Top 5 standalone books I wished were series

Hello friends!! Welcome to Top 5 Tuesday!! This week’s topic is top 5 standalone books I wished were series!

Alas, the scavenger hunt is over, and now I need to think about things again. Because there are so many standalone books that are completely perfect as they are. And turning them into a series could completely destroy them. So I say this as someone whose favourite book is a standalone novel: be careful what you wish for!! (I mean, we’ve all seen some terrible adaptations in our times, right?!)

Normally I include the blurb of the book and then move to the next one. This week I’m also adding why I’d like it to be a series, or how I would like to see the books adapted into series. You know, if theres any authors out there thinking about turning a Carry On into a trilogy. As an example. You could say. Please don’t do that again.

So, without any further ado, let’s go see my top 5 standalone books that I wished were series!!

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top 5 standalone books I wished were series

Bloodlust and Bonnets — Emily McGovern

Set in early nineteenth-century Britain, Bloodlust & Bonnets follows Lucy, an unworldly debutante who desires a life of passion and intrigue — qualities which earn her the attention of Lady Violet Travesty, the leader of a local vampire cult. 

But before Lucy can embark on her new life of vampiric debauchery, she finds herself unexpectedly thrown together with the flamboyant poet Lord Byron (“from books!”) and a mysterious bounty-hunter named Sham. The unlikely trio lie, flirt, fight, and manipulate each other as they make their way across Britain, disrupting society balls, slaying vampires, and making every effort not to betray their feelings to each other as their personal and romantic lives become increasingly entangled.

Both witty and slapstick, elegant and gory, Emily McGovern’s debut graphic novel pays tribute to and pokes fun at beloved romance tropes, delivering a joyous, action-packed world of friendship and adventure.

OK, so as you may know, I love Emily McGovern’s graphic novels. But Bloodlust and Bonnets will always hold a special place in my queer, romantasy heart. It’s beyond funny (was actually crying with laughter in some parts) and completely irreverant.

Honestly, I would just read 19 more of these. No changes. 10/10 would recommend. Please continue the madness. Because really, where couldn’t you go with a cast like this? Loch Ness Monster, werewolves, across Europe, gargoyles, French revolution, the Vatican, the list is endless. Emily’s even been doing some ancient Nuns in her webcomics lately, and Lucy could hide with them for a moment. So could Byron for that matter. Thee scandalle! *le gasp!*

Back After the Break — Anita Notaro

Lindsay Davidson seems to have it all. A 34-year-old interior designer, she’s about to marry Paul Hayes — think Johnny Depp meets Colin Firth with a hint of Brad Pitt.

Then a phone call rips her life apart. Cue bucktloads of teats and self-doubt, until, amazingly, a chink of light in form of a job of a lifetime.

Working behind the scenes on one of the top-rated TV chat shows opens up a fascinating new world, with as much sex and scandal off-screen!

A fairytale weekend with a hot new presenter gives Lindsay reason to hope again, until a misunderstanding means her heart takes another beating.

Soon, there’s a life-changing decision to be made and meanwhile, Paul wonders if he’s made a mistake…

I have loved this book for so long (actual decades). It’s one of my all-time favourites and I usually reread it every few years. And while I think it’s perfect on its own, I would extend it to a series — but only in a very specific way. You know how in romance series now, each book focusses on a new pairing? That’s how I’d do this one. Lindsay has 2 best friends, and I would absolutely give them their own novels. And maybe even a particular guy character too. But I’d not chnage Lindsay’s story for anything. It would be nice to get little epilogue glimpses of her life through the other books though.

The Hating Game — Sally Thorne

Nemesis (n.)
1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome;
2) A person’s undoing;
3) Joshua Templeman.

Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.

Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job… But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.

I’m not sure I know how to explain this one properly… but I love this book. So much. It is the most perfect enemies to lovers office romance. And I don’t want to change that.

BUT… you know, if the book were extended slightly… maybe made into two or three books. And we went back and did it all chronologically. Maybe with some POVs from Josh as well… I’m just saying, I would read it. Every single word.

Pride — Ibi Zoboi

Zuri Benitez has pride. Brooklyn pride, family pride, and pride in her Afro-Latino roots. But pride might not be enough to save her rapidly gentrifying neighborhood from becoming unrecognizable.

When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, starts to fall for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. Yet as Zuri and Darius are forced to find common ground, their initial dislike shifts into an unexpected understanding.

But with four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, cute boy Warren vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape, or lose it all.

Again, this is another book that I wouldn’t change in the slightest. However, to extend this to a series, I would LOVE (and pay a great deal of money for) to see what Zoboi would do with the other Austen novels. Or the Brontë’s, Dickens, any classics really. Because this is one of the best moden retellings of Pride and Prejudice around.

The Scorpio Races — Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

I debated adding this book to the list. It is already so perfect in my mind. I wouldn’t change a single comma.

But I’m also saying that, I don’t know, if Maggie were to write other books set on Thisby… I would absolutely devour them in moments after release. They wouldn’t be the same. But I also haven’t found a Stiefvater book that I haven’t loved yet.

PARTICIPANTS

What are your top 5 standalone books you wished were series?