Standalone
Also known as Stand-alone · Standalone novel
A standalone is a book that tells a complete story on its own, with no sequel needed.
Readers look for standalones for practical reasons. There’s no cliffhanger, no waiting a year and a half for the ending, and no need to commit to six books before you know if you even like the writing. After a long series, a standalone is often what gets people out of a reading slump.
The label has got a bit fuzzy. A standalone in a shared world is set alongside other books but wraps up completely. A companion novel follows different characters in the same setting and can be read in any order. And a “standalone with series potential” is a complete book whose sequel depends on how well it sells. That sequel might never come, and the book might turn out to be less finished than it looked.
It’s easy to check before you start. See if the book is listed with a series name and number, and skim reviews for the word “cliffhanger”. Most reviewers are happy to mention an unresolved ending, because so many readers want to know.
Standalone: common questions
How do you know if a book is a standalone?
Check whether it’s listed with a series name and number, and look for reviews that mention a cliffhanger. Publishers sometimes call the first book in a series a “standalone with series potential”, so read that label carefully.
What is a companion novel?
A book set in the same world as another one, usually following different characters, that you can read on its own and in any order.