Hoa, Hoa, Hoa, Hoa, Hoa …
If “Eyes on Fire” is playing through your head right now, then you know what season is upon us.
Twilight, written by the brilliant Stephenie Meyer, left its teeth marks in the minds of millennials, Gen Z’ers and even some Boomer moms ever since it first hit the shelves in 2005, then theaters in 2008. Meyer’s first novel sold over 160 million copies worldwide, was translated into nearly 50 languages and spent 235 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. The series went on to become a phenomenon, rekindling a love for vampire and werewolf literature, as well as inspiring highly dedicated fans to create websites like TwilightMoms (with tens of thousands of members and millions of posts) and fan fiction that would inspire Fifty Shades of Grey itself — originally posted under E.L. James’s pen name as Twilight fanfic.
The Twilight Saga was a major success, but little did our girl Stephenie realize the delectable chaos that her story would ensue, a divide amongst fans all over the world.
What divide, you ask?
Readers and movie-watchers were faced with a choice that would either start friendships or fights:
Team Edward or Team Jacob?
A question that’s haunted me since I joined the BookTrib team, I finally had the gall to ask the Twilight fans amongst our staff which mythical man they sided with as well as their book recommendation based on their favorite Twilight quote.
Now that you know what’s coming, I suggest you “hold on tight, spider monkey.”
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Katie (Editorial)
Team Edward or Team Jacob: As a teen, Team Jacob. As a more stable adult, Team Charlie
A book that feels like: “I’d never given much thought to how I would die. But dying in the place of someone I love seems like a good way to go.”
Fresh off the heels of Twilight, the Raised by Wolves trilogy was one of my favorites in high school. It follows Bryn, a human girl raised by werewolves, after she meets Chase, a werewolf who was turned rather than born (a rarity in this world). Chase may hold answers to her parents’ brutal deaths, and Bryn’s journey will push pack dynamics to their limits. Brooding, atmospheric — and an ending that will leave you absolutely devastated!! Honestly, still not over it.
Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk
Kelsey (Project Manager)
Team Edward or Team Jacob: Team Edward (especially that scene with the sunglasses IYKYK)
A book that feels like: “And so the lion fell in love with the lamb.”
If you’re looking for the sapphic version of Twilight, look no further! Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk is a gothic, bloody, and seductively feminist tale that weaves two different storylines from two different centuries together while exploring loneliness, desire, and the fear of morality.
Then, Earth Swallowed Ocean by Shiloh Sloane
Natalie (Publicist)
Team Edward or Team Jacob: Team Jacob (Long-hair and motorcycle-fixing era)
A book that feels like: “Did you know, you’re sort of beautiful?’ ‘You hit your head pretty hard, didn’t you?”
If you’re looking for an off-roads country setting like Jacob’s neck of the woods, Then, Earth Swallowed Ocean is the book for you! Not going to lie, this book is an acquired taste and perfect for weird horror fans and monster-loving readers out there. This story contains quite a bit of smut involving a “sort of beautiful” werewolf as well as an addictingly dangerous Twilight-worthy love triangle. Add a southern-gothic setting to the mix and you’ve got one hell of a book.
Good Dogs by Brian Asman
Monique (Assistant Editor)
Team Edward or Team Jacob: Team Volturi … (I love me some chaos 😀)
A book that feels like: “What if I’m not a superhero. What if I’m the bad guy?”
Good Dogs will make you root for monsters and then quietly reconsider whether humans are any better
It’s messy, it’s fierce and by the end, you’ll be wondering who exactly is running the show — the werewolves or your heart.
Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison
Sara (Social Media Assistant)
Team Edward or Team Jacob: Team Edward
A book that feels like: “I decided as long as I’m going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly.”
Such Sharp Teeth is a fresh take on the werewolf myth, blending horror with humor by treating supernatural transformations with the same weight as returning to your hometown. It’s a darkly funny look at what happens when your personal growth involves claws, fangs, and the occasional accidental mauling.
Fan Service by Rosie Danan
Cammy (Social Media Assistant)
Team Edward or Team Jacob: Team Jacob (pre-imprinting on a baby)
A book that feels like: “I guess the wolf’s out of the bag.”
Want a self-aware werewolf romance that winks at the camera without pulling back any emotional punches?
This tongue-and-cheek paranormal rom-com follows Alex, the founder of a fan forum for a werewolf detective show (think Teen Wolf meets Supernatural), and Devin, the washed-up star of the now-ended show.
The problem? Devin’s woken up naked in the woods by his LA home, with no idea how he got there — right after the night of the Wolf Blood Moon. He’s going to need help from an expert of the occult, and the fandom of his old show is his best shot. If you’re a fan of the behind-the-scenes of the Twilight movies as much as the original IP, this is the read for you.
