Book Hangover: a State You’ve Experienced but Didn’t Know the Name for

Have you ever finished a book so good it has left you feeling deflated once it’s over? You could be suffering from a book hangover.

A book hangover is a common affliction for many of us, even if we don’t realize it. It happens when the ending of a book causes emotional distress to the reader which can take some time to recover from.

Book hangovers happen most when a reader has formed a strong attachment to a book. This means that when the book eventually ends, which it has to, the reader isn’t ready for it. It brings a feeling of loss and emptiness, wishing there was more to read.

A book hangover can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. We might even find ourselves thinking about that book a year later. It is a legitimate experience for many of the world’s book lovers, no matter how much others don’t understand.

What’s important to know is that it’s totally normal, and now you have a name for it.

Symptoms of a book hangover:

1. Exhaustion

Book hangovers don’t just apply to the finishing of a book. A book hangover can also be experienced when you stayed up too late reading because you just couldn’t put it down. This makes us tired and agitated the next day due to lack of sleep.

It’s normal to binge read, especially when you just got to the good bit. This stage is almost always toward the end of a book because all the best bits happen toward the end.

2. The urge to share it with everyone

Sometimes a book is so good you have to share it with the world. If you find yourself telling everyone to read it, you’re definitely suffering from a book hangover. If you find yourself jealous but excited for those who haven’t read it yet, you know you’re suffering particularly badly.

The best books are the ones you want to share but also the ones you would erase from memory just to read them again if you could.

3. A hollow, empty feeling

Finishing a book is not always satisfying. It can leave us feeling empty, like something is missing. We miss reading the book and finding out the characters’ next moves. It almost feels like a loss, as though we need to grieve for the characters we got so attached to. This feeling will pass, but we may still think about the characters and storylines for a while.

4. An inability to start a new book

A common symptom of a book hangover is that it’s too hard to start a new book. Almost as though we’d gone through a breakup, we might not be ready to connect with new characters. This is entirely normal, especially if the book didn’t give you the level of closure you needed. Take your time, you’ll be ready one day.

5. A disconnect with reality

The best books pull us into their unique world. We completely lose ourselves in the story and imagine ourselves living alongside the characters. This means that when it’s all over, it can feel difficult to come back into reality.

You may feel a little disconnected for a while, and that’s totally normal. A story powerful enough will do that to you. Give yourself time to reconnect with those around you.

6. Panic you’ll never find another book as good

A natural feeling which accompanies book hangover is an absolute terror of never finding another good book. It’s natural that you can’t imagine yourself finding the same level of connection with a new book. Nothing will ever be as good as a loved book, and it will never be the same. However, when you’re ready, there will be another book out there that’s right for you.

How to treat a book hangover

Treat the affliction for what it is – a loss. Let yourself grieve a little bit and take some time to heal. Let yourself recover in your own time. Have a good cry if you need to and eat some ice cream. Go back and read some of your favorite parts, check out if there are any sequels are in the works.

You don’t have to start a new book right away, only when you’re ready. When you do decide it’s time for a new book, however, sometimes it’s helpful to try something new.

Experiment with a different author or a new genre, they might surprise you. Listen to some podcasts or read some recommendations for a good book when you’re ready for a new one. Take your time, you’ll get past the book hangover eventually.

Book hangovers are the horrible reality that comes from literary art. When we have a particular love for a book, its ending can be a traumatic experience. Book hangovers can take anywhere from days to weeks, to months to get over.

Although painful, focus on the fact that you got to experience a truly great book. If you don’t feel ready for a new book yet, don’t rush it. The next one will come when you’re ready, and the cycle will start all over again.