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** spoiler alert ** OK, here's the deal: I have a soft spot for vampires. There, I said it. And it didn't start with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, though that show does throw into stark relief how, um, anti-women this story line is.

But for all I'm about to vent about, I read this book in a weekend--and didn't stop reading it even though it's utter trash. Further, I'll most likely read the next book in the series. Why? I don't know. It's candy. It's a trashy, quick read about vampires.

Lots of people have written about the glaring problems with this book, so I won't repeat it. Suffice to say that Bella dropping everything she's interested in at the beginning book (family, school, science, classic literature) for a dude she thinks is hot is really annoying. Their relationship edges solely around their "electricity" and Bella wondering why Edward doesn't like her/is angry with her/love her as much as she loves him.

I would forgive that, maybe, if there was some development of them actually being in love. But they absolutely never have a conversation that isn't about Edward being dangerous/wanting to eat her/how much Bella loves him. (There's the weirdo biographer session where Edward wants to know all about her, but that's hardly a relationship.)

And the first time they actually kiss, Bella opens her mouth unleashing his, er, demon and he wants to kill her. This, of course, is all poor Bella's fault. So, they must be content to snuggle and restrain themselves from any sexual contact, while Bella feels guilty about her lack of control. (Interesting that the author is Mormon, no?)

Erg. This book really, honestly got to me. At first I was terribly worried about how many young women are reading this book. But then I remember the rubbish I read way back when. Seriously, if I could read the entire VC Andrews collection and maintain a healthy relationship as an adult, the girls reading the Twilight Series will be fine. I just hope they find healthier relationships than our friends in Forks.