Elena is the most beautiful, and the most popular, girl in school, but she has always felt like something was missing.  She returns from her summer vacation in France determined to break up with her quarterback boyfriend Matt, who she loves, but only as a friend.  Then Stefen shows up at school.  He’s Italian, mysterious, superhot, and does not even take a second look at Elena.  Or so she thinks. 

While Elena is becoming more and more obsessed with Stefen, Stefen is doing his best not to stare.  He has enough problems trying to control his thirst and his powers, and now this girl, this girl who looks exactly like his lost love Katherine, is sitting in front of him in World History.  Then, just as Stefen thinks he is getting control of himself, people start dying all over town. 

The Vampire Diaries is a fun vampire romance, with a lot of horror mixed in.  Elena is petty, superficial and vain, but she becomes more likeable as the book progresses.  Stefen is brooding, but genuinely loves Elena for herself.  Aside from Elena and Stefen’s romance, there is lots of intrigue and drama- both of the high school and the centuries-old-vendetta varieties.  Fans of the The Vampire Diaries on the CW, or of Twilight, will want to check this book out.