"Empty" feeling after finishing a book/series

[G]

I am SO glad I'm not the only one, it literally gets me so down when I've finished reading a book that I got so drawn in to. It's like you become part of that life and you don't want to leave it.

[R.]

G wrote: "I am SO glad I'm not the only one, it literally gets me so down when I've finished reading a book that I got so drawn in to. It's like you become part of that life and you don't want to leave it."

Exactly, you hit the feeling perfectly!

[Leah]

It makes me really sad and anxious when I finish a series. Only thing that makes it better is a re-read or knowing the author is doing a spin-off series in the same world! Prime example? Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Also Demonica by Larissa Ione

[Tiffany]

Oh my gosh. I get this feeling every time I finish a good book/series. Like "how does the world and life continue on so normally?" My whole body would ache and my chest would feel tight until time does some kind of magic and loosens the knot I feel in my chest.

[Adriaan]

Hmm, I certainly feel a bit sad on finishing some books/series, though far worse, I find, is the aching knowledge that there _is_ another book available in a series that you can't get your hands on. This has not happened recently, in the Internet age, but I can remember making long walks in the dead of winter to the bookstore in my teens ;)

[Jo]

I am sooo glad I was not alone in my Post-HP-syndrom!
When the series ended I wanted to crawl in my bed and cry my eyes out and it had nothing to do with the dead characters! I have had break ups affect me less!:P
I kind of get the same feeling every time I finish a series I like but now I have defense mechanisms. I start the next book before I have time to process my misery! If that doesn't work that's what ice-cream is for!^.^

[Kristin]

Leah Kaye wrote: "It makes me really sad and anxious when I finish a series. Only thing that makes it better is a re-read or knowing the author is doing a spin-off series in the same world! Prime example? Fever ser..."

Fever Series had me feeling like that too. Which is why I read Iced even though I don't really care for Dani.

[Carla]

I have this book hangover often. Usually what I do is obsess about the characters for a little while, read every excerpt available and contribute to conversations about them online until they are out of my system lol then I purposely ask others for books they obsess about so I can move on :)

[Claire]

i finished refugee (the captive series)by erica stevens last night. :-(:-(Book 4 not out until june.:-(

[Emelie]

I completley agree, when i first start a series I'm like on a high and then i finish it and I'm upset that its over because i feel like i know the characters and its like I'm saying goodbye to a friend, but then i start a new one so its all good;)

[Renee]

When I finish a series, I feel it's up to me to keep the admiration alive. I picture what could've happened later and it keeps me satisfied.

[❀ Minesha ❀]

Hmm..its like loosing a really good friend and coming back to reality. No more fantasy world :(
Usually I go check out fan fiction for that story. Best to move on a new book. Try a similar genre. Or email the author for more.

When I had just finished the whole Poison Study series and all the novellas and fanfics, felt really empty and hollow. But of course my mood lifted when I heard there would be new ones, but only after a few years :) And then I got hooked on to new series, and the cycle repeated.

[Trinity]

For me, it doesn't just go away. It lingers. I don't want to read another book once I finish one because I'm still having my head flooded with thoughts from the book. But then again, I want to read a new book and try something different. It's like a sort of happiness skewed by the sadness that the journey is over.

[Debra]

I'm experiencing a total book hangover! I think it is why I like to read trilogies & series because I know if I fall in love with book one I won't have to feel empty because there's always book 2! In fact, I find if I really love the story I tend to read the final books really slow for fear of saying goodbye to characters that I love when I'm finished with the sagas.

The only saving grace is that usually the really great books get turned into movies. Always something to look forward to...

[Nelly]

It's like you lost your friends and family for sure. Because you get to know all the characters so well, and if you have a good imagination you feel like it's a real world, but now you can't go visit it, unless you read.. and that's not even the same because it's not like reading it the first time. UGH. well on the bright side it's not like you're actually loosing family or friends in real life. We can feel lucky that this feeling is just because of our imagination. Right?

[Mika]

I've definitely had this feeling before! The first series that comes to mind is the Fever series. After I finished I didn't know what to do. But, I eventually managed to pull myself together and found another good series to read. I still miss the Fever series world, though. I will probably have to reread the series sometime soon!

[Jeanna-Has Probably Read It!]

It's the moment when you realize yet another book has managed to pull you in like that Mobster movie statement..."just when I think I'm out, they pull me vack in..." Books are addicting and I'm sure that there is an instution for people like me.

[Jeanna-Has Probably Read It!]

oh yeah fat fingers do not agree with phone keypads.

[Anne]

Yup, I call it separation anxiety. I have a need to live in the world of the characters. So I put the last book away with hopes of visiting again, and move onto the next.