…Break ups are never easy. But did you know that they can be?
Have you ever found yourself falling out of love with a series? Perhaps, with the release of each new installment, you notice that you have grown apart… The feeling of love you once held (perhaps in book one) has waned to a dull glow (in book two) until it flickers away, never to be seen again. You find that you can’t even muster up the excitement to trudge on when your long-forgotten lover returns for more, more… MOOORRRE!!
Sometimes we stick with the series we once loved out of a sense of obligation. We have a history with these books, so why not finish what we started, yes?
…WRONG. Much like we would with a jilted lover, why should we bother spending our hard-earned dollars on something that may only disappoint us in the future? Especially if that love has disappointed us already in the past, which some books are wont to do?
I frequently find myself falling down the “obligation” hole, continuing with series that no longer bring me much joy. For this reason I have created a chart to assist in knowing when to cut it off (“…It’s not me, it’s really is YOU”) before I find myself with no money and plenty of stand-alone novels or far more interesting new series that (oh no!) I can no longer afford to enjoy. Oh, wasted dollars, where did you go??? What love is this that has forsaken me???
You, too, can enjoy this handy-dandy chart and start breaking things off today!
Just think of a series that you’re in the middle of. Then start at the top of the chart and go from there.
Feel free to comment below. I’d love to hear of any successful break-up stories that result from its use!
Whew! Now don’t you feel better?
What does the flowchart say about your most recent series?
Break up or keep on going strong?
What are some series you’ve recently broken up with?
Let us know in the comment below!
I should have broken up with the Matched trilogy after the first book, but everyone I knew back then told me that the next two books were so much better.
Needless to say, I learned my lesson after that. If I’m not really into it after the first book, I’m out. I’ve already broken up with a few series since then, and it’s a relief to know that I don’t have to feel bad about it.
Wow, thanks for this great article and I love the chart, I will be sure to use it. 🙂 Do you mind if I post it on my blog and link back to you/this blog?
On the topic of breaking up with series. Argh, I know the feeling. Sometimes I even have series I don’t like, but then I hear the series gets better and I just want to try it again, even if I know I shouldn’t.
But it is so hard to drop a series, especially if it is one that I loved, but is one that just keeps on going without an end in sight. I just need to pick, either continue and be stuck with it for possibly years and years to come or just drop it and find another series that has a date it will be finished.
I do hope one day that I can just drop a series without feeling guilty for dropping it. Maybe the chart will help me out, I hope so. I will be sure to follow up if I had a few successful runs with giving up a series.
Thanks again!
Go ahead! I do not mind, as long as there is a link back. 😉 I do hope this helps you in the future!!
Hi!
Thanks for replying and thanks! Then I will post this one on my blog soon, more people need to see this chart.
Thanks, and another thanks for creating this wonderful chart. So far it already helped me with one series I was wondering about.
This post is all kinds of gorgeous Jenna 😀 Thank you so much for writing and sharing. <3 And ack, so very true. I have fallen out of love from a whole bunch of books :\
Love the chart! I typically don’t panic over continuing series because if I didn’t like it I usually just forget all about it. But I have definitely fallen out of love series as time goes on…my real debate is over if I should keep them on my shelves. Part of me wants to keep them because I enjoyed some of the series…but the other part of me wants to get rid of them because I HATED the rest of the series. Decisions decisions.
I love this so much!! It’s as useful for TV shows as it is for books — and I completely agree, if you reach a point where you’re just not emotionally involved anymore, you should feel free to drop the sucker and read something else. (Though it’s very, very hard to admit that something you once loved just isn’t that good anymore.)
I love this! I’ve had many times where I’ve found myself becoming less and less attached to a particular book series.
If I find myself absolutely bored by the series I have no problem breaking up with it, ex. Vortex by S.J. Kincaid- I really liked Insignia but Vortex was just ugh so no third book Catalyst for me. Or if I find myself completely disgusted by an event in the book, ex. Darkest Minds. I listened to the audio of this and besides the over descriptions of everything driving me insane, I was disgusted by a sexual assault that takes place at the end of the book and realized I had no desire to continue with this series.