It is presumed that readers of Stephenie Meyer’s ‘Twilight’ enjoy the sexual tension between Bella and Edward; a tension that remains unresolved until the couple are married. This very traditional solution to the couple’s carnal desires is just one of many ways in which the novels adhere to the conventions of romance writing for young people. Readers know what to expect and their expectations are satisfied. Fans, however, claim that Meyer’s books offer them something that other texts do not. By comparing the ‘Twilight’ series with the conventions for adult romances, teen romances and children’s literature more generally, I demonstrate that Meyer is combining conventions from related, but slightly different, genres. The result valorises certain beliefs which run counter to both those promoted by conservative Christian activists and those endorsed by the liberal, feminist left.
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