Discussion Post: You Had Me Until the Ending….

We’ve all been there.  You pick up a book, one that has topped your TBR pile for months, you start reading and are instantly hooked.   After reading late into the night, sneaking in some pages on your commute, reading through dinners and television shows, you finally reach the conclusion of the story AND…. blah

I can’t even count how many books I have read lately that have “had me” until the ending.  In fact, I have made countless books recommendations to friends and family, raving that “you’ll love this book!” but adding the disclaimer “don’t mind the ending”

This really got me thinking.  What is the deal with book endings lately?  I narrowed it down into few hypotheses…

1. The “Gone Girl” Effect: I feel like after Gone Girl the “sneak attack” ending became the popular trend amongst authors- especially in the thriller genre.  You think you know what direction a plot is going but  NOPE!  WRONG!  GUESS AGAIN!   I feel like this “shock” tactic has ruined many book endings for me.  You think that the killer is the protagonist’s ex-boyfriend?  Well joke is on you reader.  It is actually an alien cyborg. I cannot count how many novels I have read this year with a “twist” ending that left me saying “SERIOUSLY??!!”

2. The “I’ll Never Tell” Effect: When I read a book, I want to know how it ends.  I am reading a 300+ page story about this character.  I become attached.  I want to see how they end up.  Instead, I am finding lately that I am given more of a “choose your own adventure” type of ending.  Does the character die at the end?  They swim out to sea, but do they die?  They walk away together into the sunset?  Does that mean it’s all good or did the world end?   I want some answers!!

3. The “Stop Rushing Me” Effect: I have found myself reading some really awesome books lately.  I am relishing in the stories, the characters and the writing style and then BAM it’s over and I have no idea how things escalated so quickly.  Ninety five percent of the book was build up and development and then *BAM* in the last five percent of the novel the bad guy is killed and the protagonist runs off into the sunset.  WHAT??!!

4. The “It’s Not You, It’s Me” Effect: Maybe I am the problem.  Plain and simple.  I read tons of thrillers and I want to be “wowed” but how plausible is that really?  How many endings can truly please me while offering me something totally new and exciting?  Maybe my expectations are too high?  Maybe I need to take a break and read different genres in between?

So, what do you guys think?  It is just me?  Am I the only one feeling especially picky over book endings lately?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!