This week I want to introduce a topic to discuss that I see often. Cliffhangers. I tend to read series, and a lot of books in series tend to leave off on a cliffhanger. While I have a strong opinion of my own, I’ve learned that if I can discuss a topic, I can often find pros/cons that I wouldn’t have thought of before.
When a book in a series ends on a cliffhanger, I’m not going to lie to you, it is frustrating. A lot of the time, I try to get started on series that are either finished or have the final book coming out soon so that I can binge read. However, sometimes I can’t help myself and just get caught up in the hype over a new series, especially if it is written by one of my favorite authors. But then I’m stuck waiting for about a year until the next book is written, edited, and published. And seeing as how I’m friends with a few published authors on a personal level, I’m aware that it takes a while to write a book and how rude it is to pressure people to write books faster. Even if I’m sitting on tenterhooks waiting to see what happens after the major cliffhanger the book ended on. These also usually lead me to have to reread the published books in the series before starting the new one, because I often forget what happened in earlier books, and I’m terrified that I’m going to miss out on something essential to the story.
On the other hand, I’ve also seen mini-cliffhangers at the end of a chapter. These mini-cliffhangers are what I blame for the biggest lie that I tell myself: I’m just going to read one more chapter. When I read that one last chapter, and it ends on a mini-cliffhanger, I have no choice. I’m forced to read the next chapter, because seriously. How would I possibly be able to go about my day like a normal person without knowing what happens? These lower-intensity cliffhangers make it so much easier for me to read the book fast because I’m so invested and need to know what happens in the next chapter. And they seem to happen more often than not. I’ve found these smaller cliffhangers in standalone books ranging from romance to mystery, fantasy to historical fiction, literary fiction and even nonfiction.
How do you feel about cliffhangers? Which kind do you prefer—the major one at the end of a story or mini-cliffhangers at the end of a chapter?
Categories: Sunday Bookish Discussion
Leah's Books 
Hmm- never really thought of that
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The things I think of when trying to come up with a topic at the last minute lol!
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I love it when each chapters ends with cliffhanger making me read next. It makes book fast paced and exciting. As for the book in series ending with cliffhanger, if it’s minor I don’t mind them but if it’s major I prefer to have next book ready to read. So often I choose to read series with all books out already.
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I was right there with you for all of this except the last sentence. I always get suckered into reading series as they are released because of the hype!
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An interesting question! It depends on a book. Cliffhangers. I guess I enjoy them because as a child all I read was Stine’s Goosebumps horror series, and there every chapter had a cliffhanger – that was so enjoyable for me. I kind of expect it in the thriller genre now, but a cliffhanger in literary or other fiction that ENDS a book would probably just infuriate me! lol
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Thank you! I love when there’s a cliffhanger at the chapter ends, whether it’s suspense, fantasy, or historical fiction, as long as it’s appropriate. Otherwise, I get so frustrated with cliffhanger endings in books.
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