Welcome, book friends!
To listen to my real-time reaction to this series, you can check out the full episodes on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your thoughts on any of these books if you’ve read them. I invite you to hop over to my Instagram or X (aka Twitter), where you can comment.
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I’ve decided to read the entire Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer before the year ends. Although I’ve never read the books, I’ve watched all the movies and own them, so I don’t expect too many surprises. Still, I’m eager to FINALLY experience the series firsthand and see what all the hype is about.
I thought it would be fun to share my reactions in real-time as I read through the five main Twilight Saga books. For now, I’m skipping the companion and novella books. My inspiration came from several BookTubers I follow on YouTube, who create reading vlogs and share their thoughts as they go through a book. I figured I could do something similar on my podcast, sharing my thoughts and opinions through audio.
Here’s the plan: I’ll read the first 25-30% of the book and then share my initial thoughts in real-time. I’ll check in again around the 50-60% mark to give another update. I’m aiming to keep these reviews as spoiler-free as possible (though that might be tricky with a series like this), so my next update might not come until the very end, when I’ll give my final thoughts.
I’m excited to share my reading journey with this beloved and popular YA fantasy series. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoy recording! Enjoy!
My Reaction to The Twilight Saga
Book 1: Twilight
Format: Digital ebook
My GR Rating: 4
Read more on GoodReads
GR Description: When 17 year old Isabella Swan moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father she expects that her new life will be as dull as the town.
But in spite of her awkward manner and low expectations, she finds that her new classmates are drawn to this pale, dark-haired new girl in town. But not, it seems, the Cullen family. These five adopted brothers and sisters obviously prefer their own company and will make no exception for Bella.
Bella is convinced that Edward Cullen in particular hates her, but she feels a strange attraction to him, although his hostility makes her feel almost physically ill. He seems determined to push her away – until, that is, he saves her life from an out of control car.
Bella will soon discover that there is a very good reason for Edward’s coldness. He, and his family, are vampires – and he knows how dangerous it is for others to get too close.
My Review:
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.
To listen to all my thoughts and opinions while reading this book, check out my real-time reaction episode below.
