good.
9 December 2008
5 days 18 hours
It's possible (at least in my mind it is) that Hasbro can approve the release of a complete Jem series box set the same way that they did with GI Joe and Transformers. I would expect sometime next year, as that's around the 25th anniversary.
Jem's such a damned good cartoon. They don't make them like that any more. Even if, as I watch them now, I'm always going 'why the hell didn't the Misfits ever get ARRESTED for the crap they pulled?' There's at least a half dozen manslaughter charges in any given episode...
I hope that if they do a movie (which I will go and see on day one) they at least tone down on the drag queen look. They wouldn't translate well on screen, no sir...
26 December 2007
10 weeks 10 hours
Omg how sad is that a few seconds into that clip, I actually remembered the words and can sing along? LOL
I lovedd the show but then again, i loved all the teen shows back then (i was like 10 LOL)
The books were the best! I don't rem the special editions- but i did love the university books- where Jess had a hot hubby named Nick.
I even read the "Elizabeth" books where she got into a huge fight with Jess and ran off to England and was a maid! lol
Oh oh and the "Senior Year" books after the earthquake. Oyy I cant wait for the books and the movie. I would totally re-read all the other books lol. I even read the elementary school books. Wow i was really obsessed loll
22 January 2008
6 hours 15 min
In the Sweet Valley High movie from Diablo Cody, they will be in high school. In the novel Sweet Valley Confidential, they will be adults.
14 December 2008
1 day 8 hours
Wow, I can't wait for the adult book, I'll have to give it a read! Can't wait for the Jem movie eithier.
16 September 2008
7 hours 9 min
Maybe your enjoyment of the t.v. show depended on how old you were at the time, because I loved the books and I loved the show, and I'm pretty sure I was no older than middle school at the time.
I remember all of the Jem songs, too! Man, 80s pop culture was the BEST.
29 July 2009
7 weeks 1 day
I loved the SVH books and the TV show too, I can't wait for the new novels
14 December 2008
1 day 8 hours
[quote=samrocks]Maybe your enjoyment of the t.v. show depended on how old you were at the time, because I loved the books and I loved the show, and I'm pretty sure I was no older than middle school at the time.
Me too, Samrocks. I was only ten and loved the show as well as the books, I still have the Christmas episode on tape and lc ontinue to love it. Must be the nostalgia factor.