You’ve just finished the best series you’ve ever read. The world feels whole, you feel like you alone hold all the power in the universe. You may have read these books before. Maybe once or twice, or ten times, but it was just as good as the first. You put the final book down and can still feel the adrenaline of the last pages. Did the villain die? Did the boy get the girl or the winning goal? Well, you finally have all the answers, and that accomplishment is making you smile brighter than the sun! But, the smile falters, then fades. What are you supposed to do with all your free time now? The series is done, the hero has fought their last fight and has left you alone with your thoughts! A feeling of emptiness fills your stomach and you start to panic. All book lovers know what happens next…

Denial, Anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. These are the five stages one goes through after finishing the perfect book series. Whether it’s a trilogy or a ten book collection, everyone endures the same five stages. Let’s start with the first stage, shall we?

What is denial? While in denial one feels numb, like the whole world has no purpose; they feel alone and lost. This stage is usually the first week or so through your longer journey to acceptance. You becoming a walking zombie. Leaving your room only to find food and a bathroom, you wander hopelessly lost in your own mind. Your friends all wonder where you’ve been, and what happened to make you feel this way but you “don’t want to talk about it.” Then comes stage two.

Anger. You violently yell at anyone who tries to talk to you. The slightest sign of a problem becomes enough to turn you into the hulk! You are furious at the man who just budged in front of you! How dare he treat you that way? Your friends and family are now the ones avoiding you, which causes a chain reaction of more anger! You stomp through the house like an elephant, clash pots in the kitchen, just to make them aware of your presence. The anger finally fades away as week three approaches and the bargaining begins.

If you ask nicely, the author will definitely make another final book. Maybe even a spin off series, or a “view through the other characters eyes” novel. You become obsessed with the idea of talking to the author, giving her some ideas and tips for the new book you secretly know will never come! Your friends are scared of your new-found happiness, even worried about you. People are starting to stare at your weirdness. You lodge yourself into a fake and happy confidence, trying to use any method possible to keep yourself from breaking down. After a while you see through the fog of your mind. The book isn’t coming and you’re coming down from your ignorant bliss, right into depression.

The whole world is grey. What is life anyways without another novel? As you hid in your room under your covers, not wanting to eat or talk to anyone, you finally realize how hopeless your life is. Who needs social interaction or water anyways? This stage is usually the shortest, making it only a couple days before your loved ones pull you out of it. To get to the final stage, you need a little reassurance, a push from a friend.

The final stage! Congratulations, you made it! ACCEPTANCE! You have made it through the hard times! The happy is coming back! You realize it is sad the series ended, but you can always remember the good times you had together. It will always be there for you when you need it most and your friends will always be there to push you out of your funk. And what great timing! The last book of a different series you’ve been waiting for finally came out. It just got released yesterday! Although this path is heartbreaking, you do what you must because being a book lover isn’t all about tea and bookmarks. It takes a certain strength to be this devoted, and if you’re blessed with the strength, use it! Thank you everyone for reading! If you have any tips or comments, please share below! Book junky out!