Hi everyone! Happy December! How are you doing? I hope you’re all hanging in there and taking good care of yourselves. Last month of 2020 and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one eager to get into the next year. Hopefully it’ll be a good one.
I’m so excited to be back on the blog today to talk about…*drumrolls please* book endings! I feel like it’s a topic we don’t talk nearly enough about and yet it’s a really important part of a story. It can totally make it or totally break it. So today I’m going tell you what I like to see in my book endings and what I really don’t like to see. Let’s dive in, shall we?
The Dos of book endings
🌪 Do include a little plot twist
When it comes to book endings, I like to be surprised – especially if I’m reading fantasy or dystopia! That moment when your eyes widen, your mouth opens and a loud gasp escapes, I live for that stuff!! Of course, it shouldn’t come out of nowhere and not make any sense at all. It absolutely needs to be well done, like if you decide to re-read the book, you’ll find all those little clues you missed before.
🌪 Do resolve the central conflict and tie up important loose ends
Every question I’ve asked myself during my read should be resolved! I do not enjoy interrogations left in suspense, it makes me cranky! Everything should be addressed even if it’s only to say that the character will deal with that issue later, after the book ends. I think it’s one of the most important point for me when it comes to endings, I would feel like I wasted so much of my time otherwise!
🌪 Do give me an hopeful ending
OK, I’m more of a “happy ending” kind of girl than an “everyone dies and everything is dark and there is no hope left in the world” kind of girl when it comes to book endings. Truth be told, everything doesn’t have to be picture perfect like pretty blue sky, bright sun shining and little birds chirping away (I just won’t buy it!) but I do need to be uplifted at the end of my read. I need a happy ending sure, but at the same time I also need a realistic one. I need something believable, something bitter sweet. Give me what I want but also make it worth it, make me feel something.
The Don’ts of book endings
🌪 Don’t describe, explain or philosophize too much
Ugh, please don’t let the ending drag on and on and on… At that part of the book, I’m in need of action and conflict. I need to be hooked real bad! I want to be SO involved that I cannot put the book down to go to bed until I finally see how it turns out. Descriptions are great at the beginning to put everything into place but at the end, I need that rush! I need to feel like I can’t turn the pages fast enough to get to that last page and finally know how it all ends.
🌪 Don’t kill off the main character
NO. NO. Just NO. I just didn’t read an entire book, or series for that matter, about a character to only see him go down the drain at the very end. I absolutely refuse to go with that kind of ending. I spent time with him, I managed to care for him. I really want to see him grow, I want to see him evolve through the story and leave him at the last page with a hopeful future, just knowing he will be okay. Otherwise I feel like the book is all for nothing. You can kill off supporting characters if that makes it any better…
🌪 Don’t go for the obvious and disappointing ending
An epic build up and the ending is just meh… perfect way to ruin a story in my opinion. Please avoid cliché and unsatisfying story endings. I don’t want a quick, all-too-convenient resolution. The best story endings weave together all the different threads that have been laid out since the beginning of the book. Authors often do this really subtly over several chapters before the drop of the curtain. And this is SO much better than hurriedly tying all the characters’ arcs up in a clumsy knot at the very last page.
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What about you? What kind of book endings do you like? What are some of the worst endings you’ve ever read ?
If you’re a writer, how hard is it to put an end to a story? Any tips?
Let’s chat in comments ?
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Hi Nyx.
I just left a comment to this post, but somehow, I had ended up on another post. Oops! Sorry! I’m going to repeat what I said here.
I like HAPPILY EVER AFTERS!
I have written a bunch of silly books. I think that I wrap up my books in a fun way, though I am only so-so at starting them. :-/
Happy Trails!
Hi there!! Haha, no worries! 😊
I totally get that 😁😁
Yeah, it must be so damn hard!
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading 😘
I love this!! Endings are so hit or miss – totally agree with all of your points!! Like give me that little plot twist to keep me hanging, but please don’t kill off any of my faves!! I can only think of a few books I’ve read in recent years that I haven’t liked the ending of, thankfully! ♥♥
Aww, thank you! I’m so glad! ☺️
Haha, YEES!!
Same here, there aren’t many endings that got me really mad! I hope it stays that way 😊
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘
Endings are the hardest part of a book to write, at least for me. You spend all that effort creating conflict and jeopardy and making your characters believably flawed and messy, then everything is supposed to be sorted out by the end of the book. Kinda tempting just to kill them off 😉
Oh my… please don’t 😅😅
But yeah I totally get how tricky endings can be!
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! 😘😘
For me a good twist and a happy ending always works! I’m simple as that 😉
That’s perfect! Totally agree with you 😁
I hate when they kill the main character, but sometimes, it’s ok. I have read many “sick kid” books. The deaths make sense. Obviously, I wanted them to live, but I can’t be all that mad if they don’t, you know? But yes, loose ends make me nuts, and lots of hope is always a requirement.
Oh yeah I haven’t thought about that, it’s sad but it makes sense!
YEES!! 😁😁
I adore this post and agree that endings never usually enter the conversation when it comes to a good book. I love plot twists that are surprising, but have the subtlety of foreshadowing throughout the book without us even realising. That moment when all the pieces connect and you’re left wondering how you missed it is so frustratingly satisfying haha.
Aww thank you!! ☺️
YEEES, same here!! That’s exactly how I love my endings! 😁
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, happy reading 😘😘
This was so good! 😊 I don’t always like a happily ever after, but if the book ends with the main character dying I’m like UGH NO WHY?! It feels like such a waste of the story, like we went through all of that for nothing. And there’s nothing worse than a disappointing ending!
Aww thank you!! That makes me so happy 😊
Right??! It’s just like: I didn’t sign up for this!!
Thank you so much for sharing, happy reading 😘😘
Exactly! Don’t hurt me like that and waste my time! You’re so welcome! ❤️
I literally agree with all of this! My biggest pet peeve is when the main conflict isn’t even resolved properly or it’s such an open philosophical ending it’s annoying I have a million thoughts of what a philosophical ending could be I just need to know if it’s a happy ending or not! And I abolutely love love epilogues and when they give a little snippet in the future!
Also I’m definitely a happy ending kind of girl and yes all happy endings don’t have to be cliche with the main characters falling back in love and getting married, it can just end with the main characters finding each other again I wouldn’t mind that too much but as long as it’s happy!
Yaaay! 😁
YEEES totally agree with you!!
Oh my god yes! I didn’t even thought about epilogues that give little snippets in the future, I absolutely love those 😍
I’m totally on the same page with you regarding happy endings. I just want to smile when I close the book 😊
Thank you so so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on the topic, happy reading! 😘😘
I like happy endings, too! Also when you talked about the philosophical ending, my mind immediately jumped to War and Peace, haha.
Yaaay! 🤗
Hahaha 😂😂
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading 😘😘
I don’t mind killing off a main character and I don’t always want everything to be tied up with a bow at the end, but I hate book endings that feel rushed or there’s no bang at the end. I need an ending that makes me think.
Oh yees, I hate it when the ending is rushed!!
And I totally agree with you about the ending making you think, I LOVE that!
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the topic, happy reading 😘😘
Sometimes I like when a book has a bit of an open ending and sometimes I don’t – it depends on the story and what I envision for the characters beyond the last page. I would say a “don’t” for thriller/mystery endings is an explanation that comes out of nowhere or is totally implausible. I’m all for twists, but they also need to make sense in the context of the book.
Yes, I’m totally on the same page when it comes to open endings!
YEEES! It needs to make sense otherwise it’s just rubbish, haha!
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘😘
I hate when books have a rushed ending. They make you wonder what happens next. The sequel to BirdBox was like that. It felt rushed, but it was a good ending. I like endings that feel like a real ending.
Ugh, I hate that too! I need a proper ending please!!
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts 😘😘
YES. My main beef with endings is cliffhangers. wth. At the very least give me SOME sort of resolution.
YEEES totally!!
Thank you so much for stopping by 😘
I can agree with a lot of the sentiments on this post! I do like happy endings and twists and surprises, but I also have to say, every once in a while a good philosophical open end can really get to me. Not saying I want it all the time, but I do like it when it’s really well done! Something about that is just still satisfying to me.
I guess I need to be in the mood for an ending like that, haha! 🙈 No seriously, I’m all for it if it’s well done 😊
Thanks for stopping by Kat! 😘😘
OMG yes, you hit the nail on the head! I love my sweet and semi-unrealistic happy endings for rom-coms, but bittersweet endings are my FAVE for just about everything. I hate writing endings myself because I always feel like I’ve either rushed it or dragged it on too long, but reading them when they’re done well? So satisfying.
Yaaay, glad to see I’m not the only one!! 😁
I bet it’s SO hard, I just know I wouldn’t be able to write a good satisfying ending 🙈
Thank you so so much for stopping by, happy reading! 😘
Endings are so important, so it’s always nice to see discussions around them! I also live for those last minute plot twists that have been perfectly foreshadowed and make you jump out of your seat and rethink everything you’ve read up to that point. And YES I will always take a hopeful ending, even if it’s a little sad, over an unrealistic happy ending. Bittersweet endings are often my very favorite kind.
It’s always such a let down when the ending turns out predictable or hurried. I know that endings are hard to write, but when they’re done right, they can bring everything together and turn a book from one that I enjoyed to an all-time favorite.
Oh my god, you described everything perfectly, I couldn’t agree more!!
Thank you so so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on the subject 😘😘
Omg I LOVE this post so so so much Nyx. Such an interesting discussion/list and I love all of your points. I’m with you on the plot twist, like make it GOOD. And also yes NEVER kill the main character, even though its a good plot twist lmao
Aww, thank you!! I’m so happy you enjoyed it 🥰
Haha, YEEES! Glad you agree with me 😁
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy holidays! 😘😘
For the most part I agree with all of these, though I will say that every once in a while a book surprises me with an ending I would THINK I’d hate but it somehow works for that book. So, I guess, like all writing “rules” these have some wiggle room with me. 🙂
Yes, you’re absolutely right!!
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy reading 😘😘
I like hopeful, happy endings–although if it’s in the middle of a series it doesn’t have to be, because I know more is coming.
Worst ending–Allegiant. Everything in that series from chapter 50 on is dead to me. That being said, it did get me into fanfiction, and because of that, I can thank Veronica Roth in part for the book I’m querying now.
Yeeees, I totally agree! 😊
Oh my god yes! Worst ending ever!! If we just forget the last chapters, it was a really good story indeed 😊
Thank you so much for stopping by, happy new year! 😘😘