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beccalove's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Gaslighting, Adult/minor relationship, Cultural appropriation, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Stalking
I read this to do an annotated hate-read of the book as a gift for one of my sisters because she finds my disdain for the series hilarious. It took me like two years to get through this 500 page shitshow.lonely_tardigrade's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
I only reread this to go through and highlight all the signs of abuse. Almost every page had a highlight on it. No idea why this is still considered a romance novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Stalking, Violence, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Confinement, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Cannibalism, Death, and Rape
snwalsh's review against another edition
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, and Sexism
warlockdorian's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Medical content, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Stalking, and Gaslighting
jessly's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Car accident, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Gore
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
sup3r_xn0va_maya's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is a young adult paranormal romance book that was published in 2005. It became famous for the sparkling vampires but also for the romance story between the two main characters, Bella and Edward. This book is boring and the instalove depicted between the teenager Bella and her 100+ year old vampire boyfriend is concerning.
Twilight was my intro to paranormal romance over 15 years ago, when I was a teen. Myself and so many other teens fell in love with The Twilight Saga, and then we rushed to the movie theaters for every film release. The series appealed to us because it's about a teenaged girl who considers herself plain but all the guys she's around want her. She considers herself basic, but the most handsome and alluring vampire only has eyes for her. I loved the series so I decided to read it again and so far the first book in the series is terrible.
This book was so boring. I want to state that the action and antagonist in the novel didn't start or show up until the 75% mark. The first 75% of the book was Bella doing mundane things, like going to high school, and cooking dinner for her Dad every night. She meets Edward and then they're stuck to each other like white on rice. Then the book just describes their courting phase, which was also boring.
I think Edward is a walking red flag, and I don't think that just because he's a vampire. Edward initially tells Bella that they shouldn't be friends, then he turns around and decides that he's going to stalk her. So he begins watching Bella sleep and, as told in Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer (A book that is basically Twilight but from Edward's perspective) he watches her from the tree in her yard while she reads under it. He's creepy. Another red flag is that Bella mentions several times that Edward constantly has wild mood swings that she doesn't know how to react to.
Twilight was my intro to paranormal romance over 15 years ago, when I was a teen. Myself and so many other teens fell in love with The Twilight Saga, and then we rushed to the movie theaters for every film release. The series appealed to us because it's about a teenaged girl who considers herself plain but all the guys she's around want her. She considers herself basic, but the most handsome and alluring vampire only has eyes for her. I loved the series so I decided to read it again and so far the first book in the series is terrible.
This book was so boring. I want to state that the action and antagonist in the novel didn't start or show up until the 75% mark. The first 75% of the book was Bella doing mundane things, like going to high school, and cooking dinner for her Dad every night. She meets Edward and then they're stuck to each other like white on rice. Then the book just describes their courting phase, which was also boring.
I think Edward is a walking red flag, and I don't think that just because he's a vampire. Edward initially tells Bella that they shouldn't be friends, then he turns around and decides that he's going to stalk her. So he begins watching Bella sleep and, as told in Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer (A book that is basically Twilight but from Edward's perspective) he watches her from the tree in her yard while she reads under it. He's creepy. Another red flag is that Bella mentions several times that Edward constantly has wild mood swings that she doesn't know how to react to.
"It was hard to keep up—his sudden mood changes left me always a step behind, dazed."
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight (The Twilight Saga Book 1) (p. 266). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle Edition.
Bella has attachment and co-dependency issues, I believe. When Bella finds out Edward has been stalking her, she says she's flattered. She also says this:
"When I was with him, the time and the place were such a muddled blur that I completely lost track of both."
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight (The Twilight Saga Book 1) (p. 217). Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle Edition.
It's not really healthy to lose track of where you are AND what time it is just because you're talking to someone you like. It's just a weird depiction of a relationship with attachment issues involved. There's an issue because this is for teens and young adults.
The author is Mormon (I believe) and so she emphasizes abstinence (which is proven to not be effective but, I have no problem with her writing about it.) I think it's actually very silly and annoying how Bella literally gets dizzy and passes out the first two times Edward kisses her. Like, she's so overwhelmed that she just passes out. I get that you don't want them going further than kisses but to make her pass out from them? I hate that creative decision so much.
Speaking of Bella passing out, she gets injured so much in this book. I remember her being clumsy but I didn't remember that she was extra clumsy. I think that's also a bit silly, she gets hurt in excess and it doesn't really add anything to the plot.
I don't like Bella and Edward together, they're really cringe and they have some serious problems. I do love the side characters though, I love the Cullen family especially. I also like Bella's friend Angela.
Overall I enjoyed what little scenes we got with the side characters, I didn't like how nothing happened for 75% of the book, I also don't like the main character's toxic relationship. I'm giving this 2 stars out of 5.
⭐️⭐️ 2/5 Stars
I listened to this for free on the library app [LibbyApp.com]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
vagrantheather's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cultural appropriation
xaidar_05's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
That’s whole review is a :
This was the first series I ever read in the beginning of my reading journey. I first picked it up in the 6th grade because the movies had such a place in my heart, and I started to enjoy reading, so why not pick up the series, right?
Anyway, I’m about to start my first semester of college so I picked up this book again because I wanted to see if it was as weird as I remembered. Let’s just say past me was right. The characters are bland no depth at all. There is really no motivation in these characters, they’re so flat and the plot is none existent, except at the VERY end.
Bella, our main character, is a carbon copy of all main protagonist of the time. Brown hair, brown eyes, and paper white skin. She has no back story at all. All you get is that her mom left her sweet dad and moved across the country with no thought with Bella, who was a newborn baby. That’s it and that she hates Forks, the place her dad lives.
Then you find out Bella has no respect to her father at all. Even though he’s a sweet awkward man who is taking her into his home, exited to finally see and live with Bella again. She is the most ungrateful person too. She monologues how she calls him “Charlie” regularly and only in front of him calls him “dad” which is the most wtf moment in the beginning for me. Through some back story you learn that Charlie loves and tries to connect to Bella and make an effort while this fool, Bella, disrespects and alienates him to her. Charlie did try.
Anyway, something that really worries me is Bella and Edwards “relationship”.First off Edward is first introduce at lunch from afar. Then we truly meet him in Biology where Edweird covers his mouth and nose like Bella stinks and when Bella meets his eyes she sees that he is glaring at her and looking all creepy and making her uncomfortable. But this doesn’t stop Bella from FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM. Her first impression is, “He makes me feel uncomfortable and prey like” then she goes and falls for the guy without a care.
Now, Edward, it turns out is a creepy, stalker, pervert, gaslighter. We learn through a conversation that he watches her sleep and follows her around like a STALKER. Bella sees no issue she just thinks it’s qUiRkY and so cUtE.
Girl, no it is not. It is some predatory abusive behavior, you are 17 you should know some of this by now. </Spoiler>
So to conclude this rant of a review, I feel this is a weird book, to put it lightly. In my opinion young impressionable girls or boys should take in mind when reading this that relationships are not supposed to look like this. A man who wants you because of one thing, like Edweird with Bella’s blood, is not healthy. And if they try to control you or your actions and try to make you sound insane, like Edweird with gaslighting Bella in the hospital, that it’s not normal or a healthy standard to have. I hope young kids don’t think that it’s right.
However, if you enjoy these books that okay. I’m not bashing your opinion in anyway. This is just mine and what I see when reading this book. I won’t lie this series is a guilty pleasure to me. However I can still see and understand the flaws in this series.
I can’t with the books but the movies will always be my preference, I just enjoy them more and get nostalgia when watching. If you enjoy these books keep enjoying them, don’t mind my opinion, just do you.
This was the first series I ever read in the beginning of my reading journey. I first picked it up in the 6th grade because the movies had such a place in my heart, and I started to enjoy reading, so why not pick up the series, right?
Anyway, I’m about to start my first semester of college so I picked up this book again because I wanted to see if it was as weird as I remembered. Let’s just say past me was right. The characters are bland no depth at all. There is really no motivation in these characters, they’re so flat and the plot is none existent, except at the VERY end.
Bella, our main character, is a carbon copy of all main protagonist of the time. Brown hair, brown eyes, and paper white skin. She has no back story at all. All you get is that her mom left her sweet dad and moved across the country with no thought with Bella, who was a newborn baby. That’s it and that she hates Forks, the place her dad lives.
Then you find out Bella has no respect to her father at all. Even though he’s a sweet awkward man who is taking her into his home, exited to finally see and live with Bella again. She is the most ungrateful person too. She monologues how she calls him “Charlie” regularly and only in front of him calls him “dad” which is the most wtf moment in the beginning for me. Through some back story you learn that Charlie loves and tries to connect to Bella and make an effort while this fool, Bella, disrespects and alienates him to her. Charlie did try.
Anyway, something that really worries me is Bella and Edwards “relationship”.
Now, Edward, it turns out is a creepy, stalker, pervert, gaslighter. We learn through a conversation that he watches her sleep and follows her around like a STALKER. Bella sees no issue she just thinks it’s qUiRkY and so cUtE.
Girl, no it is not. It is some predatory abusive behavior, you are 17 you should know some of this by now. </Spoiler>
So to conclude this rant of a review, I feel this is a weird book, to put it lightly. In my opinion young impressionable girls or boys should take in mind when reading this that relationships are not supposed to look like this. A man who wants you because of one thing, like Edweird with Bella’s blood, is not healthy. And if they try to control you or your actions and try to make you sound insane, like Edweird with gaslighting Bella in the hospital, that it’s not normal or a healthy standard to have. I hope young kids don’t think that it’s right.
However, if you enjoy these books that okay. I’m not bashing your opinion in anyway. This is just mine and what I see when reading this book. I won’t lie this series is a guilty pleasure to me. However I can still see and understand the flaws in this series.
I can’t with the books but the movies will always be my preference, I just enjoy them more and get nostalgia when watching. If you enjoy these books keep enjoying them, don’t mind my opinion, just do you.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, and Adult/minor relationship
a_wren_that_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, and Medical content
pertinent_sonder's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I didn't like many things in this book, so let's start with what I did like. Meyer's writing itself is very good. She has this pleasantly descriptive writing style, suitable for a romance book.
The plot, however, I didn't like. It felt like I was chasing a climax throughout the entire book. I'd always expect something plot-twist-like happening, only to be let down. I even made up a term for it, climax-baiting.
The romance... where was it? It seemed to me that Bella and Edward were only physically attracted to each other (inspite of their "sexual and romantic attraction go hand-in-hand for me" discussion).
Don't even let me get started on why the entire premise of a 100-something y/o vampire lusting for a 17 y/o's blood and falling in love with her is wrong. And that's BESIDES his stalking and possessiveness.
I finished the book, but didn't feel like it. Not in a good way. More like a "there was nothing to miss" kind of way.
The last 100 or so pages were intriguing. The first 300-odd were plain boring and at points frustrating.
The plot, however, I didn't like. It felt like I was chasing a climax throughout the entire book. I'd always expect something plot-twist-like happening, only to be let down. I even made up a term for it, climax-baiting.
The romance... where was it? It seemed to me that Bella and Edward were only physically attracted to each other (inspite of their "sexual and romantic attraction go hand-in-hand for me" discussion).
Don't even let me get started on why the entire premise of a 100-something y/o vampire lusting for a 17 y/o's blood and falling in love with her is wrong. And that's BESIDES his stalking and possessiveness.
I finished the book, but didn't feel like it. Not in a good way. More like a "there was nothing to miss" kind of way.
The last 100 or so pages were intriguing. The first 300-odd were plain boring and at points frustrating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, and Stalking
Minor: Murder, Blood, and Miscarriage