Sweet Valley High follows the lives and loves of identical twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield and their friends, who live in the fictional Southern California town of Sweet Valley. Though Jessica and Elizabeth look identical — “the same shoulder-length, sun-streaked blond hair, the same sparkling blue-green eyes, the same perfect skin,” according to book No. 1, Double Love — their personalities are classic opposites. Elizabeth is sensible, caring, and studious, while Jessica is impulsive, boy-crazy, and occasionally thoughtless. Created by Pascal and produced by a team of ghostwriters, SVH became an instant hit when it premiered in 1983 thanks to its brilliant blend of teen drama (boy trouble! mean girls! school dances!) and soap-opera twists (kidnappings! tragic deaths! evil twins!).