Happy Back to School Bash month! It’s always a fun time when we have our group giveaways. :)
Since we had such a fun conversation last month regarding puzzles, I thought I’d update you on how it was going.
Finished!
Don’t you love it? (There are 2 pieces missing!) It did take me the whole month to finish it. But that’s okay. I’m not in a hurry and I enjoy doing this in the evenings. This talk of finishing takes us right into our conversation for this month.
Finishing.
Or more importantly, finishing well.
I remember when I was a young teenager, finishing a book, then throwing it across my bedroom because I hated the ending. Now this was in the 70’s. No Internet, no Audible, no way to find out if the author had maybe written another book, as in a series? It turns out this author did, but I didn’t know it. I ended up reading the whole series and loving it.
But what do we do when books don’t end well? Or maybe don’t end like we’d like them to? I know for me, I rewrite the ending in my head. Some of the ways books don’t end well for me are:
- The ending is rushed. The whole book has been beautifully paced, characters drawn, then it’s like bam! Ending all of it quickly, without the same pace as the book.
- Plot points left unfinished. This happens at times when there is a series. But it also happens when there isn’t. Sometimes we’re left wondering what happened to so and so? Where did that character go? Did they adopt that dog?
- A big one for me is not a happy ending Now, stick with me here. I know not all books have happy endings. There are genres where it doesn’t end in happiness, but even if that is the case, there needs to be a resolution of sorts. I can take a non-happy ending if the resolution is strong.
- A series where the next book doesn’t come out for a long time! Ha. This is a sign of a good book when we can’t wait to read the next one. So, this isn’t a bad ending, just an anticipatory one. :)
And some of these things are based on perspective. As a writer I try really hard to make sure my ending flows with the rest of the book, close my plot points, and my endings are always happy.
Finishing my puzzle is like finishing a good book. Satisfying!
I don’t want to give away any amazing endings for books, but I’d love to hear about books you’ve read where you had loved the ending. Maybe a surprise twist? A character resolution you didn’t see coming?
Let’s talk great endings in the comments. 1 commenter will be chosen randomly to receive a $5.00 Amazon gift card. Buy a book with a great ending!
USA Today featured author Lindi Peterson lives in north Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with her husband and a lively array of cats, dogs and birds. She loves sharing life with her family and friends. Her passion for reading led her to writing, and then God spoke words of love into her heart and changed her life forever.
The last book I read that had a great ending was On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright. This was my first book by her and it was so good!
I really dislike when an ending is rushed! If there are loose ends at the end of a story, I always appreciate if there is an epilogue that will help the tie some of those up, but those shouldn’t be major plot points, in my opinion, just secondary things that won’t be addressed in a future book. Major plot points should be able to be addressed in the main book, in my opinion.
Hi Lindi! As a retiree and avid reader, after only my first cup of coffee I can’t think of a book where I loved the ending so much I remember it. As stated in your reasons above I tend to remember books where I hated the ending. Novellas often seem to have rushed endings. As if the author suddenly realized they only have 100 words left to finish the book. In cozy mysteries, I hate when there are loose ends at the end of the story. Cozy mysteries by Hope Callaghan I often don’t see the ending coming. Often in my reviews, I state: a satisfying resolution. If I like the resolution / ending, then I can move on, even if the book is part of a series. Your give away, had me chuckling. Avid readers love gift cards, especially to read a book with a great ending. Enjoy your day.
I loved the ending to The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery.
I love great endings, and I’m going to agree with Lucy about the ending to The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery. Also, I love the ending to The Edge of Belonging. Everything totally came together, and it was such a satisfying ending! I’m with you, I like having a happy ending, or at least knowing everything was neatly tied together, and a sense of satisfaction at the end. I have read thre books where that didn’t happen, one I made up my own ending, and the other two I was sorry I’d “made” myself finish!
I liked Amanda DeWees’ surprise twist on “Sea of Secrets”. It is an old style gothic romance book (no sexual content with some mysterious content but not violent or gory).
I was angry during the first half of the book because the love interest was clearly the “handsome but toxic man with many problems” type of man and there was a good man, friend of the protagonist, the typical supporting character or the rejected second in disagreement. She was SO angry she didn’t understand why they never chose the good boy over the dark, sexy and mysterious one (in secular romances it is almost always like that).
But then the love interest does something horrible to the protagonist, she realizes that it does not suit her and the second half of the book builds how her friendship with the second boy becomes love. I was so happy that I clapped my hands and jumped into the room hahaha.
Jessica—don’t you love discovering new and great authors? Thanks for the recommendation.
Melynda—I agree. I do love a good epilogue.
Renate—I can see where novellas might be at a higher risk of being rushed for sure. And I like that you write that the resolution/ending is satisfying. I dislike reading reviews where too much of the plot/ending is given away by the reviewer. :)
Lucy–Oooohhhh–that books sounds mysterious!
Trudy—Hey—you were a trooper and finished them. You probably kept thinking this will end well, I’ll keep reading. I’ve done that before.
Lilly—Oh, what a great story to a great ending. I can see myself doing that–how fun! And the theme of “Secrets” keep coming up today. I love that.
Hi Lindi,
I think I agree with pretty much all your points. Now, as for a great ending/plot twist that still left me liking the story… the first one that comes to mind is Julie Hall’s Life After series (it’s Urban Fantasy CF), and I’m talking about the series as a whole. As for Contemporary CF, I think I’d say Ember by Sharon Srock.
Priscila—Thank you for the recommendations. :) Especially series. We love us a good series, don’t we?
I’m with you on happy endings, Lindi. I only read Contemporary Romance because I want it guaranteed. Sometimes I’ll read Women’s Fiction, but I’m careful. A big name author once gave me no happy ending and I quit reading her. For an ending that wasn’t necessarily happy, but I loved the book anyway – Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes. It didn’t end like I wanted it to, but it was a beautiful book and I was satisfied with the end.
Love the puzzle. I keep one going all the time. That’s what I do when I need a brain break.
Oh you need to read the rest of her books Jessica! They’re all just as good (in my opinion) :-) She’s one of my automatic must-read or must-buy authors.
I read WAY too many books to pick just one with a great ending! Recently finished “All That Matters” by Nicole Deese and the ending had me in tears….the good kind, because all that happened in the book culminated into a very emotionally satisfying ending.
I’d say that’s one of the best endings when an author can invest your heart so much that you cry happy tears when it’s finished. Or end in a happy sigh because everything works out so well for the characters :-) Especially if they’ve been through some tough stuff throughout the story, that’s when I definitely want to see the characters have a happy ending.
I can say with certainty that I DON’T like a story that doesn’t end on a happy note…..or the main couple NOT have a happily-ever-after (or a certainty they’ll end up that way in subsequent books). I gotta have that happy ending because real life isn’t always that way, so knowing I can escape into a book with that kind of ending helps keep me going.
Hi, I loved “Just One Look” I loved the ending of it. I like to take my time reading a book especially when it is a really good book, when I am getting towards the end I go super slow because I just don’t want it to end, unless it is a series. All the books I have been reading recently have all been very good books. Have a great week and stay safe.
I too hate it when the ending of a book is rushed or when they end it in a way that isn’t true to how the characters were throughout the whole book. I personally really enjoy epilogues in books so we can get a glimpse of the future for the characters.
The most recent book that I read where I loved the ending was An Alleged Rogue by Sian Ann Bessey. I got to read an ARC and the book was just perfect. Although I wanted to read more about the couple, I was really happy with the ending.
I can’t think of a title at the moment but I do remember reading a book that I thought maybe pages were missing in the book. I went back and reread because I was so shocked. The book would have been better if the loose ends could have been tied up in an epilogue. I was so disappointed.
Hi, Lindi!
I’m of two minds when it comes to appreciating books. On the one hand, as I read, if the story can keep me engaged and the ending is happy (for romance), I’m a happy camper. I can accept a lot of things that may be sloppy or awkward from a storytelling standpoint if those two things are present to help me escape in a story.
On the other hand, writing craftsmanship is something that I value highly. Mistakes in craft may not keep me from engaging with a story but they definitely shape my opinion of the author. I might be less likely to read something by that author if there are more than a few sloppy mistakes.
I am of the opinion that stories are like music. They exist apart from the skill of the musician presenting them. I realize the analogy is not perfect but I think it is helpful. A four-year-old can tell an engaging story in the same way they can sing a pretty song. You might not expect a concert performance, but if she can carry a tune, you can enjoy it. If, however, you are paying money for tickets to a concert, you should be able to expect a performance by someone who has practiced their craft and respects the audience and the craft enough to do a good job. Maybe even exceptional.
The authors we really enjoy are the ones who, regardless of style or genre, give us a story presentation that is skillful and that draws us in by understanding the elements of storytelling and the language they are using. I confess to having a pet peeve about authors who don’t know their PUGS (Punctuation, Usage, Grammar and Spelling). If I claim to be a word crafter then I should know the difference between wrack and rack, between compliment and complement and that if a character is reveling or relishing something, one of those verbs is followed by “in” and it ISN’T relishing! Harrumph! :-)
When it gets right down to it, I read for escape. I’ll accept some errors along the way, but I’m with you in your list of unpleasant things about unsatisfying endings. Now, where was I in that Kindle book?
I always love surprise endings. An unexpected twist can be just the right way to finish the story.
I too don’t like rushed endings. Oh and the loose ends. There was a LIS that had a red herring. from it’s first mentioned I thought it was important but nothing even in the end it wasn’t mentioned. I was so confused and annoyed.
I also dislike books ending on a cliff hanger and waiting a year for the answer. One author wrote a book a year and it was like it ended in the middle of a chapter and the next book just continued. I got wise and waited for the last 2 books to come out and her next series bought all 3 before reading them. It wasn’t a suspense either.
I know I have read books with a surprise twist and loved the ending. One book I read I had to email the author to ask what did I just read and if the character was a split personality and one had ended at the end of the book (it had but it was so confusing).
The jigsaw looks so pretty so sorry its missing 2 pieces I know how annoying that can be. (I once had a jigsaw with an extra piece and though I bet someone isn’t very happy right now)
I just finished an ARC by Lauren Elliott. She is a cozy mystery author. I loved how she felt that no one should spend a holiday alone. She opened her home to anyone in town that was alone as well as her friends. She showed kindness to her neighbors even if they did not show kindness to her. It is a great book, but will not be out until the end of October. It is called To The Tome of Murder. Thank you for sharing. I love the puzzle. God bless you.
An ending I loved was a ex-boyfriend who went off to college & the girlfriend found out she was pregnant the day of his party before his graduation & she didn’t want to ruin his future but ended up with his brother & his brother helped her with living together & ended up together but the ex-brother shows up at the end & sees her with a baby & thinks it’s her babysitting at his brother’s place but she tells him & he goes crazy & takes off till the next book.
I like a book that the couple who are engaged & she has 2 kids with 2 other ex-boyfriend & ex-husband & pregnant with twins from an ex but he is willing to marry her & they end up getting married & living in a nice cottage with all the kids & are on movies.
since romance is my jam, I’m guaranteed the HEA, so it makes me happy.
Beautiful puzzle ❤️
I don’t like when the book ends with a cliff hanger
Shannon—I love Gina’s books. But, yes, the endings are the romance happy ending, The books are still amazing, though.
I’ve already started a new puzzle. :)
Trixi–Yes to happy tears. :) I love those kind. I read for escapism, too. The real life doesn’t always have happy endings, but books can. :)
Alicia—Me, too! (About not wanting good books to end!) Thank you for the recommendation.
Megan—Yes to all the above. :)
Angeline—(Love your name!) Thank you for the recommendation. :) That’s a great ending when we want to keep reading about the characters.
Lori—-Ha! I’ve done that, too. Thought some pages were missing. How crazy! An epilogue is so helpful at times.
Lincoln—-Great insight to the craft and construction of a novel. There are aspects that I believe are natural in some authors. To write a good novel I think one has to be a good storyteller. The writing may not be perfect, but you’re so engrossed in the story that you still enjoy the read. I don’t talk grammatically perfect, so my writing may reflect that. I guess in dialogue it’s cool, but I know I need my editor to help me in that area. :)
Mary–Great point! I like a good surprise ending myself.
Jenny—Good points. So I read a book where the author intentionally left one aspect of the ending vague—so the reader could imagine what they wanted. We were talking about the book in book club and somebody said something like “when he died” and I was like, “did he?” And someone thought something else. I thought he just left—it’s hard to explain without giving the book away, but trust me when I say it was done well. I actually called the author because she’s a friend of mine and she said it was intentional.
Debra–Thank you for the recommendation. That does sound like a great book–and it’s keeping in the spirit of Christmas.
Amy–well that book sounds like a wild ride! Did you read the next book? Is it out? I’m glad you liked it. I’m sure you’ll be reading more of that author.
Sylvain—-Wow–that’s a lot of kids! But it does have a happy ending. :) Thanks for sharing.
Denise–I’m with you, girl!!
Natalya—Me, too. At least now we have kindle and can purchase the next one if it’s out.
Thanks, Trixi! Sounds like we should check her out for sure.
I love surprise endings as long as it’s a good surprise!
I prefer standalone books with a defined ending, whether happy, happy for now or not. I think authors create expectations/agreements with readers and it can be disruptive if that’s broken. Indeed some authors split a story into a series or rush over integral parts of the story or the character leaving gaps and I understand the demands of publishing but think it is a pity.