At the time I was, and would continue to be for many years, obsessed with the Sweet Valley High books. I read them voraciously because I was nothing like Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield or even Enid Rollins. I would never date a boy like Todd Wilkins, the handsome captain of the basketball team, or Bruce Patman, the handsome, wealthy bad boy of Sweet Valley. When I read the books, though, I could pretend that a better life was possible for me, one where I fit in somewhere, anywhere, and I had friends and a handsome boyfriend and a loving family who knew everything about me. In a better life, I could pretend I was a good girl.
The author reflects on her long-standing obsession with the Sweet Valley High series, highlighting how those stories provided an escape from her own life. Unlike the characters like Elizabeth and Jessica, she felt disconnected from their world, particularly their romantic interests and social circles. The characters embodied a life of friendship and acceptance, which was a stark contrast to her reality.
Through these books, she found solace in imagining a different existence where she belonged, had meaningful relationships, and was accepted for who she was. This yearning for a "better life" allowed her to envision herself as someone who conformed to the ideals represented in the novels, showcasing the power of literature to influence personal identity and aspirations.
