Stephenie Meyer never disapoints. I thought The Host was a fantastic read. I was a little nervous at first, since The Twilight series is one of my all time favorites and how can one top that. I am well over the "Young Adult" reader and I was pleasantly suprised. It was a little confusing at first, but give it a chance. It was terrific. I do hope that Stephenie makes The Host into a series, you cannot help but fall in love with this book too!!

OMG you must read this book! it was the best ever. I love stephenie's book, but this was the best yet.

I do agree that this book is a little slow to get into, but once it gets going I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend this to a friend and I would reread this in the future. Great character development throughout the book. This is a great book and shows that Meyer is not just a young adult writer, but a great adult writer as well. I can't wait to see what else she has for adult books.

I still don't have the book. I order it on May 31 it is now July 3 and NO BOOk!!:( I sent an email to the seller and no responce yet! Not proffesional at all.

Well...
It was a nice book, and a good read, but...
I was never really engaged in it - I mean, sure I wanted know what would happen in the end, but if someone had told me to put the book down before I read the last few pages - I would have kindly obliged.
It's nice to see Steph Meyer having a go at something other than twilight - but seriously, (and I thought this when reading the twilight series) it's a great idea - but nothing happened throughout it - there was no major twists and turns, no ups and downs that make the ending interesting - and seriously - the best endings are not always the happy ones - and this definitely applies to this story. Really - I absolutely love the twilight series because of its fantastic love story - but the best ending so far has been her first book Twilight - where the readers were left wanting more, yet even that was rather dull - to sum it up - guy and girl fall in love throughout the majority of the book (somewhat interestingly) then big event at the end when girl is almost killed, but things soon return to good old lovely dovely romance... The only thing this serious has going for it is the conflict between a vampire and a human when they fall in love, and the rest of the books just seem to follow on the story. For 'The Host' I thought it was a really good idea, just like the vampire/human idea is, but it took a while to get started, and by the time I'd reached the last couple of chapters, I realized it would never really take off. Although the ending does have a bit of a climax at the end (just like the twilight series) - it felt only like a single ripple in the sea on an incredibly calm day - barley noticeable, and certainly not a wave. And then everything went back to being lovely dovely and even better than before- sorry Steph, but that story ended for me long before I turned the last page.
So - yes I liked it, it was a great idea, and i was intrigued to know how things worked...
but i thought it was a bit bland and boring - a ripple of drama at the end of a book does not make a good book-
and seriously (as above)
'the best endings are not always the happy ones.'

Happy Reading.

I have a rule. I only read at work and I read an average of five to ten books a week. I never read at home because my family takes up all of my time. In eleven years, I have not broken my rule. Until now. This was the BEST book that I have ever read and I have read thousands of books. The depth to the characters is beyond description. I am left speechless to an extent that I have never felt.

Stephenie Meyer's The Host is set in an alternative Earth, one in which parasitic aliens have invaded and taken over humans' bodies and minds. The aliens, known as souls, actually feel that their coming to Earth is a good thing for both themselves (because they cannot survive without a host body) and for Earth itself since the humans have so misused the planet and one another. As the book opens, we meet Wanderer, a soul who has already lived eight lifetimes on other planets and has begun her ninth life inside a young female human named Melanie. Wanderer expects things to go as they always have on other planets: she will take over the host body and the host itself will "fade" as she takes over. Unfortunately for Wanderer, Melanie refuses to leave and the two conflicting personalities must learn to coexist.

With over 600 pages, The Host could have been rambling, yet it has a story that kept me turning the pages (and even, I confess, peeking ahead to see how things would be going!). As Melanie and Wanderer come to a sort of truce, Melanie brings the alien to a secret hideaway of underground caves where a few rebellious humans have managed to escape the invasion and are making a life for themselves. To say that Wanderer is unwelcome is an understatement; yet the fact that she inhabits Melanie's body provides the link to Melanie's younger brother and her boyfriend, Jared. Wanderer, eventually renamed Wanda, starts to become an integral part of the community, and through her relationships, she begins to understand that her species should not have taken over Earth, whatever their gentle reasons. But how can Melanie and Wanda continue to live in one body, and what will happen once the Seeker who is desperately looking for her finds her? Will Wanda ever be accepted into the community fully, or will her history as a soul interfere forever?

I absolutely loved this book. I loved that Wanda the alien was so sympathetic, and I loved the humans' determination to avoid assimilation. The relationships are so intricate and real; I could feel the emotions both for and against accepting an alien into the small underground community. The characters are very realistically written; it would have been much too trite to have everyone either hate or love Wanda, and the amount of time it takes for her be "accepted" felt genuine. I was on the edge of my seat frequently as I awaited outcomes of dangerous missions, and I found myself near tears at losses, and yes, even acceptances. Ms. Meyer has created an entirely believable world peopled with flawed characters who found their way into my soul (pun intended). Highly recommended for action, emotional punch, and plain ole good storytelling.

Like some of the other reviewers I also unintentionally ignored other things I needed to do daily, because I was so engrossed in the book. I haven't read any of Stephanie Meyer's other books such as the Twilight series. This was my first one, but I am a big fan of the author now. No wonder she was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people for 2008! The book starts off slow, but quickly grabs you in! This book is not for people into brainless fluff that doesn't challege you to think. This book will make you think and there is no easy clear right or wrong answers to the ethical and moral dilemmas she presents in the detailed world she creates in this novel. This one of those books you can reread more than once and get something different from it each time. Definetly a good choice for a book club meeting as it will provoke heated debate and discussion among the members who read it and meet. Even though it was her "first adult book", I don't see any reason why youth couldn't read it as it was an extremely clean book with no sex or profanity.

I love SF and for many years I've been waiting for a tale that was human enough to capture one's interest and alien, foreign, enough to hold ones mind This is it. I cried over a silver worm who had the courage to save "mankind". I really enjoyed this book. My husband says it's a "chick" book. but I think that's short sighted. As usual, when I really enjoy a book, words fail me. I hope you will take a chance on this and let youor mind "Wander". What a beautiful creature SHE is.

Having been an avid Stephenie Meyer fan since the birth of "Twilight" I was of course waiting in anticipation to read anything she wrote. That is why I ran right out and bought "Host" tearing through it in a weekend. Although this is not my usual genre of story it was still an incredible and intensely emotional read. Once again she has created character with so many layers and depth you can predict their feelings before you read them. Now that is great writing! I could not help but draw parallels of Wanderer and Melanie with Fred and Illaryia from Angel. Any fan of the show "Angel" would have picked up on this immediately. Wanderers struggle with human emotion trying both to understand it while she struggles through the intensity of it as well as being drawn to Jarred (like Wesley, and not understanding if it is her own draw or that of Fred's memories). However, Stephanie gets the chance to do with the Wanderer what Joss Whedon never got to do with Illaryia; have an internal battle with the original owner of the body. I will not give anything away but urge you to read it for yourself. It is amazing, slow in some parts but beautifully constructed so it makes the down time bearable. Fantastic!

I admit I had a really hard time getting into this book. I was so confused at the beginning. I actually put it down and read another book and came back to it. I am almost finished with it now though and have really enjoyed reading it. I really like this book and can't wait to finish it. It has really made me think.

This is the first novel I've read by Stephenie Meyer. I couldn't put it down, unintentionally neglecting my family, I finished it in 2 days. It was amazing! The best book I've read all year. I can honestly say, anything this author writes, I will read.

A great read, even though it was a little slow in the beginning. I was not sure what to expect from this book because of the alien theme, but I really enjoyed it.

This book took be 2 1/2 days to finish, and I wish there was more. A GREAT book!

The Earth, in the not-too-distant future, has been taken over by alien "souls," parasitic worm-like beings that wish to experience life as humans. Some years after the occupation, only a few scattered human resistors remain. A young human survivor, Melanie Stryder, is captured during an unsuccessful attempt to rescue a family member. Her last-ditch attempt to kill herself rather than be taken fails, and the souls heal her battered body through their advanced healing techniques. Wanderer, an ancient soul and intrepid explorer of galaxies, is then transplanted into Melanie's body.

Wanderer expects to experience the lingering traces of Melanie's memories and emotions after the transfer but is taken aback to find Melanie's mind still active and fighting for control over the now-shared body. As Wanderer probes Melanie's unwilling mind to learn the whereabouts of other humans, she comes to know of the existence of Jared, the man Melanie desperately loves, and her young brother Jamie, who are still in hiding. Under the influence of Melanie's love for Jared, Wanderer finds herself irresistibly drawn to seek him out. The two women thus set off on a journey across the desert that puts them in deadly peril from humans and aliens alike.

The events that unfold when the Wanderer/Stryder pair meets a band of human resistors and is taken to their underground hideout form the crux of this story. The humans initially are repulsed by the presence of an alien amongst them. Will Wanderer and Melanie be able to convince them that Melanie still lives? Can the humans find a way to destroy Wanderer without losing Melanie as well?

THE HOST gets off to a slow start but picks up pace after the first 30 or so pages. This is not a conventional science-fiction novel, although the basic plot element --- the invasion of a human host by a worm-like parasite, through the nape of the neck no less --- is a classic sci-fi theme. Meyer has crafted a book that, while by no means lacking in suspenseful plot elements, is greatly concerned with the development of relationships. The complicated and evolving relationship between Wanderer and Melanie, who are forced to share one body, and each woman's relationship with the man they both pine for, are particularly fascinating. The existence of these two women in one body is an emotional three-legged race fraught with discomfort, frustration, flashes of jealousy and growing sympathy for each other, which Meyer captures extremely well. The interactions between the pacifistic Wanderer and the wary, hostile humans she encounters are also well-sketched and nuanced.

Coming on the heels of Meyer's successful Twilight trilogy, this book will draw the inevitable comparison with the vampire fantasy series. Although billed as a stand-alone for adults, there is nothing here that is unsuitable for the author's young adult fan base. Readers will find many elements that have defined the earlier books --- charismatic heroes, plucky yet self-effacing heroines, suspenseful romance, complicated relationships and an engaging cast of supporting characters.

Unfortunately, the sly humor that permeated the Twilight series is somewhat subdued here. The characters in the new book are essentially serious people, consumed with nothing less than the survival of an entire species. Meyer does a good job of conveying the stoicism, creativity and strength it would take for a small band of human survivors to last under such circumstances. The story is light on technical and scientific descriptions, such as of the extraordinary healing techniques practiced by the souls, but it is to Meyer's credit that the reader is able to be drawn into the plot without needing to know the details of how things work. It also speaks to her skill that she is able to make the reader as invested in the survival of the silvery centipede-like alien that inhabits Melanie's body as that of the human resistor herself.

THE HOST is a nicely-paced, well-written novel with an engaging theme and interesting characters. Overall, this is an excellent (if slightly hefty) book to take to the beach this summer.

--- Reviewed by Usha Reynolds

I'm a huge 'Twilight' fan and I bought 'The Host' to get me by until the last 'Twilight' book comes out in August. This book is over 600 pages and has smaller print, so it probably equals all three of the 'Twilight' books put together in terms of length.

I liked this book overall, I really liked the main characters (Melanie and Wanda) and found the struggle between aliens/humans to be really interesting and philosophical. I also really liked the ending and wasn't expecting it. Unlike another reviewer, I didn't find the characters similar to the characters in 'Twilight' at all. Unless, of course, people find empowered and courageous female characters to be all the same. ;)

Anyway, I guess my main criticism with this book is that it was a little slow. I think it could have been shorter. I think it's worth reading if you have the time.

Once again Mrs. Meyer comes up with an emphatic, original story that is engaging and heart-felt. She develops each of the characters well, showing us a lot about them through their relationship to Melanie/Wanderer. The plot was quite original and I am once again amazed at how well Mrs. Meyer can make the reader empathize with her characters.

This was a great book. Let me start by saying that I only gave it a chance because I loved Twilight. I never thought I would like a book about invasion of the body snatchers. And, admittedly, it took me a bit longer to get swept away with the story then with Twilight. And I think partially it was because I wasn't giving it a fair chance at first. I didn't want to like the alien who stole a beautiful young girl's body!! But, despite my lack of effort to enjoy the book, by the second half of the book I couldn't put it down, and when I did put it down I couldn't stop thinking about it. I didn't think I would like it nearly as much as Twilight, but after reading it I just think I will love anything Stephenie writes!!

If you are a Twilight fan, or just a girl (I am 23, so you don't even have to be a teenage girl!) stop considering buying this book, and BUY IT!! Believe me, you will love it.

When I first picked up The Host, I had mixed emotions about it. I've been a Stephenie Meyer fan since Twilight first came out, and was ecstatic that she came out with a new book. But I also knew this wasn't anything like the Twilight series, and knew I shouldn't compare it. And after having read some of the reviews, I was a bit wary. But I knew Stephenie Meyer to be an amazing author and knew that I had to read her new story.

And boy am I glad I did. True this story isn't like Twilight in the sense that there are no vampires. But all the human conflicts and emotions are there. In fact, I think Meyer delves more in depth in the psyche of the characters in this novel than her previous ones. There's so much character to Wanderer and Melanie. Even the minor characters come alive, to the point that you'll miss them once the story is done.

The plot is interesting, and really had me wondering. I'm not much of a sci-fi fan, but it didn't matter with the story. Like Meyer said, the genre doesn't really matter, so long as the novel is good.

So my advice is to stop reading this review and go and get the book. You'll be so glad you did!

I am of course a fan of Meyer's other books (the Twilight series) and this book feels much like those. The story was great and interesting to read. Her writing style though is lenthy. There were chapters in the book that didn't really do anything for the main story line, but that were fun to read and contained character building information. I'm glad that I read it and will pass it on to my friends!

Stephenie Meyer has outdone herself. I was skeptical at first, because I am a big Edward fan, but once I gave it a chance I enjoyed this unequaled novel even better than the Twilight trilogy. The worth of souls is great. . . .

I really liked the book. It tells the story of alien invasion from the alien point of view. The author developes the characters so well, that you feel for both sides, the host and the parasite. I highly recommend that you take the time to read it.

I've never read Ms. Meyer's Twilight series and had never heard of her. A friend recommended and loaned me the book. I could hardly put it down. It was a fast, fun read. I'm a big sci-fi fan and loved the relationship and character-driven angle. I wouldn't call it great literature, but I'd recommend it to almost anyone.

I received my order promptly, which was great because it was a gift. The book was greatly appreciated.

It may not be my favorite book ever, but it kept me reading from page 1. A very different look at humanity. Love that will break your heart, we have all felt it. I saw a review that compared her to Stephen King, and I saw no comparison of the two. Definatly, a book to purchase, read, remember, enjoy and refer people to read.

Probably like everyone else who has commented on this book, I read Twilight and loved it, but I wasn't to sure about this book when I first heard about it. A friend of mine got the book before I did and when she read it she didn't too much care for it, so I put off reading it. Last weekend while I was sitting at work I decided to give it a shot and I couldn't put it down. I thought it was a good book despite everything I had heard from others.

This book was really hard to get into, halfway through it is still setting up the story. But the last half of it was pretty good, hopefully there will be at least one sequel to answer all the questions I have- if not that kind of sucks.

It seems to me that Mrs. Meyer's editors were asleep at the switch when they first read this new twist on "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." The mid-section of this book just drags on and on and on. A good editor would have handed the draft back to her and told her to cut 100 to 250 pages out of the middle. The book was painfully slow after it hit the mid-section about life with the group in the desert.

I really wanted very much to enjoy THE HOST, which is the "adult debut" of phenomenally successful YA writer Stephenie Meyer. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by this novel as a whole.

THE HOST contains some interesting concepts, but its plot is poorly strcutured. The novel drags heavily at the beginning, and doesn't pick up any sense of momentum until perhaps two hundred pages in. Most of the characters are severely underdeveloped, which saps most of the novel of any genuine dramatic power. The quality of the prose is also no different from Meyer's YA work, which makes me wonder why this was released as an adult title in the first place.

This is a shame, because the plot of THE HOST is filled with many potentially interesting ideas, and Meyer clearly has a first-rate imagination. Unfortunately, the plot and characterization flaws of this particular book undermine whatever potential it could have had to the reader.

My advice is to skip this book and read TWILIGHT instead, if you haven't already.

Stephanie Meyer has done an excellent job on this novel. She has broken away from her Vampire series with an adult novel that kept me involved to the very end.

I have enjoyed her vampire series even though I'm a 50+ year old male. I have no reluctance in sharing my enthusiasm for this book with my friends, family, and peers. (I was always a little embarrassed to admit that I liked the vampire series.)

The story has a great plot, excellent character development, as well as realistic evolution of characters through the course of the novel.

It was excellent and would make a pretty cool movie, if Hollywood would keep it as clean and morally tense as Stephanie wrote it.

Keep writing Stephanie! Go Cougars!

I was interested in this book because I had read an excellent short story by Robert Silverberg entitled "Passengers" many years ago which dealt with the same or rather similar issue. It was a dark and edgy story. That's not what you'll find here with "The Host". "The Host" is more of a romance that explores the science fiction of two people occupying the same body. Nothing harsh or sinister here, but as I said, a fun read for days at the beach that goes very quickly. I would have liked a different ending.

I really enjoyed this book. I love Sci-Fi and Stephanie Meyer puts a really unique twist on a relationship between two people (or would that be three). There a lot of intense moments and some wonderful relationships that develop through interaction with the wanderer. You can't go wrong with this book.

Wendi

Even though The Host is touted as Stephanie Meyer's first "novel for adults," I truly enjoyed the Twilight series and can't wait for the final chapter in August. Those truly are page-turners that I could not put down--I inhaled those books! The Host has a fascinating premise and is well written. It wasn't quite as brilliant as the fantasy yarn spun in Twilight, but the characters are interesting and the story moves (though there is a bit too much time spent in the cave and not quite enough devoted to our heroin's new life at the end). Well done and a fun summer read!

For readers looking to find a book similar to twilight, they have probably not picked up the right book. However, that's not to say that the lack of vampires in this book means it's bad. The part that I had the most difficulty with was probably the first 3 or 4 chapters as they were a little confusing and hard to get through as the story first begins. However, once your through with the beginning, the rest of the book is a heart-racing, thrill-seeking adventure as you get wrapped up in the midst of science fiction with a twist.
I would definitely suggest for anyone out there looking for a good read to pick up this book.

As an avid reader who is a fan of Meyer's Twilight series, I really wanted to like The Host. I tried to enjoy it, however I was unable to. It started slow and never seemed to pick up the pace. The main character was unrealistically altruistic and other characters felt flat. The Host failed to capture the passion and intensity that Twilight held for its readers. Though by no means the worst book I have read, I was unimpressed and bored by what felt like an unnecessary length to a mildly entertaining story.

I am a tremendous fan of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, though I'm in my 20s and have never read teen fiction before (not even when I was a teenager). I found the character creation and writing style to be completely absorbing, and I completely fell in love with Edward and Bella. When The Host came out, I was initially apprehensive. I have no interest in science fiction, but because this is Stephenie Meyer's work, I had to give it a chance. I have found this book to be an overwhelming success--I absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down. The characters in the Host are so well developed and the pace moves very quickly. This book stands alone completely. I was incredibly impressed with the depth and originality of the story. I really hope Ms. Meyers develops another series with The Host.

Wow I haven't read a book this amazing in a very long time. I had the hardest time putting it down every time. I must have been late for work a dozen times just because I had to get one more page in! I hope that she has something else up her sleeve that can match this! WOW!

This book is very different from the hit series about vampires. This book is written for adults to read.

The Host, as I'm sure you know, is about aliens coming to Earth and taking control of human bodies, using them as hosts. The story takes you through the path of a soul called Wanderer. When I read this book, I could tell who wrote it because of the comfortingly familiar writing style that Stephanie Meyer possesses. I did not, however, compare it to her highly coveted Twilight series; I treated it as a story of its own. It was the most rewarding experience I have ever had reading. It was an emotional roller coaster that I didn't want to end. Tears soaked my sheets and laughter filled my room. I felt as if it were only me in the world and me alone, I would be at ease as long as I could escape within the pages on this story. I HIGHLY recommend it and I don't want to give away any spoilers so I left you with my emotional reminiscence. I hope it was enough to make you want the book!

As a note, I really want to give 4.5 stars...
Anyway, great book! I love the Twilight Saga (I'm seeing a pattern here...), with my one complaint being that Bella is a shrinking violet, but I didn't originally think The Host looked all that great; I finally decided to just buy it (what can $17 hurt anyway, right?), and even though the first chapter was a little slow, I got hooked and turned out to really, really love the novel.
Complaints first:
Though at first The Host felt very different from any of the Twilight books, and Wanderer/Wanda felt very different from Bella, as the story progressed and Wanderer humanized, it felt very similar, but with a radically different setting. Wanderer was just as self-sacrificing and only a bit more backboned than Bella; it almost felt like Stephenie was writing The Host at the same time as Breaking Dawn and got her worlds confused. However, I love Twilight, so I don't care!
Secondly, the planet names. The Flowers? The Bears? The *See Weeds*? Um. Wow. Lame. On the whole, a minor complaint, but every time I read them, I cringed. Also, when Wanderer tells her stories of the planets, she talks like nobody would actually speak in real life - it sounds like she's writing something down, not talking to actual people. Again, pretty minor.
Now for the positives:
I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, but I actually really liked this concept; alien invasion is not my style, but the novel doesn't focus on the battleships and the war, which worked for me but might not for hardcore sci-fi people. (I actually liked the souls better than the humans.) The characters, in my opinion, were well-developed, interesting, complex, and fun; some of them, like Sharon, the nasty woman, could have been better developed, but nonetheless, they were overall good. Melanie was a nice contrast to Wanderer, as she didn't feel overly goody-two-shoes.
I also loved the romance - there was lots of good jealousy and it was passionate without being gratuitous. (Is it just me, or did Ian seem to anyone like Jacob from Twilight? And - SPOILERS warning - did the part where she asks him to kiss her in order to make Melanie mad feel like the Bella/Jake kiss before the final battle in Eclipse?) (SPOILERS over now.)
I'm not finished with this book yet - about a hundred pages left - and I am still on tenterhooks about the ending. It doesn't feel predictable at all to me, and though I usually like sad endings, I am hoping for everybody to end up happy, which tends to mean that I REALLY like them. All in all, not as good as the Twilight books, but very excellent sci-fi and a very gripping, interesting, romantic, and thought-provoking read. Definitely try this book, Twilight die-hard or no!

If you are planning to read The Host by Stephenie Meyer, prepare for complete immersion. This unique story tells of extraterrestrials and survival as well as love and compassion. Undoubtedly, this thriller will have you sweating until you finish the last page. Overall, The Host is a very enjoyable read.

Just like the Twilight series, you're hooked from the very beginning. Wanderer, a "soul", is placed inside a host body. One thing she doesn't count on is the fierce Melanie fighting to keep the people she loves, Jamie (her brother) and Jared (her boyfriend), safe. Through Melanie's memories, Wanderer comes to love Jamie and Jared as well, succumbing to human emotions, and she'll now do anything to keep Jamie and Jared safe.

This is a brilliant read; however, there were some flaws in the writing. Wanderer, the main character, doesn't know much about human emotions other than what she's been experiencing. Yet as the story goes on, Wanderer suddenly knows all the answers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's not a human quality at all. This book was about Wanderer getting used to imperfections, instead of conquering them. Nevertheless, this miniscule problem is best overlooked when one is looking at the big picture.

It's worth every stressful second to read this novel. The plot is designed well and, it's also creative; it's hard to find a boring moment. This was an extraordinary story to tell. Despite the plot's contribution and originality, it's actually the characters make this novel a success. Just like in the Twilight books, Stephenie Meyer has created real, distinctive, and erratic characters that people make connections with. You laugh with them, you cry with them, you get annoyed with them, and you cheer with them when they're triumphant.

Despite its insignificant defects, this novel was incredible. Stephenie Meyer shows she can go beyond the Twilight series and still be an artistic genius. The plot will have you tense, and the characters will drive you crazy. In a peculiar way, it's a good thing, and I think everyone needs
to experience it.

Honestly, the first couple of chapters were really hard to get through, interest-wise. It was a fairly creative concept but didn't pique my mind like her other books have.

I had faith in this book, as I loved Twilight (which seems to be a running trend here), but I was vastly disapointed.

The book was interesting at first (people have it backwards, I believe). I loved the secrets, the meetings with Comforters, the Seeker's persistance... The beginning earned an entire star on its own.

After the trip through the desert, though I felt it lost something. The book was more focused on "beaten puppy" syndrome and descriptions of the tunnel system (which were interesting for the first page and a half).

The characters were shallow, and showed no reason for progressing like they did. Melanie was barely mentioned at the end, even though it was an important part of the book.

The history of the souls was a bit flat and unbelievable. With Twilight, the reasons are fairly credible, but I felt that presence amiss from The Host.

Overall, this book should be read before Twilight. Otherwise it will be a bit of a let-down.

I loved this book and I can't stop thinking about it! I have read all the books in the other series, and loved those as well. the host is different, and I'm so glad it is! Very thought provoking, and engaging. I read the book in less than a week, couldn't put it down, and am left wanting more, more, more!!! Don't go at it wanting more Twilight...Go at it as something new, by an amazing author you've come to love! You won't be disappointed.

I intentionally did not buy this book on several occasions as the "Sci-Fi" aspect did not appeal to me. A book trading co-worker convinced me to try her copy. I started it on a Friday night and 600 some odd pages later surfaced. Yes it is long....probably at least a bit of editing should have been called for...but I don't regret a moment of my "lost weekend". I never skipped a single page. It was incredibly romantic without being soppy. I found the "hosts" storyline intriguing without being overly "Star Trekked". Unfortunately her next book is for youth reading market. Come on Stephanie, give us some more. In fact, I think she could easily add another couple of books to make this a series. The characters are that well written. BRAVO!

This book was a great step into adult literature, in keeping with my high expectations from the twilight series. I almost didn't buy it as the description didn't make the story sound appealing. However, as I had had the same reservations with twilight, I obviously chose to buy it anyway. I was very glad I did, because I really enjoyed it. There were similarities to her other novels (though admittedly that may have been b/c I read them so close together) and I thought some parts were a little drawn out and could've been edited down a bit. Overall, it's an entertaining love story with which Stephenie Meyer has proven again that she has a talent for writing stories that elicit emotions in us humans for the most unlikely of creatures.

Oh, I wish I could find a way to forget this book so that I could read it again with fresh eyes! I loved the characters, was fascinated by the ideas, and I envy anyone who hasn't read it yet because you have such a pleasure ahead of you. I wish I had written this. Thanks to the author for enthralling me and making me think.

Marcia Wickes

I fell in love with Twilight, and when I found out that Meyers had written another book, I bought it hesitantly. At first, I didn't read it, and it just sat in my room, but then I picked it up, read a few pages, and was HOOKED!!! It took me three days to read it, only because I need to eat and sleep. But I completely fell in love with it! If you like the way Meyers writes, I would definitely recommend The Host!!!

Another adult (30ish) fan of the Twilight series, I was really looking forward to this novel. Oh well . . . it just doesn't have the feeling of the Twilight series. I don't feel I wasted my time reading it, it is a very quick read and an OK story. It is just easy to forget as soon as you finish. Sequel??? No thanks. (Also, the writing is too simplistic to be deemed an Adult Novel, still a YA novel with older characters in my opinion.)

*Spoilers*

First, I'm a huge fan of the "Twilight" series and also a adult reader. I was so excited to buy "The Host" when it came out the first week. I believe it was really exciting to read the beginning b/c of Wanda's/Melanie's quest to find her brother and Jared. Then when she is captured by the humans, how often can she talk about being trapped in a cave???!!! It was an interesting concept, but it seemed like a typical sci-fi/Twilight Zone story as well.

Second, I'm a huge fan of "Battlestar Galactica" (the new series) and boy the writing is just phenomenal. I assume that is where my huge let down comes from too. I guess BSG has spoiled me.