5.8k reviews for:

The Host

Stephenie Meyer

3.71 AVERAGE


I enjoyed the Twilight series, but this book was too sci-fi for me.
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really enjoyed this book. Can't wait to see the movie.

The Host is told from the Wanderer's point of view. The Wanderer also known as Wanda is an alien life form inserted into the human body of Melainie Stryder. The twist comes into to play when Melanie begins to offer resistance and makes Wanda's life a scary misery.

Wanda was an extremely enjoyable character to read about. She was good and kind and cared about other people. She was extremely likeable too, but at times, I felt that she was a little too accommodating and self-sacrificing. On the other hand, we have Melanie, a person who loves to make herself known inside Wanda's head. Melanie is the exact opposite to Wanda. She is tough and fierce and extremely strong willed. Together they make a really interesting and fun combination and I couldn't help rooting for them as their bond and sisterhood friendship developed. Aside from the Wanda, I enjoyed Jeb and his really crazy attitude towards Wanda and I loved the bond between Wanda and Melanie's brother Jamie.

One thing that I was extremely conflicted about was the romance. We have Melanie and Wanda sharing the same body. Melanie is in love with Jared and Wanda seeing memories of Jared starts to kind of love him too. But later on, Wanda begins to fall a little for Ian in Melanie's body. Wow! That's really awkward. The issue that I had with the romance was that I was only cool with one part of it. We have the Mel and Jared part; Mel and Jared's relationship felt so insta-lovey. They spend four weeks together and already Mel is talking about her love for him. The reason the romance felt as though it was so fast was because it is told in two flashbacks. Jared is also 26 while Mel is 16 at the time. On the other hand, we have Ian and Wanda. It was awesome to see their friendship grow slowly into something more and watching two people with the same peaceful nature fall for each other.

This book starts painfully slowly, but after the 100 page mark, it begins to become more interesting. I felt as though the story could have been told in a lot less pages than it was. At times, the dialogue and plot felt over dramatic and sappy.

The Host isn't really a sci fi novel, because in a sci fi novel the world building is really detailed, but it is a book about the joys and pains of humanity, the trials towards acceptance and moving forward towards a peaceful world.

**March 2, 2020**
I reread this in one day!! I changed my rating from 4.5 to 5 stars, because I think about this book all the time.
**October 15, 2017**
*4.5 stars*
I enjoyed this more the second time around. Wanda and Ian are my favorites. I love them both so much!!! The concept of humanity is nicely handled in this novel.
**2014**

I really enjoyed this book. It's one of those stories you can't stop reading because you want to know what happens. Also, I think the plot was pretty original. But despite all of that, sometimes the story got so boring it was hard to continue reading. Maybe I re-read it someday... but not soon
adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I couldnt put it down! I was totally emotional while reading this book. I would definitely recommend it to everyone!!

Interesting story. I loved the conflict between the characters. It was a little slow at some points, but a creative story and very imaginative. I enjoyed it!
adventurous funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

this is my comfort book and i love it every time i read it and this was no exception
> the writing is so bussing and beautiful and awesome and i found myself nodding appreciatively at the phrasing and prose
> I WAS GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET ian o’shea my dream man fr 🀞🀞🀞🀞🀞 perfect mix btw sisterhood and romance honestly 5/5 stars no drama
> honestly probably like my 10th time reading this but buying this book was def money woof
> HEE HEE