New Moon (2006) by Stephenie Meyer is the second installment in the Twilight Saga, a YA romance that plunges Bella Swan into heartbreak and supernatural danger after vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen abandons her in the name of “protecting” her. The novel explores Bella’s depression and reckless behavior (notably her motorcycle-fueled escapades with childhood friend Jacob Black), only to discover he’s a werewolf—part of a tribe sworn to fight vampires like Edward.
Meyer’s melodramatic prose and Bella’s emotional turmoil divided fans, but the love triangle’s tension (Team Edward vs. Team Jacob) fueled the series’ global obsession. Themes of self-destruction and codependency loom large, with the climax revolving around a miscommunication that lures Edward to Italy’s Volturi coven.
A polarizing but pivotal bridge in the saga, New Moon trades Twilight’s gothic romance for angsty teen drama.
