I am going to ask a most contentious question:
When you encounter a series, are you inclined to read them as soon as they’re available, or do you want to wait until the series is complete to binge them?
This is contentious because it’s a case of reader preference being at great odds with How Publishing Works. Or “works.”
I have to start by outlining the downside to waiting, a reader habit which I know frustrates authors and publishing folks: if the sales for the early books are low, or decline, the series may not continue. So waiting has its own risks, more for the writer than for the reader.
And I know enough about publishing to curb my Strong Inclination to wait until a story arc is complete before I dive in, but my inclination is always to wait for a complete story arc, even if it’s over three or six or more books.
Why? Because romance, that’s why: I want to know the end is present, that I and the writer know where we’re going, and that I won’t be troubled by cliffhangers (rude). One of my most firm connections to the genre, and genre fiction in general, is that I know the ending is there, that we’re not going on a journey that has no destination in mind. I’ve been burned many times by tv shows, for example, that go off the rails in pursuit of one more season that goes too far beyond the original storyline.
This desire for an ending is part of my other hobbies and projects, too: if I start a quilting project, I like to know who it’s for and where it’s going. One of my favorite methods of planning is “envision where I want to end up, then work backwards.” I’m rather destination-focused.
As I said, I do know this is not optimal for things like publishing sales reports, but this is my preference and I indulge in it or ignore it depending on the circumstances.
For example: There’s a new Nora Roberts out soon, Birth of the Witch, which will be the first of a trilogy. I know Nora has enough fans and publishing history that this trilogy will be completed and I can read one and then anticipate books two and three, or or I can wait for all of them without worry that the later books won’t arrive. They will.
Indie publishing thrives on long-running series, like, REALLY LONG RUNNING SERIES, and some writers craft long story arcs to keep readers engaged. I’ve encountered many readers who are delighted to discover a book and find there are 10+ more of them to deep dive into. Ice Planet Barbarians is like this, and 10 or so years ago, Kristen Ashley’s books were a similar reading experience. A reader would discover them and we’d joke on Twitter, “Ok, bye! See you in a few weeks when you’ve read them all!”
The type of series is important, too – specifically I’m talking about the series that have a larger story arc that requires sequential reading, and not books that operate as somewhat standalone stories in the same world.
The choice to wait for the whole story arc, or read the installments one by one only thrives in a world where writers are equipped with marketing and publicity for all their titles, and alas that isn’t the world we are in.
I asked the SBTB team and got a healthy mix of answers:
Carrie: Binge it!
Amanda: I typically read them as they come out.
Sarah: I’m calling that “Amanda style.”
Elyse: I do Amanda style but if it’s already all out then I’ll binge.
Tara: I wait until it’s done, unless a friend says I must read it asap.
Claudia: Same as Elyse!! If it’s already out there I will show no restraint. lol
Susan: BOTH.
Read as it comes out, get to the last volume and realise that I forgot what happened, reread the whole thing.
OR: buy the whole thing as it’s coming out, meaning to Amanda it, and then get distracted by a shiny rock and binge it when I remember.
Sarah: I relate very much to “I forgot what happened, reread the whole thing.” SO very much.
Shana: I follow Amanda in all things.
Sneezy: I do both as well. With manga and webtoons, I’ve gotten used to reading each chapter as it comes. With books, the stakes for a cliffhanger or unfinished series feels more… dangerous??? Threatening?????? It really makes no sense. It’s not like webtoons and manga are guaranteed to finish (a moment of silence for Nana) and I certainly prefer to have the whole thing before going in with both mediums, but for whatever reason my brain is a lot more precious about books.
Susan: HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEW EDITIONS OF NANA.
HAVE YOU HEARD THAT IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE GETTING AN DNDING AFTER ALL THIS TIME
Sneezy: the WHAT.
WHAT.
WHERE DID YOU HEAR THIS?????? WHAT DID THE MANGAKA SAY????????
Susan: Nana Manga Finally Returning After 15 Years
Sneezy: Susan, I can’t
I’m not breathing
Are you breathing?
It’s actually happening!!!!
A series having a finale after a 15 year pause?
That’s a long time to wait for a new book. Biggest congratulations to Nana fans!
And speaking of series, what about you?
I’m very curious about your preference: Would you prefer to read a series as they arrive, or would you love to binge-read a completed series from start to end? Do you binge some and not others? What’s your preference?
I’m very much of the “put in on my eyeballs STAT” variety.
But as I write this, I realise that the romance novels I have read so far are mostly standalones, so it hasn’t been much of an issue?
I read series as they come out, and frequently reread the whole series or the most recent books if it’s a very long series in anticipation of a new release.