• The Vampire Diaries, Book 1

  • The Awakening
  • By: L. J. Smith
  • Narrated by: Rebecca Mozo
  • Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (1,860 ratings)

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The Vampire Diaries, Book 1  By  cover art

The Vampire Diaries, Book 1

By: L. J. Smith
Narrated by: Rebecca Mozo
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Publisher's summary

The New York Times best-selling series!

The first book in L.J. Smith's New York Times best-selling Vampire Diaries series, the basis of the hit CW TV show starring Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder.

Elena Gilbert is a high school golden girl, used to getting what she wants. And who she wants. But when the boy she's set her sights on - the handsome and haunted Stefan - isn't interested, she's confused. She could never know the real reason Stefan is struggling to resist her:

Stefan is a vampire, and Elena's in danger just by being around him. What's more, Stefan's dark, dangerous vampire brother Damon has just arrived in town. And wherever Damon goes, trouble always follows.

Fans of The Vampire Diaries TV show will find this book packed with the same kind of heart-stopping suspense, fierce romances, and jaw-dropping surprises that they know and love, all brought to life by New York Times best-selling author L.J. Smith.

Listen to more Vampire Diaries.
©1991 Daniel Weiss Associate, Inc., and Lisa Smith (P)2009 HarperCollins Publishers

Featured Article: Elena Gilbert—The Vampire Diaries Character Guide


Elena Gilbert is at the heart and soul of The Vampire Diaries series by author L. J. Smith. The novels follow her romances and dramas with the Salvatore brothers, Damon and Stefan. Both are vampires who were turned centuries earlier and find their way to Elena's hometown of Fells Church, VA. She is doppelgänger of the vampire who turned the Salvatore brothers nearly 500 years earlier—Katherine von Swartzchild. As the series unfolds, Elena finds herself being pulled between the two brothers.

What listeners say about The Vampire Diaries, Book 1

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

LOVE LOVE LOVE

I loved everything.. the emotions came to life. You played each character so well it was unbelievable. I love love loved it!!!! Can’t wait to listen to the second one ❤️❤️

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Mixed feelings

SPOILER ALERT 🚨

I have a lot of mixed feelings on this one. I really love the tv show based on this book but it turns out that they changed a LOT of stuff for the tv show, I mean it’s normal for that to happen but Vicki isn’t Matt’s sister, Elena has a little sister not a brother almost her own age and her aunt isn’t the same in any possible way. Also Caroline is not really seaming like their friends and they is a Meredith who is in the friend group that I have never heard of! Then Stefano and Damon story is WAY…..!!!!! Different! Not only do they talk with and accent but they were from Italy and everything about Katherine get away/death is totally different. And those boys loved each other and cared before the vampire issue..!this book makes it out like they had nearly always had to hold back the contempt for each other..
Also the narrators aren’t the very greatest, I personally didn’t think so anyway.
I will read the other books in the series, partly because my OCD will not allow anything less but also because I kinda want to see where this version goes.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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chimes

The loud chime at the end was not needed. scared me and maybe that was the goal.haha

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Very well

This book was very fun to listen to and had a very good story line

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Unsure

A little disappointed at how the characters are so much different than the TV series. Their looks, some of the last names, relationships to each other, story line. I realize this changes from book to screen often but just a little disappointed. And not impressed with the narration. I’m going to continue but I love TVD and want to finish the book series. But just a little disappointed.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Tried to love it...

it was a great way to get me to rewatch the series... missing action and external drama. the story completely centered around Elena and Stefan with everyone else kinda thrown about here and there but their romance seemed rushed and forced in the book compared to the show..her first time dropping the love bomb was awkward to me. the way the show opened up the other characters was good and maybe there's hope in the other books.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Pretty good

Its a pretty good book so far. I was easy to get into and far to stop once I started. Would listen to it again and probably will😁

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good but...

I love the TV series so now I wanted to give the books a try. However... ****Spoilers**** Kind of.. . . . Elena and Stephan's relationship went from 0 to 100 so quick.... so it's making me cringe. I am halfway through the audiobook and I want to complete the series (And Rebecca's narration is amazing). Hopefully I can overlook how fast they fell in love. Or maybe, it will be explained eventually...maybe not.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

It was a solid 3 for me

Author gave Damon and Stephen a Russian accent, thought that was interesting, other than that her narration was pretty good. The storyline was great up until the part where Elena stands in class and is all, "He'll regret ebbed touching him!" or something like that. That was pure cheese, but it was good.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

😍

Amazing!
This was a very captivating book that left you wanting more! Definitely read this you will not regret it!

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