The book hangover is real: why it hurts when you finish a good book

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Have you ever thought about the psychological reason behind that unpleasant feeling that comes after finishing a really good book?

Often, once a gripping story ends, you feel a deep sadness and a longing for characters who, in fact, never existed. No longer having access to a world you were completely immersed in creates a sense of loss that you can't explain. After all, the characters you read about weren't real. How can they cause such intense pain?

But there is a scientific explanation for this experience, which means it is not simply an overreaction of our mind.

What is a book hangover?

A book hangover is, essentially, an emotional reaction that lasts long after the book is over. Sure, you can feel bad when a beloved character dies or when a novel ends abruptly without a clear resolution. But sometimes, even when the ending is happy, we're still left with a sense of loss: the fact that we can't go back to that story.

"The sadness that readers feel after finishing a book signals the loss of something valuable, in this case, the loss of characters with whom we have formed a very strong connection, or the loss of the entire world that the book has offered us," explains Maja Djikic, associate professor and director of the Self-Development Lab at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

According to her, sometimes "the central issues that the book raises still remain very active in the reader's psyche and, for this reason, he wants more time to reflect and unravel the complexities that continue to bother him."

So, no, you're not alone. This phenomenon is more common and more impactful than you might think.

How to overcome a book hangover

Now that we know why we feel pain after finishing an incredible book, here are some ways to cope with this feeling.

Start a new book

There's a popular saying that the best way to forget something is to replace it with something else. While this advice doesn't apply to every aspect of life, it works wonders when it comes to reading.

If you're missing the old characters, their journeys, and carefully constructed worlds, try a new book. Immerse yourself in the story of another character and, often, you'll find yourself falling in love all over again.

Talk to others about the story

After any major loss, many of us find comfort in keeping memories alive. If you're missing your favorite book, why not talk about it with a friend, a reading group, or an online community of readers? Sharing your thoughts and emotions with people who have read the same story helps you process the experience.

Write down your thoughts and feelings.

Journaling is another useful tool for understanding and coping with the emotions a book has left you with. Many people also keep reading diaries, where they record their personal impressions and evaluations.

Whether on an online book cataloging platform or in a private notebook, putting down on paper our reactions and emotional connection to the story helps process feelings and, at the same time, serves as a tribute to the books we loved the most.