Book series are popular, right? I look back to ages ago and realize that book series have been popular for longer than we realize. After all, Little Women was serialized before it became a novel. So kind of a book series, albeit differently.

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This post goes towards Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Types of Book Series: Which Ones Should We Read in Order?

There are two different types of book series. The first one is where we need to read the books in order and the storyline develops from book one to book ‘n’ of the series. Think Harry Potter, LOTR, and similar. While you could possibly pick up any one and start reading and still enjoy the book, it is best if these books are read in order to have the full experience.

The second one is where books can (usually) be read as a stand-alone (with some references to characters and events in previous books but not necessary to the current story). In this second type, some do follow the characters in their lives as they develop but the stories themselves can be read independently of the others. While others are much more independent as each book narrates a different storyline with no or minimal references to other books in the series. Think Nancy Drew, (even) Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Bridgertons (of the Netflix series fame), and many more.

So here are a few reasons

Why Book Series are Cool!

Note, these are simply for fun but also kind of true…

1. Extra Reading Material for Whenever

With more pages to devour, book series provide (especially finished ones) the perfect way to pass the time on long flights or train rides or whenever you need them. Think of all the binge-reading you can do!

2. Book Series Offer a Cliffhanger Diet

With all those twists to keep the series going, and almost always at the very end of each book, these books are sure to keep you on your toes..

3. Book-Besties: The More the Merrier

Fictional Best Friends: You get to hang out with your favorite fictional characters for a longer time, almost like having a second set of friends.

4. Shelfie Goals!

Displaying a complete series on your bookshelf makes you look like a serious, dedicated reader (and adds that extra touch of oomph to your decor).

5. Escape from Reality

Real-Life Break: Offers a prolonged escape from the mundane aspects of daily life (the laundry, the dishes, and all such etcs!), letting you live in an exciting, fictional world for just a little bit longer. You know, one more chapter? The one last page….

They help us take mini-vacations that we know we can return to whenever we need them, and to feel productive while procrastinating on that everyday stuff!

6. Literary Workout

Heavy Reading: Carrying around thick volumes of a series doubles as a workout. Who needs the gym when you have book series?!

7. Perfect Excuse

Social Butterfly: “Sorry, I can’t come out tonight; I’m in the middle of saving the world with my favorite characters.”

8. Play at Being Detectives…

Wild Speculations: Coming up with the most outlandish and hilarious theories about what will happen next in the series. Bonus points if you convince someone it’s true.

9. Cool Collectibles

Book series often come up with cool collectibles over time, so more to adorn your room/shelf with.

10. Guaranteed Gifts

Friends and family never have to wonder what to get you—just the next book in the series!

Jokes apart, here is

How Book Series can Help

1. Extended Storytelling

Authors develop complex characters, plots, and worlds over multiple books, creating a richer narrative, thus giving us readers more to enjoy.

2. Builds Routine and Increased Reading Time

Returning to a familiar world and characters provides a sense of reliability and comfort for readers. And the desire to know what happens next can motivate readers to spend more time reading.

3. Structured Reading Experience

Knowing there are multiple books ahead allows readers to plan their reading journey and enjoy a structured experience.

4. Develops Emotional Intelligence

That bestie stuff I mentioned before has strong emotional benefits too. The strong attachments readers form with characters can help in so many ways

5. Encourages Deep Reading

With complex plots and characters, series encourage readers to pay closer attention and engage more deeply with the text.

6. Skills Development

Deep reading improves comprehension and retention skills and also promotes critical thinking as does that playing detective aspect I mentioned earlier! It also builds vocabulary as exposure to an author’s writing style over several books can help readers learn new words and phrases.

7. Sense of Accomplishment

Completing each book in a series gives readers a sense of achievement, encouraging them to keep going.

8. Community and Discussion

Being part of a fan community can motivate readers to keep up with the series to participate in discussions. And series often inspire book clubs and group readings, fostering a social reading habit

9. Fan Creations

Fans often create fan fiction, art, and other content, keeping the excitement alive and enhancing the overall experience.

10. A Love of Reading

The enjoyment of a good series can lead to a lifelong love of reading, as readers seek out similar books.

Some of My Favorite Book Series

I thought I will not do this after writing all that stuff about above since I have so many book series related posts already but here you go. Way more than ten ….

Book Series From my Childhood

• Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, Five Find Outers, Secret Seven, Secret series, Naughtiest Girl, Malory Towers, Faraway Tree, and more.
• The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series
• Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
• The comics – Amar Chitra Katha, Asterix, Tintin, Phantom, Flash Gordon, Mandrake the Magician, and countless more

And These From my Children’s Childhood

My kids are 21 and 18 now and I discovered many books and series when they started reading. Here are a few of them:

• A Series of Unfortunate Events 
• The One and Only Ivan
• Mysterious Benedict Society
• Ramona
• Fancy Nancy
• Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Book Series From my Adulthood

Many of these are children’s and YA reads as well but I discovered them for and by myself first 🙂 before my kids read them (if they did)!

• Harry Potter
• Percy Jackson
• Chronicles of Narnia
• Lord of the Rings
• Myrtle
• Lobizona
• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
• Haroun and the Sea of Stories
• The Selection
• Anna and the French Kiss
• When Dimple Met Rishi
• The Rajes
• The Bridgertons
• The Giver

Plus the Ones I Want to Read (Fully)

I have read book one (or more) of a few of these or started them, but have not completed them so they are here as well.

• Thursday Next series
• Crazy Rich Asians
• To All the Boys I Loved Before
• Outlander
• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
• His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
• Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie
• The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan with Brandon Sanderson
• Darius the Great by Adib Khorram

And Then the Rest I Can’t Recall

So many more here for sure!!

Book Series Related Reads and More

• 10+ Great Nonfiction Children’s Book Series to Read
• Wonderful Favors of Home and Book Series Set in a School
• 3 Great STEM Book Series for Young Readers
• Tiny Travelers Series: Picture Book Reviews
• Grow Grit Series: Children’s Books Reviews
• Review: Monsters Galore (City Monsters Series: Search and Find Books)

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, hope you enjoyed this post. Do share your favorite book series with me (fiction or non-fiction/popular or not/for young readers or adults/well anything at all, I mean!). And of course, the more important question – do you enjoy them? If yes or no, why?