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After years of wide-eyed blogging about the surreal 1980s perfection of Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley High book series (and the surprising psychodrama that lurks below the town's perfectly-tanned surface), host Marissa Flaxbart is now forcing people to read the series with her.
But beyond its obsession with the ubiquitous-yet-obscure book series, SWEET VALLEY DIARIES is a podcast about nostalgia and the ways this nostalgia can (spectacularly, hilariously) fail us.
It's about friendship, honesty, and learning to speak your truth in the face of a boyfriend-stealing cheerleader or an evil triplet. It's all the life lessons you could ever hope to learn from two size-6, blonde-haired, aqua-eyed, identical 16-year-old twins. Strap in.
Recent Episodes
Book #54: TWO-BOY WEEKEND
The title of this book makes a promise, and that promise is kept in ways both thrilling and hilarious. Also somewhat harrowing. T…
Extra Drama #53: Seizing the Day is Totally Beat
CW: Mom death Marissa opens up about why, despite her lack of tennis skill, she found herself relating deeply to Kristin Thompson…
Book #53: SECOND CHANCE
The Parade of Randos marches on, but this time around, the plot is not so predictable. Will a soon-to-be tennis pro throw it all …
Extra Drama for Super Thriller #2: The Second Taco
Super Thrillers have SO much drama that some of it has to spill out into an Extra Drama bonus ep! Alice Wakefield's frustrating f…
Super Thriller #2: ON THE RUN
SURPRISE! Just to keep things spicy, we're returning to the Super Thriller series, where the Wakefield twins are still slaving aw…
Extra Drama #52: I Guess It's Okay to Go Home with John for Now?
Marissa and guest reader Dr. Daniel Okobi tackle, but don't really answer, a big-but-vague question: Is John Pfeifer a good guy i…
Book #52: WHITE LIES
If you're expecting a book titled WHITE LIES to be a cold, hard look at the exclusionary racial culture of Sweet Valley, Californ…
Extra Drama #51: So You're Raising a Jessica
Marissa and Mary consider the realism of gritty 1980s teen gambling. Is it harder or easier for a kid to get into money troubles …
Book #51: AGAINST THE ODDS
It’s the Season 6 Premiere of SVD, and former terrible boyfriend and current minor character Ronnie Edwards has a problem. What’s…
Start Here: What is Sweet Valley Diaries?
Sweet Valley Diaries returns on April 22, 2021! Have you ever heard of Sweet Valley High? No? Yes? Either way, you're gonna wann…