What to Read While Waiting for the Next Book in a Series

The honest answer to what to read while waiting for the next book in a series: read the side doors. Prequels, novellas, and short fiction set in the same world scratch the exact itch a full sequel would, without asking you to fall in love with a whole new cast. When those run out, go one step sideways — same tone, different author — rather than one step down.

Why is waiting for the next book in a series so hard?

Because a series doesn’t just give you a plot. It gives you a place. You learn the rules of that world, the rhythm of its dialogue, who can be trusted and who absolutely cannot — and then the door closes and you’re standing in the hallway holding a bookmark. That’s not impatience. That’s the book working.

I feel it from the other side, too. I’m writing the next Bull Moose book right now, and I’m aware every day that people are waiting. The wait is real. Here’s how I’d fill it.

What actually works during the wait?

Start with the prequel. Most series have one, and most readers skip it. It’s the closest thing to a legal refill — same world, same voltage, usually a fast read. Mine is The Senate Deception, and it’s free.

Reread the last book — but out of order. Don’t restart from page one. Jump to the three or four scenes you still think about. Second reads are where you catch the setup for whatever’s coming next, and authors plant more than you think.

Go sideways, not down. The mistake is grabbing whatever’s nearest on the shelf and blaming the book when it doesn’t land. Match the feeling instead: if you want procedural dread, read procedural dread. If you want institutions under strain, read that. A clear series reading order for something new beats a random one-off every time.

Or start a series that’s already finished. There’s a particular peace in knowing every book exists and nobody can leave you on a cliff. Book three of mine, The Nine-Hour President, lands hard — but it’s also a good reminder that the wait ends.

What are you reading between installments right now? Tell me in the comments — I steal recommendations shamelessly.

Frequently asked questions

What should I read while waiting for the next book in a series? Start with any prequel or novella in the same world, then move to books that match the tone rather than the topic. Completed series are also a good bridge, since you can read straight through without another wait.

Is it worth rereading a series before the next book comes out? Yes, but selectively. Rereading the final third of the most recent book is usually enough to restore the details you need, and second reads surface setup you missed the first time.

Where should I start with the Bull Moose series? Begin with the free prequel, The Senate Deception, or jump straight into book one, What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose. The reading order page lays out the full sequence.

Want a political thriller you can’t put down? Claim your free copy of The Senate Deception, the award-winning prequel to the Bull Moose series — and join 3,000+ readers who never miss a release.

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About the author: Michael Fedor is the award-winning author of the Bull Moose political thriller series. Drawing on 20 years inside politics and campaigns, he writes pulse-pounding fiction about power, democracy, and the fragile machinery of the republic.