24 Books (and Series) with Truly Satisfying Endings

Narnia and LOTR definitely deserve this list!

The only problem with lists like these is that everyone has a different reading style so this is similar to a misadvertisement for some. The Classics mentioned are usually the books I stay away from since I can't stand the way they read as they are quite slow and stuffy while the Narnia series bored me to death.

Other books that I find that I enjoyed and treasure will also be not to the taste of those who may not like them. I am in love with "Bambi" and find it satisfactory as well as "Time Cat" just to name a few.

In the world of books you aren't wasting your time by reading any book, including bad books. You just are "tasting the selection" and finding out what pertains to you so if you don't like it then you are off to the next adventure. And if you did like it? You have another addition to your library....

Happy reading!

I can't believe the Harry Potter series isn't there! With all the credit J.K. Rowling gets for the boost in children's literacy, the movies, and well…just really good story writing.

Megan wrote: "Narnia and LOTR definitely deserve this list!"

I would second that!

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater should be on this list! Additionally: Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman!

The Infernal Devices (Clockwork Angel as book #1) really had a satisfying ending though. With the conflict that was going on in the books I had no idea how it would turn out to end but it seemed fair on everyone!

Narnia definetly deserves it, you know.

Wow, I disagree emphatically about the ending of the Chronicles of Narnia (I hated The Last Battle with a burning passion) and a number of these that I've read (excepting Pride and Prejudice) had decent but somewhat humdrum endings. Two books that I think end incredibly satisfyingly are The View from Saturday and Mrs. Dalloway. I'm surprised that Mrs. Dalloway, in particular, isn't already on the list.

Where's Harry Potter? And Hunger Games? Really? So Coin and Snow were defeated and Katniss chose Peeta, but in the end Prim died and the heroes were too broken to be happy.

Definitely agree with Room. That ending felt so complete. Not only do the characters get closure; so does the reader.

Diane wrote: "I can't believe the Harry Potter series isn't there! With all the credit J.K. Rowling gets for the boost in children's literacy, the movies, and well…just really good story writing."

You have all reason.

Wow. The Martian is on this list. Smh. Average book and the ending was kind of bleh.

Narnia deserved to be on this list :) Where's Harry Potter though?

Mistborn? MISTBORN!!!!!

Yes, that's five exclamation marks. I make no apologies.

Surely Mistborn has one of the least satisfying endings in the history of litterature?

Compltely and wholeheartedly DISAGREE with the Narnia listing. What a horrible ending! Lion can't take a prank, has a hissy fit and destroys the world, and everyone caught in the crossfire dies a horrible death. The only smart one was Susan, who stayed the heck away from that twisted place!

This may be a little controversial but gosh I don't think the chronicles of Narnia deserved to be on here. The ending was just awful and honestly I think the whole series is just a bit over-hyped. Glad to see some other people agree with me.

You know what series could never be on this list??? Divergent...lol. Every time I think of a book with a terrible ending, that's always the one that comes to mind.

I love chronicles of narnia

The problem with lists like this is that everyone will have a different definition of what a "satisfying ending," is (like you said). I agree on some of these books - especially Les Miserables, there really was no better way to end that book.

As for Narnia... is that really satisfying? I don't want to give away spoilers on a blog post but I was traumatized by that book when I first read it. The ending felt like such a slap in the face, I always stop my rereads at The Silver Chair. Considering how controversial the ending is I'm surprised to see it on here.

Just because an ending is "happy" doesn't make it satisfying (like The Hunger Games).

Also how is Murder on the Orient Express, not on here for mysteries? As much as I love the Morse series Orient Express feels much more deserving.

Yes all the way!!

I hate the ending of Narnia, for me it would be first place on a list of most UNsatisfactory endings of all time.

I was very satisfied by the end of Flowers for Algernon.
1984 on the other hand left me uncomfortable : way too kind with the characters.

Diane wrote: "I can't believe the Harry Potter series isn't there! With all the credit J.K. Rowling gets for the boost in children's literacy, the movies, and well…just really good story writing."

I can only assume the reason it's not on the list is that now J.K. Rowling is writing more books, thus continuing the series, so technically speaking, the series "isn't over"

That last Narnia book... in the previous ones the Christian allegory was implicit. In The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis went full Bible-thumper.

Julia wrote: "The only problem with lists like these is that everyone has a different reading style so this is similar to a misadvertisement for some. The Classics mentioned are usually the books I stay away fro..."

Thank you, so true!

Randolph wrote: "What does "satisfying" mean? "They all got hit by a bus" could be satisfying depending on the story. There are plenty of "satisfying" endings where the resolution is not "happy.""

I second that!

Tarzan great series good ending

What about the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare? From the first book (City of Bones) I was dying for the next one!!

Wholeheartedly agree with Room and Rebecca. Both are excellent books! Although, I think a 'satisfying ending' definitely means different things for different people. Just look at George RR Martin; he's certainly not one for a predictable story line but that must be satisfying for some. I am, however, a sucker for more traditional storylines!

I don't get Narnia being on here, that ending was so confusing and I just didn't like it at all.

Paula wrote: "Wholeheartedly agree with Room and Rebecca. Both are excellent books! Although, I think a 'satisfying ending' definitely means different things for different people. Just look at George RR Martin; ..."

I agree with you about satisfying means different things to different people. I was glad the mom and boy got out of the shed. But I was not a fan of how crushed the boy was once he realized how much larger the world was. And why his mom wasn't as close to him any more. It just broke my heart for him all over again.

Hilary wrote: "You know what series could never be on this list??? Divergent...lol. Every time I think of a book with a terrible ending, that's always the one that comes to mind."

Second your thoughts exactly. I thought it was a great start with book 1 but by the time book 3 came around, I was sooooo utterly disappointed. And kind of reminded me of why I don't typically read dystopian stories.

Clockwork Princess have the BEST ending ever ;')

Love seeing The Immortals series by Tamora Pierce on this list!

The Mistborn trilogy has one of the best endings of all time imo. Every fan of fantasy should give it a go :)

Dhfan4life
said: {Paula wrote: "Wholeheartedly agree with Room and Rebecca. Both are excellent books! Although, I think a 'satisfying ending' definitely means different
things for different people. Just look at George RR Martin; ..."

I agree with you about satisfying means different things to different people. I was glad the mom and boy got out of the shed. But I was not a fan of how
crushed the boy was once he realized how much larger the world was. And why his mom wasn't as close to him any more. It just broke my heart for him all
over again.}
Way to not spoil anything. Of course I was never going to read it anyway as it seemed way too depressing a topic.

sublimosa wrote: "Dhfan4life
said: {Paula wrote: "Wholeheartedly agree with Room and Rebecca. Both are excellent books! Although, I think a 'satisfying ending' definitely means different
things for different people...."

If you've seen any Lifetime movie ever based on a similar topic the premise is pretty much standard fair anyway. And not like I'm the only one spoiling things, ending of Narnia has already been pointed out by another poster. Just saying...

sublimosa wrote: "Dhfan4life
said: {Paula wrote: "Wholeheartedly agree with Room and Rebecca. Both are excellent books! Although, I think a 'satisfying ending' definitely means different
things for different people...."

It is certainly an uncomfortable read at times but it is redemptive and uplifting also! I'd recommend giving it a go even if there have been minor spoilers ;-)

Thank you Paula. Cause the little I've said about it hardly comes close to describing the feels you get out of it. Even if you know what is coming it's still something else. And in a child's voice too? Oh man, whew.

Steff wrote: "The Infernal Devices (Clockwork Angel as book #1) really had a satisfying ending though. With the conflict that was going on in the books I had no idea how it would turn out to end but it seemed fa..."

I agree with all the Infernal Device fans about a great series ending.

I also thought was an excellent ending to that series.

(My worst would have to be )

I love that Narnia and LOTR are on here. Great serieses! Though I haven't read part 2 and 3 I loved The Fellowship and can't wait to finally get back to them.

One I would recommend people check out is the Travis Chase Trilogy (by Patrick Lee). Some people didn't like how the third book ended but I thought it was perfect!

((NOTE TO EDITORS: A weird glitch happened when I put my cursor over the Lord of the Rings. The Martian popped up instead. Just letting you know))

I wouldn't really put The Hunger Games on a list of books with satifying endings....

I loved the way Percy Jackson and the Olympians ended.

Jemma wrote: "I wouldn't really put The Hunger Games on a list of books with satifying endings...."

I agree. While I thought it was well written, the weakest park of the series for me was the ending. It may have been true to the bleak situation of the characters' world, but I don't know that I'd call it "satisfying".

The Wheel of Time should be on the list. However, there are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. So I kind of understand.

Why is harry potter not on here?

*squawks* In what world is the ending to Narnia satisfying?! Can't really say why without spoilers, but suffice it to say, I stand with Neil Gaiman and Seanan McGuire on this one.

Julia wrote: "The only problem with lists like these is that everyone has a different reading style so this is similar to a misadvertisement for some. The Classics mentioned are usually the books I stay away fro..."

Well said!!!

Vera wrote: "Where's Harry Potter? And Hunger Games? Really? So Coin and Snow were defeated and ...."

ahem - spoilers :( I didn't know what happened in the last book yet.

Alissa wrote: "Compltely and wholeheartedly DISAGREE with the Narnia listing. What a horrible ending! Lion can't take a prank, has a hissy fit and destroys the world, and everyone caught in the crossfire dies a h..."

From what I remember, the apple part was a story from the past talking about the development. There was no "Prank" causing him to destroy the world. The series is about the existence of the world from start to finish.

Personally I thought it was a beautiful series and ending, but of course we all have different opinions. Case in point, these aren't Goodreads views, they're polled answers from readers on Facebook and Twitter.