Join me in returning your book...(spoilers)

[Sarah]

I plan on returning this piece of trash and getting my money back rather than have wasted the money by letting it sit on my shelf. As far as I am concerned the end of the series was Eclipse. I cannot believe how SM let us all down- what was she thinking? I had a sick feeling in my stomach the whole time I read it. She did not stay true to the characters and instead tried to make everyone happy which ended up ruiing the book. The fact that Bella coulkd get pregnant goes against every grain of the other books in the series. That was part of Bella's choice- choose Edward and give upteh ability or choose Jacob and have children. She tried to make fans who wanted a sex scene happy but it was so out of place coming up every other scene. Yes, that is what newlyweds do but it lowered the quality of teh story to have to keep reading it- not to mention that it got a little tedious- less is more. The fact that Edward would ask Jacob to father childred with Bella seemed out of character and again was disgusting. She tried to make all of the Camp Jacob people happy with making Jacob imprint on Bella's baby girl so he could have a way to stay a part of her life. This was a cop-out and an insult to our intelligence. Once this happened he lost his strength as a character. While this was not neccesarily pedophilia- it was definitely oogey! It just didn;t sit right. Things improved a little when Bellas became a vampire but the whole ending with the Volturi was anti-climactic! You expected a final fight for their right to live adn it fizzled. In teh end all was tied up neatly in a little happy package but unfortunately that is what ruined this book. This is an example of what happens when an author tries to do too much. She thought fans would be happy and all she did overall was to kill the story for all of us. I guess that is what we get for being so obsessed with it. It is a lesson learned for me not to expect much when there is so much anticipation built up for something. I do not plan on reading anymore of her books after this. SHe has proven herself to be less of an author than I thought. Rather than stay true to her own ideas and writing, she pandered too much to everyone else. How her puiblisher could have allowed this to be published is beyond me which proves the point that it was never really about the story to her. It was just about putting her name on something knowing that whatever she wrote it would sell and make her millions. So, join me in makiong a statement to her about it by returning your book.

[Nicole]

I think you are completely wrong. I absolutely enjoyed this book the entire time I was reading it! While I agree that the ending was a little lacking, I don't think she went against the characters at all. Personally I think that the Bella, Jacob and Edward in Breaking Dawn are a little more palatable than in the others. They all mature and leave behind the high-school drama factor that influenced most of their relationships in the previous books. I think that you should try and write a series of 4 books and then try to finish it off before you call something she put her SOUL into a "piece of trash".

Also, I think it was incredibly unfair of you to post this the day the book came out! People who are slow readers aren't going to want to click on a post and suddenly know everything there is to know about this book! If I hadn't finished this book last night I would have been beyond furious that you'd posted all these spoilers and didn't even put a warning in the title. Next time please have some respect for people who don't read quite as fast and at least post your rant under a title that lets people know that the entire plot is being revealed.

[Sabrina]

I agree with Nicole that it was a great book. Sarah If you think it is so bad you should just take the book back to the store and foget about it. No one is forcing you to read it. You are being just rude about a really great book. I have already read part of it and am thouroly engrossed in it.

[[deleted user]]

I also agree with Nicole. Edward, by offering to let Bella have a life with Jacob, was being completely in character. All he ever wanted was to protect Bella. The only complaint I have is the baby's name.

[Janis]

I have to agree about the baby's name--hideous! That was probably the one thing in the whole book I didn't like. Other than that, I enjoyed the story, even if it wasn't what I expected. Go ahead and take your book back if you don't like it, but I was completely satisfied with it and will read it again and again. I believe I read a interview Stephenie did where she said it ended the way she had planned all along, so don't say she caved in to pressure--maybe it's just who she is and how she thinks. Some people still think marriage and children are ok--thank goodness!

[Moodygirl]

I don't necessarily want to return the book, but all of you have to admit that this story was not something any of us were expecting.

Me - I'm happy to pretend that the series ended with Eclipse...

[Bex]

There were some serious problems with the book. Just about everything the first poster said was pretty spot on (although a little warning about the spoilers are probably in order or at least another couple of weeks).

The problem I have with the story is that it followed every cliche I could possibly come up with after reading books 1-3. I wondered how in the world could Meyers wrap this up since she wrote herself into a corner. How so you ask? She made Bella so self-involved and while teenagers are pretty self-involve they are generally not clueless, malicious and sycophants. What about her family? Why does she keep leading Jacob on? How can someone really be so clueless? Trading humanity for vampirism with no fear at all?

And then Edward- The man of many of our dream. He is a shadow. He caters to Bella's self-involvement. Instead of developing some sort of healthy relationship- he goes from being her everything, to being her nothing and instead of learning his freaking lesson, he becomes her everything again. He's been alive for a long time guys- he's seen more of life than Bella has- he is supposed to be the adult in this relationship and he allows her to be like a parasite.

Then Jacob- I never could figure out what he saw in Bella- but that is beside the point. What high school guy thinks like this- shapeshifter or not. he is obviously the most human human in the whole story and if anything his actions seem the most backwards. Nice, attractive guys don't generally pine after girls who are so cruel. It made me think that all Jake wanted was to get some play... why else would he be trying to make out with her, touch her, etc so much?

So onto to final book- even with the above problems I was hooked. I dont know why but I was completely sucked into the story. Please stop reading now if you have not finished. SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER



So I read the final book- and the whole time I am screaming in my mind- WAIT, THEY ＡＲＥ DOING WHAT NOW? So we get a wedding, sex, more sex, a baby (WHAT???), Jake and Edward making an offer for abortion and then sex with JAKE (HUH? Let me check for swinging status here... oh yeah, this is young adult lit.) So Bella wanted to have sex as a human, cool, but she didn't want to be a mom as a teen. But that's not okay- she is going to get pregnant with something that will kill her. Gross.

Then there is the creepy Rose and Bella relationship, the whole birthing scene, Alice moping about because she has a headache. Then some weird middle all about Jacob (which by this time i
v already figured out the end, after all the baby isnt really a monster- and jake bonds to the half human.... right...)

Charlie is okay with shapeshifters and vampirism (HUH? So bella gets to keep her family too... can I say cop out?) And Jake isnt in love anymore because we have this horrifically named baby (yes meyers, can you pick something we can easily pronouce).

Everything works out with the Volturri, everything works out with Nessie, Everything works out with jake and bella and Edward and bella- and only one life was lost- but we didnt know or like her anyways.

Come on- if this wasnt pure unadulterated wish fulfillment I dont know what was. At least JK Rowling loved her story enough to kill her characters. I wanted to cry- I expected to cry. I expected a war, where I would lose my favorite characters.

Sure, I liked the book- because it has an ending and I dont have to wonder who Bella eventually became. I am glad she finally developed a personality and that she is actually strong at something- kudos to the gift (although I spotted what her gift would be in book 2).

I just wish she did it all so I could believe that this could happen in the world i live in- where there is evil, war and tyranny.

[[deleted user]]

I agree with Janis-- besides the baby's name (renesme????? oh please) i thought the book brought the series to a perfect end. LOVED IT!

[Shelly]

I agree with Hannah and I don't think that this was wish fulfillment for anyone but Stephenie Meyer. She knew when she started writing Twilight how it was going to end...so how is that fulfilling readers wishes?? I loved how it ended, but that's just me.

[Sarah]

I’ll keep this short, someone probably has already said this but after reading 750+ pages yesterday I can’t read all the replies :). ANYWAY, Stephenie Meyer said this was all planned out before Twilight was even published.... she had written Forever Dawn and used that as an outline for the rest of the series (she said something like Forever Dawn skipped ahead too much and wasn’t very young adult oriented so she reworked it...umm check it out on her website).

Also the other thing that bothered me about your opinion is that Edward did not ask Jacob to father his and Bella’s children.... He was at wits end and desperate to get Bella better so he wanted Jake to say WHATEVER would work and if that meant that then go ahead and offer.

You are right that it seemed a lot different than the first three books and I think that is because Bella and Edward were together without the question of them not ending up together, so it changed the characters a bit....I still enjoyed it though.


***EDIT***
found a clip where she says what I wrote above :)
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1591...

[Jenn]

the only complaints that i have with this book
are A] the fact Jacob imprints on nessie, that was weird and creepy, loving her mother and then loving her ew.
B] the anticlamatic ending that was awful i hated that the worst. to build that all up and then lose it like oh sorry no worries here bye bye.
C]no one died. everyone has a happy ending thats boring, ugh the happy happy happy ending was just boring what a rip off.

everything else though was good didnt care so much about her name. absolutely loved that jake got a say in the book, my favorite part. Bella develops a backbone and defends for what she believes in ahh made me feel so much better about her. overall decent book a thousand times better than new moon or eclipse.

[[deleted user]]

I agree with a lot of what is said...this by far wasn't the best book of the series (come on Eclipse totaly was)...I too was hoping/expecting an all out battle scene with at least two characters getting axed, instead we go nothing (well Irina dies, but like it was said, we didn't know or like her). This book just doesn't flow well with the other three books. It feels like it is a totally new series, just with the same characters (which it could be).

[[deleted user]]

ha ha, I hated it too!
But I also loved it at the same time.
As soon as I knew that Bella was actually pregnant, I had totally switched sides. I was no longer on Edward's side, I was officaially Team Jacob.
I stuck with that all through Book II, but as soon as book three hit, I then realized that I was Switzerland. I now have to say I love Edward and Jacob both the same.
I have respect for Jacob and Edward, and wow. The whole book was just . . . WOW!!!!!
It's amazing, I didn't think she could get pregnant, then I thought that Stephenie had ruined the whole series when that had happened, but I was wrong. She didn't ruin the series, it just made it better.
My whole perspective on the Characters in Breaking Dawn changed, I saw Edward and Bella more maturelike, actual parents. Caring for the girl.
I saw Jacob as a loyal friend that you could not live without. He made sacrifices, and gained new allies in the process.
Goodness Jacob had changed so much. He went from being clueless, to being a completely insane moron, to a loyal friend, who could actually do something right.
Edward changed only slightly, his whole perspective on life changed. He finally realized that there was more than just his soulless life, and not cowering in sadness. Bella changed all that. And when Renesmee came, Bella and Edward became parents, and they were more mature. They knew that they had to be an example to the child, so they grew up about 5 years in maturity, even though their appearance didn't.
Wow, I could keep going on and on.
I am disappointed though, that they didn't do more about the Ferrarai, and didn't give it it's full unveiling.
But still, it was a great end to the entire series.

[Ruby]

hated pretty much the whole thing. u guys have covered everything that i didnt like. honestly all i have to say is ew.

[Sarah]

I apologize for not putting a warning about spoilers somewhere- I've gone back and put it in the title. However, why would anyone be checking message boards before finishing the book? You have to expect there to be some inidcation of what has happened as people start writing reactions to the book.
As a consumer I have a right to return a product that I was not happy with and I stand by what I said about this book not feeling like it was her writing. There are hundreds of posts popping up all over Amazon who would agree.

[Shannon]

I couldn't have said it better myself! I wish I could return my copy but I already put a nameplate in it! I was so incredibly disappointed in this book - you really said it all! What a waste of time and money!

[Kelly]

The entire tenor of the story changed. What helped bring routine and what defined the character's lives was gone as soon as the book started. High School and Forks was gone as we knew it. There was too much change to end the story where our love of it grew through something so different. The only way to finish the story Meyer's happy style was to change her writing. In all of the other books everything was low key, James' attack, saving Edward, and Victoria's attack, they were over within 3 days and everything was back to 'normal'. But this book doesn't have the 'normal' anymore.

It was Isle Esme and Bella's super analyzing trait that seemed to be non-existant. She stopped thinking about everything so much, unfortunately that is not what defines the Bella we know.

Then she got pregnant and poor Edward. His defining characteristic is protecting Bella, that is what defines their relationship, what has made all of the previous books' conflicts. I believe Edward begging Jacob, and it broke my heart when Edward asked Jacob to finish him if Bella didn't make it. Jacob grew up so much when he left the pack. He finally recognized the vampires for being good enough 'people' to put faith in them and to want to protect them. I was so proud of Jacob, and then he got even more with imprinting.

When Bella becomes a vampire everything changes. I was upset because everything that defined Bella, her clumsiness, her perceptiveness, was all lost. She was now super perceptive because she was a vampire and that made her human memories less. Which made me as a reader question her person. Edward and her no longer had the same relationship and I was upset the Meyer didn't take more time to delve into it, although she tried to explain their relationship through Renesmee, it was lost. All that existed was love and after Alice's vision a sense of inevitable doom...

As for the ending, it was completely what I expected. If you read The Host, you know that Meyer loves happy endings. I just wish that we could have better understood the characters in their new selves and in their newly defined relationships.

My own wish was that we could have known Edward's perspective after Bella had become a vampire. To know how freely he loved and interacted with her now that she is unbreakable. And to also know his perspective on the happiness that he has gained after waiting so much longer than Bella would intensify so much more of the sentiments in the very end of the story. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it would have been much more believable if I heard it from Edward's perspective because out of everyone he is still the same vampire with the same beliefs since the end of New Moon (I say this becuase that is when he knew he couldn't live without her). Nothing for Edward has changed.

I also wish that more of the other characters were included in a more invovled way. Not just a arm wrestling match or "i've got a headache", but more actions that could define them as characters.

I think if Meyer would have made it longer with more story...less action, but more interactions then it might have been explained/told better. She made alot of everything the readers have been waiting for squeeze into one little book. I would have been happy to wait for more if she would have stuck true to the pace and settings she had supplied for her earlier books.

[Brooklyn]

i have something to say to everyone who is complaining about the spoilers... if you havn't finished the book why are you even reading the reviews? you know that people are going to put their opinions out there and possibly say some things that happened in the book... so i'm still wondering why your reading the reviews if you havn't finished the book!!!!! seriously people is it that hard to comprehend????????

[Seline]

i personally hate it too. its rather embarassing to say i own it. Its so predictable. Its like she had people vote for events in the story. Its just not that original.

[Laura]

Complain all you want about how neatly Meyer tied everything up but then I have to say:
A) She SAID she liked happy endings and
B) That means that Everyone had to be happy (in the book not in our world).
Personally, I got it at midnight. Finished at 8 am. I laughed out loud, and I cried actual tears (been a while since I've done that with a book) and I am completely satisfied with everything she did. She made me believe it all too, which I loved.

[Jillian]

Of course I have my issues with the book, but I think Stephenie Meyer did a great job ending the series. And by the way, people: Having characters die does not make a book good, and having them live does not make a book bad! That is just as arbitrary as saying the opposite. And to say "At least JK Rowling loved her characters enough to kill them" is a pile of crap. And insulting to Stephenie Meyer. You just can't make a blanket statement like that. I'm sure JK Rowling had other motives for killing off characters than that she loved them. And you really think Stephenie Meyer doesn't love her characters? Please. Vomit.

The main problem with this book was the anticipation before the release. How could any book or anthing at all live up to that? We all loved Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse and most of us agreed BEFORE Breaking Dawn that SM is an amazing writer. You guys are being so hyperbolic to say that it was sooooooo bad that you hate her as a writer, and it was a total disappointment. What most people are probably upset with is that they had their own pre-conceived notions of how it should end and it didn't go your way. Well, by the way you aren't the author!!!!! You try writing a series like this and think about how much pressure she was under!!! And shouldn't her first priority be to write a book that satisfies what SHE thinks her characters would do? After all that's what she did in Twilight and that's why we fell in love with the series.

And come ON--you have to admit, you were so not expecting that!! I was surprised the whole time I was reading, and my eyes kept getting wider and wider.

Also, I would recommend re-reading it. Now that the anticipation has receeded some, you may be able to read it without getting mad or whatever.

And honestly, I don't disagree with a lot of the complaints you guys have with the plot--but I don't think it's right to attack SM like that. I don't think she was just trying to satisfy everyone in order to make millions. That's just rude. You know she doens't need millions from Breaking Dawn, she's getting millions from everything else.

My complaint: I wish there had been more Alice; she's my favorite.

[Michelle]

I have to agree and disagree with everyone's comments. I believe that the ending was a bit lackluster, and everything did seem very one dimensional.

SM should have taken the time to slow down the pacing and delve into the new changes in Bella and Edward's relationship, added more to the Cullen family dynamic, and made the ending a bit more satisfying. This was a project that should have been another two to three books at least.

To the ones who think that Jacob imprinting on Renesmee was creepy, read Eclipse again. It states very clearly that there is NOTHING creepy about it. Just like with Quil, Jacob loves her as is needed. He will be whatever she needs him to be whether it be a friend, confidante, playmate, or (when she's an adult) a lover.

Also, I agree that the book seemed to be missing something that I believe could have been explained by Edward's point of view. A lot of the characters just seemed to disappear. Even the newcomers did nothing for the group dynamic. There simply wasn't enough information about them for me to care. When I read a book, I want to care for the characters.

Having been in love with two people at the same time, I can tell you that it is the most painful and confusing things a person can go through. There's nothing about it that has to do with cruelty. It's simply not being able to make a choice that won't cause you unbearable pain. It's practically an impossible thing for such a situation to end "happily ever after." This book is fiction. Sometimes the point is to have everyone live happily ever after simply because it is not possible in reality.

That being said, over all it was a good book, but could have been paced better and delved deeper than just the surface.

[Liberty]

I think you are completely right about this book. This was a dissapointment.
But this isnt what made me dislike the series.
It was all the freaking fangirls.
ESPECIALLY the Edward fans.
I hated it how one of my friends ruined all the books for me.
It sucks because right as I freaking bought the first one EVERYONE suddenly knew about it and was raving about it.
it became stupid and pointless to even look at the books, when I could ask the girl right next to me what was going to happen next.
T_T

But anyways, it more or less seemed like a fanfiction.

[Michelle]

Liberty:

Did you get the feeling too? It didn't have the same cadence as the first three, and definately didn't seem a part of the series. It was like someone trying to imitate SM, and got some things right, but missed everything underneath the different character's surfaces.

[Rachel]

I think we each have our own opinions. But this was the best book ever. And I HATE twilight. But I have to join the super-ans on this one. It may be a cheesier ending, but the book is TONS better than Eclipse.

[Hillary]

SPOILER ALERT

The pregnancy ruined this book for me. The way Bella acted so out of character, having her "against" edward and needing rosalie's protection, the fact that the baby's name and personality traits were so incredibly annoying that as a reader I felt NO connection to the baby at all (I was almost hoping the Volturi would kill her). And, let's not forget the birth scene... we can read that nastiness but not a decent sex scene??

The wedding and honeymoon were boring.

And, I agree with Bev - everything was wrapped up into way-too-neat a little package.

[Hillary]

Oh, and... some of the characters got really, really lost. Charlie is washed over (oh, it's fine that you're a vampire and jacob's a werewolf and you had a baby in a month). Alice is non-existent after being Bella's best (and sometimes) only friend for a year and a half, and Esme is mentioned... once?

And no fight scene? COME ON!

[Jillian]

Rachel: Yes!! You are soo right! Much better than Eclipse. For me, Eclipse is the worst book in the series. Sooo muuuuuch cheeeese.

[Leah]

I'm returning mine...i was going to throw it away but my parents wanted their money back. It was disappointing, in more ways than one. But that's just my opinion...

[Sarah]

right on! you said everything on my mind.

[Cassy]

Personally I loved the book. I do wish there had been more of the other vamps, but I was still happy with the overall story. *spoiler* Did anybody see when Jacob returned with Renesmay (sp)? I've read that part twice and all I'm getting is Belle sends Jacob off, then all of a sudden she's pulling her daughter off his back. BTW I think Belle's behavior with being pregnant and having the baby were totally believeable. A) She was having somewhat prophetic dreams about having a vampire child. B) She knew that Rosealie wanted a child and therefore would probably want to protect her future niece/nephew. C) Until anybody else has had a child, you can't judge what it does to your emotions.

[Natasha]

I think that it was a good book but that sm was just stretching the book way to far and that story should have ended the series with eclipse.

[Meghan]

Bex,

Spoiler ~ Spoiler ~ Spoiler ~ Spoiler ~ Spoiler ~
I dont think that SM "copped out". I think that the point was that Bella was ready to give up everything for Edward, and nothing would alter that choice. And in addition that, if you do what you kow in your heart is right, that you have to have the faith that everything will turn out okay. SHe was willing to give up motherhood and her family and Jacob for Edward, but in the end, in our world, you hardly ever really need to do that. So everything DID work out in the end. Just hold on to that faith! Thought the book was stressful and intense, i was about to toss the book out hte window during most of it, but when i read the last page my only thought was ...."perfect".

[Angel]

I loved the happy ending..
Isn't that what we all wanted after falling in love so deeply with all the characters?

[Megan]

The plot "twists" were predictable and contrived.
The characters I had come to love were turned into shadows of themselves, like robots.

The whole time I was reading this, I wondered what she could've possibly been thinking.

I didn't mind that the book wasn't the same tenor as the previous three. I expected that, really. And I also know that ending a series with as rabid a fanbase as Twilight is undoubtedly going to piss off a lot of people no matter how it's done, but this? Come on.

Maybe if she'd had more time for editing it wouldn't have felt so splintered and convenient, like a giant cop out. I guess this is what happens when an author releases two books in the same year. I hope for her case it's a lesson she's going to take to heart.

Seriously, the second star in my rating is only out of pity because I loved the first three so much.

[Jen]

Just have to say--not what I expected, but loved it all the same. Eclipse is by far the best of the series. Hated Renesmee's name--couldn't help thinking how ridiculous it sounded everytime. I like neat and tidy endings, so I was completely happy. The sex thing--come on, we all wanted it in there and I must say it was tastefully done--it didn't come off annoying to me at all, but maybe because I am married...I actually always kind of expected something like a baby to happen, because it was such a big topic in the other books. In a few weeks I am going to read it again and I'm sure I won't mind most of the minor things--I hated New Moon the first time around.

[Leslie]

I just overheard some young women at the bookstore commenting on who liked and who disliked the book. They believed it had a lot to do with your upbringing and religion. If you'd been 'taught' that your main job in life was to parent children and help your husband get his own planet, you probably loved the book. (Their words, not mine--who would this be?) If you were in a religion that didn't allow birth control, you probably liked this (I'd have liked to have jumped in on this one--I doubt Bella thought it was an option--no bodily fluids, no sperm).

The feminists would hate the book (clearly these two were in this catagory because they hated it).

[Jordan]

I'm sorry, but I am sick of hearing people chastise other people who hated book because we should "try putting our soul into a book and then getting it published see how hard it is blah blah BLAH". First off, that is completely irrelevant because we're not trying to become rich off of people buying our products. We aren't trying to sell books and make money. Some of us might, but I don't ever WANT to write a series. We're disappointed because we expected this book to be exactly like the others, to actually be congruous with what I THOUGHT the story was supposed to be about. I would not have stayed up until midnight to get the book if I knew this was what it was going to turn out to be. I wouldn't have preordered the book, and I wouldn't have read it. Unfortunately, there were no reviews before the book was released so I had no warning that this was going to be a god awful book. I could CARE LESS if she put her soul into this book, the fact is I wasted my money. I would burn this stupid book except well I think recycling it and selling it to a used book store is the much more environmentally friendly way to go. I can't believe they are going to do another reprint of the book (another million copies!??)
What a waste of trees.

[Kat]

Nicole - you are right to ask for spoiler warnings. Sarah, you might want to put a header on your post that lets people know you give away a lot of major plot points.

But just because someone has not (or cannot) write a book series, that absolutely does not take away their right to critique it. Part of creating art is opening yourself up for criticism. Meyer surely knows that, in addition to her legion of fans, there are people out there who dislike her books. If she's not okay with that, she isn't going to make it as a writer.

[Sarah]

Sorry, but I know several people who are LDS like Stephenie adn they hated the book, including me. I think her getting pregnant totally ruined the story and I didn't believe the "love" between the baby, Edward, and Bella. I think whether you love it or not has more to do with age and expectations going in to it. I was content letting my imagination take over after reading Eclipse and create the ending for myself. I didn't think she needed to really write this book. However, there are people who had a hard time doing so and wanted to actually read it happening. If there was more to the plot and stronger resolution to the climax, then I would have liked it better. That is what I hoped for.

[Emily]

I think religion is a red herring here. I couldn't live in a more religious community, and I can guarantee there will be as many divided opinions here as anywhere else.

I personally enjoyed this book more than the others, for a few reasons. I loved that Bella finally evolved, matured, after being so much the same for three books. Edward has always seemed completely grown-up, so Bella needed to catch up with him. In this book, she did.

I also liked that she became his equal - maybe she didn't grow a backbone in quite the way I had hoped (she absolutely needed to slap Edward across the face for leaving her in New Moon, but I digress) but at least as a vampire he isn't doing the almost-sick control thing he did before. They are finally playing on a level playing field - I didn't see that as possible, but was so gratified when it did.

I felt like, as a married mother myself, this book was meant more for me than for the young adults that it was theoretically intended for. I identified with Bella as someone I would hang out with instead of someone I would hire to babysit. Even the intimacy in this book felt more natural to me than the forbidden passions of previous books. That's fun and all, but this felt real, authentic, like two married people. I wonder how young adults read the same thing - if they could connect with it as well now that Bella is in the same peer group as their mothers. :)

I did have complaints, just like I did with the first books. Renesmee, for crying out loud? Atrocious. I also agree with Cassy - I thought Jacob had been dismissed, but he never actually left? Confusing. There weren't enough pages to address everything fully - Charlie, the 2 Alpha dilemma, even Jacob started to be 2-dimensional after he was done telling his story. I just wanted more. But there doesn't have to be a big fight scene to have an effective ending - New Moon didn't. And the ending left you knowing that the story was going to continue, we just won't be there for it.

At the end of the day, I love me a happy ending. So it was a little soap opera-y. It was entertaining and gave resolution. That's all I was looking for.

[Liz]

I really enjoyed the book. One of my favorite parts was at the end of book 1 when Bella called Rose and told her about Edward's wanting to "take care of it" and her wanting to protect the baby. Rosalie has been my favorite character since I heard her story in book 3 and I loved how she became so close to Bella and helped her protect Renesmee (I agree, not a good name, but sweet how she named it after the grandparents). Rosalie got her chance to be a mother and that was so sweet. The whole Jake - Nessie thing is a bit creepy, but I think it is better how he is family, but not by marrying her.I personally thought the book was excellent but SM could have made more tear jerking emotional parts kind of like Harry Potter. I also think one of the characters should have died (other than Irina). I know I will get a lot of opposing opinions, but I think it makes you remember a book more when a beloved character dies. I also thought it was funny how with all three other books Edward is protecting and saving Bella, but when Bella turns vampire, her gift is a protective shield. Now she can finally do her share of saving him. Also, we needed more Alice. And I was totally fine with the honeymoon. No need for more description, thank you.

[Melissa]

Rachel, I partly agree. First I agree, Twilight was way too teeny lame--ending a prom--dumb. Anyway this book had to be different because Bella was different. I know that her youthful fans will probably not like this one as much because Bella is so different and the book takes on a lot of adult concepts that they just won't understand or relate to. Anyway, I enjoyed the book as much as Eclipse. I'm surprised you didn't like Eclipse because it was my favorite--the love triangle was well done and fun to read. Anyway, I'm not surprised after reading this book with all the conflict and chatter and various opinions because it has a different texture, feel, and tone than any of ther other three. Plus a lot of people really didn't want Bella to become a vampire. I felt she had to become one and I figured she wouldn't go through the whole newborn phase because how would the book progress and the story line continue for an entire year while she recovers. My sister and I talked about it and figured she'd be immune somehow just so the storyline could continue. Anyway, good book, better than Twilight.

[Diana]

I am reading the book through for the second time. It took me about a day to absorb everything that had happened and decide what I actually thought about the book. (Imagine running on a treadmill and going 2 miles without realizing it because you were thinking about vampire babies!)

My thoughts are:
1. Renesmee = studpidest name EVAR
2. I wish we could have heard what Bella was thinking during her pregnancy, how she was reacting to everything.
3. I wish we had more about the new relationship between Bella and Edward, rather than just sex and hunting - not a lot of real emotion there.
4. It seems like Bella grew up overnight, with no transitions between the bright, analytical, hysterically funny girl we knew into the protective mother type. Absolutely no emotional transitions there.
5. I am SO glad that Charlie came back into Bella's life, and that Jacob can now be happy. When Edward called him, "My son," that was the only time my eyes misted up.

I have no problem with happy endings. SM took care of her characters in a way that was both unexpected and fascinating. I just wish there had been more emotion, more explanation of actions and feelings. In the first books Bella always took her time in going through her thoughts and reactions. Not so much in this one.

Now, some of you on here are upset, and have every right to be. But please, don't be rude and viscious. It's unclassy. Just return the damn book and keep posting your opinions - maybe it'll make you feel better. ;)

I also have to agree that it did seem a bit fan-fictiony. SM seems to have sacrificed her usual writing style in order to fit everything in. Come on, SM, we wouldn't have minded a couple 100 more pages. It was like she lost the bonds she had forged with her characters - she wrote it like an outsider. m

[Julie]

Just popping in to say that I had the "why is Jacob still there?" problem too. I skimmed back, and I think what happened is, Bella and Edward put Renesmee on Jacob's back, and Bella told him that when things went crazy (fight-wise) and the Volturi were distracted, then he should take off. This never happens, so he doesn't leave. He's therefore still standing next to them at the end of the non-fight.

[Rae]

:[
This book disappointed me, because of the pregnancy which was really lame and not needed in the story.

And killing off a few characters wouldn't hurt - I mean, even in FAIRY TALES they do that you know.. it makes it more a bit realistic not a fantasy lovey dovey world.

I loved Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse and now, I'm pretty much just shoving Breaking Dawn under my bed where it shall gather dust =(

[Sabine]

Isn't that dishonest to buy a book, take it home, read the whole thing and then return it? You got a product and used it, so what if it didn't work for you. This isn't a self-help book. I have yet to see a ficitonal novel that comes with a 100% money back guarentee. HAte the book all you want, but don't go as far as returning an already read copy.

[Sarah]

The bookstore had no problem accepting it back even after knowing that I had read it. So, if the bookstore doesn't have a problem with it then I think returning it is okay.

[Nicole]

This whole topic is just hilarious in my opinion. Do you all realize that you're debating how believable a book about VAMPIRES is?? You're already reading about vampires and warewolves, and you want to argue the fact that Bella getting pregnant is too unbelievable? Give me a break, enjoy the book for what it is and get over it. This is Stephenie Meyer's book. It isn't ours. She can do whatever she wants with her characters and we just happen to have the privilege to be able to read their story. I am also incredibly excited for Midnight Sun to come out, but even if it doesn't meet my expectations, I'm certainly not going to return it. I support her as an author and that means not being rude to her by reading her art and not paying for it.

[Kat]

What a lot of people seem to be misunderstanding about the term "believable" is that we're not concerned with whether this book could actually happen IN REAL LIFE. Real life clearly has nothing to do with anything. The problem is that the plot development isn't believable even within the context of the book. The things we learn about the characters contradict what we've already come to understand.