Are you pro standalone books or do you love a good book series?

When I was younger, I loved a good book series – whether it was a spy flick (shout out to the Gallagher Girls), dystopian (The Hunger Games), science fiction (The Medusa Project), or fantasy (The Mortal Instruments). A series was definitely my book format of choice back then.

As I got older, though, I started leaning more toward standalone books. I discovered John Green and eventually wandered into the world of Wattpad, where single, self-contained stories worked perfectly for me.

People ask me all the time if I’ve read this book series or that one, and my answer is usually: ehh, too many books! I even mentioned in my Genre of the Month post last month that while I do enjoy romantic fantasy to an extent, my biggest struggle with the genre is committing to stories that stretch over four, five, sometimes six books.

So in this post, I’m laying out my case for standalone books and my case for book series, the ups, the downs, and where I stand now when it comes to choosing what to read next.

The Case for Standalone Books

I love a good standalone. There’s something so satisfying about a one-and-done book, a story you can enjoy for what it is and then let it live in your mind just as it is, without needing sequels to tie up loose ends. Standalones usually have tightly focused plots, and everything you need to know is right there in that single book, no matter how long it is.

They’re rare, but I especially appreciate standalone fantasy. I think it’s such an underrated gem when an author can build an entire world and wrap it up beautifully in one volume. As a mood reader, standalone books are perfect for me. I pick up whatever catches my fancy at the moment, and I don’t have to commit myself to a whole saga.

No matter how amazing a book series sounds, unless I’ve mentally prepared myself to read three, five, or even more books, I’m just not picking it up. Because of this, so many big, beloved series – especially in fantasy, dystopian, and sci-fi – end up sitting on my TBR for months (or years!).

One of my favourite sci-fi standalones is Blood Over Bright Haven – it gave me lore, world-building, and belief systems all packed into 400 pages, and it was perfect. Do I wish I knew more about that world or what happens after it ends? Absolutely. But do I need to? No! Some stories are best left complete as they are, we don’t always need five books to tell one story. There’s a real joy in that one-and-done feeling: no cliff-hangers, no waiting years for the next instalment.

Of course, the flip side is that sometimes standalones leave you wanting more, and occasionally the ending feels a little unfinished. But honestly, I think there’s a certain beauty in that too. I love having the freedom to imagine what happens next on my own, it’s one reason I adore epilogues: they offer just a glimpse into the future while leaving the rest up to us.

The Joy of Book Series

I loved fantasy/sci fi and the likes as a kid , I had the patience (and brain power!) for them back then. As most of you know, I’m only just getting back into fantasy now, and one of my favourite parts of the genre is still the same: world-building. I love seeing the weird and wonderful things that come out of an author’s imagination.

Personal feelings about the story aside, Fourth Wing was one of my favourite fantasy book series last year purely because of the world Rebecca Yarros created. Its unique lore and history were so compelling, it pulled together some of my favourite fantasy themes and tropes in an exciting way. The same goes for The Book of Azrael, I thought it was so unique.

When a story has such deep history and complex lore, you really do need multiple books to flesh everything out and lay the groundwork properly. That’s the beauty of series: you get to deep-dive into characters, watch them grow and evolve, and follow their arcs over time. You become invested in their lives, and that naturally creates a sense of community with other fans, you’re all on the same journey together, speculating and obsessing side by side. I love that about a book series.

But sometimes, I just can’t do it. One downside of long book series is that so many of the books can end up feeling like filler, scenes and subplots that drag on without really moving the main story forward. I don’t mind when a story slows down to focus on characters, I actually love when a book is more about growth and relationships than plot twists, but a lot of multi-book fantasies aren’t written that way. They’re built around high-stakes crises and big climaxes, which can make slogging through a hundred chapters where everything and nothing happens at the same time feel exhausting.

When One Works Better Than the Other

Certain genres definitely suit standalones best. Literary fiction and other character-driven stories tend to thrive in this format, since they often focus more on people and moments than on big, sprawling plots. Thrillers work well too,  the big twist or climax usually hits at the end, so once the reveal happens, there’s no need to drag it out further. I don’t mind a cliff-hanger now and then, but I really appreciate it when a story is beautifully wrapped up in a single book.

I’d also put romance in the standalone camp for the most part. Sure, sometimes we want more, but that’s usually when romance isn’t the central plot, or the story branches out into companion books about other characters. If romance is the main focus? Please, wrap it up in one book, thanks!

On the other hand, some genres really do need the space a series provides. Fantasy, obviously, but also mysteries, sci-fi, and dystopian stories. Anything with an entire system to topple or a big world to build usually can’t be contained in one book, there’s just too much to unpack. Readers need time to learn the world’s rules, watch conflicts unfold, and see characters grow into their roles. Even if it’s sometimes hard for me to push through a long series, I can’t deny that for these genres, it just works.

My Personal Preference

Personally, I love a good spin-off! Give me a universe where characters are all connected but each story stands on its own — that’s my sweet spot. Romance authors do this brilliantly, and I have a whole shelf of series that fit this vibe.

Christina C. Jones is the perfect example — everything she writes exists in the same universe, even if it’s set in different towns or cities. They all fit together so well, and there’s nothing I love more than when a character from an old book pops up unexpectedly in a new one.

So many romance authors use this approach that I couldn’t list them all if I tried. Some of my favourite recommendations are in the book series I binge read. They all come from exactly these kinds of interconnected standalones – AshleyNicole, Stephanie Nicole Norris, Elsie Silver, Liz Tomforde… the list goes on.

I love this style because it’s the perfect happy medium: it combines my favourite parts of a book series – the shared world and familiar characters – with the satisfaction of a complete, self-contained story every time.

Final Thoughts

I can see why both formats are so loved, and I’m always happy to dive into either when the mood strikes. But at the end of the day, I’m definitely a standalone girly, that’s the bulk of what I read. I’ll indulge in a series every now and then because I don’t want to miss out on some truly amazing books. One of these days, I will start The Poppy War! Just… not today.

So, what about you? Do you prefer to savour a single, complete story or lose yourself in an extended world? Do you love stories that are intertwined? Are you okay with it in some genres but not others? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for Reading!