If it wasn't for the pressure from a "Twihard" friend of mine, I wouldn't have read this book. As a stand-alone novel, I cannot understand the allure. It was not until I was pressured into reading the other four books that I decided I like the Twilight Saga as a whole.

I felt ridiculous reading this book about high-school "true love." Bella and Edward are awkward together at best. Bella and Edward can hardly even carry on a conversation without it becoming uncomfortable. One cannot help but question why they "fell in love" in the first place. To answer this question, one must read the manuscript "Midnight Sun" on Stephenie Meyer's website. ("Midnight Sun" is an incomplete reworking of Twilight all over again, but through Edward's eyes.) I have mixed feelings about this: I am glad I finally understand why Edward even likes Bella, but shouldn't Meyer have been able to express their love without writing another version of Twilight?

Honestly, the only reason this book even gets 3 stars from me is because it is part of a greater whole. If you did not like this book, the other three are written much better.