Detailed Summary
The story begins when Isabella “Bella” Swan, a 17-year-old high school student, moves from sunny Phoenix, Arizona to the rainy town of Forks, Washington to live with her father, Charlie. Bella expects her new life to be dull and uneventful, but everything changes when she meets Edward Cullen, a mysterious and impossibly handsome boy at her new school.

Bella notices that Edward and his adoptive family—the Cullens—are different from the other students. They keep to themselves, move with strange grace, and have an otherworldly beauty. After a near-death experience in which Edward miraculously saves her from being crushed by a van with seemingly supernatural speed and strength, Bella becomes determined to uncover the truth about him.

Through research and observation, Bella pieces together clues and realizes that Edward is a vampire. Unlike traditional vampires, however, the Cullens choose to live as “vegetarians,” refraining from feeding on human blood and surviving instead on animal blood. Despite the danger, Bella and Edward are drawn to each other and fall in love, beginning a passionate and forbidden romance.

Edward reveals more about his family: Carlisle, the compassionate patriarch and doctor; Esme, the caring mother figure; Rosalie and Emmett, the strong and protective siblings; and Alice and Jasper, who each have special abilities—Alice can see visions of the future, while Jasper can manipulate emotions. Edward himself can read minds, though Bella’s thoughts remain a mystery to him.

Their romance is complicated by Edward’s constant struggle to resist the urge to drink Bella’s blood, which calls to him more strongly than anyone else’s. The Cullens try to support the relationship, though some are more skeptical than others. Bella, however, is undeterred—she is deeply in love with Edward and even expresses her desire to become a vampire herself so they can be together forever.

The real danger emerges when a nomadic coven of vampires—James, Victoria, and Laurent—arrive in Forks. Unlike the Cullens, these vampires hunt humans. James, a sadistic tracker, becomes obsessed with Bella after realizing how much Edward cares for her. He sees her as the ultimate prey and begins to pursue her relentlessly.

In an attempt to protect Bella, Edward and the Cullens come up with a plan to hide her. Bella is taken to Phoenix by Alice and Jasper, but James outsmarts them by tricking Bella into believing he has captured her mother. Wanting to save her mom, Bella goes alone to confront James at her old ballet studio.

James attacks Bella, biting her hand and breaking her bones. Edward and the Cullens arrive just in time to save her. In a desperate struggle, Edward kills James while Carlisle and the others tend to Bella’s injuries. Edward must then suck the venom from Bella’s wound before it transforms her into a vampire. Despite how dangerous it is for him to taste her blood, he manages to stop himself and saves her life.

The story closes with Bella recovering and attending prom with Edward. She still wishes to become a vampire so she can stay with him eternally, but Edward refuses, not wanting her to lose her humanity. Their love remains strong but fragile, caught between Bella’s human vulnerability and Edward’s immortal nature.