View source for Twilight (Meyer novel)


{{redirect|Twilight 1|the film adaptation of the novel|Twilight (2008 film){{!}}''Twilight'' (2008 film)}}
{{other uses|Twilight (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox book
| name              = Twilight
| author            = [[Stephenie Meyer]]
| language          = English
| country           = United States
| genre             = [[Young adult fiction|Young adult]], [[fantasy novel|fantasy]], [[romance novel|romance]], [[vampire fiction|vampire]]
| publisher         = [[Little, Brown and Company]]
| isbn              = 978-0-316-16017-9
| title_orig        = Forks
| image             = Twilightbook.jpg
| caption           = Cover of ''Twilight''
| cover_artist      = Gail Doobinin (design)<br /> Roger Hagadone (photograph)
| series            = [[Twilight (novel series)|''Twilight'' series]]
| release_date      = {{Plainlist|
* October 5, 2005 (hardcover)<ref>{{Cite book|isbn=0316160172|title=Twilight|last1=Meyer|first1=Stephenie|date=5 October 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://stepheniemeyer.com/project/twilight-book/|title=Twilight|website=stepheniemeyer.com}}</ref>
* September 6, 2006 (softcover)
* February 26, 2009 (kindle)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com.au/Twilight-Book-Saga-ebook/dp/B002RI97MK/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Twilight&qid=1617425221&sr=8-2|title=Twilight: Twilight, Book 1 (Twilight Saga)}}</ref>
* May 1, 2009 (audible)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com.au/Twilight-Saga-Book-1/dp/B00NX3L00U/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Twilight&qid=1617427814&s=books&sr=1-2|title=Twilight: The Twilight Saga, Book 1}}</ref>
}}
| media_type        = {{ubl|Print ([[Hardcover]], [[Paperback]])|e-Book ([[Amazon Kindle|Kindle]])|Audio Book ([[Compact Disc|CD]])}}
| pages             = {{ubl|498<ref>{{cite book| title= Twilight (Hardcover)| id={{ASIN|0316160172|country=ca}}}}</ref> (Hardcover)|544<ref>{{cite book| title= Twilight (Paperback) | id={{ASIN|0316015849|country=ca}}}}</ref> (Paperback)}}
| followed_by       = [[New Moon (novel)|New Moon]]
}}

'''''Twilight''''' (stylized as '''''twilight''''') is a 2005 [[Young adult fiction|young adult]] [[Vampire literature|vampire]]-[[romance novel]]<ref>{{cite news | author=Gregory Kirschling | title=Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight' Zone | url=https://ew.com/article/2008/07/05/interview-vampire-writer-stephenie-meyer/ | publisher=Entertainment Weekly | date=2007-08-02 | access-date=2009-04-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Mike Russell | title='Twilight' taps teen-vampire romance | url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-ca-twilight11-2008may11,0,5524758.story | work=Los Angeles Times | date=2008-05-11 | access-date=2009-04-12 }}</ref> by author [[Stephenie Meyer]]. It is the first book in the [[Twilight (novel series)|''Twilight'' series]], and introduces seventeen-year-old [[Bella Swan|Isabella "Bella" Swan]], who moves from [[Phoenix, Arizona]], to [[Forks, Washington]]. She is endangered after falling in love with [[Edward Cullen]], a 103-year-old vampire frozen in his 17-year-old body. Additional novels in the series are ''[[New Moon (novel)|New Moon]]'', ''[[Eclipse (Meyer novel)|Eclipse]]'', and ''[[Breaking Dawn]]''.

''Twilight'' received lukewarm reviews. Some praised the novel's tone and its portrayal of common teenage emotions such as [[social alienation|alienation]] and [[rebellion]]. Others criticized Meyer's prose and argued the story was lacking in character development. It reached number five on the [[New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' bestseller list]] within a month of its release<ref name="Time">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/10questions/0,30255,1833919_1752991,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827045134/http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/10questions/0,30255,1833919_1752991,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 27, 2008 |title=Her Literary Career - Stephenie Meyer |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=2011-01-15}}</ref> and eventually reached first place.<ref name="Children's Books - New York Times">{{cite news |title=Children's Books - New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/books/bestseller/0617bestchildren.html?scp=10&sq=the+new+girl+falls+love+vampire&st=nyt |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2007-06-17 |access-date=2009-07-23 }}</ref> The novel was named one of ''[[Publishers Weekly]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>''s Best Children's Books of 2005.<ref name="Best Children's Books of 2005">{{cite web|author=Jennifer M. Brown and Diane Roback |title=Best Children's Books of 2005 |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6280581.html |publisher=Publishers Weekly |date=2005-11-03 |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123072800/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6280581.html |archive-date=November 23, 2008 }}</ref>

The [[Twilight (2008 film)|film adaptation]], released in 2008, was a commercial success, grossing more than $392 million worldwide<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=twilight08.htm |title=Twilight (2008) |date=2008-11-21 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=2009-07-23}}</ref> and making an additional $157 million in North American [[DVD]] sales as of July 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/TWLIT-DVD.php | title=Twilight - DVD Sales |publisher=The Numbers |date=2009-03-22 |access-date=2009-07-23}}</ref> The book was the biggest-selling of 2008;<ref>{{cite news| title=The top 100 titles of 2008 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-01-14-top-100-titles_N.htm | publisher=[[USA Today]] | date=2009-01-14 | access-date=2009-01-15 | first1=Anthony | last1=Debarros | first2=Mary | last2=Cadden | first3=Kristin | last3=DeRamus | first4=Christopher | last4=Schnaars}}</ref> in 2009, it was the second-biggest selling, losing only to its sequel ''New Moon''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2010-01-05-top-books-2009_N.htm|title=Best-Selling Books: The top 100 of 2009|publisher=USA Today|date=January 6, 2010|access-date=May 27, 2011|first1=Anthony|last1=Debarros|first2=Mary|last2=Cadden|first3=Kristin|last3=DeRamus|first4=Christopher|last4=Schnaars}}</ref>
As of 2008, ''Twilight'' had been translated into 37 different languages.<ref name="Turan">{{cite news | author=Kenneth Turan | title=Movie Review: 'Twilight' | url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-twilight21-2008nov21,0,2444525.story | newspaper=[[LA Times]] | date=2008-11-21 | access-date=2008-11-21 }}</ref>

In October 2015, Stephenie Meyer announced a new gender-swapped version of the novel, entitled ''[[Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined]],'' with characters Beau and Edythe, in honor of the 10th anniversary of ''The Twilight Saga''.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/10/06/arts/ap-us-books-new-twilight.html?_r=0 New Twilight Book], ''New York Times''</ref> In 2020, Meyer released ''[[Midnight Sun (Meyer novel)|Midnight Sun]]'', a retelling of the story of ''Twilight'' from the perspective of Edward Cullen.

==Plot==
Bella Swan, an introverted seventeen-year-old girl, moves from [[Phoenix, Arizona]], to [[Forks, Washington]], on the [[Olympic Peninsula]] to live with her father, the town's police chief, after her mother begins life on the road with her new husband, a minor-league baseball player. Bella is admitted to [[Forks High School]], where she easily settles in with a group of friends. A somewhat inexperienced and shy girl, Bella is dismayed by several boys competing for her attention.

On the first day of school, Bella sits next to her classmate Edward Cullen during biology class, but he seems to be utterly repulsed by her, much to her bewilderment. He disappears for a week but when he returns, he is unexpectedly friendly to Bella. Their newfound relationship is interrupted after Bella is nearly struck by a van in the school parking lot. Edward saves Bella, narrowly stopping the van with his bare hands. Bella questions Edward about how he saved her life but he refuses to tell her anything.

During a visit to [[La Push Beach|First Beach]], Bella meets Jacob Black, a local boy from the Quileute tribe. She learns that Edward and the rest of the Cullen family are "cold ones" (vampires) who consume only animal blood. Disturbed by recurring nightmares, Bella researches vampires. She compares the characteristics of the vampires in mythology to the Cullens and becomes convinced that Edward is a vampire.

Bella is saved by Edward again in [[Port Angeles]] when she is almost attacked by a group of men. Furious, Edward drives Bella away and takes her to a restaurant for dinner and then back home. Edward confesses that he is able to read minds. On the way, she tells him she knows that he is a vampire. Edward confirms her belief and confesses that Bella's blood is more desirable to him than anyone else's and he wanted to kill her on the first day of school. He tried to stay away from Bella to avoid hurting her, but over time, Edward and Bella fell in love. 

Their relationship is affected when a nomadic [[coven#Vampire covens|vampire coven]] arrives in Forks. [[James (Twilight)|James]], a tracker vampire, who is intrigued by Cullen's relationship with a human, wants to hunt Bella for sport. Bella and Edward are forced to separate as Bella escapes with Alice and Jasper (Edward's brother and sister) to hide in a hotel in Phoenix.

James calls Bella and claims to be holding her mother hostage. Bella sneaks out and hurries to save her mother. When she arrives, she finds that the hostage claim was a ruse. James attacks and bites her, but before he can kill her, she is rescued by Edward and the other Cullens, who kill James. Edward prevents Bella from becoming a vampire by sucking the venom out of her wound, and she is treated at a hospital, using the story that she fell out of a window as an excuse.

After they return to Forks, Edward takes her to the school prom, as Edward did not want Bella to miss any normal human experience because of him. Bella says that she wants to be transformed into a vampire, but Edward reiterates he is against this.

==Main characters==
{{main|List of Twilight characters{{!}}List of ''Twilight'' characters}}
* [[Bella Swan|Isabella "Bella" Swan]] - A 17-year-old girl who moves from Phoenix, Arizona, to Forks, Washington, to live with her father. Her mother moves to Florida with her second husband. Bella has a kind and awkward personality that is more mature than most girls her age. She is intelligent and observant, noticing and formulating theories about the Cullens' strange behaviors, physical features, and unusual abilities. Bella acts selfless by prioritizing the safety of her peers over herself.<ref name="Meyer2005" />As the novel progresses, Bella unconsciously learns how to make difficult choices and accept their consequences.<ref name="Meyer2005">{{cite book|title=Twilight|url=https://archive.org/details/twilight00meye_0|url-access=registration|first=Stephenie|last=Meyer|author-link=Stephenie Meyer|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|date=October 2005}}</ref> She enjoys reading traditional books of literature such as ''Romeo and Juliet'' and ''Wuthering Heights''.<ref name="Meyer2005" />
* [[Charlie Swan (Twilight)|Charlie Swan]] - Bella Swan's father who lives in Forks, Washington. He works as the head of police for the town. His parenting style can be described as authoritative. Charlie sets rules and expectations for Bella, but he allows some flexibility.
* [[Edward Cullen]] - A 103-year-old vampire who was transformed by Carlisle Cullen when he was near death with [[Spanish flu]] in 1918. He has a supernatural gift for reading people's minds. However, he cannot read Bella's thoughts. Since Edward's transformation into a vampire, he had never fallen in love nor believed that he needed to. He later realizes that his existence was completely pointless and without an aim. However, the day he meets Bella, his life changes. In Bella, he finds compassion, love, acceptance, and care.<ref name="Meyer2005" /> In ''Twilight'', Edward has a pessimistic personality influenced by Meyer's naturally pessimistic character.<ref>.{{cite book|title=The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide|first=Stephenie|last=Meyer|author-link=Stephenie Meyer|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|date=April 2011|chapter=A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On Endings and Inevitability|quote=SM:"He's such a pessimist—oh my gosh, Edward‘s a pessimist."}}</ref> Additionally, Edward acts very protective of Bella because he believes she is "a magnet for trouble".<ref name="Meyer2005" /> His character was also influenced by Mr. Rochester from ''[[Jane Eyre]].''<ref>.

{{cite book|title=The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide|first=Stephenie|last=Meyer|author-link=Stephenie Meyer|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|date=April 2011|chapter=A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On Literary Inspirations|quote=SH:"...there's something a little Rochestery about Edward for me." SM:"Yeah."}}</ref> 
* [[Alice Cullen (Character)|Alice Cullen]] - A member of the Cullen vampire clan who remembers little about her human existence. Similar to Edward Cullen, Alice has supernatural power; she has the ability to predict the future. Her visions change as the people around her make decisions. Additionally, her insights can be limited when it comes to Bella. Alice claims Bella feels like a sister to her.<ref name="Meyer2005" />
* [[Esme cullen|Esme Cullen]] - A vampire and the wife of Carlisle Cullen who acts as a mother figure to Alice, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, and Edward. She has a caring and warm personality.
* [[Jasper Cullen]] - The youngest of the Cullen vampire clan who has the ability to feel and control the emotions of those around him. Throughout the book, Jasper uses this gift to help Bella remain calm.<ref name="Meyer2005" />
* [[Mike Newton (Twilight)|Mike Newton]] - He is one of Bella's first friends in Forks. A few chapters into the book, he reveals he has a crush on Bella. After Bella lets him down, he asks Jessica to attend the dance with him. He acts jealous when Bella begins dating Edward.<ref name="Meyer2005" />
* [[Jessica Stanley]] - A girl who is friends with Mike and Angela. She becomes one of Bella's new friends. Jessica can be described as loquacious. When Bella shows interest in the Cullens, Jessica becomes jealous and passive-aggressive.

* [[James (Twilight)|James]] - A vampire with an unusual ability to track people. When the Cullens try to protect Bella, James figures she will be the biggest hunt of his life. 
* [[Jacob Black]] - A non-vampire, [[Quileute]] who lives on the La Push reservation near Forks. Upon first meeting, Bella is charmed and impressed by Jacob in many ways. Jacob learns that he is similar to Bella in many ways. Her father Charlie sees that Jacob is safe boyfriend material, the kind of guy he would approve of her dating. 
* [[Carlisle Cullen]] - A handsome, conscientious doctor. As the patriarch of the Cullen clan, Carlisle started the practice of a 'vegetarian' (no human) diet. As a human in the 17th century, Carlisle was the son of an anti-'evil-being' pastor.

==Development==
{{Tone|date=December 2025|section}}
Meyer has claimed that the idea for ''Twilight'' came to her on June 2, 2003 in a dream about a human girl who loved a [[vampire]], who loved her but still wanted her blood. Meyer wrote the draft of what is now Chapter 13 of the book inspired by the dream.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=1972 |title=A Teenage Tale With Bite |publisher=Brigham Young University Magazine |last=Walker |first=Michael R. |date=Winter 2007 |access-date=2008-08-01 }}</ref> The first drafts were titled ''Forks'' instead of ''Twilight;'' the publisher requested the title change. Meyer eventually named the main characters Edward, influenced by [[Edward Rochester]] from [[Charlotte Brontë]]'s ''Jane Eyre'' and [[Edward Ferrars]] from [[Jane Austen]]'s ''[[Sense and Sensibility]]'', and Isabella, thinking she would have chosen that for a daughter. Rosalie and Jasper were originally named Carol and Ronald.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html |title=The Story Behind ''Twilight'' |publisher=StephenieMeyer.com |access-date=2011-01-15 |archive-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730025156/http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Meyer continued writing to the end chronologically, not worrying about the backstory. However, she realized that she wanted to explore many of the events in the backstory and the reasons behind the events in the chapters, so she planned to write a 5-6 chapter backstory. Instead, these turned into 24 chapters by the time she was finished.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide|first=Stephenie|last=Meyer|author-link=Stephenie Meyer|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|date=April 2011|chapter=A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On How It All Began}}</ref> In a matter of three months she had completed a novel.<ref name="Grossman">{{cite news |author=Lev Grossman |title=Stephenie Meyer: A New J.K. Rowling? |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1734838,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429195154/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1734838,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 29, 2008 |publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=2008-04-24 |access-date=2009-06-30 }}</ref> She has said she was writing for her own enjoyment, never thinking of publishing the work.<ref>{{cite web |title=BookStories Interview with Stephenie Meyer |url=http://chbookstore.qwestoffice.net/fa2006-08.html |work=BookStories |publisher=Changing Hands Bookstore |date=August 2006 |access-date=2009-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902202116/http://chbookstore.qwestoffice.net/fa2006-08.html |archive-date=2008-09-02 }}</ref> She finished the manuscript on August 29, 2003.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide|first=Stephenie|last=Meyer|author-link=Stephenie Meyer|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|date=April 2011|chapter=A Conversation with Shannon Hale, On How It All Began|quote=SM:...And I finished it around my brother‘s wedding, which was—he just had his anniversary—I think it was the twenty-ninth of August?}}</ref>

Her sister liked the book and encouraged Meyer to send the manuscript to literary agencies.<ref>{{cite news |author=Damian Whitworth |title=Harry who? Meet the new J.K. Rowling |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3917660.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513200339/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3917660.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 13, 2008 |work=The Times |date=2008-05-13 |access-date=2009-08-15 | location=London}}</ref> Of the 15 letters she wrote, five went unanswered, nine brought rejections, and the last was a positive response from Jodi Reamer of Writers House.<ref name="Numbers">{{cite web |title=Stephenie Meyer By the Numbers |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20080512/2898-stephenie-meyer-by-the-numbers-.html |publisher=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=2008-12-05 |access-date=2009-08-15 }}</ref> Meyer had merely sent out letters to literary agents inquiring if they would be interested in a 130,000-word manuscript about teenage vampires.<ref name="Rosman">{{cite news|last1=Rosman|first1=Kathleen|title=The Death of the Slush Pile|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703414504575001271351446274|access-date=27 January 2015|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|publisher=Dow Jones & Company|date=22 January 2010}}</ref> An inexperienced assistant at Writers House responded to her inquiry, not knowing that young adult books are expected to be about 40,000 to 60,000 words in length.<ref name="Rosman" /> Due to that error, Reamer eventually read Meyer's manuscript and signed her up as a client.<ref name="Rosman" /> During the editing process, a chapter that used to be Chapter 20 was cut out of the manuscript along with Emmett's account of his bear attack and some parts of the epilogue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stepheniemeyer.com/the-books/new-moon/outtakes-twilight/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828215552/http://stepheniemeyer.com/the-books/new-moon/outtakes-twilight/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-08-28|title=Twilight Series - Twilight - Outtakes|publisher=StephenieMeyer.com|access-date=November 9, 2024}}</ref>

==Cover==
[[Stephenie Meyer]] has said the apple on the cover represents the [[forbidden fruit]] from the [[Book of Genesis]] and Bella and Edward's forbidden love. She uses a quote from Genesis 2:17 at the beginning of the book. It also represents Bella's knowledge of good and evil and the choices she makes.<ref name="apple">{{cite web | url=http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_faq.html#apple | website=www.stepheniemeyer.com | title=What's with the apple? | access-date=2008-02-08 | archive-date=March 11, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311115837/http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_faq.html#apple | url-status=dead }}</ref> Meyer says, "It asks if you are going to bite in and discover the frightening possibilities around you or refuse and stay safe in the comfortable world you know."<ref>{{cite book|title=The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide|first=Stephenie|last=Meyer|author-link=Stephenie Meyer|publisher=Little, Brown and Company|date=April 2011|chapter=Frequently Asked Questions, Question A|quote="It asks if you are going to bite in and discover the frightening possibilities around you or refuse and stay safe in the comfortable world you know."}}</ref> A later alternative cover features [[Kristen Stewart]] and [[Robert Pattinson]], the actors who play the lead characters in the film adaptation.

==Awards and honors==
* Among ''[[Publishers Weekly]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s "Best Children's Books of 2005"<ref name="Best Children's Books of 2005" />
* Among ''[[School Library Journal]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>''s "Best Books of 2005"'''''<ref>{{cite web |author=Trevelyn Jones |title=Best Books 2005 |url=http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6286432.html |publisher=School Library Journal |date=2005-12-01 |access-date=2009-08-26 }}</ref>'''''

==Publication==
Meyer's inquiry letter was initially rejected by 14 agents.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rebecca Murray |title=Interview with 'Twilight' Author Stephenie Meyer |url=http://movies.about.com/od/twilight/a/stephenie-meyer_3.htm |publisher=About.com |access-date=2009-07-23 |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330192916/http://movies.about.com/od/twilight/a/stephenie-meyer_3.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Eight publishers competed for the rights to publish ''Twilight'' in the 2003 auction.<ref name="Numbers" /> [[Little, Brown and Company]] originally bid for $300,000, but Meyer's agent asked for $1 million; the publishers finally settled on $750,000 for three books.<ref>{{cite news |author=Cecelia Goodnow |title=Debut writer shines with 'Twilight' |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/books/243782_vampire08.html |publisher=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |date=2005-10-08 |access-date=2009-08-16 }}</ref> ''Twilight'' was published in 2005 with a print run of 75,000 copies.<ref name="Numbers" /> It debuted at #5 on the [[New York Times Best Seller list|''New York Times'' Best Seller list]] within a month of its release,<ref name="Time" /> and later peaked at #1.<ref name="Children's Books - New York Times" /> Foreign rights to the novel were sold to over 26 countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stephenie Meyer |url=http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/navigate.do?pPageID=200000424 |publisher=[[Waterstone's]] |access-date=2009-08-16 }}</ref>

In October 2008, ''Twilight'' was ranked #26 in ''[[USA Today]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s list of "Bestselling Books of Last 15 Years".<ref>{{cite news |title=USA Today's best-selling books of last 15 years |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-10-29-top-150-books_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip |publisher=USA Today |date=2008-10-30 |access-date=2009-08-22}}</ref> Later, the book went on to become the best-selling book of 2008.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mary Cadden |title=New star authors made, old ones rediscovered in 2008 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-01-14-top-sellers-side_N.htm |publisher=USA Today |date=2009-01-15 |access-date=2009-08-22 }}</ref> and the second biggest selling of 2009, only behind its sequel ''[[New Moon (novel)|New Moon]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2010-01-05-top-books-2009_N.htm|title=Best-Selling Books: The top 100 of 2009|publisher=USA Today|date=January 6, 2010|access-date=May 27, 2011|first1=Anthony|last1=Debarros|first2=Mary|last2=Cadden|first3=Kristin|last3=DeRamus|first4=Christopher|last4=Schnaars}}</ref>

For the tenth anniversary of the book's release, Meyer released ''Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined'', alongside the original ''Twilight''. ''Life and Death'' is a reimagining of the story with Beau (a male human) and Edythe (a female vampire) as the leads.

On August 4, 2020, Meyer released the Twilight companion piece ''[[Midnight Sun (Meyer novel)|Midnight Sun]]''. ''Midnight Sun'' is the story of ''Twilight'' as told from Edward Cullen's perspective.

==Critical reception==
''[[The Times]]'' praised the book for capturing "perfectly the teenage feeling of sexual tension and alienation".<ref>{{cite news | author=Amanda Craig | title=New-Age vampires stake their claim | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/children/article1081930.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212010500/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/children/article1081930.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 12, 2007 | work=The Times | date=2006-01-14 | access-date=2009-04-14 | location=London}}</ref> Hillias J. Martin of ''[[School Library Journal]]'' addresses the appeal of the novel to be due to its clear and understandable nature, allowing readers to become fully engaged<ref>{{cite web | author= Hillias J. Martin | title=Grades 5 and Up Reviews: October, 2005 | url=http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA446397.html?industryid=47085&q=twilight+meyer+review | publisher=[[School Library Journal]] | date=2005-10-01 | access-date=2008-11-16 }}</ref> Norah Piehl of ''TeenReads'' also wrote, "''Twilight'' is a gripping blend of romance and horror".<ref>{{cite web | author=Norah Piehl | title=Review: Twilight | url=http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0316160172.asp | publisher=Teenreads.com | access-date=2009-04-14 }}</ref> ''[[Publishers Weekly]]<nowiki>'</nowiki>''s starred review described Bella's "infatuation with outsider Edward", their risky relationship, and "Edward's inner struggle" as a metaphor for sexual frustration accompanying adolescence.<ref name="stepheniemeyer.com">{{cite web|url=http://stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_reviews.html|title=Stephenie Meyer's official website&nbsp;— Twilight reviews|access-date=2008-05-29|archive-date=May 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080524230442/http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilight_reviews.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Booklist]]'' wrote, "There are some flaws here–a plot that could have been tightened, an over reliance on [[adjective]]s and [[adverb]]s to bolster dialogue–but this dark romance seeps into the soul."<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0316015849| work=Amazon.com| title= ''Booklist'' Review at Amazon.com|access-date=2008-07-23}}</ref> Christopher Middleton of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' called the book a "high school drama with a bloody twist ... no secret, of course, at whom this book is aimed, and no doubt, either, that it has hit its mark".<ref>{{cite news |author=Christopher Middleton |title=Twilight: high school drama with a bloody twist |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookclub/5989699/Twilight-high-school-drama-with-a-bloody-twist.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookclub/5989699/Twilight-high-school-drama-with-a-bloody-twist.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |publisher=The Daily Telegraph |date=2009-08-07 |access-date=2009-08-15 | location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Jennifer Hawes of ''[[The Post and Courier]]'' said, "Twilight, the first book in Stephenie Meyer's series, gripped me so fiercely that I called the nearest teenager I know and begged for her copy after I misplaced my own."<ref>{{cite web |author=Jennifer Hawes |title=Living a real-life romance |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jul/13/living_real_life_romance88905/ |publisher=[[The Post and Courier]] |date=2009-07-13 |access-date=2009-08-16 |archive-date=December 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213073925/http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/jul/13/living_real_life_romance88905/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Roberta Goli of [[Suite101.com]] gave the novel a positive review, saying that while "the first half of the novel lacks action", the writing is "fluid" and the story "interesting". She also praised the depth of emotion shown between the main characters for pinpointing "the angst of teenage love." Jana Reiss noted the presence of Mormon themes in the ''Twilight'' series, seeing Edward Cullen's struggle against carnal desires as an example of Mormonism's "natural man."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grossman|first1=Cathy Lynn|title='Twilight' weaves Mormon ideas into supernatural love saga|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/07/twilight-mormon-lds-bella-/1#.WtTz9i7waUk|work=USATODAY.COM|date=7 July 2010}}</ref>

''[[Kirkus Reviews|Kirkus]]'' gave a more mixed review, noting that, "[''Twilight''] is far from perfect: Edward's portrayal as monstrous tragic hero is overly Byronic, and Bella's appeal is based on magic rather than character. Nonetheless, the portrayal of dangerous lovers hits the spot; fans of dark romance will find it hard to resist."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Twilight/Stephenie-Meyer/e/9780316160179 | work=B&N.com| title= ''Kirkus'' Review at B&N.com|access-date=2008-07-23}}</ref> The ''[[New York Times]]'' review stated, "The premise of ''Twilight'' is attractive and compelling — who hasn't fantasized about unearthly love with a beautiful stranger? — but the book suffers at times from overearnest, amateurish writing. A little more "showing" and a lot less "telling" might have been a good thing, especially some pruning to eliminate the constant references to Edward's shattering beauty and Bella's undying love."<ref>{{cite news | author=Elizabeth Spires | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/12/books/review/12spires.html | work=[[The New York Times]] | title='Enthusiasm,' by Polly Shulman and 'Twilight,' by Stephenie Meyer | date=2006-02-12 | access-date=2011-01-31 | location=New York}}</ref> Although the ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' later listed ''Twilight'' at number 32 on its list of "100 books that defined the noughties", it said that the novel was "Astonishing, mainly for the ineptitude of [Meyer's] prose".<ref>{{cite news| author=Brian MacArthur |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/6554803/100-books-that-defined-the-noughties.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/6554803/100-books-that-defined-the-noughties.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | work=telegraph.co.uk| publisher=Telegraph Media Group |title=100 books that defined the noughties| date=2009-11-13 |access-date=2009-11-17 | location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Elizabeth Hand said in a review for the ''[[Washington Post]]'', "Meyer's prose seldom rises above the serviceable, and the plotting is leaden".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/07/AR2008080702528.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | title=Love Bites | first=Elizabeth | last=Hand | date=2008-08-10 | access-date=2010-05-26}}</ref>

===Book challenges===
''Twilight'' was on the [[American Library Association]] Top Ten List of the Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2010, for containing a "religious viewpoint" and "violence".<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged#2010/ | publisher = ALA | title = Frequently challenged books of the 21st century | year = 2010}}.</ref> The ''Twilight'' series was on the same list in 2009 for being "sexually explicit", "unsuited to age group", and having a "religious viewpoint".<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged#2009 | publisher = ALA | title = Frequently challenged books of the 21st century | year = 2009}}.</ref> The Marshall University Libraries pinpoint specific reasons several schools have removed the novel from libraries,<ref name="Marshall University">{{Cite web |title=Marshall University |url=https://www.marshall.edu/library/bannedbooks/twilight-series/ |access-date=2019-01-30 |website=www.marshall.edu}}</ref> citing the hyper-sexual nature of the novel, as well as religious objections to the plot.<ref name="Marshall University"/>

==Legacy==
===Sequels===
The second book, ''[[New Moon (novel)|New Moon]]'', was originally published in the US on August 21, 2006. ''[[Eclipse (Meyer novel)|Eclipse]]'' was published on August 7, 2007. The fourth and final novel, ''[[Breaking Dawn]]'', is the longest book in the original [[tetralogy]] at 756 pages in the US hardcover version, and 700 pages in the US paperback release. It was published worldwide on August 2, 2008, and sold over 1.3 million copies in the first 24 hours of its release in the US.<ref>{{cite news |author=Alison Flood |title=Dream sales for new children's fantasy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/sep/23/booksforchildrenandteenagers.publishing |work=The Guardian |date=2008-09-23 |access-date=2009-09-19 | location=London}}</ref>

Furthermore, on June 5, 2010, Meyer published ''[[The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner]].<ref name="movie announcement" />''This book dives into Bree Tanner's experience as a new vampire.<ref name="movie announcement" /> Then, on October 6, 2015, she released ''[[Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined|Life and Death]],'' a retelling of ''Twilight'' with reversed gender roles''.<ref name="movie announcement" />'' Most recently, Meyer released ''[[Midnight Sun (Meyer novel)|Midnight Sun]]'' on August 4, 2020,<ref name="movie announcement" /> which retells ''Twilight'' from Edward Cullen's point of view. 

===Manga version===
A [[manga]]-style [[Japanese language]] version of the ''Twilight'' saga was released in 13 installments. The books, which were primarily text, featured illustrated pages of art sprinkled throughout the book.<ref>{{cite book|title=Twilight 1: Twilight Vol. 1 of 3 (Twilight Saga)|isbn=4863324634 |edition=Japanese }}</ref>

===Film version===
{{Main|Twilight (2008 film)}}

<!-- mention Blu-ray edition -->
''Twilight'' was adapted as a film by [[Summit Entertainment]]. The film was directed by [[Catherine Hardwicke]] and stars [[Kristen Stewart]] and [[Robert Pattinson]] as protagonists Bella and Edward. The screenplay was adapted by [[Melissa Rosenberg]]. The movie was released in theaters in the United States on November 21, 2008,<ref name="movie announcement">{{cite web|url=http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/index.html|title=Stephenie Meyer's official website&nbsp;— Twilight news archive|access-date=2008-10-20|archive-date=October 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019022935/http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and on [[DVD]] on March 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Summit Home Entertainment's Saturday Release of Twilight Unleashes With Over 3 Million Units Sold |url=http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-22-2009/0004992497&EDATE= |publisher=[[Summit Entertainment]] |date=2009-03-22 |access-date=2009-03-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326032320/http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=%2Fwww%2Fstory%2F03-22-2009%2F0004992497&EDATE= |archive-date=2009-03-26 }}</ref> The DVD was released in [[Australia]] on April 22, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25346651-5003424,00.html|title=Stephanie{{sic|nolink=1}} Meyer reflects on bright Twilight as DVD looms|author=Gillian Cumming|date=2009-04-19|access-date=2009-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422010056/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25346651-5003424,00.html|archive-date=2009-04-22|publisher=The Courier Mail}}<!-- ref really does mis-spell her name with an "a" in its title --></ref>

===Graphic novel version===
{{Main|Twilight: The Graphic Novel}}

On July 15, 2009, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' confirmed rumors that a [[graphic novel]] adaptation of ''Twilight'' was in development. The book was drawn by [[Koreans|Korean]] artist Young Kim and published by [[Yen Press]]. Stephenie Meyer reviewed every panel herself. According to ''EW'', "it doesn't look simply like an artist's rendering of Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson. In fact, the characters seem to be an amalgam of Meyer's literary imagination and the actors' actual looks." ''EW'' magazine published finished illustrations of Edward, Bella, and Jacob in their July 17, 2009 issue.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tina Jordan |title='Twilight' exclusive: Graphic novel version on the way! |url=http://shelf-life.ew.com/2009/07/15/twilight-comic-book-manga/ |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |date=2009-07-15 |access-date=2009-07-16 }}</ref> The first part of the graphic novel was released on March 16, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |author=Meyer, Stephenie |title='Twilight' Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 |url=http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/graphicnovels.html |date=2011-10-24 |access-date=2011-10-25 |archive-date=July 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711013856/http://stepheniemeyer.com/graphicnovels.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==


* [http://www.stepheniemeyer.com Stephenie Meyer - Official Website]
* [http://www.thetwilightsaga.com/ Official Twilight Saga Website]
* [http://www.twilightlexicon.com/ The Official Twilight Lexicon]
* [https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/stephenie-meyer/twilight/9780316007443/ Twilight] at the [[Hachette Book Group]]
* [https://mormonarts.lib.byu.edu/works/twilight-2/ Twilight]. [[Mormon Literature & Creative Arts]] Database.+

{{Twilight (series)}}

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[[Category:2005 debut novels]]
[[Category:2005 American novels]]
[[Category:2005 fantasy novels]]
[[Category:2000s horror novels]]
[[Category:American fantasy novels]]
[[Category:American horror novels]]
[[Category:American romance novels]]
[[Category:American young adult novels]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Romantic fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Romantic horror novels]]
[[Category:Paranormal romance novels]]
[[Category:Young adult fantasy novels]]
[[Category:Young adult horror novels]]
[[Category:Young adult romance novels]]
[[Category:Novels set in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:American novels about vampires]]
[[Category:Fiction about human–vampire romance]]
[[Category:American fantasy novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Horror novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:American novels adapted into comics]]
[[Category:Twilight (novel series)]]
[[Category:Little, Brown and Company books]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Twilight (Meyer novel)|access_date=2026-03-07}}