Book Ending: How Important?

[Rushali, Head Mod]

How important is the book ending for a book to be perfect? Are happily ever afters overrated? Does the ending have to be conclusive for a satisfying read, or a book with an open ending is better?

Share your views on this, here!

[Nathan]

If author plans to make it a series, I hate a cliffhanger but that is exactly what pulls the readers to read the continuations.

If it is a standalone - Sometimes Open ending is pretty awesome as 90% of the books have the happily ever afters...
Some endings are so cheesy and horrible that based on the ending, I dislike the whole book itself...

[Meenu]

For a series - I prefer a HUGE Cliffhanger.(How I deal with it until I get the next book is completely another matter)

For a final book in the series or a standalone - I need a satisfying ending with all the ends tied up.If the book hints at a spin off or something that's okay for me.But it needs to be conclusive for the main characters even if it's not a HEA.

[Varshika]

I am okay with bittersweet or open endings but it should still be satisfying in a way. Hunger games has one of the most bittersweet endings but it's realistic and perfect in it's twisted way. As for cliffhangers they can be amazing when does right. Mark of Athena has one of the best cliffhangers i have ever read!!

[Shawna]

I tend to skim over the last couple of chapters of each book because endings are so cheesy to me. I like cliffhangers as endings though because they're less cheesy but then the pain I go through waiting for the next book in the series...

[frannie]

A book ending can make or break a book for me. If I think a book is 3 stars, the ending can make it either a 2 or 4, or something in-between. In series, I love endings that set up the next book. It's easier to get through the series.

[stu]

The ending is like the most important part in a book for me, cause it's the last thing I read, so I'll remember it better then the beginning a little, so if the ending's bad, the book goes BOOOO!

[nx74defiant]

Meenu wrote: "For a series - I prefer a HUGE Cliffhanger.(How I deal with it until I get the next book is completely another matter)

For a final book in the series or a standalone - I need a satisfying ending w..."

Than you have the horrible ending like the last book of the Animorph series.

[vilavi]

very. i'm not saying i'll instantly hate a book if it has a bad ending, no. but it does make it,,, you know. and the ending can always save a book to me. i'll give the example of we were liars. i was not enjoying this book at all until THE ENDING. the ending was so amazing that it saved the whole book to me and made me even want to reread it.

and sincerely though cliffhangers eat me whole, i do think they're one of the best ways to end a book.

and for an example of a.... not great ending, i'll give you: mockingjay. i love the hunger games with all my fierce devotion and i think it's really brilliant. but the ending (i'm sorry) i do think it's kind of bullshit. after everything being SO EPIC, the ending didn't feel nearly as close to the rest. i remember watching/reading it for the first time and being... disappointed by it after all that series did that had blown my mind. everything about all of this is really just my mere opinion anyway

i swear i tried to keep it simple and sorry for the ramble but it's something i'm actually very passionate talking about?? hahah

[Unknown]

Very very important !!!

I don’t care how good the novel was, I don’t care even if it was award-worthy. If it has a bad ending then I’m gonna 100% try my best to forget it.

The reverse is true too. Even if the novel isn’t that good, the ending does matter. as long as you can finish it up nicely, it is good enough.

If there are any future writers here, PLEASE pay attention to the ending. I’m tired of perfectly good novel being ruined by the ending 😢.