Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Addicts discussion

Hi guys!

Once I find a series that I like, I get immediately obsessed and cannot stop until I have read every book (or listened to it, when I don´t have enough time to read.) If I liked the series very much, I go back to the beginning and re-read every book. (Yep, you can call me crazy…)

My question: When you start reading a series, do you only read books from that series until you have finished the last one published or do you read other books (from other series or stand alone books) in between?

I am very curious about your reading habits…

HI, I love this question. I have this discussion with my husband all the time.
I only read book series in order. I will start at one and complete the series, and then continue to any linked series.
My husband just reads any book that interests him and gets bored with story lines easily. This drives me crazy. LOL

I love this question, too. I first read a series in order, and then I might give myself leeway to reread as I choose. I've done this esp. with Kristen Ashley and Kresley Cole!

I love series (probably why I write them too lol). I read right through the series, then move onto another series or standalone read while I wait for the next to be released.

I have a few series that I read, so I can swap and change between releases, but sometimes I like to go back and read a particular book in a series if I get in a reading funk. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to go back and read from the start all the series I have now... writing eats into my reading time.

My fall back authors are JR Wards Blackdagger series, Christine Feehan's... well, pretty much every series she has out. Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter, Lara Adrian's, Midnight Breed and Lynsay Sands Argeneau series (I've just pre-ordered the next in this series as due out on March 29th). All of these I have in paperback, I don't read on kindle.

I also read standalones, but they tend to be Contemporary Romance, and on kindle, but I love Jill Shalvis, and collect her work in paperback also. I like a bit of action and humour in my reads as well as the romance.

So it seems that I’m not the only one, who can only read one series at a time. Makes me feel less weird. Thank you!

A friend of mine likes to switch series’ sometimes and this seemed really strange to me.

I think if I have completed one series and wait for the next book to be released, I could imagine myself reading this one by itself, but not if there are more books already out that I haven’t read. Maybe I try this the next time...

I love to binge-read! I'll try something that promises to become a series by proudly stating "Book 1 of the..." in the title, but if there are 12 books out already? Yes, please!

Even though this is my preference, it depends on the series. I can think of several that I read from the first to last book published. There are a few others that I had to take a break from, though.

Maybe the storyline wasn't as catching as the previous books, or a different POV threw me off? Maybe just series fatigue? I'll just read a quick book or two between, maybe a reread of another favorite; then I'm back in the world I left behind ready to find out what happens next.

Or I drop it altogether if it's just not holding me. I've learned I can do that if I want to, which was kind of a huge step for me.

Timeless wrote: "So it seems that I’m not the only one, who can only read one series at a time. Makes me feel less weird. Thank you!

A friend of mine likes to switch series’ sometimes and this seemed really stran..."

I love how everyone reads books differently! There's this girl I know from another group on here who can listen to an audio book while physically reading a different book. Like, comfortably absorbing both stories. Blows my mind!

No matter how you do it, as long as you're enjoying yourself, I really don't think there's a "wrong" way. :)

I usually read two or three books at a time and have no problem listening to a different book on audio. I do enjoy series, especially Nalini Singh, but have no problem reading them out of order. I also do a lot of rereading and tend to reread favorite books in a series rather than reread a series from the beginning and in order.I have no problem reading spoilers before buying a book. In fact, I prefer them. I really hate surprises.

I read the series :) and i dont usually read the spinoff. I usually dont like them or the new protagonist 🤔

I love this question too and have talked about it before. I get tired of genre and definitely series even when I love them. If I find a new series I love, I'll read 3 maybe 4 in a row at max before leaving it for a while. Still it won't take me long, if the series stays as good, to finish it.

I started Incryptid in December and caught up this month for the new release, 7th book. Still need the novellas. I've read one which was good. Most are on her website for download.

I started Psycop in January and have 2 book left of 9 and read all 9 novelettes.

Then there are series that loose me along the way, like Chicagoland Vampires, I read a few of those and then have only been going back 1, sometime 2 books at a time. They are good but I don't love them like when I started. Four years and up to book 12 of 13.

I don't think I have ever read a series start to finish without putting a book between unless it was a duology or trilogy.

I LOVE this topic. It's one of the biggest headscratchers I have about reading habits. I am fascinated that so many people have such different habits to me. But then I am a bit eccentric, I must admit!

For the most part, I like to binge read a series. In proper/chronological order. Including any spin off's, novellas, short stories etc that fit into the main narrative and characters individual plotlines. And usually only when a series is finished. It honestly makes me a bit antsy if I can't follow the series in order. ie, with the Night Huntress WORLD series' by Jeannine Frost, I made sure to read ALL of the volumes, in chronological order, not just the Cat & Bones books, then each spin-off. It makes the experience so much more satisfying to me when the overarching narrative flows in a linear way.

One of the reasons I think is that I'm a bit OCD, but another is that basically, I'm greedy. Usually, if I'm interested enough in a series to want to read it all then I usually want to read the whole story in one. And usually, once I get started I'm so excited and into it that I can't just stop for something else. Why would I want to if I'm liking or loving the characters and the plot/s that much? So, I tend to prefer to wait longer for the whole series to be complete rather than the sometimes year or two or more in between volumes. And as I said in another thread, that can be more painful than waiting for a new season of my fav TV show to return!

Some of the exceptions I have to my own rules are
* series where each book is based on a different protagonist/couple,
* series I started without realizing that there would be more to follow and as each one is released I can't stop myself (mostly non paranormal/UF),
* single volumes in a series with different protagonists/couples where the rest of them and the storylines don't interest me,
* and taking a break somewhere in the series to read something different if the books are not holding my interest as much as I expected them to. This last one happens when I don't enjoy the characters as much as I would like but am still vested enough in the overarching plot to want to finish the series. This was the case for the Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neil. Merit and Ethan were both insufferable to me, but some of the secondary characters really made it up to me.

I also don't DNF books very often. Hardly at all in fact. Unless it's unreadable in terms of how badly written it is (grammar etc), it just doesn't hold my interest or the material is totally offensive to me. Although bad writing is one aspect that bugs the living hell out of me, unless it's prolific throughout (and the story interests me) I'll still continue. And I have to admit, I have some one-star reads that I just had to finish, compulsively hoping for some redemption to occur; surely the book couldn't be that bad the whole way through? Right? Right?... WRONG!

I tend to read the first book in a series, and if I like it i'll get more in the series (i'll never buy more than the first book of a series until i've read the first book and decided I want to continue with it, then if I love it though I might just buy the rest, depending on how long it is, in one go! lol).

Then it may take awhile for me to get around to getting to the second book. I might binge read the rest, or a couple, read some other things, go back to it. Or just read one, read some other things, read the next in the series, etc.

I might also read the first book in a series, love it, have to wait for the next to be released, re-read the first once it is then read the second, repeat.

Herekittykitty wrote: "I LOVE this topic. It's one of the biggest headscratchers I have about reading habits. I am fascinated that so many people have such different habits to me. But then I am a bit eccentric, I must ad..."

Before my best friend moved to the other end of the world, we would go on vacation together and binge read for days/weeks. God, I miss that so much. But Herekittykitty, I feel both of us would get along very well on a binge reading vacation :D

When I read a book series it has to be in order if it’s one of those books series has been around a while and has a prequel then I will read the prequel first and then the other books. If there’s another series from the same universe I read the one that comes first

I was starting to think I was the odd man out.

I definitely start getting bored of either the series or genre.

I don't have to read a series in order but tend to if the series follows the same couple, like Kate Daniels, or Mercy Thompson because they build upon another. A lot of the PNR that change up characters, can be switch around and you usually don't miss much. Like with IAD (Immortals After Dark) a lot of the books can be read out of order as long as you stick to a close book. Then there are some that you loose a lot like Black Dagger Brotherhood because she tells the characters stories through several book. I tend to research a bit before jumping in at book 3.

I never thought about that with PNR but I do the same thing, maybe 2 but then I need time to process their "relationship" maybe. Also with historical romances. I think that might be why I read more UF.

I usually end up reading other books in between, but that's mostly because I wasn't always able to access the next book(s) right away growing up. I got into the habit of having to wait.

If there are more the 3 books in a new series then I only read/listen to; no more than 2 books per month. Though if it's a re-read then almost alway every book in the series til done.

I have question for you all; what are the things, food or drink you may have before you start a new book? This was prompted by others to me from G+ and Goodreads. I, myself craft a white chocolate almond mocha.


*White chocolate almond mocha*
(My version)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mi-c...

10 oz of Whole Milk
3 oz of Heavy Cream ( 2 oz are to make Whip Cream)
2 tsp of Sugar in the Raw
2 shots of Espresso or 4 oz of coffee
2 drops of Almond Extract (Drop = 1/64 teaspoon (1/2 smidgen)
1/4 oz of Baker's Premium white chocolate (finely chopped)

First add the Sugar in the Raw, Almond Extract, finely white chocolate, 1 oz heavy cream and whole milk then microwave (900 watts) for 1 min 15 sec. Then stir, add coffee and top with Whip Cream.

I don't even use white chocolate syrup, I buy Baker's Premium white chocolate and use a 1/4 oz. piece which I finely chop. Anyways with every new book I have a finely crafted 16 oz. cup of coffee drink and if it's really good book I'll make 2 of these great drinks. But in my past I use to start every book with a few glasses of iced peach tea or a hot cup of wild mint tea.

For the last 6 months I make 12 oz version of said drink. I finally found the coffee bean that works best for me, Sweet Espresso (Medium Dark Roast) by ethical bean coffee. By the way it's less expensive (aka cheaper) to buy on amazon than from ethical bean coffee website.

Timeless wrote: "My question: When you start reading a series, do you only read books from that series until you have finished the last one published or do you read other books (from other series or stand alone books) in between?

I am very curious about your reading habits..."

I'm the worst with series jumping. I often read book one then move on to some other series.

It usually takes me a while to come back around to book 2, 3, etc.

Always TRY to get and read the first book of a Series. I like to Know where the14 year old female piano player becomes a Skilled ninja when enemies attack her Bach recital...

I have dropped a book series in the third or fourth book when another author comes out with another title in their series that Only writes one or two books a year. Then, I'll go back to the original series....

Yep, when a favorite series comes out with another book (or author sometimes), I will stop whatever series I'm reading and go to my favorite and then maybe... I'll go back.

Yeah, it's pretty hard not to drop all your plans when a new book in a series you're caught up on gets released...especially if it's a favorite or you've been reading them as they come out for years...

Briggs and Andrews will stop me from picking up another book. The go straight to my "reading next" plan.

Amyiw wrote: "Briggs and Andrews will stop me from picking up another book. The go straight to my "reading next" plan."

AMEN to that. I'll also drop everything for new material from Anne Bishop, Seanan McGuire and Brian K. Vaughan.

In order for me to read a series, I have to look first into the title, the author, the summary, and how many books in the series exist. I drop if the series is too long (that is too many books) or if I lose interest. It's really simple.

I usually have a few books going at once, especially when I am reading a series. It depends on how much I get attached to the characters in the book as to whether I can go straight to the next book. Sometimes I don't want to read the next book yet bc either I didn't really like the characters that are coming up next or I am still stuck on the characters' story line from the last book. That's why I go back and forth....

For example, I am reading the JR Ward Brotherhood series (it's a paranormal romance series involving vampires/vampire-adjacent heroes), and I am also reading the Midnight Breed series from Lara Adrian (same kind of plots - paranormal romance w/ vampires or vampire-like heroes). That breaks it up a little for me.

I also change interests sometimes. My favorites are historical romances (of the non-clean variety - a single mom has to survive vicariously somehow!), so if a new one comes out by a favorite author, I am all over it.

I've always been the type of person to read 3-4 books at once. I'm just wayyyy too ADD to stick to one book at a time lol, so I'll usually read a couple of series at a time, and then depending on how I feel that day of the week, I'll pick up my genre for the night!

It's surprising how well our brains can retain information even when doing these types of multi task activities :)

MG wrote: "I usually have a few books going at once, especially when I am reading a series. It depends on how much I get attached to the characters in the book as to whether I can go straight to the next book..."

Yep, and sometimes it is just a change of genre is needed. Sometime I really am attached to the characters and I know I'll come back soon but I just need a break from the genre or world, that includes my favorites like Kate & Curran or Mercy.

It usually depends on how much I like the book; I have about twenty first-books without the remainders of their series on my shelf. If I'm not invested in the characters, I won't buy, simple as that. But if I do lI keep a series, I still generally read books in between, otherwise I get into a reading slump.

I can binge-read an entire series one after the other. I do that with TV shows too.

I like to binge read the series all at once, same with Netflix.

So guys, it`s been two years now! WOW! And I can say.... my reading habits haven`t changed a bit!
I am still not able to switch between series.

But something weird is new...: I absolutely cannot finish some of my favorite series for some reason. I still haven’t read the last books of my all-time favorite series, no matter how often I re-read the other books. Just because I am a chicken *sigh*

I do this, too! Still haven't read the last Kate Daniels; I guess I just refuse to believe they are over :)

For me to follow through on a series, each book has to deliver. Typically, I don't make it to Bk 2 since Bk 1 is usually a flop; slow with little to no plot progression. If Bk 1 makes it, I'm on to Bk 2. If Bk 2 is a flop, there'll be no Bk 3 for me.

In my opinion, there's typically no reason for more than 3 books in a series that revolves around one plot. If the series isn't episodic--following the same characters but with a new plot each book--why drag it out? 3 books at 300+ pages is more than enough to finish a single plotline. In my experience, however, most authors don't tell a story that's worth a second book, let alone a third. Case in point, Julie Kagawa's Shadow of The Fox series. A girl is charged with protecting a scroll fragment and delivering it safely to a certain temple. In Bk 2, she's still schlepping that fragment around after traveling all over Japan, including the Underworld. Nearly halfway through the book, she still hasn't made it to the damn temple. Really?

So, yeah, book by book. That's my series style. Keep me hooked, or I'll drop the series dead in the middle or maybe right at the beginning. In 2 years, I've only made it through just one series. I think that speaks volumes. Er, no pun intended.

I BINGE. Big time. But I won’t follow through if the books are consistently leaving much to be desired. If there’s one flunk when I’m a few deep, I’m okay and will continue... more than one in a row I will usually hit pause and maybe come back to the series at a later date.

Timeless wrote: "So guys, it`s been two years now! WOW! And I can say.... my reading habits haven`t changed a bit!
I am still not able to switch between series. ..."

My reading habits are pretty much the same too. I can switch between series too, in fact, I pretty much have to as 2-4 is all I usually can take of one series at a time. I can read through a trilogy, more than that and it is pushing.

"...But something weird is new...: I absolutely cannot finish some of my favorite series for some reason. I still haven’t read the last books of my all-time favorite series, no matter how often I re-read the other books. Just because I am a chicken *sigh*"

I can understand that. I have said that I'm going to wait, but I end up reading them within a month anyway.

I totally get where y'all are coming from with the bingeing on one author at a time. But I'm down to just one or two authors with hugely long series. I used to read a dozen of them and I'd happily read 15 books and keep going. Now, that number is waaaaaay down.

I've gotten to where I admire an author for saying, "Yeah, I'm done and I'm going to work on something new" rather than continuing stories in a world where they're clearly bored. Come to think of it, Nalini Singh might be the only current exception to that rule with her Psy-Changeling series. No. No, I'm also still reading Jennifer Ashley's Pride Mates series, but she's slowed way down on those while she writes other things.

That might be the key, though. They're both doing things that keep their writing fresh.

If I like the first book or something about one of books in the set was intriguing enough to want to know more of the story I will start with the first and on to the next book and so on. But if it at any times for me seems to drag on or I loose interest quickly I don’t have to much of a patience to give it a chance and stick it out. I will most likely have to move on and cut ties and find another series.

It's interesting reading everyone's thoughts on this topic! I've done both, binge read a series and also jump to a different series in between books. I think it depends on my mood, the books and if the next one is available.

There are times when I devour series, reading from beginning to end. If the series isn't finished, I get caught up and I have to wait for the next.

Sometimes, if I know the author has already finished writing the series, I get so involved in the world of the characters, that I don't want to see it end just yet, so I'll take a break and read something else. Then I know I still have that special series to read when I really, really need it. It probably sounds weird. I guess I hate saying good-bye to favorite characters. So, I'll try to make it last longer by reading something else in between. Those are usually the series that I'll go back and reread again.

Sela wrote: "I totally get where y'all are coming from with the bingeing on one author at a time. But I'm down to just one or two authors with hugely long series. I used to read a dozen of them and I'd happily ..."

I kind of feel Nalini's Psy-Changelings Trinity isn't so fresh and am glad she is taking longer, hopeful that it'll help the direction. It was so great IMO until the trinity started up and it has been meandering for me. The romance has been much more bland and I have complaints about things not meshing with what we have learned before though I cannot think of it right now. It has been so long since I read the last one. I loved Kaleb's and the Arrow's books but then... and I've never loved her guild series. So...

I think Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels was one that never got old or problematic for me. They decided to halt and do spin offs and I'm OK with that but will miss the great writing. I will reread again.

Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega are great but the last few have me questioning whether it is getting stale too. The Fae never interested me the most and now the stories are all Fae, and convoluted. Some of what we've learned seems contradicted also. Still love the characters and story tell though the plots are not as great for me.

When I do rereads, which I'm doing right now with Mercy and A&O, I usual read 3 or 4 and put it down for a month. I do a lot of rereads of favorites.

If I start a new series, I usually don't read anything else until I'm finished or caught up to the latest release. If I'm able to put the series down before then, I'm not very likely to ever read on. I'll remember that I wasn't interested enough to keep going when I first started it, and series I'm able to put down usually aren't memorable enough for me that I could read on without first rereading up to the point I got before. And I just don't have the motivation.

An exception to this would be if a favorite author has a long-awaited new release coming out in the middle of my reading another series. Then I'd interrupt it for the new release and go back to my series binging right after. But that doesn't happen a lot because I'm usually too excited with anticipation in the week leading up to a new release of the kind where I have to read it right away. I'm usually not in the mood to start any new-to-me series so shortly before highly anticipated new releases anyway. And if it's a new release I'm only mildly excited for, it can wait until I've finished the series I'm in the middle of.

Though I do sometimes pause in the middle of a series and pick it back up later if it's a reread.

I always start with Book 1, only after reading recs to make sure it's going to suit me. Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Faith Hunter, and T.S. Joyce - are PNR and auto buys for me. I re-read each year, usually when a new book issues and read the series starting at book 1. If the writing is good, it's worth re-reading. I do the same with the historical romances series I read too. Sigh - it's an addiction.

Timeless wrote: "Before my best friend moved to the other end of the world, we would go on vacation together and binge read for days/weeks. God, I miss that so much. But Herekittykitty, I feel both of us would get along very well on a binge reading vacation :D "

Sooo, two years later and I'm finally seeing this response (#13) to my 'reading life story' I posted at #12.Many delayed apologies for that Timeless! Especially as I would agree.


Timeless wrote: "So guys, it`s been two years now! WOW! And I can say.... my reading habits haven`t changed a bit!
I am still not able to switch between series.

But something weird is new...: I absolutely cannot finish some of my favorite series for some reason. I still haven’t read the last books of my all-time favorite series, no matter how often I re-read the other books. Just because I am a chicken *sigh."

Mine haven't either, but I am trying to loosen up a bit lol! But it still is beyond comprehension to me how so many of you just pick up a book from a different series just as and when and jump from one to the other all the time! A few I can handle, but I would never be satisfied with that being my norm, and it would just frustate the living daylights out of me. If I need a break mid binge, I'll pick up one or two in between and then go straight back to it. And when I'm really enjoying a series, nothing for love nor money is going to make me put it down for something else!

I do still have a few unfinished series I need to get to as well, the ones that taught me not to start an unfinished series to begin with. Funny that! I'll probably re-read all of them before continuing as it has been that long... even if it's just a skim re-read.

The only one I'm afraid of continuing with is because I want to savor the first time experience for the unread volumes for, and I'm also waiting for the last volume to be released.

Do any of you like never ending series? That's one thing that's an absolute no-no for me.

I don't mind a (for example) 20 book series so long as I know it's going to come to an end sometime soon. It's one thing that puts me off starting some series' that I'm desperate to read (October Day, Jane Yellowrock and others) and finishing some that I already started (Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega). Another one I've been tempted to try is the JD Robb In Death... but even if 50 books was the finall tally I might still give it a go... but knowing it's still ongoing... no thanks.

Lastly from me on this thread today (!!!) ... for the binge readers out there what happens if you are not enjoying a series a few books in? Do you continue or stop?

I have finished some, two in particular (both had 12/13 I think) that I didn't particularly enjoy, because of the FOMO factor, but last year there was one I was really excited about that I had to give up 3 (out of 10) books in because it was just plain wrong in every way that offends me!

kittykat wrote: "Do any of you like never ending series? That's one thing that's an absolute no-no for me.

I don't mind a (for example) 20 book series so long as I know it's going to come to an end sometime soon...."

So some series have an over arc which would drive me nuts if it didn't get finished. Some series finish and then move to another over arc, that's OK to for me. Others don't have much of an over arc so don't need to end as they stand on their own.

J.D. Robb so far for me has been like this, a stand only for each. It is a nice escape, comfort food that I started to really enjoy around 5 books in. I didn't dislike it, it just didn't pull me and had some issues at first. So when friends did buddy reads and now a read along, once a month, I joined. I'm at book 18. I like to read 2 at a time.

Some of the newer series are really serials and I just cannot read them mostly. I'll read the first and stop unless it is really compelling but even then, I wait for the serial to be complete before reading. I cannot read a series that the main plot is the overarc and they continually cliffhang the readers.

So never ending, as long as they don't become stale are fine. It is rare to get those though.

kittykat wrote: "Lastly from me on this thread today (!!!) ... for the binge readers out there what happens if you are not enjoying a series a few books in? Do you continue or stop?

I have finished some, two in pa..."

Definitely stop if not enjoying it. I have a hard time stopping reading a book but not a series that I'm not enjoying. Sometimes I'll be talked into a second or third book but usually not. If it is a series that I loved and read a bunch and NOW I'm no longer enjoying... well yes, I have a issue with stopping as I keep hoping that it'll go back to being great.

Sometimes I get frustrated with myself that I can't let go more, and yes I am trying to loosen up, but it is what it is! It's not often I DNF a standalone book either, but of course, the stakes like the page count is so much lower then!

How many series do you guys actively have on the go currently? As in, ones that you are up to date with and are waiting on the next release to come out?

And do you tend to have the same habits with series across genres? Like do you approach romance, and fantasy and mystery series in the same way?

Hahaha kittykat! Better late than never, right? Thanks!

I’m currently stuck on one series. I go back and forth within the parts of the series I’ve already read, but I can’t continue with the next book for the life of me.
I started the next book and I hated the first two pages already, so I stopped. Then I started again and stopped three pages into the book. I can’t even pin point what I hate about it. So, I’m frustrated and can’t move on one way or the other, because I really want to finish this series before moving on.
Maybe I should skip the first chapter of yada yada and start with chapter 2.


Oh and I have abandoned some series. Recently I started a series, liked the first book and learned that the hero will be killed in book 2. If I would’ve known that before I started, I never would’ve started.

I have only around 8 series or so where I am waiting for new releases. Despite having no TV at home, I am spending way too much time on rereading books I’ve fallen in love with, before moving on to a new series.