A few nights ago I was browsing through some books, and came across Surrender Your Love by JC Reed. The cover caught my eye (hello sexy man butt crack). So I tweeted about it and put it on facebook to see if anyone had read it. A few minutes later I started receiving comments that said – cliffhanger, wait for book two, cliffhanger! It has a cliffhanger! etc… And then Tori chimed in with “Cliffhanger trilogies are becoming so 2012.”
Why does it seem like every erotic contemporary (especially with self publishing) ends is now a three-book series with cliffhanger endings? And many times you can’t tell from the blurb that the book continues into a series. So you are happily reading, experiencing emo moments, angst, hot sex. And then bam! You are at 100% on your Kindle with no HEA and some crazy dramatic ending. The dreaded words, “To be continued” appear. I’m sure there is a group of people who love to be tortured with an unexpected cliffhanger ending. But I think there is a larger group of people that get turned off by this scenario. Especially when you assume the book will end with a HEA. My thoughts are – Why can’t the author just tell us upfront? Why do we have to dig through Goodreads reviews or the author’s website to see if the book is a stand alone or a series?
My friend Shelly reads a ton (and I mean a ton) of romance books, and a lot of them fall into this category. (She has been guest reviewing for us, you can read her latest review here and you can find her on Twitter.). So I asked her to tell us her thoughts on this trend of the unexpected cliffhanger endings in erotic contemporaries.
I hate it. Personally, when I read a book that is part of a "to be continued" series, I like to wait until the whole series is complete if at all possible. I always try to check goodreads first to see if the book is part of a series. Then I try to check each book in the series to see if it is a "to be continued" series or a book that is all its own but just part of a series. I don’t mind reading a book in a series where each book in the series has its own couple and major plot, even when there is some underlying theme that runs throughout the whole series. Kind of like Cherise Sinclair started doing with the last half of Shadowland books or how JR Ward does with the Black Dagger books. That type of series is fine because the info and investment I am expected to retain while I wait for the author to finish the series (& while I literally read 100’s of other books, mind you) is reasonable for the "to be continued" anticipation; and I still have a feeling of completion with each book.
The first major problem I have with cliffhanger "to be continued" type of series is that I feel like the couple’s bond, chemistry and my own attachment to both them and their relationship is weakened when I have to leave their world, wait a long time and then come back to them again. By that time, I no longer have all that personal investment from reading the first book; so I basically have to rebuild that bond with this couple, their relationship, their dynamic and their problems. Something gets lost while I am waiting. Their magic fades, as does some of my bond and desires for them. The longer I wait the harder it is to recapture that bond or magic. Then I feel like the author has cheated me and the book’s potential.
Second, I think any one who reads is affected by their own personal life and various outside dynamics. So I find that what I like, what I connect with and what my heart/ mind seeks out to read varies constantly. Sometimes, I am in the mood for historical romance but sometimes I want a fast paced action, suspense erotic romance and next I may want to read a sweet and tender young adult or new adult love story. So to be forced to re-enter a certain book’s world at a later time and regain those same feelings I had and was living, months or even years ago, is asking more than I think most people can be expected to give an author. Seriously, I know sometimes for whatever reason (personal life issues, problems, current state of mind, current heart’s desire or need, recent book likes or disappointments) I may enjoy or dislike a certain book, conflict, struggle, plot or couple more, or less, than I would have at a different time. So, by asking a reader to come back to this exact story for completion at a later date, is like asking for all those dynamics to re-align a second time. Otherwise, there is no way to feel exactly the same for the conclusion of your previously beloved book.
Last, similar to how the reader’s dynamic and factors may change with time, so does the authors writing. We have all seen it this happen when we read the same author overtime. They evolve with each book and various personal dynamics. Maybe their own personal struggles affect their outlook, or the types of books they have been reading factors into their own writing, or maybe they mature as a writer & person a little more due to life. Whatever the reason, they change and so does the writing. Sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. When this happens, another bit of the original dynamic that was a part of that exact story, that makes that story it’s own entity, is lost. Changed. And this variant changes how the whole story feels. It affects everything, even the reader. Not that growing as a writer is a bad thing, I just don’t like to see big changes in the mechanics of story telling between the beginning & end of one story. I prefer to see that kind of development over the span of a writer’s art instead. I prefer any development, growth, & dynamic changes in one story, to be left to the plot & character development of that story; and not to the actual mechanics of the writer’s ability or a dynamics that has nothing to do with the original vision of the story.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love anticipation in any book/series. I just prefer to have it completed in one sitting, either in one book or by having the completed series before I even begin. So, when the self published writers don’t tell us that we are investing in a "to be continued" series until we reach that cliffhanger ending, I find this frustrating and irritating. I want to know something like that going into the series.
Where do you fall in this? Do you think authors should make it clear in blurbs that the book does not end with a HEA? Are you one to wait until all books in the series are published or do you like the cliffhanger ending?
I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers. Can you imagine Dreamfever without the cliffy? When I read that last page I screamed very loudly. Looking back now in a semi-rational frame of mind, that cliffhanger was perfect. It made Shadowfever that much more amazing, for me.
Contemp erotics, though, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a cliffhanger in those. How about an author actually try being different and gives us a HEA? Doh.
In UF’s I expect them more, because I know from the start it will be a series of books, each one building the world.
A straight up contemporary – how do we know there is a book two if they don’t tell us?
I just finished a book where the whole time I was watching the % at the bottom thinking how is this going to wrap up? And sure enough it didn’t. I had no idea it was a three part story.
If I become more obsessed by watching the % mark at the bottom and worrying about how the romance will conclude rather than just being in the story – this is not a good thing.
I hate that feeling, especially when it is unexpected. Now if I know that I have another book or two from the series that are waiting in the queue, well then that is a whole different thing. Ha!
Also hate when I’m watching the % just so I can be finished & move onto another book, but that is a whole different topic for another day! ;)
Don’t worry, some of us are working on getting them to you, Jen :)
I don’t mind a cliffhanger as long as I know that the book is part of a series. My biggest complaint lately is that a lot of the trilogies I’ve read recently have weak middle books that seem to exist only to deliver the reader to the inevitable HEA in the third book. If that’s the case, I’d much rather read two quality books than a forced trilogy.
Yes..I just read a m/m trilogy (I knew from the start it was going to be a series) and book two felt like a filler…nothing really happened to bridge to book 3. So I agree with quality over quantity
Sometimes, I think I would rather read one 500 page book & have my whole story (without the useless ladada that some second books add to the story)…..again, sometimes. :)
I would rather have it all in one!
I think it needs to be clear upfront. “This story is a trilogy” or “in this series each book will have an independent couple/story”
When I see ANY book I assume it is stand alone. Series need to be marked and otherwise branded so we know what we are getting into!
And for the record I DESPISE cliffhangers. Period.
I agree with what you say at the beginning.
I don’t despise cliffhangers. I kinda liked KMM cliffies. And I just read a cliffie of sorts in Captive Prince. But those were more upfront
It makes me itchy when I’m left hanging. I feel like I’m being played. I read a ton and I love the HEA. I don’t care how complicated and crazy the trip is to get there, I want it. Reading is my escape and when I read romance, I want …need ….demand my HEA!!!!
That’s the thing – For example in KMM’s cliffies or Captive Prince – I didn’t feel like I was being played.
But others- I’ve had that exact feeling
What a thoughtful discussion, Shelly! And you’re right – the arguments you use are exactly why I find it difficult to read serials and series that have the same main character. I too read hundreds of books in a year, so not only have I moved onto another “world” many times over, it’s very difficult to keep track of release dates, and/or have time to re-enter the world by re-reading a title. And to not know that the book is part of a series before I begin, when I have the expectation of the book being a self-contained little package, is quite a disappointment. I had this happen yesterday, actually, so it’s been on my mind!
Just out of curiosity what book?
Coincidence of Callie and Kayden. When I hit the end, I was like “what?!” There wasn’t a series designation yet, and the person who recommended it to me didn’t tell me anything either.
I read this book the other night and was very disappointed when I realized there was another book to follow. I would prefer to know prior to purchasing if this is Book 1 of 85 so I can decide if it’s worth my time. This book skipped so much and the character development lacked in places, just don’t know if I’ll even waste my time with the second book.
Ughhhh, I hate when that happens! And don’t even get me started on those weekly mini series type of books! I refuse to read them! I tried once & realized, nope. Not for me! Each installment is barely long enough to even begin to enter into that world (let alone bond with anyone) then done…..wait a week…..start over, try again to relate to the characters, the plot, the issues,barely start to feel a reconnect and then done….wait a week….start over and on it goes! Plus you spend SOOOOOOO much more money for one ebook by the end of the novel. Nope, can’t do it. :)
In romance, serial type books don’t work for me at all. I read 25+ books/mo, so I can’t remember what I read last week, let alone a few months ago and it’s hard to recapture the excitement that I felt when I read the first book. Also, I have limited book dollars to support my reading habit, so I’m not a big fan of having to make a $20+ commitment to read what is, in effect, one long story broken up into several parts.
In UF, everything is a series and I’m prepared for them as long as I get some kind of closure at the end of each book, but even there, I tend to avoid cliffhangers. Along with never-ending love triangles, they are my least favorite plot devices.
I think money is a big motivator for any avid reader! Seriously, when you read SEVERAL books PER WEEK cost add up fast! That is why I put books on my Amazon wishlist as I find them & then watch them closely for a reduced sale price! Sneaky l know but come on, some of those publisher’s set price for an ebook is ridiculous! I mean how much can a ebook cost them really?!? And how much of that over inflated price goes to the actual author I wonder?
I must confess that I’m an end reader. So imagine having this end reader sickness and going to the back of the book to only realize that mother of God the book isn’t complete!!!
So hands down I hate these freaking cliffhangers. But they don’t stop me from still purchasing and reading the darn books. I just have to wait longer to enjoy them. I think that’s my main issue is I can’t enjoy the books right when they come out cause seriously I can’t do cliffhangers. I do wish these authors would make it obvious that books end with a cliffhanger in big fat bold lettering across the top of the synopsis. Who the heck startd this trend…this needs to go away. :)
I’m an end reader too. lol Nothing annoys me more then not having a “end” to read. :)
Woot–woot! Power to the end readers! :)
LOL!!!!!!!
Oh and thanks for the heads up that this JC Reed book is a cliffhanger. I’ve been eyeballing it..but now I guess I’ll wait until the other books come out.
I don’t mind arc cliffhangers but blatant cliffhangers annoy me. Especially in romance. You don’t have to give me an HEA but how about an HFN? Most of the trilogies I’ve read just end. Wham! You’re done. 0_o
That doesn’t endear me to the author or the book.
Agreed!
Ack. As an author of serial novels, I feel I should chime in. I actually really enjoy writing and reading serials, especially if the author has an update list so I can be notified immediately of when the next installment comes out! I like cliffhangers. I especially enjoy when an author gets me invested enough in a character that I’m left in agony, wanting to find out what happens next and then I can go on goodreads and be all “THIS FREAKING BOOK OMG EVERYONE READ IT WITH ME SO YOU CAN FEEL MY PAIN.” And as a writer… well, I love to surprise my readers, and I like to see it in real time. It’s a form of interactive fiction that works wonderfully well in the digital age; instead of watching faces around the campfire as I tell my story, I can gauge how the story is doing by reviews, comments, emails, etc. and adjust course accordingly if I feel it’s necessary. It’s just more enjoyable, and if you’re attuned to your readers and they communicate with you, I think it makes for an exciting new level of connection with the people who matter the most to me when I’m writing–my audience.
If anyone is interested in the financial reasons serials are so popular among indie/self-publishers, I’d be happy to expound upon that, too… but I do like them, though I sense a lot of people are starting to feel the same as most in this thread, alas.
Serials must be doing pretty good as I see more authors writing them. I like being tortured with agony endings..and discussing what could happen in the next book with my friends a lot. My biggest thing is to be upfront about it. As you said, put it on your website or make it known in the blurb it is book one.
But I will say with serials..they are shorter installments (at least the ones I’ve tried) and I honestly would rather have one long book. Or three long books..and not 6 serials.
I’m not a cliffhanger fan. I read the Fever series all at once. I didn’t mind the cliffie in Captive Prince – that was a rare good one, but generally, I stay away.
I don’t like serial books either. They’re usually too expensive and the story is too drawn out for me to be really immersed in it. I prefer to wait, and read them all at once, but this means I don’t get to some at all.
I, too, want series to be marked so I know what I’m getting into. Even in Kate Daniels or Mercy Thompson there are no cliffhangers. Sure the overarching story arc isn’t complete, but the story ends on a happy note and the main story of the book is completely told.
What is even worse though, IMO, is when the series gets extended and extended – Wheel of Time anyone? – and you don’t know how much more is left. I saw a while back on Sylvia Day’s website that she wasn’t sure whether Gideon and Eva’s story would be complete in 3 books and it might take more than 3. I’m sure it was originally going to be a trilogy. As much as I love that series, I’m going to feel manipulated if it keeps going.
Agree with serial pricing. A lot of them seem pricey for such short installments.
And yes – don’t drag it out. Eva and Gideon need a HEA damn it! They’ve been through enough, poor people. LOL
There are some exceptions, but in general I HATE cliffhangers. If I’m going to read one, I need to know it going in, and I’m going to wait until I’ve got the sequels lined up and ready to read (if I decide to continue.)
I agree with Kaetrin that I don’t consider Kate Daniels or Mercy Thompason to be cliffhangers. They end HFN and though there are arcs that are unresolved, the story feels finished.
I do wish there was some sort of easy way to tell if a book was a cliffhanger or a 3 part erotica series. I don’t always want to invest 3 books worth of time or money to a story, so I’d like to know before I buy/read what I’m getting into.
Plus with Kate Daniels or Mercy Thompson, they both already have their HEA. If the authors were still teasing us with that – dragging out their relationship (like Chloe Neill was doing) that irritates me. i don’t mind more books in their series because the world is continuing to build and their relationship is evolving. But they are settled happily.
I really do not like Erotic Contemporary Cliffhangers. At least with 50 shades, the books were all available immediately. When I first read Bared to you, I did not think it was going to be a cliffhanger and then at the end of the book, I find out it was! I was so pissed. I think, you can do a trilogy and make it related that each book has a specific couple just like what Maya Banks is doing with the Breathless Trilogy. What I find with these Contemporary Cliffhangers are that they are filled with filler chapters and wash.rinse.repeat scenes. After the first few sex scenes, I start to skim. Anyway, that’s just my opinion. Now, I try and wait for all of them to be available like the “Up in the Air” series but sometimes when I read the excerpts I get pulled in that I forget all my misgivings and that I am an instant gratification kind of gal and then I’m left so pissed at myself and full of angst. :)
I know..sometimes we all get pulled in! LOL.
As an author I have been following this issue with interest. I have believed that leaving your reader hanging without preparing them for it, i.e. Part I, is breaking a covenant to deliver a story with a beginning, middle and end. As a reader it makes me insane to believe I’m in the middle of a book and have it suddenly come to an end. What’s on the next page? Two more stories in this series coming soon! &*!$##! This happened to me just yesterday so the irritation is still active. I have just come to the conclusion that I should think about converting to the trend since it doesn’t seem to be hurting these authors’ sales. Your post is keeping me on the fence.