13 Ways of Coping with a Book Hangover

Have you ever finished a book that was so good, you couldn't move on to another? If so, you've likely experienced a book hangover. A common affliction among avid readers, book hangovers can be emotionally distressing to say the least. Symptoms can vary between spontaneous fits of sobbing to repeatedly shouting the word "why." But don't worry: There are ways to recover.
We asked our followers on Facebook and Twitter for their best coping strategies and listed some of the most popular comments. Which ones have you tried?
We asked our followers on Facebook and Twitter for their best coping strategies and listed some of the most popular comments. Which ones have you tried?
1. "When the grief is overwhelming, I just turn back to the beginning and read it all over again," says Sanna.
2. "I try to switch genres or pick up a light read. If all else fails, I marathon a T.V. series and let the book hunger build up again," says Rebecca.
3. "Writing a review, telling my friends about it, or journaling can help process what made it so impactful. What's at the center of that emotional core, and how can I apply it to my life?" says Melissa.
4. "I actually take a break from reading. I won't pick up another book for a few days," says Jessica.
5. "Pick up a book of short stories, poetry, or essays so it's less of a commitment before finding the next great novel," says Jen.
6. "This might sound really bad, but in order to move on from a book I'm having a hard time letting go, I read a few bad reviews. It helps to put things in perspective," says Leslie.
7. "Read some fanfiction," says Charlotte.
8. "I like to reread my favorite parts and if there’s a good movie adaptation or a modern retelling, I go for it." says Erin.
9. "I listen to bookish podcasts," says Yanira.
10."As I get down to the last five chapters or so, I start the next book hunt," says Maureen.
11. "I immediately look for something else written by the author," says Edwin.
12. "Sometimes I’m not ready to give a new book a try, so I reread a well loved one," says Carol.
13. "I go and get a real hangover," says Steve.
How do you cope with a book hangover? Let us know in the comments!
Check out more recent blogs:
To Quit Or Not Quit a Book? Our Readers Weigh In...
Monogamous vs. Polygamous Reading: Which 'Type' Do You Prefer?
Hot Reading Challenge Tips from Pros Who Read More Than 100 Books a Year
Check out more recent blogs:
To Quit Or Not Quit a Book? Our Readers Weigh In...
Monogamous vs. Polygamous Reading: Which 'Type' Do You Prefer?
Hot Reading Challenge Tips from Pros Who Read More Than 100 Books a Year
Comments Showing 1-50 of 143 (143 new)
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Amber
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Jun 24, 2018 10:10PM

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Be thankful that you HAVE the hangover though...it would be worse to spend time on a bad bad book than to love a book and miss it. Take that as the old cliche - better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Except, with a book, you can always re-read it!






IF it's fiction, I switch back to the non-fiction, a few short magazine articles or something light. Arbitrarily opening a Chicken Soup book and reading a couple helps bring it - at least for me - back in perspective.







I love your "better to have loved and lost" comment. To have read a book that really grabs you is a treasure.


A disadvantage is that I become more critical about the book I read after the one which caused a hangover!! maybe because I expect the new book to be at the same level of awesomeness.


I will admit though that it is a little sad once I've completed a series. That's especially the case with something like Harry Potter. It was sad to have to say goodbye to those characters. I wanted more, just not The Cursed Child. :P

Talk a lot about my reading and take some time to process and enjoy the benefits of this book. I also make researches to know about the opinion of other persons (sometimes it's hard especially when they didn't appreciate the book)

#7 is the best option though. Fan fiction can cure any hangover.

But mostly I stop reading ASAP and start watching worst movies like twilight! or read that book until my heart and my mind can't take it anymore!

