The most important parts of a fiction book for me are the opening chapter and the last quarter.
I like to be thrown into action or posed a question for the initial hook. I will read a book without these elements, I consider myself a slightly varied reader, but I do prefer them to be there.
For me however, an impactful(!?) ending is non negotiable. I need the pacing to accelerate, big reveals or shocking twists. In my opinion the best books are the ones with plots that are unpredictable but still feasible.
I like to challenge my brain. Untangling a maze of misleads and consequences can tether me to a book for hours on end, just don’t throw in a wild card with no previous ties to characters or story line- that infuriates me, it feels lazy.
A brilliant ending can turn the tide of my favour for any book. I’ll forget all about any moments I spent drifting off or dragging my eyes across the page. An initially bad book can become a decent slow-burner if the pay off at the end feels worth the time invested in earlier details.
I can sacrifice action if the character development is intricate but there still has to be some sort of BANG towards the end. Nothing worse than a book that fizzles out leaving you wondering why you cared. Even predictable but well written reveals or events are preferable to me than none at all.
Here are just a few books with (spoiler free) endings I’ve loved or hated:
The Ritual – Adam Nevill
Loved- Pacing.
The Virgin Suicides- Jeffery Euginides
Hated- Uninteresting.
We Were Liars- E. Lockhart
Loved- Surprised.
YOU- Caroline Kepnes
Hated– Lacking.
The Roanoke Girls- Amy Engle
Loved- Stakes.
The Hunger- Alma Katsu
Hated– Slow
Bird Box- Josh Malerman
Loved – Intense
The Children’s Home – Charles Lambert
Hated– Unfathomable change of direction.
Do you feel differently about my choices?
Which story endings do you love/hate most?
Tell me..
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An Average Life 
Interesting post! I always get nervous when I come to the end of a really great book because the endings can make or break a novel for me. It is always so disappointing when an otherwise fantastic novel has a terrible ending!
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I love that Bird Box made your list of endings you loved! Not a lot of people have read that book, I’m so happy you liked it!
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