A 'Happily ever after' ending Versus 'To be continued'

[Anirudh Badri]

Really depends on the writing style of the author. A well-written cliffhanger is amazing, but if the author breaks from their writing style just to increase readership for the sequel, that ruins it for me.

[aussiebooklover]

As I read that there will be a sequel I thought the ending was well done. There is only one question in this book unanswered "what will Karis do?"
All the other issues have been resolved - at least for me!

[JadeK]

I think that when authors pull the "to be continued" it is both infuriating and understandable all at the same time. If you are wrapped up in a book dying to know how it's going to end and the last page is "to be continued " you have to buy the next book to satisfy your need to know. It's genius on the authors part no matter how frustrating it is to the reader.

[Amagine]

I would prefer to have an ending that concludes a book. I'm not a big fan of cliff hangers at the end of a story or too many unanswered questions.

[jwalker73]

I prefer books that finish with a twist, leaving you with things to contemplate, but with the story completed. I guess it falls somewhere between the two you mention.

[readandsmile]

I guess, happily ever after and to be continued goes together.
After the ending, life still goes on.

[CataclysmicKnight]

I am incredibly picky about books that don't have a very clear, specific ending (unless there's a sequel to continue things on). Really the only time this works is if the world is left wide-open, like the ending of Castaway with Tom Hanks. In this case, the movie could probably go on forever, and while it could have ups or downs immediately after this it at least has a good reason for ending where it does. Outside of that, it's disappointing to not know what happens.

[jenjayfromSA]

Life, of course, is open-ended and the story always continues. In a book, I prefer to at least see the most likely direction. You don't have to end up with the wedding scene, as all the good pantomimes do, but there should be at least a hint of a possibility of some form of closure. After all, who rides off into the sunset these days.

[Darakhshan Nazir]

I don't mind a book "hanging" as long as there is enough closure to warrant its ending and there is a follow-up continuing the story. But I love happy endings when, and only when, they are believable, not pat, and tie up the end of the story nicely.

That's right . By the way I prefer 'to be continued' but I agree with you too

[ReadingRebecca]

I prefer to have my books at least somewhat wrapped up. If they want to leave some things dangling for another book, that's okay with me. I don't like the story to just end though. That's not satisfying to me.

I agree with this completely. It also helps if they let you know the book is going to be part of a series. Then I at least know to expect things not to be all wrapped up. Even then there should still be some kind of conclusive ending to one, if not more, of the main plot lines.

I completely agree with both. It is helpful to know the story is going to continue before you start reading. In that sense, a cliffhanger makes me want to read the book even more. I also enjoy a good standalone. My favorite, though, would be a series that I absolutely loved with some very unexpected twists at the end that would keep me begging for the next book.

[Darakhshan Nazir]

I guess, happily ever after and to be continued goes together.
After the ending, life still goes on.

wow! you are right. I agree

[Donnavila Marie01]

I want to read a sequel of this story about the second canal creation somewhere in Africa. If the Chinese government will win the bid or Godfredo Paco will win it.

[Darakhshan Nazir]

I prefer the book to end. This brings a sense of closure. I mean, who doesnt want closure?

I think sometimes ' to be continued' is more interesting

[Ama Idim]

I prefer 'happily ever afters' but if the book is 'to be continued', I'll like the sequel to be out on time, eases the tension that may occur.

[Michelle92]

There's something enjoyable about both of them, I think. In some cases you can take a number of cliffhangers and in others you just need a happily ever after. It depends in the way its written, I believe.