Stephenie Meyer is the author of the bestselling Twilight series, The Host, and The Chemist. Twilight was one of 2005's most talked about novels and within weeks of its release the book debuted at #5 on The New York Times bestseller list. Among its many accolades, Twilight was named an "ALA Top Ten Books for Young Adults," an Amazon.com "Best Book of the Decade So Far," and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year.
Meyer graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English Literature. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons.
I think this was my third or fourth time reading this novel? Is it cringe? Yes. Is it the greatest book ever? Absolutely not. But it has so much nostalgia and memories packed into it for me, I just love this story. I also love Emmett in the books. In the few scenes he and Bella have together, their relationship feels much more fun and organic than her and Edward’s. Honestly, same with Jacob. She has a much more natural relationship with everyone else when compared to Edward 🤣
Also, I keep forgetting how terrible the books are when it comes to the action scenes, they skip over them almost completely!🤣 we see James throw Bella against the mirror and break her leg but unlike in the movie, she faints and wakes up to Edward and the others already in the process of fixing her and disposing of James. It’s not a lot of things lost but the movies definitely do the action better.
Overall, I enjoyed the read. But at the very end I got so annoyed by Bella and Edward that kinda made me understand why I was so .... Not keen on shipping them, don't get me wrong, they are worth each other - both are stupid. But most of all they both read as teenagers - Edward as a gloomy old teenager but with all of the drama amplifiied. Bella on the other hand is a parentified child that is finally getting care. So from a grown up perspective I do not see an everlasting love but an infatuation, Bella gets something interesting in her life, and Edward a reprieve of having hearing thoughts. And I will stay on my ground that if there was another possibility of Bella being immortal she would have taken whether it comes with Edward or not. But yeah, it was a very nostalgic read. I immensely enjoyed it and pacing is fast and solid.
Since I've seen the movie first, the characters (and their looks) were preset in my mind. However, quite a bit of the story differed from the movie as more description accompanied each part of the storyline. Some minor details were different as well (character roles and additional narrative not part of the movie). I give the book a 4-star rating as it was a fun read but predictable.
20th Anniversary Re-read! In 2025, my actual rating would be 4⭐️ just for the nostalgia alone! I’m adding an extra star for this gorgeous collector’s edition, making it more fun to read.
oh man im gonna have to finish the series now! I cant believe it's been 15 years since I last read this, definitely prefer it over the movies now. what a fun read
This book is absolutely stunning, from the cover to the overall atmosphere. I loved the moodiness and the way the story leans into emotions and inner dialogue—you definitely feel more connected to Bella than in the movie.
That said, I missed the action and intensity that the movie delivers. The pacing felt slow at times, and I found myself wanting more tension and movement rather than so much internal buildup. It’s a good read, just not one that completely pulled me in from start to finish.
Overall, it’s enjoyable and nostalgic, but not a favorite for me. Beautiful vibes, slower story.