Bookish Banter: Are you a Series Reader or do you Stand Alone?

A little Bookish Banter to get us through.  Bookish Banter is a little bit of banter about our bookish thoughts as we have a friendly discussion over a nice cup of tea. 

When it comes to the books your read- do you find yourself usually picking up series or do you really just like stand alones?

Ash-

I like both to be honest. It really just depends what the book is about it. I have read some great stand alone books that I really wish had kept going, and I have read some series that should have just stopped. Either stopped at 1 or maybe at 3 and they keep writing more, and there is just no reason to keep going with the series. 

If it's a thriller, horror, contemporary. I feel like those should be stand alone books. A lot of times you can't keep going, or really shouldn't keep going. Especially with something like a thriller. Simply because it's not the same after the first one. The thrill is gone.

With contemporary, it's usually written so there is one main issue in the book, so once that issue is solved, there's no reason to go on.

Genre's like mystery, fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, apocalyptic. Those make great series. Because it is very much world building, and there is usually so much that is needed to cover. Especially when it comes to fantasy and sci-fi. 

Mysteries are great as series. If the series is a bunch of little mysteries each book, and then maybe one big mystery that gets solved at the end that's great. 
The Naturals is one of the best mystery series I've read.

I think with me, it really depends on the book. So I'm just going to say that I love both.

Jenn:

So I am a series girl. Stand alone's are great and every now and then I am glad to have them. I like them best in contemporaries or thrillers. These don't seem to need to be series, however, I have read some pretty good series from both.  When it comes to fantasy and science fiction, the world building needs to be there. This works best in series. I don't want to feel rushed when its more than a love story in today's world or more than a stalker story in today's world... Those are different right?

I also get very attached to characters and love me some good character development. I need to know my characters. I read to make best friends. I need to feel all the feels and see all the things. This sometimes takes more than one book to build and let's be honest. I am not ready to give them up after one book. that is just insane. 

I love to live in the same world with the same friends over and over and over and over again. spin-off series are great too, but only if they have a brand new story. I don't want the story over and over and over. Just the world and the characters. So if you can give me the same set of friends and the same world but a different mystery I am good. These work best on mystery books duh! Dystopians not so much. Once the issues are solved I guess its over.I had a hard time saying goodbye to some series, but in the end, it had to be done. 

So yes it's series all the way for me.... oh and plus side to series...the books look great together on the bookshelf. 

So Series or Stand Alone?