Short answer
Midnight Sun is a good book for readers who already like Twilight and want more of the world, and a tiring one for almost everyone else. It is a very long retelling of the same story, so your opinion of the original is the best predictor of how you will feel about this one.
What Midnight Sun is
Stephenie Meyer’s Midnight Sun was published in 2020. It retells the events of the first book, Twilight, from the point of view of Edward Cullen rather than Bella Swan. It is a companion novel, not a fifth main entry in the series, and it covers only the story of the first book. Because of that, the length surprises many readers, since it runs well over 600 pages in common editions.
Part of the story’s fame comes from its history. An early draft circulated without the author’s permission many years before publication, and Meyer set the project aside before eventually finishing it. That backstory is one reason it was so anticipated.
What fans like
- Edward’s perspective. Seeing why he behaves as he does, and how he reacts to Bella, fills in gaps that the first book leaves open.
- More about the Cullens. The family members feel more developed, and there is more insight into how Edward’s abilities work and how he relates to his adoptive siblings and parents.
- A darker, more complex tone. Some reviewers find it more sophisticated than Twilight, because Edward is older in outlook and more conflicted.
- Nostalgia and completeness. For long-time fans, it feels like a missing piece finally delivered.
What critics say
- Length and repetition. Retelling the same plot at this scale can feel slow, and some scenes stretch out.
- Edward’s inner voice. His narration is intense, self-critical and often dramatic. Some readers find him angsty, possessive or controlling, and the closer view of his thoughts can make the relationship feel more uncomfortable rather than less.
- Little new plot. If you know the first book well, the major beats come as no surprise.
- Mixed reactions overall. Reader discussions tend to split between enthusiastic fans and people who found it tedious.
Why it became so popular
A few things stack up: Twilight already had a very large readership, the long wait built curiosity, and the idea of seeing a famous story through the other lead’s eyes is a strong hook. Fans who grew up with the series also form a built-in audience that wants to return to it.
Read it if / skip it if
Read it if you enjoyed Twilight, like character-driven, introspective narration, and do not mind a long book with a familiar plot.
Skip it if you found Twilight slow, were bothered by Edward’s behavior in the first book, or prefer fast-moving stories. You will probably have the same reaction, amplified.
Should you reread Twilight first?
Not required, but it helps. Because the book follows the same events, a recent reread makes the differences easier to spot. If it has been years, our Twilight book review is a quick way to refresh your memory of the story and of the criticisms people raise.
Two off-topic questions readers ask
People sometimes pair this question with others that have nothing to do with the book. Which three books are the “most read” in the world is not something we can state reliably, since such rankings depend on how sales are counted and are hard to verify. As for the Stephen King question, that refers to a different author and a different book entirely, and it is not connected to Midnight Sun.