A book hangover is defined by EpicReads as a condition in which attachment to a book or series that has ended causes the reader traumatic emotional distress. This article is for all the literary lovers out there that feel this pain. During this process, the reader will go from a Belle,
to a Robin Scherbatsky and back again.
After your literary adventure, the reader will experience:
1. Denial and Isolation
There's a moment after you finish a good book, when you close the back cover, put the book down, and can't move. "Is it really over?"
But, after the initial shock wears off, you are left with only crushing isolation. A reader will not open another book until they have cycled through the following stages.
The best you can hope for is late night scrolling through the series' Tumblr tag to glean one shred of happiness.
2. Anger
This occurs once you emerge from the literary world, back into your own. You know that series that just ripped your heart out? It was written by a real person who knew exactly what they were doing to you.
This is to the authors that abuse and murder our favorite characters:
3. Bargaining
What demon do I have to sell my soul to so we can all be happy? What headcanons and crack theories will make everything work out in the end?
4. Depression
This is the stage that hits the hardest. It can only best be described has the following:
5. Acceptance
Finally! You're ready for the next book! You're ready to move on to something better!
But deep down you know you pick the painful ones.
Don't worry you'll be back.
