I am a fan of the Twilight series, because I think it works on a couple of levels and gets people talking about things that are truly important in life -though I also appreciate the snark and criticism, much of which is valid. However, this installment of the series was difficult for me. There is a lot of darkness in this book, a lot of pulling toward death. Jacob is a bright light, and his character is overwhelmingly more positive, but I found this book a difficult read. 
 Edward was annoying, and this book features him at his worst. As for dramatic effect, I completely understand his leaving. Yet, it just didn't make sense to me. I mean, we all knew Victoria was still out there, right? And I thought his whole break up and erase all trace was malicious and cruel. In addition, so much of their relationship is borderline destructive/ psycho in this book. Edward goes from borderline stalking to distant. I was infuriated when they are reunited, discussing what has happened, and Edward says, "But Bella, how could you have believed me when I said I didn't love you, didn't want you?" What kind of a psycho, manipulative mind game is that? Like it's her fault you left and she took you at your word? WHAT? And then the whole Romeo & Juliet I'm gonna kill myself thing was just plain stupid, Edward. Stupid. The one redeeming thing was that he did acknowledge he made a colossal mistake, but it wasn't enough to redeem the work for me. I wonder if I will go on hating him? 
 Bella was annoying too. I know he left her. I know it was horrible. I didn't marry the first man I fell in love with, and when we broke up, it was horrendous. Excruciating. So I get it that Bella was in pain, and much of her story brought that all back for me. This could also be why I had a negative reaction to this book, it just got too personal. But at the same time, you cannot let yourself go insane, girl. This is a bad message for young women. If you lose Mr. Wonderful, it's all over for you unless he comes back or you go rescue him and he decides he does want you after all??!?! I wanted her to pull herself back, to triumph over the grief. Having gone through the situation, I found the Paris chapter incredibly compelling, and I liked the relationship with Jacob, I just wish Bella could have found a way to survive without having to 'hear the voice in her head'. That she would have chosen the way of life, deliberately, before the whole course of events to reunify them came along. And, I honestly thought maybe it was really Edward, seeing her, talking to her, or that somehow the bite mark on her hand created some kind of unanticipated vampire connection. A supernatural cause would have been more satisfying to me than her slow decline into insanity. I also thought it disturbing that her memory of Edward's voice was his anger. His wrath, inflexibility, dominance. It was icky. From a human perspective, this kind of hold a man can have on a woman's life (and I'm not saying there isn't destruction of men by women, but that isn't the context here) CAN be broken and SHOULD be broken. 
 Young women out there: Heartbreak CAN be survived and overcome! You CAN make it. And when you do, you may find there is someone even more wonderful, someone who cares for you and builds you up and is perfect for you. Someone like... Jacob. Marry him. And I think she would have, if things had been different, they would have been different.... 
 Jacob and the werewolves are handled almost carelessly and were good for a few laughs. I pondered: Is it true that the people/ precepts that are to guard us are less inviting/ attractive/ engaging than the predators/ illusions that destroy us? And my answer was YES. I found the Volturi a bit wooden, it just wasn't working for me, I thought it could have been so much more. Of course, Alice is cool. Relieved to be done. 2 stars.