We’ve all experienced that horrible feeling after finishing a great novel. You never really accept that the last few pages will eventually run out, but once they have, you’re consumed by an overwhelming cloud of despair and sadness. Thankfully, I’ve suffered through enough of these dreaded “book hangovers” to come up with a few ways to overcome them.
First off, try and have another novel you plan on reading available with you when you suspect you’ll be finishing your current book. I find it’s easier not to think about the ending of one book, when I’m already too indulged in the beginning of another. This makes for a quick and easy transition and doesn’t really let you get too emotional about what you’ve just read.
Even though this next method is pretty opposite to the one I’ve just mentioned, I find discussing your novel with everyone and everyone possible and sharing your afterthoughts on it can also be effective for overcoming the dreary sadness that comes with the end of a good book. Talking to your friends, your family and occasionally finding entire forums dedicated to the book allow you to gain new perspectives and ideas about certain events and characters.
Of course, there’s always that one novel that’s just too obscure too have a large fan base and you finish it completely unprepared. When this happens, light a candle, make a cup of tea, put on your comfiest pajamas, and cuddle with an animal. While there are many great ways to deal with the end of a book, there’s nothing wrong with wrapping yourself up with a blanket and getting worked up over what has happened. Just surround yourself with as many things that will make you happy (maybe other than a book) and take as much time as you need to mope over the last chapter.