Do you prefer novels to have a happy ending?

[Carol]

Yes, I prefer books with a happy ending. I did not really like the ending of Girl with a Pearl Earring, by Tracey Chevalier. It seemed a disappointing end to the main part of the story.

[Jackie]

If you have a definite good vs evil plot line, then yeah, I like the good guys to win. However even if they do win, the ending does not have to be completely happy.

I find in the books I like best, the endings are resolved and believable.

Mostly I'm just not a fan of loose ends, I like them tied up, the story to feel finished. Yet again, sometimes to the whole point and meaning behind the story requires the ends to be untied to really bring it home. E.G. The Animal Farm by George Orwell, which is open-ended.

Whether it's happy, sad, open-ended or a combination there-of, I think it really depend on what the author is trying to say with the story.

The ending needs to fit the purpose.

[Kate]

I enjoy happy endings as much as the next person, but I usually prefer when there is a realistic ending. Some authors think that pulling the "sudden death" at the end of the book (usually in ya) will give the reader the feels. A note to said authors: don't do something like that unless it makes sense.

[Kate]

I like endings that give the impression that life is still going on. Those are rarely totally happy.

[Jim]

A military adage that has been drummed into recruits for centuries: "Everybody dies. It's how well you do it that counts."

The same philosophy may be applied to writers: "Every storyteller's tale ends. It's how well the storyteller ends it that counts." Happy or sad doesn't matter. Whether it's a great or terrible ending does.

[Kathy]

I don't, particularly, like happy endings. I don't need the predictable boy meets girl, boy marries girl, boy acts like a fool, but girl forgives him and they muddle through. I like unexpected endings! If I can guess how it will end, I am disappointed, and I won't refer the book to friends. I want to be satisfied that the ending was for the best, regardless of whether it's happy or not.

[Merelee]

I like happy endings, in fiction. but occasionally a sad one works.
I'm very picky about endings. They have to wrap up what's going on with ALL the characters, in a satisfactory way. For example, in Twilight, I'm so dissatisfied with the girl-wolf's ending that I want to write HER novel -- explain what happes to her, and WHY she got dealt such a bad hand! In Hunger Games, why does the final win come from MURDER?! and what are we teaching kids with such a finish? Great writing, gripping story, ruined by that horrible ending.