Twilight Books in Order
Twilight is the saga that proved young-adult paranormal romance could be the biggest thing in publishing: four novels, 160 million copies, five films grossing three billion dollars, and a fandom so intense it redefined how books are marketed. Stephenie Meyer wrote the core four in three years - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, 2005 to 2008 - and then the shelf grew strange: a novella about a minor character, a gender-swapped tenth-anniversary reissue, and finally, in 2020, Midnight Sun - Twilight retold from Edward's side, twelve years after a leaked draft nearly killed it. The order question is mostly simple, with two genuinely argued slots, and this page settles both (2005–2020).
Where to start
Twilight (2005) - chapter one, no alternative. Readers who already know the saga and are coming back for one book: Eclipse is the one that holds up best, and Midnight Sun is the best-written thing in the universe.
The complete list
Tick the boxes off as you read, or for the bookshelf.
| Year | Title | Series / type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Twilight | #1 · Oct 2005 — start here | |
| 2006 | New Moon | #2 — the Volturi | |
| 2007 | Eclipse | #3 — the fandom's pick | |
| 2008 | Breaking Dawn | #4 — the saga closes; two films | |
| 2010 | The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner | Novella — after Eclipse | |
| 2015 | Life and Death | The gender-swapped reissue — not a sequel | |
| 2020 | Midnight Sun | Twilight from Edward's side · Aug 2020 — the newest |
Does the reading order matter?
The saga is strict: Twilight (2005), New Moon (2006), Eclipse (2007), Breaking Dawn (2008) - one continuous story, cliffhangers included, no reordering. The two argued slots: Midnight Sun (2020) is Twilight again from Edward's point of view - read it immediately after Twilight while the meadow is fresh, or after Breaking Dawn as a victory lap; it quietly spoils later reveals, so never before your first full run. The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (2010) is a novella about the newborn army from Eclipse - read it after Eclipse. Life and Death (2015) is not a sequel: it is Twilight with the genders swapped, the tenth-anniversary reissue; one read for completists. Publication order equals story order here, with one exception nobody argues about: the film saga (2008-2012) split Breaking Dawn into two films.
Which one is the best?
Eclipse (2007), the fandom's pick - the newborn war and the tent; Twilight (2005), the meadow that started it; Midnight Sun (2020), the best prose in the universe.
Covered in depth here
An 8-question quiz, reading time, club questions and verified quotes for Twilight (how long), New Moon (how long), Eclipse (how long), Breaking Dawn (how long).
Related guides
Readers finishing this shelf usually want the map next door: Stephenie Meyer books in order, The Hunger Games books in order, Diana Gabaldon books in order. Every guide follows the same format — the shelf, the entry point, the honest answer about order.
Make it a project
Pick a session size and let the days accumulate — at the pace our reading speed test measures, most shelves above clear in a few weeks of half-hours. Every guide on the books in order shelf follows this same format, and when a book lands, its 8-question quiz is waiting on the original book quiz.
Frequently asked questions
What order should you read Twilight books in?
Twilight → New Moon → Eclipse → Breaking Dawn. Midnight Sun after Twilight (not before the full run); Bree Tanner after Eclipse.
Where should I start with Twilight?
Twilight (2005), then New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn. Midnight Sun directly after.
How many Twilight books are there?
Six saga entries - four novels (2005-08), the Bree Tanner novella (2010) and Midnight Sun (2020) - plus the Life and Death gender-swapped reissue (2015). 160 million copies, five films (2008-12), and the films returned to theaters in fall 2025. No further saga books are announced. As of October 2026 this list is current.
What was Twilight's first book?
Twilight (2005) — the first row of the list above.