I have found that most people seem to prefer either series books or standalones. They both have advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look…

Series

Most series will follow the same characters or set of characters over a longer period of time, so the same characters appear throughout the series, evolving and growing over time. This is not always the case, as there are some series that follow related topics or locations, but not necessarily the same characters.

 PROS

• In most cases, you get to stay with the characters longer
• You get to grow with the characters
• You get to know different characters more deeply
• The story doesn’t end… or at least not as soon

CONS

• Cliffhangers
• Waiting for the next book in the series
• Canceled mid-series
• Get invested in characters/relationships to have them destroyed in later books

Standalones

The entire story lives in just the one book with a beginning and an ending. We know the direction the characters are going and can fill in the blanks on our own.

PROS

• We get the whole story
• No waiting
• No cliffhangers

CONS

• The story is over
• You don’t get to see where the characters go after the movie
• You don’t get to follow any side characters in their own story

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love series. I love to follow the characters through multiple adventures and am always left wanting more, even after the series ends. And since my TBR is so full, most of the series I read are usually complete when I start them, so I don’t have to wait for the next book (unless I’m waiting on a library hold).