Reader Mailbag: Books You Want A Sequel To
In the March 2025 newsletter we asked readers what books they wanted a sequel to. Here are their responses:
Chris: Oh my gosh, Graeme, two of the books you mentioned that you’d like to see a sequel (or something inspired by) to are ones that I’d also like to see more of! While Replay by Ken Grimwood and 11/22/63 by Stephen King certainly stand on their own, I enjoyed them so much that it would be fascinating to read more in the storyline. While Mr. Grimwood is, sadly, no longer with us, perhaps Mr. King could be persuaded to write a sequel? Of course, a good/great artist also knows when to stop.
Jenny: I read a book called One Kick by Chelsea Cain. I so wanted a sequel and then there was talk of one but it never happened. I want it!
I see that Suzanne Collins is coming out with a new Huger Games book. I would love to have a new Underland book which is the series of hers that I prefer.
Also, I really got into Nicci French’s Frieda Klein books. I thought we had reached the end when the days of the week titles reached Sunday Silence, but then they came out with Day of the Dead so I am eternally hopeful of another book.
Christina: I had to think about this one, but I think I would have liked to have had a sequel to Kathryn Stockett’s book, “The Help.” Maybe now that I have put that out there to the universe it will happen!?!
Judi: I would really like to read a sequels to Jenny Colgan’s An Island Wedding. The author has said that she has no plans for a sequel but we readers really need to know what happens next. We were left on a bit of a cliffhanger with two characters.
Doris: I also would love to see a sequel to 11/22/63, thanks for the recommendation in your previous newsletter.
The other book I would like a sequel to is
YOU ARE HERE by David Nicholls
It’s a relatively new book, I just read it in two days, which is unusual for me 😉 couldn’t put it down. It is funny, emotional and makes you want to go on the Coast to Coast walk from the Lake District to the Yorkshire coast. Check it out
Phillip: The Mysterious Rider by Zane Grey
Linda: Found out an apt. came up much earlier than I expected. Had to finishing packing, then had to finish packing. I am hoping to catch up this month. Right now I cannot even think of a book that needed a sequel. But one book I wish would continue as a series is The Firm. I know there was one sequel, but I love the characters so much I could see them in a series. Same with The Pelican Brief. Same. I loved the characters and would love to see a series. There is a theme here. I love lawyer and doctor books, so I always want more of them.
Joy: I would like to see what happens to Cal and Abbra in East of Eden. If he had future contact with his mother and if he continued to care for his dad
Jackie: Pride and Prejudice.
Elizabeth: I keep thinking Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn needs a sequel. I also would love to read the further adventures of The Expand by Chris Pavone.
Deana: As soon as I saw the discussion question about a book I would like to see a sequel for I immediately thought of 11/22/63. It was a book I mourned ending. As you said it would be great to see him explore another event in the same way.
So I totally agree with you.
Carol: I believe other writers have attempted sequels to the below books but I think your query implies we still would use the original author. Certainly no other writer has successfully written a worthy sequel to any of these. Such attempts have fallen very short of the mark. Some of them seem impossible for sequels but you didn’t specify how hard it was to write the sequels. The books are:
Pride and Prejudice, Austen
Gone with the Wind, Mitchell
To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee
In Cold Blood, Capote
Executioner’s Song, Mailer
I would also give anything to have EF Benson return and write book #7 of Mapp & Lucia. Ditto for PG Wodehouse with Jeeves and Wooster. Both authors gave us plenty of sequels but one more would be a gift from the gods.
I’m actually answering last months question, I think. I really wanted the Sister Frivesse mysteries to continue, but the author died, so there are no more.
As for this month’s question: I usually read in bed, so no eating there, but I ALWAYS take a book with me when I go out to eat. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner…doesn’t matter. I’ll have a book with me. I’m rarely with another human when I go out to eat, so I bring a book.
Thanks for the feedback much appreciated 🙂 Yep if I am eating alone I am always reading 🙂