I Was Feeling Epic: An Oral History of The Vampire Diaries

by Samantha Highfill

From Entertainment Weekly writer and debut author Samantha Highfill, a definitive and deliciously nostalgic look into the creation and legacy of the hit show The Vampire Diaries, as told by its cast, crew, and creators.

In 2009, the CW released a show about grief, love, redemption, and, oh yeah, vampires. A graveyard meet-cute, a bit of fog, and one “Hello, brother” later, a cultural phenomenon was born, one that would last for 171 episodes across eight seasons and deliver two spin-off series.

I Was Feeling Epic takes us back to Mystic Falls for every first kiss, decade dance, and unforgettable death. With brand-new interviews from cast and creatives like Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder, Kat Graham, Candice King, Joseph Morgan, Michael Trevino, Zach Roerig, Michael Malarkey, Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, and so many more, I Was Feeling Epic relives the show’s best moments, unearths never-before-told stories, and delves into some of the most widely discussed topics surrounding the series and its legacy, all in the words of the people who know it best.

Transportive, nostalgic, and perfect for old fans and new, I Was Feeling Epic is the in-depth story behind the vampirically immortal The Vampire Diaries.

Genres: Nonfiction, Vampires, Audiobook, Pop Culture, Biography, Celebrity

Audible Audio

First published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an oral history of the show told from the creators, writers, producers and the actors themselves! I’m a HUGE fan of the show. I actually just watched it for the first time last year, and I’ve since watched The Vampire Diaries twice and The Originals (spin off show) three times haha. It has completely taken over my life 😂🤭

This book was soooo fascinating as a fan of the show! I LOVED learning about the behind the scenes, all the drama happening in the writers room, and learning about which actors might’ve been cast to play Damon, Stefan and Klaus especially surprised me 🤯 I think because I wasn’t watching the show as it was airing, I missed out on a lot of the lore behind things that were happening while the show was filming and this book filled a lot of gaps for me, things I was always curious about haha.

It’s actually wild to me to learn about how much of a time crunch these writers were on, and kind of writing the season as they were filming it. The way some villains were not totally realized when they were first introduced. As a HUGE fan of Klaus it was soooo cool to hear the origins of his character and how the original family came to be! I’m DYING for a sequel to this book doing more of a deep dive into The Originals too! I’d love to learn more about what was happening behind the scenes of that show too!

I learned so many things I didn’t know about the show and it was so fun to hear it from the creators themselves. I gained sooooo much respect for Nina Dobrev as an actress and I felt a lot of rage in her behalf while reading. This was so interesting and a must read for anyone who has seen the series!

And if you haven’t yet watched The Vampire Diaries, it’s the PERFECT show to watch in the Fall. After talking about this book with my mom who also watched the show, we are tempted to watch it for a 3rd rewatch 🤭

Thanks to @plume_books for sending me a copy for review! This was a 5/5 ⭐️ read for me!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the author and publisher really wants to sell millions of copies of this book (can't see why they wouldn't), all that is needed is to advertise that this book solves the mystery of what was in Liz Forbes' letter. The burning (no pun intended) question on all our minds ever since that episode aired. And now I know what was in it! No Vampire Diaries book could ever compare. I wasn't even thinking about that when I started the book, since I just figured the writers never actually wrote the letter. It's not the full letter, I guess she didn't get the full letter, or it doesn't exist anymore, but we now can know what was in the letter.

I don't usually (ever) read books about TV shows or movies, but I am so glad I decided to read this one! Definitely would recommend this to any fan of The Vampire Diaries (and already have).

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

[emilybookedup]

looooved this oral retelling of TVD show! 🧛🏼🧛🏼 **i do not rate nonfiction, but thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

if you have watched THE VAMPIRE DIARIES or you’re a fan of the show like me, you need to read this! it’s super fun on audio bc it has a full cast narration (not with the stars tho, that woulda been fun but $$$ lol) and gives you almost an episode by episode, season by season glimpse underneath the hood of what was really going on to make this show happen.

i’ve jotted down my fave things i learned below for safekeeping if you’re curious, but the book goes WAY more indepth. my fave parts were learning about the casting, life off set and just how chaotic and down to the wire every episode was… sometimes they were finishing editing, music, etc 48 hours before an episode aired 🤯😱

and ofc it ends with a fun treat… that there just may be something still on the writing room floor for us 👀

👇🏼 spoilers below but here’s what i loved learning more about!

🚨🚨🚨🚨

- Jeremy was the first one cast
- Tyler auditioned for Stefan and Damon and lost both but then got Tyler 😂
- Elena was blonde in the book so initially people hated her when she was cast. Fans also didn’t like Bonnie because she wasn’t black in the book and Kat G. didn’t have red hair
- Matt really wanted to be Tyler or Stefan ☠️
- Tessa Thompson was supposed to be Bonnie! This is the actress playing the lead in HIS & HERS coming to Netflix soon
- Ashley Simpson was supposed to play Elena because the CW was pushing it because she was popular at the time
- Nina‘s audition did not go well at all. They dismissed her because she was sick and had low energy and she also was a brunette… but then she came back and got it
- Sebastian Stan was supposed to be Stefan but he couldn’t do it because he was tied to another show at the time
- Damon’s role was the hardest cast and they tested about 400 actors for the role
- Twilight was filming in Vancouver at the same time and they all hung out lol
- The bourbon was tea and then they realized everyone was getting too caffeinated and effed up in the early seasons, so they had to change it to decaffeinated tea lol
- There was supposed to be a Taylor swift cameo but Julie plec said no???!!???!! Ummm!!!
- They were going to have Bonnie and Matt end up together🤣
- Damon wanted out of the show in like season 3/4 bc he was too “good guy” and lovey dovey/romance focused and Stefan was more bad guy w the Ripper and he was jealous
- Alaric wanted out of the show bc he was having personal issues and then the cast budget was getting too big so they killed him
- Candice King was married to someone in The Fray!!! So hence why they used so many Fray songs
- There was going to be a spin off with Tyler & Caroline being like detectives in Chicago lol but instead they did the Originals
- Marcel was supposed to be Pedro Pascal but he was too old / did a bad interview bc he was sick so it went to Charles
- Enzo was supposed to be the third Salvatore brother 🤨
- Nina was paid the least and never paid for being like a triple character w the doppelgängers... And instead of paying her more, they decided to stop the Katherine plot / kill her off which pissed Nina off and eventually led to her quitting after 6 seasons
- !!!!!!! In this book, you learn what was in the letter Sherrif Forbes writes Caroline that she burns (which you never see in the show). You know the iconic “BURN IT” line from Caroline?
- They loved Kai but wanted Klaus to be the only villain who would survive in the TVD series so they killed him off
- Tyler & Elena both decided to leave after 6 seasons. Elena leaving was bc of the pay disparity
- Caroline had Alaric’s babies bc she got preggo IRL
- The original ending was supposed to be both brothers dying and watching Elena as ghosts happy she was human and happy
- Then they wanted to try to bring Elena back for 3-4 episodes to have her end up with Stefan but the showrunners wouldn’t pay her :((((

[Stefani Murdock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey look, she read something nonfiction! 🤪 If you loved TVD, then you'll enjoy this. Felt so nostalgic. I loved hearing about the casting process, and also enraged for Nina/ finding out why she left the show.

[Chapters of Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, the NOSTALGIA! 🤩
Thank you, Plume Books, for the gifted copy of I Was Feeling Epic {partner}
 
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date:   9.9.2025
Pages: 416
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Fun fact, I didn't jump on The Vampire Diaries train until well after the show ended, and now it's become my favorite series to rewatch every fall. I've tried watching other vampire shows, but there's just nothing that quite compares to the show's intense angst, not to mention all of the beautiful characters. So, I was over the moon to have the opportunity to read I Was Feeling Epic right when my rewatch was about to begin. 

This book is PERFECT for all of you TVD lovers out there. All the behind-the-scenes takes, the little tidbits about specific episodes, and just the picture that the book painted of what it was like to be on set during the series 8 season run. It made me look at the series with fresh eyes and really appreciate the overall story. It also gave me a greater appreciation for what each actor brought to their roles and the impact that the show had on their lives.

For so long, I pictured TVD as a love triangle between Elena, Damon, and Stephen. Still, in reality, it really did feel like a show about the bond between two brothers: their differences, their similarities, and all the years and years of history between the two of them. 

Read if you enjoy:
🎥 Behind the scenes look
🩸 The Vampire Diaries
🧛🏽‍♀️ Vampires
🫶🏼 Nostalgic reads

I highly recommend reading I Was Feeling Epic if you're a fan of The Vampire Diaries or love a behind-the-scenes look at popular TV shows. 
______



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[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of The Vampire Diaries, I highly recommend reading this book. I loved it from beginning to end. Between the cast and crew interviews and the little episode or season tidbits, I was hooked. I loved the format of the book as well. It felt like I was having conversations with everyone rather than reading it off the page. It was also so cool to see the behind-the-scenes process of casting, writing, and plotting out an episode or season. I haven't rewatched it in a while, but I could easily see the exact scene they talked about in this book. I was and am still a huge fan of this show, and it was something my mom and I would watch every week like clockwork. I wish there was something like this for all of my favorite shows. I loved reading this one so much! Thank you to Plume books for the ARC to read and review!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was epic. Wow.

I love this show. It’s a show I watch yearly (multiple times a year?). It’s a comfort show.

Having the entire history of the show at my fingertips was a treasure. I loved it. I loved all of the things I never knew and revisiting moments with everyone involved.

I was emotional a few times just hearing about things and remembering parts from the show.

There are great pieces in here from the letter that Liz Forbes wrote (seriously!) to parts of why the show went the way that it did and how that varied from the original plan.

I have so much respect and love for everyone involved. And I’m so grateful for this book.

One of the top reads of the year for me. Hands down.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book made my tvd-loving heart very happy. time to rewatch the entire thing …..

[adeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m a delena girlie through and through and will be for the rest of my life but wow, i agree with paul wesley when he said that the original ending would’ve been better than the one that we got (minus the elena ending up with matt donovan part)

[kory. · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite oral history but still a fun time and made me want to rewatch the show (the first 3 or 4 seasons, anyway) or read some fanfic. there’s definitely some things in here i didn’t know, things i’m glad they talked about, things i agree with, and and things i vehemently disagree with.

random things i agreed with, appreciated, or thought were funny.

—ian bombed his network testing several times and still got the part because the creators were like “idgaf he’s the guy” lmao

—ian, about damon fans: “they would make excuses for this man to no end.” speak it!!!

—the appreciation for vampire caroline!!!! “this person would be so good at it and have none of the problems that other people have and would just really shine as a vampire” and she was “one of the best things the show ever did” and when they brainstormed about who would get the cure, she was never even a consideration. damn right. (this is why i’m anti-no humanity caroline. idk i feel like because she was established as being better equipped at handling vampirism and control was such a huge part of her character, she wouldn’t take such an easy out and give up control like that.)

—they loved daniel as elijah so much that they kept coming up with ways for originals to be unkillable to keep him around: “the only reason the originals are immortal is because of elijah.” i know that’s right!!!! put some respect on my man elijah!!!!

—all the praise for nina’s acting and professionalism

—a deserved acknowledgment and apology to kat for the way she and her character were treated

—the way klaus was described is *chef’s kiss*: “klaus had a very charming and dramatic flair. he really loved life and culture and music and was not one of these self-loathing vampires grieving their lost innocence or burdened by the horror of immortality. klaus had fun, and that was one of the very first things that kevin pitched—he was talking about jazz and the twenties and how he would love this time of history so much and he would be a fan of pop culture and music and food and he would savor every bit of it.” and “he was a lonely guy who needed a friend.”

dislikes, disagreements, and general criticisms.

—it felt very “glossy” as opposed to truly getting into the nitty gritty. even when they discussed the racism regarding kat and bonnie, it was all very pr trained answers designed to address the issues while kind of brushing them off or skirting responsibility and calling things out while trying not to piss anyone off or burn bridges. just a little disappointing, honestly.

—i wish it had been formatted differently. i think breaking the chapters up by topic, plotline, relationship, theme, etc. would’ve been better than just going in order season by season. so much stuff got very little attention and so much wasn’t even mentioned at all (for example: there’s little discussion of bonnie; caroline wasn’t mentioned until the chapters on season 2; forwood wasn’t discussed at all other than michael complaining about people preferring klaroline; mikael and esther were basically footnotes; not much about the originals outside of elijah’s introduction and klaus in general), and then discussion of some topics started in one chapter and then finished several chapters later, which was annoying as a reader. i don’t want to get invested in a topic only to see “more on this later” and have to wait 150 pages for the rest of it, you know?

—a huge thing for me is that the sexual assault on the show was either ignored or dismissed: tyler forcing himself on vicki (ignored), damon raping caroline (mentioned once and referred to as “not good”), damon forcing himself on elena (ignored), damon raping andie (referred to as “hooking up”), katherine raping stefan (ignored), klaus kissing caroline while in tyler’s body while she’s unaware (ignored), damon and sage seducing rebekah to invade her mind (ignored), etc. related: julie said everything they did on the show that “came to be viewed as problematic” was “okay” back when they did it. but no. it was always bad and we’ve always talked about it, we’re just talking about it more loudly and not being ignored now!!!! and let’s be real, tvd aired in 2009, let’s not with the “back then” bullshit. also, arguing vampires are “by definition predatory sexual beings” and when they started the show that was “still palpable and acceptable for people, i guess” as if people today are just too soft for vampires……babe, rape ain’t a part of vampire lore, sorry. and if it were, it shouldn’t be, sorry. also, it’s truly mind boggling that the issue of consent and agency never occurred to anyone until the delena sire bond. like, did they forget about damon compelling caroline and andie? katherine compelling stefan? klaus and his sired hybrids? compulsion in general? come on.

—you’re telling me nina played two characters but only got paid for one??? and was paid less than ian and paul??? and when the network finally agreed to pay nina for playing katherine, they forbade the writers from writing katherine??? and then ian and paul got multiple raises after nina left??? and when she demanded equal pay with ian and paul in order to return for the final season, they only agreed to it for one single episode??? that’s diabolical and i’m so glad nina knew her worth and didn’t let her desire to finish out the show or give the fans what they wanted outweigh her being treated the way she deserved. related: julie plec made the “back then!” excuse when discussing nina not getting the (equal) pay she deserved, but ~back then, friends and the big bang theory casts had very public contract and equal pay negotiations. the excuses this woman makes...

—of damon’s friendship with liz, julie said: “damon had become liz’s best friend” “it was not without a little bit of fun sexual tension, that relationship, but it was oedipal. it was mommy issues, for sure.” and ian said: “i’m baffled by the fact that sheriff forbes and damon didn’t have some crazy affair.” excuse me while i vomit. that is some truly wild shit to say about a man and the mother of the teen girl he raped. the damon/liz friendship always disgusted me and this just made it worse. what is wrong with you people?

—sometimes it went into big ego territory. such as when they said tvd was going to make the vampire trend immortal….

—i wish the parenthesis after each person’s name noting who they are stayed throughout the entire book

—the number of times julie plec referenced buffy when explaining her creative decisions…..it could be a drinking game and someone from btvs should be getting writing credits

—so so annoying that some only recognized the show’s importance to and impact on people when they realized it wasn’t “just a show for teenage girls” stop shitting on teen girls and their interests!!!!!

—the defense of some truly terrible plotlines, such as klaus’s magical baby plot and caroline’s nonconsensual surrogacy turned motherhood plot. you can’t convince me those were anything other than excuses for spinoffs.

—it’s annoying that julie plec and caroline dries attributed the ratings fall after delena got together to people not liking when couples get together, even while acknowledging that the feedback during that time was that people stopped watching because they just liked stelena better.

—i know this is about tvd but i wish there had been a chapter or two dedicated to the originals and legacies. since those shows continue the story of these characters, the book feels incomplete without it.

lastly, the klaroline of it all.

i found it really annoying how biased everyone seemed to be against klaroline. it was the only ship and fandom that was criticized several times by several people. every time the ship came up, it was just criticism or confusion. there was a lot of “i don’t get it” and “i never understood it” and “x ship was better!” and a lot of “disgusting” and “toxic” and “fucked up” and “what’s wrong with us” said about klaroline, but never about other questionable, toxic, or problematic ships. not even the canon ones! i mean, all this heat for a couple that never got together! it’s just frustrating because the reasons they gave for klaroline not happening directly contradict the reasons they gave for other ships happening. for example, julie plec explained that elena being a vampire made it possible for her to be with damon, because she was now in a place where she was doing terrible things, too. but could that not also apply to klaroline? why are there different rules for different characters and relationships?

you’d think when the klaroline hookup came up they would change their tune a little, but nope. it was dismissed as nothing but a sexual encounter with no emotions or romance or intimacy to it, reminding me of how someone in the book also questioned the authenticity of klaus’s interest in caroline. it’s like. it’s canon. he loved her. it’s said more than once. and she clearly felt something for him beyond sexual attraction, because if that’s all it was, then things would’ve played out very differently. this is the kind of gaslighting bullshit they did when the show was airing. it’s all in your head, you’re reading too much into it, there’s nothing there, etc. etc. which makes it all the more shitty that julie plec got condescending when discussing fans who would ask how she couldn’t see how great klaroline was, saying “excuse me, why do you think you’re having this reaction?”

which is it? you can’t say you’re the reason why people love the ship because you wrote it that way, while also not taking responsibility for making fans hope for something you knew was never going to happen just to keep them watching and then treating them like they’re delusional for shipping it. only one person was fair about it. rebecca sonnenshine said “i feel differently now than i used to. i used to think, ‘i don’t feel like this is right,’ but then again they’re all vampires and they’re all bad, so what is the problem? people project their moral purity on caroline, but she’s not pure. no vampire is. they all do bad things.” if elena can be with damon, after everything he did, then please spare me the moral outrage about klaroline.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute MUST READ for fans of The Vampire Diaries.

BRB fighting the urge to rewatch TVD this fall for the sixth time. Because wow, I loved this and it made me nostalgic for TVD all over again!!

This is an excellent deep-dive into the making of the show from conception, to casting, to filming, etc. It covers it all. If you are a fan of TVD, you HAVE to read this. It was incredible on audio - performed by a full cast (unfortunately NOT the actors, but still very very good). However, f you are a super super fan….you might want to consider the physical copy (in addition to the audio) as there are some pictures from production included.

Thank you @prhaudio @duttonbooks for the #gifted #alc and finished copy. #prhaudiopartner #plumepartner

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ad much love for my advance copy @plumebooks / @duttonbooks
& @prhaudio #partner for the ALC

I Was Feeling Epic (review song never say never - frays

Reading this book was like flipping through your old yearbooks and reminiscing about the good ol’ days. Pure brilliance and nostalgia.

THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS BOOK! 😘

And they thought we’d be over vampires? Haha! Okay, absolutely obsessed with the Vampires Diaries. It’s one of those shows I rewatch at least once every 1-2 years. It’s just so freaking perfect.

If you’re like me you HAVE TO read this book. It takes you right back to those days and nights you spent watching and obsessing over this series . But it’s also so much more. We get all the inside info - and I mean all of it - of how things went down.

🎧: I also listened while following along and couldn’t recommend this audiobook more. There’s a full cast which makes this audio just fantastic. 1.7x was the perfect speed.

Told in an interview format I Was Feeling Epic is impossible to put down. It will consume you as you consume it. Honestly I could never get into True Blood; and while I loved Twilight - The Vampire Diaries just soars above them both. So grateful they didn’t decide to not do this show because of those ones.

I greatly enjoyed the time spent reading this book. I learned so much. I remembered so much. It was nothing but pure love and nostalgia. It’s also a well researched story 10 years in the making with the people who were there. I also appreciated the references. A 10 star read - I think that’s a first for me. Haha.

This book covers:
Producer’s/Writers throughout
The Casting
The Pilot
Season 1
Characters Dying
Mystic Falls
Katherine
Moonstone Curse
Original Vampires
Klaus
Stefen Going Away
The BEST Episode
And More

Just a warning: You’re gonna want to rewatch this show either way, so I suggest watching it again before reading this - or do like me and watch it after.

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me just how much I loved this show and immediately need to start my umpteenth rewatch.

[Magda GK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Als fan van de serie, vond ik dit boek echt super leuk om te lezen. Leuke anekdotes en het verhaal ‘opnieuw’ verteld van achter de schermen.

[Darline Dondl · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of TVD, I enjoyed the behind the scenes stories. I listened to the audiobook, and while I typically like a full cast, this one was a little difficult to hear others in the voice of well known actors. Some repetition with multiple pov of a story, but overall there was a lot of interesting content for a fan to enjoy.

[Danielle | daniellereadslikealot · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vampire Diaries is a show that is very dear to my heart so I was incredibly excited to read this book. What a treat it was! From all the “who might have beens” during the casting (Pedro Pascal was almost cast?Jason Momoa was almost Alaric?!) to creating the magic system and lore to allllllllll the deaths we saw over eight seasons, I Was Feeling Epic is a perfect read for any fan of the show. Written in interview form, you get to hear from the show runners, cast crew and studio executives and see everything that went into making this show and these beloved characters. I really loved reading how close this group of people became and also how much they love and respect the show. It was also great to read about the different ways things could have/should have gone differently in regards to how Bonnie’s character was used at times and also Nina wanting (and deserving) to be paid as much as Paul and Ian. I cried during the chapters that went into the final season and the lasting legacy that TVD leaves. I’m so happy I got to read this early and I think a rewatch is in my future. Also, for the record, TEAM STEFAN.

Thank you to Dutton Books for the gifted copy!

[Alexandra Plesa]

I am offended on behalf of Nina Dobrev. The book is great.

[Ast · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vampire Diaries is one of the greatest loves of my life. From being not that interested in it to being so deeply moved emotionally by the overall story that I have to restrain myself from rewatching it continuously, is a statement to the quality of storytelling done. Reading this book was like getting to speak with the parents and childhood friends of someone you love. You understand what it took for it to be something you care for some much and make your love even greater, if that's possible. Like many others mentioned in their review, it made me immediately want to go rewatch.

A whole book could be written about the music in TVD. I almost wish that this was series with different books as volumes of different aspect of the show's history: story, casting, music, etc. 50 years from now Ron Pope's A Drop in the Ocean will immediately play the scene from Season 3 of Stefan hanging on to Elena's words over the phone for dear life. (Even Julie Plec agrees that it is one of the top scenes of the show, "The look on his face and his acting in that scene and that fucking song, that is probably one of my top ten moments of the whole series.") Ed Sheeran's Give Me Love will make me think of the Mikaelson's Ball when Elena spins from Damon to Stefan's arms right as the the beat drops before the second verse. Damon and Elena dancing right before they're about to have sex for the first time while Stefan and Caroline start to realize that Elena is sired to Damon is memorable because of Ed Sheeran's Kiss Me playing in the background. I'm pretty sure that the reason I found out about Ed Sheeran and loved + so much was because of TVD. The Fray's Be Still transports me back to my dorm in my sophomore year of college on the night that I watched on my laptop Alaric's last night for the first time. The power and impact of music in this show and history cannot be understated. Many shows underutilize music. Many shows use music well enough to drive the plot. Music in Mystic Falls is one of the series regular. So much of what the show set out to do was successfully achieved because of the songs used. I love that this book, it actually might not have been intentional in the questioning because the music is so integrated that it might've come up naturally, gives the well-deserved flowers to the songs of the great moments. It was also great to learn that CW at that time, because of Dawn Ostroff, was deliberate about making sure music was critical in the pilots. How luck we are that the stars align for the timing of TVD and Dawn Ostroff.

The thing I loved most about this book is not only the behind the scenes of my favorite episode, but official TVD experts (Samantha, Julie, and Kat Graham) agrees that season 3, episode 5 is the best one of the show. The chapter on it is accurately titled "Turn. It. Off": Inside the Series' Best Episode. As many times as I've watched the show and as skilled as I may think i am at understanding storytelling there is nothing like having your opinion validated by someone more knowledgeable, because now my opinion is fact. With over 171 episodes, there are numerous episodes that could be considered for the title. But in this episode, the acting and the writing work so well together. It is cut above the rest.

I appreciate that there was a chapter dedicated to the struggles Kat faced throughout the show with Bonnie's storylines. If it was left out of glazed over, the book wouldn't have been a true account of the show's history because it was an issue mainly acknowledged and driven by the fans. Some of the excuses for the way Bonnie is used carelessly is poor, but understandable. Knowing how vicious the online voice was prior to these issues being realized caused the those voices to be ignored down line. I wonder if things were different and the concerns were considered what ways Bonnie's story would've changed.

Any fan of the show will greatly appreciate the information she collected to tell the show's history. I am sure this could've easily been a textbook of 1,000 pages. The book follows the chronological order of ideation to series finale, but Samantha is really great at tying the chapters together with great transitions. She expertly selected the details that highlight why this show was a phenomenon. Knowing that the location of the shooting played into the closeness of the cast and crew makes so much sense as to why the show was so good and why so many romantic relationships have come from their world. Reading through this book felt like bingeing the eight seasons in supernatural way that still allows you to follow the story and feel all the emotions. I am not doing this book justice in speaking about how great it is. It is something you have to experience yourself.

What shocked me the most about learning the history is how much of the genius of this expansive, heartbreaking, compelling story of love, loss and grief was created in the last minute. So many scripts came in the night before filming. They were behind on scripts from basically the beginning of the show. Yet, the show wraps up so perfectly. Despite the departure of Nina (which was necessary on her end since she was properly compensated for the roles she played, but did ultimately alter the intended end of the show), pregnancy of Candice and other things that redirected the storylines. Despite knowing the end, every time I rewatch, I am bawling at the finale because they tell a full circle story about brotherhood despite a love triangle being the launching pad of the show. This book is a celebration of the blood, sweat, tears, sleepless nights, extended shoots that went into creating one of television’s greatest gifts to lovers of immersive storytelling.

If Samantha happens to come across this review, "What other shows are you obsessed with like this?" Can we get a series of oral history books? Can I suggest a few shows for the next book?

[Inigo's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A definitive and deliciously nostalgic deep dive into the creation and legacy of hit show 'The Vampire Diaries', as told by its cast, crew, and creators. 'I Was Feeling Epic' relives the beloved show's best moments while unearthing brand new, behind-the-scenes intel.
As a fan of the TV series (and later the original books), I simply had to read this book. It delivers on its promise: it delves deeper into how the series came to be and what life was like behind the scenes. I was very curious about how certain plots came about. I already knew some of the revelations (e.g., Klaus's planned death at the end of season 3). Yet, the book still managed to surprise me with, among other things, which actors auditioned and how unfair it was to Nina Dobrev and Kat Graham (that's really not okay!). You even learn what was actually written in the burned letter from Caroline's mother ("Did I say stand there and look stupid? No, I said burn it."). The cast, crew, and writers were clearly under time pressure often. The original plans for certain characters are so different from how they ultimately turn out in the series. All in all, a pretty interesting insight. It's both an ode to the series itself and its fans, even the toxic ones. At the same time, I was hoping for more criticism of certain plot lines, behind-the-scenes actions, and so on. While that's touched upon here and there, it's not emphasized enough. This is personal opinion, of course, but the series did take a bad quality dive. I won't say exactly where that happened. I'm certainly hoping for similar books from the spin-off 'The Originals' and sister series 'The Secret Circle'.
My rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
---
Een definitieve en heerlijk nostalgische duik in het ontstaan ​​en nalatenschap van de hitserie 'The Vampire Diaries', verteld door de cast, crew en makers. 'I Was Feeling Epic' herbeleeft de beste momenten van de geliefde serie en onthult gloednieuwe, achter-de-schermen-info.
Als een fan van de tv-reeks (en later ook de originele boeken) moest ik dit boek gewoon lezen. Dit boek doet wat het belooft: het graaft dieper in hoe de tv-serie tot stand is gekomen en hoe het leven achter de schermen was. Ik was zeer benieuwd naar hoe bepaalde plots tot stand zijn gekomen. Een deel van de onthullingen wist ik al (bv. Klaus' geplande dood aan het eind van seizoen 3). Toch wist het boek me nog te verrassen met o.a. welke acteurs auditie hebben gedaan en hoe oneerlijk het was voor Nina Dobrev en Kat Graham (dat is écht niet oké!). Je leert zelfs wat er eigenlijk in de verbrande brief van Caroline's moeder stond ("Did I say stand there and look stupid? No, I said burn it."). De cast, crew en schrijvers zaten duidelijk dikwijls onder een tijdsdruk. De originele plannen voor bepaalde personages zijn zo verschillend van hoe ze uiteindelijk in de serie zijn. Al met al een vrij interessante inkijk. Het is zowel een ode aan de reeks zelf als de fans ervan, zelfs de toxische fans. Tegelijkertijd hoopte ik op wat meer kritiek voor bepaalde plotlijnen, handelingen achter de schermen, etc. Hoewel dat hier en daar wel aan bod komt, wordt het niet genoeg benadrukt. Dit is persoonlijke mening, natuurlijk, maar de reeks nam wel echt een slechte kwaliteitsduik. Waar dat exact gebeurde, laat ik in het midden. Ik hoop in ieder geval op soortgelijke boeken van de spin-off 'The Originals' en zusterserie 'The Secret Circle'.
Mijn rating: 4.25 op 5 sterren

[Ellie ✧]

I Was Feeling Epic is a fun, nostalgic, and easy-to-read way to revisit The Vampire Diaries.

The first thing I noticed was that this book is told almost exclusively through interviews with additional context from Highfill when needed. While it was kind of startling, I think it was a great choice because I really just wanted to see what everyone had to say! This might seem obvious, but I need to emphasize just how much this book relies on you having watching the entirety of TVD. Highfill goes season by season, stopping sometimes to focus on impactful episodes, so there's an expectation that you've seen the show. But if you haven't watched it all the way through in years — there are sections of the show (seasons 5/6) that I haven't seen since they aired — I do think she summarizes enough to refresh your memory before launching back into interviews.
I really appreciated that Highfill touched on some of the more sensitive subjects surrounding TVD like Kat Graham/Bonnie's character often falling into racially insensitive tropes and Nina Dobrev/Elena exiting due to pay disparity (the network was unwilling to pay her equal to co-stars Paul & Ian). Another unexpected point of interest in I Was Feeling Epic was the production. Reading some of the behind the scenes stress of making TVD gave me some insight as to why more shows have shorter seasons/longer breaks between seasons. I also loved all of the details that the crew gave about creating the show, coming up with the plot, last minute changes, and letting the plot and characters develop without necessarily having a fixed plan all the time. That was just fascinating to me.

I did watch The Vampire Diaries during the time it was airing and I think that shows felt more impactful when you had to wait to watch them every week. TVD especially is a show that made me shout & cry so often. Just reading the chapter about one specific character's death (an episode I have never re-watched) was enough to make me almost start crying now, in 2025. Part of the reason I picked my undergrad university was because a recruiter and I connected over a mutual love for TVD. I have made the drive to Covington, GA. I had a "Team Damon" necklace as a kid. I exclusively drink Brother's Bond Bourbon. I Was Feeling Epic honors the huge place that this show holds in so many of our hearts & is a great read for anyone who loves TVD.

P.S. I did start rewatching the show about 20% into reading this. It was inevitable.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Plume for this e-arc of I Was Feeling Epic.

[Whispering Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE NOSTALGIA! The Vampire Diaries is my top favorite tv series of all time. And after reading this book, I can see why. The way they crafter this show—mind you, it was chaotic how they would plan the episodes—gave way for creating an addicting and timeless story that still lives in the hearts of many. They knew how to introduce characters and what qualities to give them so the audience would care. And while the plots kept getting crazier, they also just made you want to keep watching.

I don't know if it's because I've rewatched all 8 seasons many times throughout the years, but I could vividly play in my head all the seasons that were discussed in this book, which made my reading experience even better!

Also, if you ever wondered why Klaroline didn't happen, the real reason Nina Dobrev left the show, what did Liz Forbes wrote in the her last letter to Caroline, and many other questions, this book answers them all.

I can see myself re-reading this when I do another rewatch of the show. I'm beyond grateful to Samantha Highfill for compiling all of the archived interviews, as well as conducting new ones with the creators and cast, because this was the gift that every TVD fan needed to fill the void.

I received an ARC for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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[Kelly Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! To be fair, I am a huge Vampire Diaries fan (huge as in my daughter’s name is Elena 😅). I thought the show was fantastic. I especially adore the finale and to this day, it’s my favorite end to a series.

I was a little worried going into this book that it would feel a little cheesy. I was thinking it would be one of those “all about the show” books they would release that were just a quick cash grab for fans, but this one felt a lot more personal with how many people were interviewed throughout it.

The whole book is interviews with the writers, producers, cast, and other people involved with the show. It starts with how the writers signed on to the project and then moves into all the casting. During that chapter, I was furiously going to IMDb looking up all these people that they were naming that almost got roles and being like “oh yeah, that guy!”

Then the rest of the book flows through the show season by season, spending more time on memorable points, such as big finales. It was so interesting to hear what went on behind the scenes and how they decided which characters had to get killed off and what storylines they almost went with before pivoting. You also find out special things, such as what was in Caroline’s mom’s letter ❤️

I do know the show very well, so if you haven’t watched it in a long time, you may not remember everything that they’re referencing (and/or this book will make you want to watch it again all the way through).

I also listened to most of this on audiobook, and they had a full cast of narrators for all the interviews. It was a little weird because they have random people voicing the cast members you know well, which was a little distracting (some of the guy voices were so different than their real life counterparts like Michael Trevino’s narrator). That will be my only warning to you if you’re an audiobook person to keep that in mind if it might bother you. The content of the interviews is great, it’s just weird to hear a voice really different than how the actor actually sounds.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars!
This was nostalgia central! Much like many people my age, I absolutely loved Vampire Diaries when it came out. The combination of romance, drama, suspense, and violence likely helped fuel my taste in TV, movies, and books that I have today. So, I was really excited to get my hands on the audiobook for this deep dive into the show and it delivered! Not only do you get insight into the casting and plot decisions but you also get some insider info about different directions the show could have gone in and the drama between cast and crew on set. The way this is written takes a little getting used to because it does read like a handful of magazine articles in some places. But I really appreciated that we got a full cast of people for the audiobook. And even though they aren't the actual actors, you can tell great pain was taken to at least make them sound like the actual actors are talking. I definitely recommend if you're a fan of the show and are looking for a nostalgia boost!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

TLDR Review - if you loved Vampire Diaries you will love this book!

✨ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ✨

I loved The Vampire Diaries so this was one of my most anticipated books, and I’m happy to say I absolutely loved it! A fun trip down memory lane with just enough recap info on the seasons and a ton of behind the scenes stories and extras. There were a few repetitive things (for example, the show is above love and grief, which is said sooo many times throughout the book) and I think trimming those back would have made a big impact but that’s me being nitpicky too.

I usually do Nonfiction as a secondary book, but I couldn’t put this down once I started it. I am feeling the need to rewatch the whole series now too 😂 Highly recommend this one if you were a fan of the show or enjoy oral histories and behind the scenes content.

[BookLionQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Wow! This was such a great and well researched book. I felt like I was able to relive watching the Vampire Diaries with this book. I knew some of these things from interviews and things but I learned SO much about the show that I didn't know before. Overall, the Vampire Diaries is a show that has stood the test of time and it is great to see and learn more about how the show was being created and what's next.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was.. EPIC. I absolutely loved reading all the interview pieces. There was a lot I knew but a fair bit I didn’t know, and some of the things I didn’t know before reading this made me cry.

Revisiting how some of my favourite episodes were made also made me love this series even more, and seeing how much the cast cared about this show.. ahhh it’s making my rewatch of the show even better too.

I will probably revisit this book every once in awhile when I’m re-watching. A great book for all of us ‘The Vampire Diaries’ fans.

[Casey Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY EPIC!! The Vampire Diaries is my favorite show in the entire world and even 16 years after it premiered, I am still obsessed with it! This book gave such a wonderful behind the scenes look at everything, through interviews with the cast and crew. There were so many new things I learned from this book and it made me love the show and all the people involved in making the show even more! This book was everything I could have asked for and more! I would recommend this read to anyone who also loves TVD and I will definitely be reading it again after my next rewatch of the entire show!!

[Aljoša · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, objectively it's between 3 and 4 stars, but the topic is so close to my heart. TVD will always bethe first show that I was really into and it launched several hobbies of mine - making videos, social media, Wikias and translating...
I was familiar with most of the things said in this book, but it was nice to go through the seasons in this form. It's been a hell or a ride.

[Tiny Bookland · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ If you liked the show, you’ll like this book as well. It is comprised of interviews with the cast, the writers, the directors and they share a lot of behind the scenes information, including what was in Liz’s letter to Caroline, why Nina left the show, how Kat felt about the “magical negro” trope, what alternative casting ideas there were and more.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this behind the scenes look of the show. It kind of made me want to go back and re-watch it. The audiobook for this was a bit off putting because the voices of the actors were interesting. And because it wasn't the actual actors voicing there thoughts I think it would have made it easier to know who was talking if I had read the physical book. But overall I enjoyed hearing the actors thoughts and hearing the creators and the production team talk about what went into it. And why the made certain decisions. I would read more books like these about other shows that I love.