The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books discussion

Which do you prefer? Why?

I prefer series. This is because if I love the characters, the plot, the writing, and generally everything about the first book, it's great to get more of it. Although doing a series might lead to "second-book syndrome" or leaving annoying loose ends until the very last book, I like book series better than stand-alones.

I totally prefer series!! I love being able to know what happens after, I love knowing how the characters live on and how the cope with certain things!

I prefer series too. I want to follow and see the characters grow and develop. I feel like the story is stretched too thin in a stand alone. And if I like a book, it will continue with more books! So instead of cherishing a stand alone, I'll love a series that contains multiple books!

I prefer series because you get to go deeper into a story and the characters life. And series are more exciting.

series, stand alone's end WAY to fast, if i like a book i really dont want it to end, so series are better.

I prefer series. Stand alones are too short to get to know the characters well enough.

Only good series are worth it. Bad series are worse than bad stand-alones. Sooo, i probably go for stand-alones because I don't have a high expectation for them

I like both, but I prefer series.

I prefer series because Stand Alones gives me the feeling of wanting more from the story (It's a little bit hard to explain). Plus, I can read more about the characters and join in their stories longer in series ^.^

series

series

SERIES. As long as the author doesn't ruin the series by making a bad sequel or something!

Series. The characters can grow as the series moves forward.

series! more time to spend in the setting and with characters :)

I like series because i feel like i know the characters better. But sometimes i am in the middle of so many series waiting for the next book that i will only read stand alones.

Series, unless it's like TFIOS

Series

I think I prefer series because when I read a standalone I end up like yelling at the author for not telling us what happens NEXT.

I love series, but sometimes I do want to read a book without all of the commitment.

Nicole wrote: "I love series, but sometimes I do want to read a book without all of the commitment."

I totally agree.

Nicole wrote: "I love series, but sometimes I do want to read a book without all of the commitment."

agreed

I'm kind of a series girl, just because I get so invested in the characters! Unless its a serious book, then I think it would be sort of tacky to make it into a series

series unless nothing happens in the series then I would prefer it to be a stand alone

Series. I love it when the book is good and it's a series it adds at least a book more to my tbr

Series,because you get into the whole story a lot better than you do when you read stand alones. But of course,I love reading stand alones once in a while....I just wish I had more time to finally read The Book Thief :/

I like series because I like getting to really know characters (which is why I usually like TV shows more than movies). However, every once in a while I like standalones (mainly contemporary novels). It is kind of nice not having a cliffhanger and getting some resolution to storylines and not have to wait a year in between.

I like both.

I like series because once you are done with the book, that's it. No need to go out and get another book or wait in suspense.

However, with series, there is much more in-depth world and character building. Plus the HP series are all time favorite books.

Anyone have suggestions for great stand alones besides TFIOS?

I love series a bit more.

I highly recommend The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

Miss Perfection™ (Rachel) wrote: "I love series a bit more.

I highly recommend The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak."

I've heard only great things about The Book Thief. Its been on my TBR shelf for like 100 years (sorry for the exaggeration!)

@Aisha there are the always recommended ones like Anna and the French Kiss, Fangirl, and Eleanor & Park. I just finished Something Real by Heather Demetrios that was amazing and one of my instant favorites. My Life Next Door and Golden by Jessi Kirby are really good too! For more paranormal standalones All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill is a great one (although now goodreads is saying it has a sequel but it was advertised as a standalone).

i'm prefer series but i like some stand alones like Anna and the french kiss,Lola and the boy next door, Eleanor & Park, i'm currently reading Fangirl and it's great.

Anna and the French kiss was okay (please dont hurt me for saying that lol)

But i have heard the Rainbow Rowell's books are awesomeee.

I have no idea why, but recently I've been in a paranormal/fantasy mood so i will definitely check out All our yesterdays!

Thanks for the suggestions @Ally and @Lisette

I prefer reading series because I'm a curious little mynx and I always want to know what happens next. Also, it gives me more time to connect to characters and to enjoy the plot ^^ I also love some stand-alones but when I finish it, I always keep thinking they should have a sequel and it always feels they were too short even if they really weren't.

Depends....sometimes, books are better as standalones, like fault in our stars. But mostly, I love series...,more depth into the story...

I think I love series more but a good standalone is great!!

Series because it gives me more of the story. I fall in love of the characters it gives me more of things I love. The only thing disappointing is when series end.

I guess I'm the only person that prefers stand alone novels. I don't mind a slightly longer stand alone to really delve into characterization. I think this has to do with the trend in modern YA to promote series due to the success of certain novels in the genre (e.g. Harry Potter, Twilight, Cassandra Claire's novels, etc.) but most of the sequels I read are weak and seem tacked on.

That said, I still do read and like many series.

I just never want the books to end ;)

Same here, although I do read standalones too.

If its s standalone like if I stay and it has a sequel that's from a different perspective then that works because you get to see how the other person was feeling during that time.

I like standalones because if I am reading an unfinished series and the new book doesn't come out for a really long time, I'll start to forget important details and things like that.

Keala wrote: "I like standalones because if I am reading an unfinished series and the new book doesn't come out for a really long time, I'll start to forget important details and things like that."

Good point.

I perfer series because its longer and you have more time to get use to the characther. I don't like it tht some series the books take long to be published. I just finished a standalone yesterday but I think it was too short. When I was reading the Divergent series I was so into it that when what happen at the end happen I was crying so hard but compared to The Fault in Out Star, I loved that book but when someone died in that book I didn't. I think it's because it was a short book.

If I had it my way than: SERIS!
But I hate how the library never has the first or second book and i have to read the third or whatever and I miss out on all the good stuffs, but I hate requesting it because everytime I do it's like a long list and they come in really slow so by the time I finish the seris the librarians are like "here's book one!" Ugha:(

series <3

@Katlynn, but sometimes it's even worse when you have to wait 2 years for the next book in the series.

I'd probably say series, but most of my all time favorites have been standalones :P