Unpopular opinion: I really liked the books. I thought they were interesting and Bella was much more of a character and person than a weird dead faced teenager. The movies were absolutely horrible. But the books weren't too bad.
I was not a crazy fan, but liked the books too! You just had to go into them remembering that they were aimed at young girls who were looking for a romance novel, and who wanted a love fantasy. I think too many people judged them against both reality and against books aimed at a different audience. The writing also isn't as terrible as some people say, it's just much more linear and focused on the main couple than books that delve into side characters more.
(At least that's how I heard it)