How do you know when to move on?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I created this thread for a member who is dealing with this particular dilemma.

What are your thoughts on when to cut a series/book loose?

If you want to talk about a particular book and specific scenario that is spoilerish, please use spoiler tags:

How to do spoiler tags: (spoiler) spoilerish content (/spoiler) and replace ( and ) with < and >.

[Pamela]

Both the (view spoiler)[ Crossfire series and the Cartel series (hide spoiler)] were supposed to be three books long. The authors both announced that the series were being expanded to five book. This was done right when the third books were released. In both cases the third book was poorly written filler.

I don't like being squeezed for money by greedy authors and publishers, so I dropped both series and returned the books to Amazon for a refund.

[Sarah]

Well I think that sometimes a break from a particular series can refresh you. At the moment I am taking a break from completing the Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have often taken breaks, reading books that are completely different and then going back to it. I fully intend to catch up before Styxx is released.
If a book or a series becomes a chore, cut it loose. Maybe try a break first, but if it seems like effort to pick up a book, stop.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

@ Pamela: Yeah, I definitely think continuing some series is about a profit motive. It's kind of insulting to a reader when that motive is so crystal clear.

@ Sarah: I agree. I tend to take breaks with most series I read. There are a few I have read more or less back to back until I got caught up, but I don't tend to do that anymore. I hate getting bored/jaded with a series.


I think my major draw the line to know when to stop a series is when I realize I just don't like the characters, the story or the writing. If I feel that I am just going through the motions, I realize it's time to step away from a series.

[Christi]

I am reading the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill. I am currently on book two. I like all the characters except one, the presumed hero, Ethan. The story is good, the interactions between the other characters is fun. The only time I cringe is when the hero and heroine are interacting. Not with her so much but with Ethan. His character drives me crazy and that Merit goes along with his bullishness.
So should I continue and see if things get better and he grows on me or do I cut my losses and move on to another series?
How do other readers decide when to move on?

[Darcy]

I feel like the longer/more books in a series I have read I have a hard time quitting it. I keep hoping it will be good again like they were at the start. Examples of these are the Anita Blake series, Stephanie Plum series, and The Betsy Undead series.

With newer books I will quit them if I am bored when reading or if the story can't keep my attention. Often times I am so so on book one. Book two then becomes a make or break book for me.

[Kim]

I quit when I just can't take it anymore, although I have been known to take breaks too.

For example, I am really over the fill-in-the-blanks writing style that seems to be plaguing Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. Every time I read one, I swear it will be the last. However, I have enough love for the characters that I keep going in the hopes that it will get better. I'm still waiting...

On the other hand, I stopped reading the Anita Blake series altogether because LK Hamilton completely re-wrote who Anita was as a person & made the series a smut-fest. Trust me, I have no problems with smutty books - I read tons of them. BUT...there has to be some kind of plot. The last AB book I bothered to read had about 30 pages of plot and 270 pages of badly written porn. I became so irritated that I stopped reading them and never looked back.

PS, sorry for the lack of links, but I'm on my mobile app.

[Danielle Book Boss]

I know it's time to cut ties with a series when everything feels meh, I could care less if the h and H end up together, or I somehow start rooting for the bad guy to get them. I'm channeling the Dark Hunter series when I think about this.

[Paganalexandria]

Darcy wrote: "I feel like the longer/more books in a series I have read I have a hard time quitting it. I keep hoping it will be good again like they were at the start. Examples of these are the Anita Blake se..."

Darcy, I too have a hard time quitting a long running series. For some reason I complain about Anita Blake but have to read it anyway. Plus I suffer from some kind of undiagnosed book induced OCD that makes it really hard to stop reading bad books once started. Out of over 850 rated books I only have 8 DNFs.

The common thread of every series I've ever given up is realizing that I don't like anyone in this book or care what happens to them. Once that thought pops up in my head, my time automatically becomes too expensive to waste on that particular book or series. Anita Blake still gets read because even though it's annoying; it still has characters I'm invested in.

[Darcy]

Paganalexandria wrote: " Out of over 850 rated books I only have 8 DNFs."

I don't have an issue dnf'ing a book, but it is harder if I have read the series for a long time. The same can be sad if it is a favorite author. I know they can do better and I keep reading hoping it will.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

I have stopped reading certain series but I have no rhyme or reason in how I decide to do so.

[Fani *loves angst*]

I will usually stop reading a series when I've read at least two or three bad installments in a row, either in form of writing or plot turning. Of course, the more time I've invested in a series, the harder it is to leave it.

I will quit a book when I feel completely unattached to the heroes and their problems, or if I start groaning with the characters' actions and quotes at least once in every page:)

[Oleander]

I will quit a book or series when something in it offends me or repulses me. Series that move too heavily into horror or dump the story line for repeated sex scenes are bye bye. Other dislikes are harm to children or animals or characters show prejudice in some way.

[Pamela]

Oleander wrote: "I will quit a book or series when something in it offends me or repulses me. Series that move too heavily into horror or dump the story line for repeated sex scenes are bye bye. Other dislikes ar..."

Yes and adultery. I just dropped a small town police drama series when the Hero, a sheriff, had sex with his high school sweetheart. In the book she is married to a kind man and has just had his baby. Made me sick to read about a Hero with so little morals.

[Elizabeth]

Pamela wrote: "... .I just dropped a small town police drama series when the Hero, a sheriff, had sex with his high school sweetheart. In the book she is married to a kind man and has just had his baby. Made me sick to read about a Hero with so little morals."


Pamela, the books sounds like something I'd like to read. May I ask which one was it (and who wrote it)? Thank you.

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ]

The ones I stop loving (maybe not stop reading) are the ones featuring the same couple and the author decides that they need crappy YA/NA drama and angst so he/she introduces a third person.
Some of these previous books have wonderful explanations of certain mating/meeting your soul mate rituals which have meaning. Well, they had meaning until you get to those books. I won't say which since I don't want to spoil anything, but I hate those the most. I don't mind the change as much as I hate when they simply decide to completely rewrite certain things. Their characters stop being strong and great.
Mostly this happens in paranormal romances and urban fantasy books.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Morana, I can see what you mean. I had a problem with Eclipse (Twilight, Book 3) (view spoiler)[ because all of a sudden, Bella's love for Edward became like a biochemical reaction and she loved Jacob the say way? What??? What's the point of the first two books? (hide spoiler)]

[Teresa]

I know its time to cut my loses when I start getting pissy with the characters or author and find I have to force my self to pick up the book.

That's what happend to me with the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I just ended up wanting yell at Ward and make her put more time into the relationship development between the hero and heroine instead of writing from so many different perspectives.

[Sue]

I usually know in the first or second chapter. I always give it a bit more of a go. But yeah, first or second chapter for me. I never return Kindle books. Is this widely done?

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "Morana, I can see what you mean. I had a problem with Eclipse (Twilight, Book 3) [spoilers removed]"

I've read only the first book, but, yes, that's exactly that unexplained and forced thing which could ruin a story. Still, there you might expect it since it is YA/NA after all. I find it more annoying when they do that to adults.

[Tammy]

I stopped reading a particular series when a certain book in the series let me down soo much that it seemed I was judging the following books way to harshly. It was difficult because it was a series that my friends and I read together but I just couldn't enjoy it anymore :(

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

@Morana: I have to limit my YA reading because I don't like the drama. I mainly read YA fantasy, but now I am avoiding any that seem like they will have a freaking love triangle.

[Steamywindows♥♫]

Great discussion! I hope you don't mind me chiming in. I have two reasons I stop reading a series,
1. Like others, if it becomes boring. I will watch reviews to see if it picks up but....
2. The second reason is if the author becomes full of her/ himself. I saw an interview with a "famous" author in which their behaviour was arrogant, pretentious and insulting to their very very enthusiastic fans. I couldn't get over it. The next release just fizzled for me. I don't think the interview was the sole factor but the things I hadn't liked before (the writing was very jargon laden) I simply found pretentious afterward. In another situation, the author inserted themselves into the fictional work. Which to me, just smacked of ego.
I thought I'd share and see if this kind of thing bothers others?
Steamy

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Of course we want you to chime in, Steamy!

Boredom is the kiss of death for me as a reader. I'd rather be annoyed at a character in a book or what they do than just plain bored.

I don't like superior, judgmental, patronizing attitudes, so that would be a total turnoff for an author to treat their readers that way.

[Pamela]

Elizabeth wrote: "Pamela wrote: "... .I just dropped a small town police drama series when the Hero, a sheriff, had sex with his high school sweetheart. In the book she is married to a kind man and has just had his ..."

[Pamela]

Sue wrote: "I usually know in the first or second chapter. I always give it a bit more of a go. But yeah, first or second chapter for me. I never return Kindle books. Is this widely done?"

I return kindle books if they are a DNF for me because of quality issues.

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "@Morana: I have to limit my YA reading because I don't like the drama. I mainly read YA fantasy, but now I am avoiding any that seem like they will have a freaking love triangle."

Same reasons here.

[Kelly]

I stop reading a book for a couple reasons..

1. Its boring - if its putting me to sleep I move on - I have way to many books in my TBR pile.
2. If the Hero / Heroine is Immature, annoying, childish, stupid, etc. I can not stand reading about a H/h running around doing things, saying things that are way below their intended age.
3. Cheating
4. If its beyond believable. If a main character has no clue there is such a thing as demons, vampires, werewolves, angels, etc. they can NOT have a creature fall from the sky or interact with them without having some reaction. They can NOT be like "oh hey, want some coffee?"

[Rachel Annie]

Kelly wrote: "They can NOT be like "oh hey, want some coffee? ..."

lol!

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ]

Kelly wrote: "I stop reading a book for a couple reasons..

1. Its boring - if its putting me to sleep I move on - I have way to many books in my TBR pile.
2. If the Hero / Heroine is Immature, annoying, childis..."

Valid reasons. Number three is a definite deal-breaker.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I have to say I can definitely agree with the aggravation factor of those on your list, Kelly.

[[deleted user]]

I haven't given up on too many series. But when I do it's because of boredom. Too much of the same and nothing happens.

[Sonya]

I don't read anywhere near as much paranormal stuff as I used to. With series in that genre, so often the author completely forgets the 'rules' of their world as the series goes on.
It makes you wonder what the point of all the struggles were for earlier characters, when characters in later books don't have any of those issues to get around!

Some contemporary series I think I'm going to give up on, but then the author lifts their game and later books are as good as the first few (the Virgin River series is one that did that).