Jessica Ping*Disclosure: There are affiliate links in the following article, meaning that, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links, I will receive a small commission.
August Book of the Month
Midnight Sun Book Review
Trust me, my heart is breaking even more than yours is at my 3.5-star rating to start off this Midnight Sun Book Review. But, I assure all of you Twihards out there that this is probably influenced by my recent reread of the Saga.
Like all teenage girls growing up in the early 2010s, I was a mega Twilight fan. It actually took me longer than most to accept my inevitable love of the series. I wanted so desperately to be different from everyone around me in my middle school cafeteria. But, my curiosity won out, and Edward Cullen pulled me to the dark side.
In preparation for Midnight Sun’s release, I spent July in Forks, Washington, reliving the most epic love triangle of my generation. As I am now a young adult, my perception of the series has developed quite a bit.
Read my thoughts on the Twilight series: https://therollingexplorer.com/3-things-i-learned-by-rereading-the-twilight-book-series-as-an-adult/
Spending the last month in my nostalgic fantasies has been a blast, but I wish I hadn’t reread the series before reading Midnight Sun.
I am the queen of rereading my favorite books. When The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the prequel to The Hunger Games series, (my all-time favorite❤️), came out earlier this year, I immersed myself into the world of Panem for the 5th time. My preparation for THG’s prequel was very similar to my preparation for Midnight Sun, but the end results were much different.
June Book of the Month
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel)
After finishing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, I actually contemplated picking up The Hunger Games again and starting from the top. Though I do prefer THG to Twilight, this reaction was driven by a desire to make further analytical connections with the new knowledge the prequel unleashed, not just an obsession with the series.
Reading Midnight Sun after rereading the Twilight series led me down the opposite path. I have never wanted to abandon a series faster. Truly, when I put the book down for the final time two nights ago, my anxiety was lifted and I felt relieved to be able to move on.
Without a doubt, part of this is due to the length of all of the books in the Twilight series. Getting through Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn is a haul and takes a very deep level of commitment if you actually want to finish all four books. Adding on Midnight Sun was just too much.
To put it simply, I was bored. The book was not interesting enough to hold my attention and I found myself trudging through it.
Why?
Midnight Sun is essentially a retelling of Twilight from Edward Cullen’s perspective with 30% more pages. So, having just read the first book in my reread, all of the dialogue was fresh in my memory. I frequently found myself skimming over familiar sections in an effort to finish the book faster, but then I’d miss one of Edward’s many anxious thoughts and feel compelled to go back so I could get the full effect.
It was infuriating, but it was my own doing.
If I could go back in time, I would have waited to reread the series until after I finished Midnight Sun. Better yet, I would have reread the original series months ago, and then reread it again, excluding Twilight, to see how different the experience was knowing Edward’s perspective from the beginning. Without giving too much away, it would have shed some better light on New Moon, that’s for sure. 😬
Geez, you sound miserable, was there anything redeemable about the book?
Of course.
As a true #TeamEdward supporter, I was so excited to better understand his character. Though he was portrayed a bit more feminine than I expected, and his anxiety stressed me out, hearing his side of the story was still captivating.
One obvious reason for this is because you don’t just experience Edward’s thoughts. You become somewhat of an omniscient presence. Edward’s ability to read minds lends insight into many other characters’ intentions and motivations. Some interesting perspectives worth mentioning include Emmett, Rosalie, Jessica Stanley, and Mike Newton.
Of course, Bella is highly observant, so this information is not necessary to understand the relationships that play out later in the series, but true fans will love the extra detail presented.
Another great part of this book, and the driving force behind my excitement of its release, is that it shared more information about the way the Cullen family came into existence/lives such an extravagant lifestyle. I found these specific moments held my attention the best.
What was really cool, though, was being privy to knowledge Bella never gained. For example, do you remember that creepy rapist from Port Angeles? Yeah, his storyline has a definitive ending when told from Edward’s perspective.
September Book of the Month Announcement
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
Finally, what everyone has been waiting for: the romance.
Edward is an emotional disaster when it comes to Bella Swan. Truly, he is a steaming pit of hot mess express. From the beginning, the reader is thrown into a game of monkey in the middle with Edward’s feelings. Does he kill her or does he commit his life to protect her? Does he love her or does he hate her?
It takes him a good hundred pages to decide his care for Bella stems beyond his own curiosity and another 300 to determine that he is strong enough to preserve her life. All along the way, he is doubting his intentions and Bella’s affection.
Quite honestly, it felt like a teenage love story. Even more so than the original Twilight book.
If you, like me, swoon at the name Edward Cullen, then you probably should read this book.
Will there be parts that upset you?
Yes.
Will you love every second of it?
Probably not.
Is it wayyyyyyyyy to long?
Most definitely
Is it worth it?
If you’re a fan of the original Twilight Saga, then 100% yes.
Buy your copy today!
Not had enough Twilight fun from me?
Was this Midnight Sun Book Review not enough to quench your thirst for vampire content?
Join me on Thursday, August 27 on Instagram and Facebook for two separate live streams! On Instagram, I will be chatting with my best friend and fellow Twihard, Cassidy Murphy. We will be discussing some of our favorite moments from this new installment as well as some of our favorite scenes from the original Saga. On Facebook, I will be sharing the top 5 Pet Peeves I had while reading Midnight Sun.
Instagram: 11 AM CST
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEZuAIpJ0Ds/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Facebook: 12 PM CST
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=916883398822810&extid=kwhRugRpRxPFP0c9
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