Rereading a Series Before the Newest Release

[Krysta]

How many of you re-read previous books in anticipation for a new release?

Or, if you've been reading a series and get behind, do you revisit the last book you read to refresh your memory before starting back up again?


I was reading Kim Harrison's The Hollows series and life got in the way of finishing it.
I'm two books shy of finishing off the series, but it's been almost 2 years since I read Ever After, and I don't know if I'll be able to smoothly pick things back up in The Undead Pool. I was considering having a Hollows-a-thon and just rereading the entire series, starting with Dead Witch Walking...it was one of my favorites, so it shouldn't be too bad.

What do you all think? Have you ever had something like this happen to you, and if so, how did you handle it?

[Krysta]

I also re-read the Hunger Games trilogy before the movies were released, as a sort of celebration and preparation.

It's funny how you pick up minor details in re-reads that you missed during the first time around.
It is also interesting how your life's experiences can change how you feel about the book during your re-read.

[Mrs.Vishous-Kattalakis-Belikov]

I definitely do that! Especially since a lot of series these days take forever to release! That said....I love rereading my favorite series anyway. You catch certain things you may have missed the previous time, also I feel it's like visiting an old friend going back to those worlds.

For instance, Chasing Magic....it's been a few years since I read Sacrificial Magic as a matter of fact....I don't think I finished it. Plus I think the next Downside book is releasing this year and honestly....I barely remember City of Ghosts. So I'm definitely going to start Sacrificial Magic so I know what's going on.

[MadameZelda]

I don't. I'd be reading so many series starting from book 1!

[Kiersten, Mod]

I do sometimes, but not if the series is super long.

[Louise]

I totally do. I read so many books in between Series that I need to get back into that OMG I need to know what happens next moment!!

[L.S.]

Not usually. I sometimes skim the last chapter or two to remind me of where we left things.

[MadameZelda]

If I want to read Book 13, there is no way I am going to read the first 12 books. Some authors are great with giving a short summary in the new book and I appreciate that.

[BarbaraAnn]

I do. Usually there's enough time between books that I forget a lot of the plot.

[Katrina]

I do it all the time I feel weird if I don't haha but right now the 3 series I'm really reading before the new book comes out are...the selection series, the mercy thompson series, and red queen

[Cindy (Squin)]

I definitely do not! I would not get anywhere new if I did! I am at least one book in, in some series, like 6-8 books in for probably...20-25 series. I'm not even exaggerating. Even when I'm enjoying a book or a series, usually if I go on to the next book right away I get really bored with it, so I have to really mix it up a LOT!

I've only re-read one series just for the fun of it, and I've done it twice: Rough Riders by Lorelei James. Holy hot cowboys - yes please!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*]

I have every once in awhile, including with the Hollows series.

[Micheala]

I always do. Gives me a story refresher and also reminds me of all the small details that I can complain and nitpick at when the movies dont contain them

[Ashley]

I don't! I just jump right into the next book! Sometimes I spend half the book attempting to remember who some character is, but I don't even care! I have books to read!

Plus, I'm a binge reader.... the only time this happens to me is if the next book hasn't actually come out yet.

[Ashley]

Krysta wrote: "It's funny how you pick up minor details in re-reads that you missed during the first time around.
It is also interesting how your life's experiences can change how you feel about the book during your re-read. "

On the limited occasions that I HAVE re-read a book, I often find that I am not as enthusiastic about it as the FIRST time I read it. Maybe it wasn't quite as mind blowing as I thought it was. Maybe the main character was a whiny brat, but I thought she was awesome and now I've realized how wrong I was. lol - that's not often, but it has happened.

[Shelby]

I have habit of re-reading series before a new one come out. Especially if it's been a couple years since a new book in the series was released. I just recently re-read the first couple book in the Shapes of Autumn series because Dead Wolf Walking was just released a couple weeks ago.
I'm about to start re- reading the Pyte/Sentinel series because Fated is being released in March.

[Myst]

Depends on the series. Some series are way too long to put that much effort into it. Other series, you find new clues every time you re-read it, or clues you didn't previously "get" you'll get after the new release.

Sherrilyn Kenyon is a re-read (not every book every release mind you since she releases 2 DH-verse books a year), because her world has so many layers, and hints to what's actually going on. (Especially after the CoN books were released.) I still need to re-read the first few CoN's.

[♥Lynn ♥]

If it is a series I love, I re-read. Huge Ilona Andrews fan, so I re-read all of the Kate Daniels material. I would re-read all of the Kim Harrison's Rachael Morgan series as well. It has to be a series that I am madly in love to re-read the longer works. A lot of my books I re-read just as comfort reading thought the year. Sometimes, I just really miss characters and HAVE to pull them off the shelf.

[Kathleen]

I started "Outtakes from the Grave" got halfway through and realized I needed to re-read the whole Night Huntress series again.
I always find something I missed the first time around on a re-read

[Kathleen]

Kathleen wrote: "I started "Outtakes from the Grave" got halfway through and realized I needed to re-read the whole Night Huntress series again.
I always find something I missed the first time around on a re-read"

But only some series are 'worthy' of the re-read

[Leigh-Ayn]

Depends on the series. I re-read all the Kate Daniels series last year but I love them so was no hardship lol. I got distracted when I started an Anne Bishop series so have only read 1 book and I will re-read it before going onto book 2,3 &4 :)

[Cindy (Squin)]

Ashley wrote: "On the limited occasions that I HAVE re-read a book, I often find that I am not as enthusiastic about it as the FIRST time I read it. Maybe..."

I've found the same thing. Or even without reading them, looking back through my Read lists, I'll be like, "I gave THAT a 5 Star?!" I find that a lot - the end of the book really grabs me and makes me love it, so right afterward I'll rate it highly. Then later, the majority of the book is what sticks with me and I realize I should've rated it lower.

[Ashley]

Sometimes I like to go a re-read just bits that I remember or stuck with me, and that seems to be enough, lol.

[J.D.]

Always! Unfortunately I have a bunch of paper bound books held together by duct tape because of how much love they get :/

[Richard]

I will often reread the previous book before reading the new one

[Jennifer (jenibookworm)]

I reread books often as I read so fast i frequently run out of books to read. There are series that I will read again and again.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series I have read more then once right through.

Also Jeaniene Frosts Night Huntress and Dark Prince series I have read through multiple times.

and not to forget Harry Potter which I have probably read at least 10 times.

[Kiersten, Mod]

Over the last couple of months I've been re-reading the fever series waiting for Feversong.

[Julie]

The Black Dagger Brotherhood. I almost always re-read, or at least skim, before the newest comes out.

[Dmitrij]

I don't re-read books except a few audio shorts that I have on my MP3 player when I don't have anything new to start reading. There so many books worth reading out there that I don't know how to find time to all of them.

[fabby]

I re-read the others by Anne Bishop

[[deleted user]]

I always re-read before diving into the newest book, even if I've read them more than twice I always find something I missed the first time. Plus seeing the forshadowing is awesome.

[Madaie]

Depends on the series. If its a favorite I always reread. I agree that your opinion of the books change over time. Some books you loved once seem cliche now; while others you realize you love even more.

[Sara]

if it's been awhile since I've read the previous one sometimes I'll re-read/skim through the previous one before reading the newest one if I feel like I don't remember some of the details

[Kristal]

I usually write a review that helps me to remember the previous book. The books I read are so memorable. I just love books and I've been lucky enough to read great books. Only has had only a handful of books I just couldn't read.

[Amyiw]

There is a similar discussion in this group here.

I always reread the book before the new release from my favorite series. At least I do if I haven't read any of the series in a year. My memory is full of holes even with my reviews. I also love revisiting my favorites.

[Romance]

Re-read the whole Harper Hall series for the new release (which is tomorrow). I think I loved it more the second time around...

[Julie]

Some series are just too long, but I do occasionally skim the series, or at least the book prior, to keep up to date.