THE TWILIGHT SAGA <—-THE SERIES THAT STARTED IT ALL FOR ME. It’s not news how much I love this series and that it was the catalyst to my extreme book reading (and of course, what inspired me to start my blog). I’ve mentioned it via posts and comments over the years. I always feel a need to post an ode to the start of it all. I ALWAYS feel this need to explain it to those that haven’t read these yet, what I felt. How deeply I felt.
I always feel a need to thank the Stephenie Meyer, the characters, the story, my mom (for introducing me to it, and reading overall) and for that matter, the entire book world for existing. I was 100% able to connect to and become one with, this series, and I have continued to connect with so many books since then.
This series is the book love of my life. It’s my true first love (book-wise), and yes, I’ve fallen in love many times since, but it’s because of this series that I discovered romance.
And you know what? Maybe the series I’ve discovered since (and loved as much) are “better” in the grand scheme of things (depends on who you ask, I guess 😉 ), but a first love (that didn’t hurt you of course) will always bring back fond memories and warm fuzzy feelings. And this one left me feeling elated.
I know many felt just like I did when they first read these (hooked from the get-go and so addicted and involved). Surprised by just how much we experienced as real… even though it was all just fantasy.
Some of my beloved fellow readers didn’t quite feel that way at all, reading Twilight. 😮 Or connect deeply. Or even like the heroine. Or the heroes. And that’s okay too.
It makes complete sense. We all experience books, and characters differently. Past and current real-life actualities, book exposure, first-favorites, reading maturity, narrating preferences and character personalities will certainly help or hinder the shape of our reading experience from one book to the next. From one series to the next.
Before Twilight, it was horror and biographies for me. Fun in their own right, but totally different from what I experienced with this saga. I feel truly lucky that, previous to Twilight, I hadn’t read ANY paranormal (other than Stephen King horror), as this was an absolute fresh read for me.
And honestly, as “experienced” as I now am in regards to romance books, and the reading preferences I’ve developed along the way (various author’s voices and writing styles, or maybe a more critical eye to character behaviors) well… maybe re-reading these won’t bring those original feelings back for me. So I get it.
But it was officially “my first” and you can never forget that. Especially when it was as all-consuming as it was. I had never read anything like it, or barely any romance for that matter… and it was exactly what renewed and re-kick-started my love of reading. But not just renewed it. Breathed a whole different life into me. It was simply fantastic, and my life is better because of it… and everything that came of it.
In essence… it was absolutely magical to me. And I loved the heroine (her insecurities, and how raw and emotional she could be – naive mistakes and reactions and all), but then again, I had never been inside of a heroine’s head before, that was falling so deeply in love, and had so many angsty decisions to make. Let alone being dumped!!! GASP! I had never read something like that before. Well maybe the Sweet Valley High books had heartache… (not quite that level obviously) 🙄 😂 LOL!!! But… you know what I’m saying?

At that time, I had never read something so romantically intense, and distressing from the heroine’s perspective nor had I experienced the scenes and emotions that deeply, and personally. My heart was HOOKED and I was so invested in that love. I FELT IN LOVE TOO. And I KNEW her. I felt like her before, and through this book, I was her/me… again.
Anyway, it’s because of Twilight that I fell in love with The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series, and the Fever Series, and True Blood (Southern Vampire Mysteries), Night Huntress Series and of course, Vampire Academy Series. These were my true loves that helped me move on and forge on after my book-love fog of Twilight.
And then contemporary romance, and bad boy rock stars, and brooding alpha males, and the wonderful book list of my favorites goes on. How happy and fortunate, I am.
So for me, this series means the world to me. Opened up the book world to me. Made me understand what it was to “live” in a world and experience something I never could in real life. How to escape, or just how to imagine, discover and experience… at THAT level.
Though now… I’m fretting over seeing them again through my now, “romance-book experienced” eyes. I want to keep my wide-eyed innocence that I experienced in the first place. I still remember that feeling, and as I think back on scenes, and where I was sitting (or in bed reading), not eating, not sleeping for days on end as I read ’em, I still FEEL that feeling right now. My first time falling head-over-heels in love… with a book character.
That said…. will I be reading (and owning a hard copy) of Midnight Sun? OH HECK YES!!!! SQUEEEEEEEEE!!! After all, there’s just enough room on that book shelf for it, and my mom and I can buddy read it (with all of you), since she’s the one that introduced me to this awesome series in the first place. Wanna mom??? 😀
So now share with me… what series or book first did that, to you?
P.S. Here’s my Twilight history… in posts:
- For the love of Twilight, look at how happy we are over Stephenie Meyer’s “Midnight Sun” news!
- When I first read Twilight… a look into the start of my book obsession (and THIS blog).
- Stephenie Meyer – Twilight Saga Reading Order
- Book Review – Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
- My recommendations for those looking for love after “Twilight”…
- Book Giveaway – My copy of Twilight <— An old giveaway but I LOVE the comments. ❤️ Had to include it in the list.
50 Shades of Grey did that for me! And then I read Beautiful Disaster, Taking Chances, hundreds of others and found you because of it. ❤️
And I’m so glad you did. We’re book-twins!!!! 😀
I sure wanna Sweetpea! I also can’t wait for that book to come out, like you I did fall in love with the characters and couldn’t put down the books so I anxiously awaited the 2 hour train ride home every night after work just so that I could immerse myself in this exotic world that I was discovering…. when you so ungraciously laughed at my suggestion that I had to reread that series to get out of my other book funk… I knew that one day you would tell me again “you were right mom” 😉 !
YAY MOMMY!!!! 😀
And yes… you were SO right. You always are. 😉
😍😍😍😘😘😘
I totally agree with you, Maryse! Twilight introduced me to a whole new world. I didn’t even know that these kinds of books existed then. I remember stumbling upon Twilight, YEARS and YEARS ago, in Walmart. I read the back and immediately wanted to know more. So I bought it and I devoured it and then the rest of the series. I loved them all and read them all multiple times. Then I watched and loved the movies. It’s one of those stories that sticks with me and I too, owe this series for getting me into reading like a maniac. I read paranormal for years, then moved on to fantasy for a while, but in the last few months I’ve been reading nothing but PNR again and I forgot how much I missed it. It’s all I want to read now. I’m currently working my way through the Dark-Hunter series (again) because it’s another world that I love so much. Next, I’m thinking Midnight Breed or Vampire Academy? There are so many worlds I want to dive into. I’m always open for PNR recommendations too!!
OMG VAMPIRE ACADEMY, Janie!!!!!!!!!!
I loved Midnight Breed too, but Vampire Academy is so special (and also has that forbidden-love aspect, but so well written and addictive).
Okay, I will definitely pick it up! Eeeep, I’m excited !!!
First I read “mom” up there as “mony” and thought “Wow, you two got super close.”
I and all of us are grateful that you took that Bookish path with your mom.
I started reading the Harry Potter books and got my mom into them. We were both very much adults. I cherish the memory of sharing the books, the anticipation of a new release, and watching the movies with her. I also just loved the world and the characters, though that is all subjective because as much as HP is loved it also has its critics and the readers who just dont get it or even hate it.
But for me it will always be a love same with Anne of Green Gables.
I won’t rant about Bella anymore.
LOL!!!!!!!
You can rant all you want, my friend. And Mony too. 😉
My mommy won’t rant ’cause she loves it like me. I wonder what else she and I should marathon-read together?
Just suggest and I will follow… we like the same books as we have done many times in the past!
YES totally agree with you! I loved to read as a kid but as I got older and had kids I rarely found the time except for the odd Oprah book. Reading Twilight I discovered reading for pure entertainment, it was my 1st ever paranormal and I have been hooked ever since. I remember going to a used book store by my house and asking the lady for similar books. Well she introduced me to Kelley Armstrong’s Underworld, then JR Ward BDB🖤🗡(still my #1) and Jeaniene Frost to start.
In turn thats how I found you too…everytime I was looking for a new book or series your recommendations came up because I discovered we had similar tastes. I have discovered my favorite authors through you…so I am very grateful. Thank you!💜
And thank YOU Ruth for letting me know this… and for being with us, all of this time. 😀
Same here, Ruth! I’ve been reading this blog for probably close to 10 years and I have found so much through here! We all appreciate you, Maryse!
😊 ♥️ 🌻
And I appreciate you!!!
Twilight introduced me to reading, period.
I never really read a book before, wasn’t interested, but my sister-in-law FORCED me saying I would fall in love with Edward and boy was she right 🥰
The rest is history because I too found my (our😉) Zsadist and the rest of the boys and everything in between BUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT, I found YOU, my bestie 🥰
Thank you for all your awesomeness in the book world, you’ve always been the QueenBee.
Enjoy this new one.
MY BFF!!! All because of these awesome books. <3
💗💗💗
Man this is a tough one. I’ve read soooo many books in my lifetime. I’ve always been able to fall into books. I guess the first author I really remember being strongly connected to is Christopher Pike. As far as straight up romance…. it might have been one of the hockey series. Otherwise it’s a blur of words and feelings!
Maggie Shayne had the first series about Vampire’s. You should read that. Tried reading Stephanie Meyer but thought it was for a younger crowd teens to young adult. It reminded me when my kids watched Dawson’s Creek. Just not that great.
YESSSS to this whole post. Twilight wasn’t the first series I loved, but it was the first that I felt really invested in. My love of reading was magnified because of it. From anticipating the movie releases, to getting my mom, friends and sisters invested in the series as well. I think reading this series is what made me fall in love with romance books too. Like you, I wonder how much my opinion would change about it now since its been years and I have had a chance to read a lot more in the genre. However, I am looking forward to Midnight Sun!
Same, Tasha J! I was always a big reader, but 50 Shades of Grey introduced me to an entirely different genre… and you, Maryse! I Googled “what to read after 50” and you popped right up forever ago. From there it was the Crossfire series, Fantasyland series, any and all Maya Banks, Tiffany Reisz, etc. My world is brighter (and my hubby is happier) because of you all! 🤣