Top Standalone Novels I Wish Had Sequels
No explanation needed.
1. My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitpatrick. Ohhhh, man. This was quite possibly The Book of 2012. Everyone was talking about it, and for such good reasons. If not #1, it was absolutely without-a-doubt Top Ten for sure. I just feel like there are more stories to be told about the Garretts. If not with Samantha and Jase, then definitely his host of siblings, preferably George. Can you see it? A companion novel about Teenage!George with guest stars Sam & Jase? I can see it, and it is marvelous.
2. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. Jennifer actually wrote a fantastically hilarious and educational blog post about her opinion of sequels, and I totally respect her opinion to choose to leave her characters alone after they get together. That being said, I very selfishly want more Johnafter in my life. I think that there is a story to be found about Meg and John in the post-policeman days as they head off to college together. I would also take a companion about Tiffany and Will. And this same request applies to Forget You because Doug and Zoey had a heck of a time, and I'd love to see them later on as well.
3. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. Sarah has repeatedly stated that TBS was meant to be a standalone. That being said, she has also said that she has considered ideas for a possible sequel some day in the future. It could happen. I loved the story. It broke my heart, but it also showed that their are so many positives that can come from a tragedy. If Sarah ever does write a sequel, I will totally buy it and read it in three hours.
4. The Belles series by Jen Calonita. I really enjoyed this southern Cinderella story about half-sisters Izzy and Mira and their exploits in hoity-toity NC town Emerald Cove. Cute boys and plenty of drama = good times to be had by all. I just don't really feel like The Grass Is Always Greener was a very conclusive conclusion. Mira lost a boyfriend in #1, found a new one, then lost him in #3 and picked up another new one! Not enough time for swoonage. Also, there were some side plots that lacked completion. I felt like I was left hanging between a third and fourth novel. I really feel that if Jen wrote another novel for Belles, the whole story would wrap itself up quite nicely. Hey, she's doing another Sleepaway Girls novel so maybe this will happen sometime too!
5. Motocross Me by Cheyanne Young. It takes until the very end of the novel for the Girl and Boy to Finally Get Together, which is like most romance novels, but I guess I just feel, once again, like there's more story to be told.
6. The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I met her. She said it's really happening. I need it to happen. I've been needing it to happen for FIVE WHOLE YEARS OF MY LIFE. Guys, seriously, I have spent 20% of my ENTIRE LIFE waiting for the sequel. I NEED THIS NOW. Ugh. So this is how Game of Thrones fans feel. I hate it.
7. The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer. I'm a huge fan of Eoin's work. I mean, Artemis Fowl. How could you NOT be a fan? The Supernaturalist is a lesser-known Eoin novel about a band of teenage kids who take it upon themselves to see to the safety of their city from the evil clutches of invisible parasites. Well, by the end of the novel, they discover some things and decide to change their plans. I want to see those plans and the adventures that come from them. This was a really cool, albeit super dirty and dingy futuristic world, and I'd love to see more of it!
8. The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke. I had the supreme pleasure of participating in the blog tour for TNP, and I found out that yes, there is a sequel...but Disney-Hyperion hasn't bought it yet. Polly's British publisher is on the ball and is moving forward, but D-H hasn't yet for some reason. TNP tells the story of how a bunch of genetically modified kids make it from their hostile homeland to a colony created just for them. I feel like even though their physical journey is finished (for now), their emotional/psychological journey has just begun. I'd really like #2 to be published in the US, but if not, I swear I'll find a way to snag the UK version.
9. The Revenants series by Amy Plum. I understand that the Kate-Vincent-Jules story presented in the series is finished. One of the boys won, and one of them lost. Also, the Parisian revenants have had their epic tale told. I would LOVE for Amy Plum to write some companion novels about some of the other revenants introduced in the series like the crazy German kids, or, oh, I don't know, THE AMERICAN REVENANTS WITH WHOME THE LOVE TRIANGLE "LOSER" IS STAYING. *coughs* Ahem. Sorry. I have strong feelings for that boy, and I want him to get his Happily Ever After. Make it happen, Amy! Pretty, pretty please? *bats eyelashes*
10. "Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story" by Ally Carter. This is one of those stories where I didn't know I wanted it until I found out about it and then I wondered where it had been all my life and why the heck hadn't I thought of it before. This is the Gallagher Girls/Heist Society crossover novella, and, simply put, it is marvelous. There was a moment at the end where it was kind of left open for the possiblity of another story. Yes, Cammie's story is coming to a close in about a month with the publication of United We Spy, but Kat's story is on-going, and I feel like even though she wasn't one of the main two characters in the novella, she stands as the character with the most to gain from the fusion of the two worlds of GG & HS. Maybe (I hope) after Ally finishes up her work on the first book for Embassy Row, she'll be hit with another stroke of crossover genius because that would be lovely.
Bonus: 11 & 12. Tera Lynn Child's series Forgive My Fins and Oh. My. Gods. both could use at least one more book, imo. I know she's working on at least one more novella for each, but I think they could do with full novels.
Which novels/series do you want sequels for? Got a TTT post of your own? Leave the link in the comments; I'd love to hear from you!
Yes! Yes! A sequel for Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. That book is my favourite from her. I really want to know what happens with Meg and Officer After. I need more Officer After. He's just so...*dreamily sighs*.. cute. Okay cute is an understatement but I definitely need more of him... preferably in my life. Haha.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a sequel with My Life Next Door. I didn't like the ending at all. I did however find George very adorable. A companion would be awesome especially in his POV. I wonder how he would act like.
Great top ten!
Mmm, yes. I lovea man in uniform, and Johnafter totally does it for me.
DeleteI'm happy to see we both want more Jules! (:
ReplyDeleteI really struggled this week! I'm not really into standalone books. I just prefer series for some reason.
Well, as you can see, I didn't just choose standalones. I've got a few series in there as well!
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