Keeping Track Of Book Series’


Keeping Track Of Book Series’

My favorite type of books are books that are apart of a series. Why? Well, I think that it allows us to get to know the characters and world better, and become more apart of it.

But sometimes it seems like authors and publishers make it extremely difficult to follow a series in order. A post by Jennifer from Little Shelf got me to really thinking about this some more.

I’m a big read-a-series-in-order-only kind of girl. I refuse to read them out of order. If a book later in a series looks good, I start from the beginning. Even if there isn’t really much of a continual storyline throughout the series, it helps a lot when characters from previous books pop up later on. I think it makes the world more dynamic and interesting, and overall makes the books more enjoyable.

So I’ve decided to write down for you guys, my own personal method for keeping track of series’ I’m following. I know it’s not necessarily genius or anything, but it took me a little while to figure out what works best for me, and this does!

Goodreads and FictFact to Track Series

I use a combination of Goodreads and FictFact mostly. The reason for this is because, as of now, Goodreads doesn’t really have a good way to keep track of a series other than their {much loved} series pages. The problem is that they don’t notify me when there’s a new book in a series I’m following.

On the other hand, FictFact is really only good for keeping track of a series, not so much rating/reviewing and there is virtually no community there at all. The downside to FictFact is that their lists are not always up-do-date, and they don’t always include novellas/anthologies that are part of a series. That’s where still checking back to the Goodreads series pages every once in a while can be a good idea.

But the big thing that FictFact does that we want is they will send you a weekly email letting you know if new books have been added to the series you follow and if there are books from the series you follow coming out this week. This is the main reason FictFact is apart of my system.

Here’s a quick rundown of my process when I’m working on catching up on a series:

  1. I add the first book in a series to my Goodreads (GR) “to-read” shelf. I don’t bother adding all of the series until I’ve started it and know I want to continue.
  2. When I start the first book in a series, I create a GR shelf called “series-title-of-the-series”. I add all the books from that series to this shelf so I can easily check back to see what’s next and what I have left to read before I’m current.
  3. Then I go into my FictFact (FF) account and add the series to my “Catching Up” list. More on my FF lists later.
  4. As I’m reading the series, I mark off the book on FF as read, and rate/review it on GR, as well as here on my blog.
  5. When I’m caught up on a series, I delete the series shelf on GR so I don’t have a million series shelves on there, and I add the next one in that series to my “to-read-coming-soon” shelf (I order that shelf by Date Published btw). Now, I can keep an eye on the next one in the series but don’t need to have an entire shelf for it.
  6. I also move that series to the “Current” list on my FF account, since I’m current on it now!

As for my FictFact lists. These are the only lists I have on my FictFact account. I don’t bother shelving them as detailed as I do on my Goodreads account, because there’s really no point to.

  • Done – Series’ that are supposedly done (according to the author) but I want to keep an eye on just in case they come back from the grave (hey, it’s happened before).
  • Current – Series’ that I’ve read all of the books in, up until the most recent one that hasn’t come out yet.
  • Catching Up – Series’ I’m working on catching up on.
  • On Hiatus – Series’ that I am putting on hold (temporarily or indefinitely-ish) because I’m not really into them at the moment.
  • Starting Next – Series’ that I have the first one on hold at my library or on order and will be starting when I get them.

So that’s pretty much it. I know it sounds a bit crazy, but it’s really an easy system for me. The combination of using FictFact and Goodreads just works and I truly hope that one day they join forces or Goodreads comes up with a similar way (at least an email notification or something) to follow a series.

So how do you keep track of the series’ you like to follow?

  • You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

    Aisling Grey is a courier enjoying a free, work-related trip to Paris when she learns she's a Guardian. That's a keeper of the Gates of Hell, for those who don't know. She finds this out from Drake Vireo, who's scrumptiously sexy-at least in his human form. Now Drake has stolen the package Aisling was sent to deliver, and she must track him down, get the package, and try to resist the passion boiling inside her.
  • Written in Red by Anne Bishop

    As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others. Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.
  • Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

    When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.
Load More Related Articles
  • Dani Harper

    Dani Harper  Jul 30 Review:Changeling Dream by Dani Harper Author: Dani HarperSeries: Changeling, #2Genre: Paranormal RomancePublisher: Brava (Imprint of Kensington)Date Published: ...
  • Christopher Pike

    Christopher Pike  Oct 28 Review:Thirst No.4:The Shadow of Death by Christopher Pike Author: Christopher PikeSeries: Thirst, #4Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young AdultPublisher: ...
  • Chloe Neill

    Chloe Neill  Jun 15 Review:Biting Cold by Chloe Neill Author: Chloe NeillSeries: Chicagoland Vampires, #6Genre: Urban FantasyPublisher: NAL (Imprint of Penguin)Date ...
Load More By Julie
  • Starcrossed

    Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini Author: Josephine Angelini Series: Starcrossed, #1 Publisher: HarperTeen Date Published: May 31, 2011 Genre(s): Young Adult ...
  • The Chemical Garden

    Review: Wither by Lauren DeStefano Author: Lauren DeStefano Series: The Chemical Garden, #1 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Date Published: March 22, ...
  • The Fallen Angels

    Review: Envy by J.R. Ward Author: J.R. Ward Series: The Fallen Angels, #3 Publisher: Signet Date Published: September 6, 2011 Genre(s): ...
Load More In Notes

Leave a Reply

Check Also

Dani Harper

Dani Harper  Jul 30 Review:Changeling Dream by Dani ...

Welcome to The YA Shelf

Helping you find the BEST young adult literature online! We're YA authors, readers and bibliophiles, who read everything and sometimes post book reviews and fandom summaries. Check out our "best books for teens" lists to see our favorites, or browse nearly 300+ book reviews!

Check out today's deals or See what's hot! Today's FREE books
Today's BestSellers


imlovingbooks

Top Posts & Pages

50 YA fiction tropes and cliches we can't get enough of!
The Best YA Fae Fantasy Books
The Best YA/Teen Fiction Books With Zombies
Sarah J Maas and YA cancel culture (what's up?)
The Best Time Travel Books for Teens
The YA shelf (young adult literature reviews)
The Best Greek Mythology Based Books for Teens
The Best Angel and Fallen Angel Romances for Teens

Search

Category Posts