About three things I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him – and I didn’t know how dominant that part might be – that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Overall, this teen fantasy novel is packed with drama, teen angst, quirky dialogue, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Reading it for the first time as a woman in her mid-forties, it definitely felt like a teenage romance with a supernatural twist. It was often over-the-top, had its fair share of eye-rolling moments, and the insta-love was strong throughout…BUT, I still really enjoyed it! 

I channeled my 17-year-old self while reading this story to really understand the hype, and I get it. I completely see why this series is still so popular, even two decades later. It’s captivating, hard to put down, and kept me thinking about the characters long after I stopped reading.

**This book is part of a Twilight Saga real-time reaction episode, which you can listen to here.