First, I found an OLD chat from 2008 between my mom and I while I was reading the Twilight series. This blog didn’t exist yet, but it was just a couple of months from it’s start (even though I didn’t know it, at the time)! SO I posted the chat below, because it is essentially… a look into the start of my reading and blogging love!
It’s no secret that Twilight is what kick-started my reading obsession. Or “re-kick-started” it, since I’ve been an avid reader all my life, but kind of lost my reading way, as an adult, reading only about 4 or 5 books a year. *gasp*!!!!! The horror!!! Considering I average 3 books a week now… (and if I could, I’d read a book a day)!
Thank goodness for Stephenie Meyer and her sexy-sweet vampires (and werewolves!). And THANK YOU MOMMY for introducing me to reading as a young’n (we used to scour library sales for paperbacks and we’d cuddle up on the couch and read our weekends away). And thank you mommy for RE-introducing me to reading as a thirty-something year old. I’ve been obsessed since 2008/2009 and haven’t let up since!
So how did it start? I’m pretty sure I’ve posted this somewhere on my blog, but for those that have just joined us, my mom called me one day crying over a sad book about a boy and his dog. Sobbing. And she told me she was going to re-read the Twilight Saga to help her get over this tragic book ending that she was struggling with. I gasped.
“Twilight!!??”
I exclaimed!
“Mom! Don’t tell me you actually read that!!?” (me… the eye-roller extraordinaire
, poo-poohing the hype of this FAN-FREAKIN’-TASTIC YA series that was being turned into a movie) and well… I was all….
“MOM! For REALS!!?“
But she insisted. She promised me that I would LOVE the series like crazy, and in fact, she would send me the entire complete series for Christmas (Christmas was just a few days away). After discussing all of it’s awesomeness and selling me on it, I told my husband, let’s pick up book #1 tonight, and my mom will send me the rest. And once I read THIS part of off of the back of the cover while standing in line at Walmart:
“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 potent that part might be-that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”
I WAS ALREADY SO IN! I immediately flipped to page one and started reading. AND I haven’t stopped since!
And you know the crazy part? I only reviewed book #1 (Twilight) on my blog, but didn’t review the others, because once I started my blog (because of my re-discovered love of reading), I had since discovered Sookie, Cat and Bones and the BDB brothers and so many more. I was so busy reviewing these new vampires, that I… well… *shamefaced* I didn’t review the rest of the Twilights. *sigh*
But my love of Twilight was SO obvious here: What to Read After Twilight
In fact, my BFF Sherry and I met because of my blog and our mutual “Z” (Black Dagger Brotherhood) obsession, but it all started with Twilight for her, too. And here we are chatting, just today (years later) and still so thankful for our books!
Sherry: I have to find this pic of RPatt and something cool he said about girls and books…
Maryse: I wanna see!!
Sherry: “If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable.”
Sherry: So dreamy…
Maryse: WOW!!!!! I knew I LOVED Edward for a reason. Not just for his vampire-dreaminess.
Sherry: Oh he’s my fave!! So cute and such a philosopher #teamedward Hehe
Maryse: forever!!!! AND EVER!
Sherry: That book got me reading, at age 40, so I’ll forever be grateful for them . And it lead me to the black dagger brotherhood, which got me to YOU
Maryse: Me too!!!!! And it lead me to me, too! LOL!!!!
Sherry: Hahaha . You needed to find yourself . Awesome!!!!
Maryse: My blog started all because of Twilight…. My reading life kicked back into gear because of Twilight.
Sherry: We need to send Stephanie a thank you note. Haha!
Maryse: heck yah! And then… I needed more Twilight so I found Sookie and Bill & Eric . And I found Cat & Bones . And every BDB brother especially Z!!!! MY Z! And my life was rocked from there on out. TRAVIS!
Sherry: Haha.!!!!!!! …I needed more so I found the Dark Hunters, Carpathians and Georgina Kincaid. Oh the memories!!! TRAVIS was my first contemporary because of you, then Gideon, then MY RYAN I already had Z engrained in my heart .
My BFF Sherry, giving up her beloved “Z” to me for my birthday. 
No take-backsies!!!
Yep! But umm… Sherry. 
Don’t forget… You gave me “Zsadist” for my birthday! *snort* 
—>
Teehee!!! And then I FOUND THIS!!!!!
A week-long chat back in 2008, between my mom and I about the entire Twilight saga as I read ‘em. BEWARE! If you haven’t read this series yet…
- YOU MUST read the Twilight Saga!!!! and
- There are Twilight series spoilers below, because this is an unedited chat between my mom and I, in all of my Twilight-obsessed glory!
- re-reading this chat makes me giggle ’cause I was all jaded ‘n stuff about crying over book characters with the “silly heroines” and falling for them. And yet… I couldn’t help myself and I did ALL of those things!!!
Curious about me ‘n Twilight from way back then? Read away….
Mom 12-01-2008: Here is the order for your books – usually they arrive much sooner than they say
Maryse: Thank You Mommy!!! Books are so much fun. I am so glad I inherited that from you! How lucky I am!!!!
Maryse: 12-04-2008: Hi mom! so whatcha reading now? I have started New Moon last night and am halfway through it – the beginning was exceptionally hard!! WOW – I can’t wait to see what happens but i’m getting through them too fast. My books from you should be here tomorrow
Mom: I know there are some parts that I found very hard to read also… they even got me crying at times… but it’s worth reading all of it.
Maryse: yah made me cry too! stupid book!!!
Mom: hahahaha… that’s what makes a book a good book… when you’re so involved that you cry and you laugh and you live through it instead of just reading it… we wouldn’t be captivated by it if it wasn’t good….
Maryse: I know! stupid me cause I was crying cause a stupid vampire was breaking up with the silly girl!!!! I felt it though like it was real - that lady can write!! I had to stop reading and walk around a bit cause I was so sad (still am – cause he is still ”missing” – I just got to the part where she realized Jacob is a werewolf – I like him tons, but i’m not over the vampire though, so I can’t commit to the werewolf! hee hee
Mom: hahahaha…. you are sooooo like your mommy…. it’s undeniable!!!! keep reading… it’s worth it!
Maryse: Mom!!! I just got the books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYAYAY!! I am so excited…and I KNOW i will re-read the entire series as soon as I’m done with True Blood ones, I’m gonna have to go back and forth until that Stephanie Meyer lady writes more… The draft she released on her website is fantastic! It is only the first 12 chapters though (it is literally Twilight, but re-written from the perspective of Edward (and his family) sooo good – almost better than twilight itself!
Mom: Merry Xmas my Sweetpea… one more way to make you think of me often!!!
Maryse: 12-05-2008: Hi Mom! Just finished New Moon…..toooooooo gooood!! I loved it. I know I will be re-reading all of these. Sad that there are only two left…I am gonna try to take a break from these books tomorrow so I can be back with the living a bit – I hate to pry myself away but I think I have to for the sake of being normal (this is the most addicted I have ever become to a book – or series) hahahaha! love u mom!
Mom: I completely understand what you mean ’cause my friend Isabelle and I went through exactly the same thing while we were reading these books.
Maryse: 12-08-2008: Hi Mom! Ok just finished Eclipse last night – whooooo that one was GREAT fun!!! I nearly stopped reading when she kissed Jacob though and all that – I was actually furious – visibly so! I guess I’m with “Team Edward” oh well… Jacob’s sweet and all but NO it HAS to be Edward!!! Ok so here’s my question – before I start Breaking Dawn I have seen mixed reviews – some people loved it – was their favorite – some people HATED it and there was this big brigade to return it to make a statement. I’m scared that something bad happens to Edward or to the 2 of them…so gimme a hint in terms if you liked it and if it will infuriate me? Love u!
Mom: YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!! I DID AND IT ENDS VERY GOOD! YOU HAVE TO READ IT! I don’t know why some people would make a fuss… as far as I’m concerned it goes where it’s supposed to go!!!!!
Maryse: *phew* I’m excited then. I mean I would have read it anyway – the suspense is killing me…but now I can read it without so much apprehension… Why do I like these goofy characters so much? tee hee!!! Guilty pleasures!!!
Mom: You could not help it if you wanted to… you take after your mommy…. and I sure would not have stopped reading until I was all done!!! I’m sure you’ll love it… there are some little lengths ’cause you’ll want to know what happens…. but it all comes together!!! so don’t worry!
Maryse: Looks like I have some good stuff to look forward to with the True Blood series, cause I was sad that my twilight saga was ending soon, and I was afraid that I would not be able to get attached to the True Blood books (even though I love the show) but apparently, it is even better – people who love twilight LOVE the True blood series as much or more, so I have some good things to look forward to. *phew* again…
Maryse: 12-10-2008: Hi Mom!!! OMG I nearly died when Jacob imprinted on the baby!!!! I did NOT see that coming – but the minute he was riveted to her and pulled to her I was confused cause I thought she was using her vampire voodoo on him to mesmerize him and all of the sudden I realized what they were describing!!!
Mom: I know… I was really confused too at that point… but then when I realized that it was not something he could control and it was not sexual… well at least she will be protected for the rest of her life!… how did you like the battle … and how she used her gift… and finally… did you like the last book as well?… doesn’t it make you want for more?
Maryse: wait wait i did not finish the book!!!! I am at the point where they are in their new house right now (I did enjoy her first hunt and her learning how to jump and stuff). I will be finished by the end of tonight though so we can chat! I am loving it (although it IS different then the others in terms of the intensity between the two was more felt in the other book – this one is more of an adventure but I am loving it)
Mom: ok ok I won’t say any more!!!! but you will like it to the end!
Maryse: 12-10-2008: Hi Mom!!! Ok I’m done I read it all!!!!!! All of them….I loved every minute of it and all of the other twilight books too! At this point I can’t say which one was my favorite – they were all so special. Her gift was fabulous! WOW is all I can say! I will take a few days off from reading … then I will start the True Blood series…. Once that’s done I am sure I will start the Twilight series all over again…I will admit, when I closed the last book, just a minute ago, I actually felt like I had a panic attack coming on…cause it’s over (only for now I hope). I hate how she marked it “The End” at the end of this story and none of the other books say “The End”.. she even made a comment in this book via Bella’s words about how she didn’t want to say good buy cause it was like reading ‘The End’ at the end of a book… Every night I had something to look forward to…well I still have my other books you bought me and so that’s cool! Maybe I will start sleeping through the night better now…since I’ve started the series, all I do is re-dream the books and the parts I’ve just read in my head all night (and since I can’t stop reading them i’ve been going to bed late every night cause I cant put them down). very very tired…but so worth it. I will miss Bella and Edward terribly….(oh and of course Jacob too!!)
Mom: I went through withdrawals also when I was done reading. But you have another series to look forward to and a friend of mine just loaned me 2 books of a series of 3, she will be reading the third while she’s on vacation and then she will loan it to me also. The way she speaks it is a bit like our series, it’s calle the Sign of Seven Trilogy. Once I’ve read the first book, I’ll let you know what I think, and then maybe you’ll get that series also. From what she says, she can’t put them down either and she has to hold herself back to not start the third one right away instead of keeping it for her vacation.
Maryse: I like this “book suggestion” thing – it is FUN! I would have never read the twilight series if you hadn’t told me about them, so I feel lucky now!
And here we are today, 6 years later and a ton of AWESOME books under our belts!
I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. 
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you. Twilight started my reading restart also and then went to same books you did. Then thank god I found your blog. I have read almost all the books you reviewed.
YAY! Thank you, Christine for letting me know! I am so happy, was then, and still am. My mom, and Stephenie Meyer rock. That is all.
Twilight started my obsession too! Quickly followed by the Sookie Stackhouse novels and BDB!!! Then thank God I found your your blog! I’m pretty sure I found it by Googling “what to read after Twilight?” Lol. I literally get 95% of my books from your lists and reviews! I love you but my bf most likely doesn’t not.
that’s OK though…
You are my “go to girl” blog. The only one I consult and rely on for great reads. And yep it came after Twilight. Thanks for all you do.
Twilight was the jump-start that got me back into reading too. I was a crazy reader as a kid and in high school, then life happened. After that I devoured Midnight Breed series, because it was on the shelf at Wal Mart! Then on to BDB. After I made my husband track down one of the books at a B&N in Dallas for me, and it had a “half naked” guy on the front…. he got me a Kindle. And it was like crack or heroin for me…. click, click, click….. it was non stop after that!!
Vamps turned to Scots after KMM, which lead to Outlander…. then somewhere in all of that 50 Shades happened which made me look at “regular” guys…. hahaha….. and THEN your blog happened and you said to read Backstage Pass…. so I blame you for all of my debauched reading.
It’s been such a fun ride!!! And I have Twilight to thank for it too!!!! I love that your MOM is the one who pushed that on you.
Your mom is awesome!!! I wish I would’ve had someone to talk to about my Twilight Obsession when it came out. I was ALONE. Thank goodness for the book community today! <3
You’re never going to lose that note are you?
Love this blog so much and is totally my go to for great reads
My love of reading was most definitely fostered by my mom. There is nothing better than a mom who then becomes a friend too. Nothing. Better.
So I have to admit Twilight never did anything for me. 50 either, I still have not finished that book. But I find it so interesting how they jump started reading for so many. The more readers the merrier.
If I remember correctly I found this blog through KA’s website. She had mentioned your review and so came over to look. Then was a lurker for a long time. So, happy I found it.
What a sweet mommy and fun BFF you have!
I actually didn’t watch the Twilight movies until just a few months before Breaking Dawn part 1 came out, and that was only because I saw Vampires Suck (seriously ladies, that movie is so freaking stupid that it’s funny…then again, y’all know my sense of humor so, enough said there!). Then I watched the first three movies and started the books, and so began *my* reading obsession!
Maryse, I’m gonna gush about you for a second, so don’t go getting all bashful and hiding out or no martini for you. You are an *amazing* lady with the sweetest heart and a nice dose of sass and goofiness mixed in. And I love goofy. And sass. You put so much effort into this blog and have given us a place to connect with each other over a shared commonality. Your author info and recommendations are awesome, and your interaction with everyone just further shows what a big heart you have. I have so much fun with you and all the ladies here, and I love this place.
And y’all tolerate me, so love ya guys. And love ya Maryse. A big thank you to your mommy for starting this journey for you which lead *us* to you and each other. Okay, gushing lovefest is over before someone starts calling me creepy. *sideeyes peanut gallery*
Gushing lovefest. *snort* That sounded so dirty…
Wow Maryse what a sweet story. Thank you so much for sharing your love of books with us. I know it’s time consuming, practically a full time job. So a big huge thank you for all you do.
What a great beginning. I love your story. I fell out of reading in college and fell back in with the Twilight series also. I hurt my knee on a ski trip so while everyone else skied, I read Twilight and drank hot, spiced wine. I needed more PNR and steamier. I found “Dark Hunters” and then……. “BDB and Wrath” I have been hooked ever since.
2011 my husband surprised me with a Sony ereader because I always had my nose in a book…then I was looking for books on the web and stumbled on your blog…you have been my daily check ever since although I’ve graduated to an iPad now….thank you for all you do! And I’m a list girl too! Love them!
Wow you guys… so many of us started with the same batch of book series. SO VERY cool.
And…. awwwwww shucks!! *blush* *gently kicks invisible rock with toe*
You guuuuuuyyyyssss!!! I love y’all.
I love our reading crew. All of you that have come out of lurk-mode, all of you that have been vocal from the start, and all of you still “lurking” but are still having fun with us. I can feel our awesome reading energy! We are an amazing and fun group, and I must boast… we have terrific reading taste.
I couldn’t be happier!!!
Oh yeah Twilight got me into pnr. Followed up with the Carpathians and BDB and Cat and Bones and and … You know the rest. It also got me into YA.
But, YOU Maryse got me into contemporary romance with Beautiful Disaster. I would have never heard of it if not for you since it wasn’t a genre on my radar. Since then I’ve enjoyed hundreds of your recommendations and the recommendations of your loyal followers like me.
Wow, Maryse, I love this post. Twilight not only kick-started my then-dormant love of reading, as well, but also my involvement with the awesome fandom at the time led to writing fanfiction (like so many other fellow authors), and that, in turn, led to original fiction.
Little know fact (and I can’t believe I’m sharing this–lol): Once upon a time, I “vidded” Twilight fan-made videos on Youtube. My “Eclipse” trailer is still on there and has over 279,000 views. I also made the first video for “The Office,” and I remember Christina emailing me that she loved it and was watching it on her phone, smiling like crazy. Good times!
Twilight started my reading obsession as well!!! I used to read but after college I stopped for some reason and then picked it up with Twilight when the first movie came out!!! So funny!! And then I was searching for a reading list and found your awesome blog in 2009!! Thanks for all you do Maryse!!!
Seems like we all started with Twilight! That was great Maryse! Thanks for sharing!
Is Twighlight considered PNR or UF? I called it PNR earlier but I think it’s UF right?
Yep I’d say urban fantasy… since it follows one couple and their “crew” and their paranormal battles through the entire series. Yep.
Uhhh, I’ve been calling *everything* PNR if there are vampires or werewolves or fae or angels or whatever. *snort* Look at me thinking I know what I’m talking about.
Okay, so what is considered PNR and what is considered UF?
Amy, I would also like an answer to that question. I always thought that UF was PNR in a modern day RL setting. But…I am more often wrong than not.
In my mind
PNR = psychic abilities, enhanced physical power, etc. Mad scientist kind of things.
Fantasy = Faeries, Werewolves, Vampires, etc.
UF = Fantasy in an modern setting.
See? I keep getting them mixed up in my vocabulary.
It doesn’t help when authors mix them up into a single story. Like the Kindred Brides. Outer space aliens with vampire attributes. So is it sci fi or fantasy? It’s modern day, so maybe UF. Ugh!!!
I wrote an article once about this!! Lemme find it. Maybe that’ll help.
Here it is: Urban Fantasy Series Recommendations and the Difference Between Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Genres
http://www.maryse.net/books/urban-fantasy-series-recommendations-and-the-difference-between-paranormal-romance-and-urban-fantasy-genres.html
You’re so awesome. Thanks!
My pleasure!!
Thank you for sharing that!
I also went nuts after reading Twillight but I then thought I need to buy a kindle and then I got into Indie Authors and Amanda Hocking which is when I started my Zombie obsession 
Love your Blog…Maybe I need to reread Twillight now…Yep I think that I will! Thanks again!
I love this. I’ll take any book that gets people reading. I have to confess, I found Twilight mediocre and redundant. *hides* In my defense, though, by the time Twilight came out, I’ve been reading pnr for at least fifteen years, so the only new thing it offered me was sparkling. *shudders* That said, the fact that it did what Harry Potter did for so many, make them love reading, makes me adore the books.
Maryse, I’m so glad you read them and started this blog. I was randomly looking for some book’s reading order and found this blog. I lurked for a while, going to it, then going away thinking, ugh, contemporary! I hate contemporary! I don’t want real life! *grins*
Then, you reviewed Up in the Air… I fell in love with James Cavendish. *sighs* Then, in a rundown thing you mentioned Thoughtless, Bully and Fallen Crest High. So *hugs* a big thank you for getting me into these wonderfully yucky contemporary novels that made me fall in love, cry ugly tears (freaking Bright Side!) and get all worked up with a book hangover.
Oh and thank you for introducing the phrase book boyfriend. Never knew there was an actual name for it.
It’s crazy, but I feel like I’ve had the same reading journey as you. I think Twilight was the catalyst for many a book blog! I’ve always LOVED to read, but had gotten out of the habit. I was shopping in the mall one day and, for whatever reason, decided to stop into Barnes and Noble. Twilight was the first book I saw, read the back, and decided right there I just HAD to read this book. I loved it so much and have been a VORACIOUS reader ever since!
BTW, love your blog!
Oh – this was SO fun reading your comments bad and forth with your mom! Thank you for sharing <3 <3 <3
Thanks for sharing Maryse. Love your blog, it’s a very addiction for me…
Perfect, Maryse! Now I might be able to sound like I know a thing or two about a thing or two.
Thank you Sweetpea for posting these fond memories of our reading together… and like all your friends on your blog, I also go to your blog first before buying any books whatsoever, and I like to check out the comments after every review you posts ’cause I can’t help it, I’m real proud of my baby girl and I love reading how many people appreciate you as much as I do! LOVE YOU SWEETPEA! xxxxxxxxx
Hi mommie!!!
Thank you for reading to me when I was little every night, and thank you for teaching me to read, and thank you for all of our reading-snuggle-fests, and thank you for book shopping sprees, and thank you for letting me read all of your romance, horror, psych-thrillers and autobiographies “adult-aged” books even though I was young. LOL!!!
And thank you so much for introducing me to Twilight. You were SO right… as always.
I love you mommy!
Your Sweetpea
xoxoxox
Sniffle, Sniffle…. sweatpea….. so stinkin’ cute…… I want your mommy to come over for coffee…..
Thank you for clarifying the Urban fantasy / PNR romance thing. I totally get it now. Some books and series probably toe that line… but I finally get it. So… BDB is PNR and Night Huntress is Urban Fantasy! Nightwalkers is PNR and Anita Blake is Urban Fantasy….. Thank you for that info. I will try to use the right lingo from now on.
This is my first post, but I read your blog all the time. I went to see Twilight with my daughter and was disappointed and wondered what all the fuss was about. She told me I needed to read the books because they were so much better than the movie. All her friends had passed around the first book and I got my hands on it (wasn’t convinced I wanted to invest yet). Of course I was blown away and I got the rest of the series for my daughter (yeah right) for Christmas. Much the same as the other bloggers it started my love of reading all over again. At the time I was a bank teller and during slow times I would read. Since then I have read most of the series you have recommended and totally trust your opinions. I get so overwhelmed that I love to have some direction. Thank you so much for your blog and your commitment to it.
I also want to thank Maryse for all the work she does!! {{{HUG}}}. Twilight was the reason I started reading again but YOU, Maryse, are the reason why I continue to read and LOVE it. Seriously, I have made so many book friends just from following your blog. Fabi the Fab, JB Salsbury, Deb Schultz, Chelle Bliss, Vicki Marshall, and last but definitely the best is Sherry D. I also consider you to be the reason I love to read and no words can come close to show how much you have changed my life!! I look forward to meeting u someday chick!!!
What a fun post! I wish I had transcripts of the conversations I had with my mom and sister over Twilight. We were ridiculous! This series actually got *me* reading after a long break, too. And then it got me writing. Now I’m a two-time Golden Heart finalist and *published*! Thanks for the memories.