Let's Talk: Books that Should or Shouldn't Have Sequels

Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!

What book(s) do you wish didn't have sequels (or vice versa)?

You know we've all been there. We've desperately wanted a sequel to a book that we loved so, so much. Or, on the flip side, we're desperately craving a sequel and the author is a being a tricky B and never giving us exactly what we want. (Well played, authors.) I can definitely pinpoint two books on my shelves though that stand out; one, for wishing for a sequel and the other, for wishing the sequel never happened.

A. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles was the much-anticipated sequel to Leaving Paradise, which is one of my favourite contemporary books of all time. And, for one who avoided contemps like the plague for the longest time, that's really saying something. So, naturally, when the second book was announced, I was decidedly gleeful. Unfortunately though, I felt that the sequel strayed from the melancholy, heartbreaking magic that made the first book soar. We lost what we loved most about Maggie and Caleb and, most sad of all, was simply the fact that every outcome I thought we might see just didn't happen. I was so, so let down. 

B. Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis was a newer read of mine that actually caught me kind of off guard...in the best possible way. I've been seriously burned off of the dystopian genre as of late, but this book really surprised me with the sparse characters, brutal honesty and a very biased viewpoint. The author makes it work though, throwing obstacles in our paths left, right and center, putting us in Lynn's shoes and making us feel her pain. While I did think the action went too fast at the end, I think it almost wrapped up what could have been a sequel. I'm both happy and sad about that because the author gave us a fitting end, but I'm left wanting more!

What about you? What books do you wish did or didn't have a sequel?