Series · paranormal romance

The Twilight Saga

The Twilight Saga series by Stephenie Meyer has 8 known books (8 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Twilight (2005). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Midnight Sun.

Books: 8 known books (6 novels + 1 novella + 1 companion)
Published: 8
First published: 2005
Status: ongoing
Shelved under: Romance, Fantasy
Last checked: 12 September 2026

Start here: Twilight (2005) — then read straight through in publication order.

Book one

Twilight (2005)

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

Book 1:
Twilight
Novel2005
Twilight introduces Bella Swan, who moves to the perpetually overcast town of Forks and falls for Edward Cullen, a beautiful, impossibly fast classmate who turns out to be a century-old vampire living under strict restraint. Published in 2005 at 498 pages, it launched Stephenie Meyer's saga into a defining cultural phenomenon of the late 2000s.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Twilight
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Book 2:
New Moon
Novel2006
New Moon, the second book in The Twilight Saga, arrived in 2006 at 563 pages, pushing Bella deeper into the hidden supernatural world of vampire covens and the nearby Quileute werewolf pack as her relationship with Edward is tested.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of New Moon
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Book 3:
Eclipse
Novel2007
Eclipse, published in 2007 at 629 pages, is the third book in The Twilight Saga, widening the love triangle between Bella, Edward, and werewolf Jacob Black as the ancient vampire law enforcers known as the Volturi loom closer.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Eclipse
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Book 4:
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Novella2010
Numbered 3.5 in The Twilight Saga's sequence, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner appeared in 2010, slotted between Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. At 192 pages, it is the shortest of the books covered here.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
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Book 5:
Breaking Dawn
Novel2008
Breaking Dawn is the fourth book in The Twilight Saga, published in 2008 and running 756 pages. At 756 pages, it is the longest book in the collection covered here.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Breaking Dawn
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Book 6:
The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide
Companion2011
The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide, published in 2011 at 256 pages, is a reference companion rather than fiction -- character profiles, timelines, and artwork for fans wanting the saga's deep lore.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide
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Book 7:
Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined
Novel2015
Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined, published in 2015 for the original novel's 10th anniversary, is a gender-swapped retelling of Twilight -- an optional curiosity rather than required reading, running 400 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined
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Book 8:
Midnight Sun
Novel2020
Midnight Sun, published in 2020 at 675 pages, retells the events of the original Twilight from Edward's point of view. It's a companion rather than a sequel, and can be read right after Twilight or after finishing the whole saga.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Midnight Sun
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About The Twilight Saga

Bella Swan moves to the perpetually overcast town of Forks, Washington, and falls for Edward Cullen, a beautiful, impossibly fast classmate who turns out to be a century-old vampire living under a strict code of restraint alongside his adoptive vampire family. Their relationship pulls Bella into a hidden supernatural world of vampire covens, ancient laws enforced by a ruling body called the Volturi, and a nearby werewolf pack tied to the local Quileute tribe -- and forces a choice, played out across four books, about whether Bella will stay human or become what Edward is. Stephenie Meyer's saga became a defining cultural phenomenon of the late 2000s, credited with reigniting mainstream interest in YA paranormal romance and launching a five-film series that made its central love triangle (Bella, Edward, and werewolf Jacob Black) inescapable in pop culture.

The appeal is unapologetically the central romance -- an intense, all-consuming first love rendered with real emotional stakes, wrapped in vampire mythology that's more restrained and old-fashioned (sunlight makes them sparkle, not burn; abstinence and self-control are major themes) than most of the genre. Breaking Dawn splits its final volume across three perspectives and pushes the story into new territory -- marriage, a dangerous pregnancy, and a standoff with the Volturi -- that divided fans and critics alike. Readers looking for the book that defined a generation's paranormal romance obsession, with an emotionally intense central couple and a mythology built around restraint and destiny, are the audience.

How to read this series

Publication order, starting with Twilight, is the way to read the four core novels -- they tell one continuous story following Bella, Edward, and Jacob through high school, marriage, and beyond.

Midnight Sun retells the events of the original Twilight from Edward's point of view; it's a companion, not a sequel, and works well read either right after Twilight or after finishing the whole saga, whichever you prefer. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner is a novella that runs parallel to the climax of Eclipse, following a minor vampire character; it's best read close to or right after Eclipse. Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined is a gender-swapped retelling of the original novel published for its 10th anniversary -- an optional curiosity, not required reading. The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide is a reference companion (character profiles, timelines, artwork), not fiction, for fans who want the deep lore.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Twilight Saga?

The core saga is 4 novels (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn), plus four companion works: the novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, the reimagined retelling Life and Death, the Edward's-POV companion Midnight Sun, and the reference volume The Official Illustrated Guide.

What order should I read the Twilight books in?

Publication order for the four core novels: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn. The companion works (Midnight Sun, Bree Tanner, Life and Death) can be read alongside or after the core series, in whatever order interests you.

Is the Twilight Saga finished?

The core 4-book story is complete. Stephenie Meyer said in 2020 she was working on two more Twilight novels, but as of mid-2026 no title or release date has been confirmed for either.

What is Midnight Sun and do I need to read it first?

It's a retelling of the original Twilight from Edward's perspective, published in 2020. It's a companion piece, not required to understand the main story, and works whether you read it before or after the core saga.

Is Life and Death part of the main story?

No. It's a standalone 10th-anniversary reimagining of Twilight with the genders of the main characters swapped -- an optional curiosity, not a sequel or required reading.