We’re testing out a new feature where we give you the rundown on what you might have missed in our posts this week, or if you need a refresher before reading next week’s posts. Plus some misc links from around the web that might be of interest.

Sweet Valley High #2: Secrets

We wrapped up Sweet Valley High: Secrets this week, and if you missed the posts you can read how Enid got her groove back and how Jessica got her comeuppance…in a really creepy way.

Here are the main takeaways:

• Enid shows up at Ms. Dalton’s house to discuss her problems. In related news, Ms. Dalton does not know how to set healthy boundaries with her students.
• Ms. Dalton helps Enid realize she needs to talk to Elizabeth and attend the dance even though she doesn’t have a date. Enid helps Ms. Dalton realize she has to chaperone a school dance despite her rumoured affair with a student.
• George surprises Enid. He now dresses in a respectable fashion which demonstrates his inner changes in addition to his outward ones.
• Elizabeth has figured out Jessica has caused all this trouble. She seeks revenge.

• Elizabeth’s revenge is getting Jessica and none other than Winston nominated as homecoming queen and king. By high school law, this means they are an item. Elizabeth tries to get them to kiss? It’s not a great situation for anyone involved, really.
• Is Bruce interested in Jessica?? He looks at her in a certain way that may or may not be significant. What a spectacular cliffhanger!

Life and Death (AKA GENDER-SWAPPED TWILIGHT!!!!):

We started reading Life and Death, and it seems like people are into it, which is exciting. Read our thoughts on Meyer’s foreword (because that deserved a post of its own), meet Beau/Bella/Ana/Banana and watch as sexism ends once and for all when a girl saves a boy from imminent danger.

Here’s what you need to know for next week:

• Beau who is also Bella does not have gender-swapped parents. I’m sure most of us have never had everyone in our lives go through a gender-swap, so this is relatable.
• Beau goes to live with his father in Forks, a small town in Seattle. It rains a lot.
• Even though everyone immediately loves Beau (and Bella), in both books they are awkward, clumsy, lonely outcasts.
• Edythe is a beautiful girl. Beau thought her named was spelled ‘Edith’ but he was wrong, and we got that all sorted out.
• In biology class, sometimes Edythe glares at Beau, but sometimes she is nice and wants to know everything about him even though he is an empty, cardboard box.
• Lots of glaring and intense looks.

• Science.
• Everyone asks Outcast Beau to the upcoming dance. He turns them down as Edythe looks on.
• Beau is almost hit by a car, but is saved by Edythe who broke the laws of time and space to save him somehow. Sexism is a thing of the past.
• They agree to go to Seattle together instead of the dance. They agree to let this friendship blossom.

Bonus Posts:

Yes, these actually happened this week!

We wrote about the Romance category on the Goodreads Choice Awards 2015. We also gave an overview of how we’re going to be approaching our reading of Life and Death. 

House of Night #4: Untamed:

We start this on Monday. Cries of joy are heard around the world.

Things you might want to check out:

• The Oatmeal has a new comic geared towards those of us who have realized that going out is actually terrible.
• You should check out the “rants, ramblings and regrets” of Fattymccupcakes because they are fantastic.
• You may have already seen our beloved E.H. Taylor’s bargain book reviews, but in case you missed it, they’re super useful. BUYING CHEAP E-BOOKS ADDS UP OKAY? STOP JUDGING ME FOR WASTING SO MUCH MONEY ON THE CRAP ONES.
• Yay Canada! Your Prime Minister seems cool.
• It’s worth noting that until Nov 8th, you can get 20% off orders from our store. So if you like mugs and tote bags that other people probably won’t understand, we’re your guys.

Let us know if you enjoyed this feature and if you’d like to see more like it in the future. It was really fun to put together, so we’ll test it out for a few weeks to see how it goes and if you guys are liking it.