Buying a Whole Ebook Series: When It Pays Off

Series are the heart of reading for many people: familiar characters, a world to return to, and the joy of starting the next book the moment you finish one. They can also add up to a lot of money. This guide shows when buying a series at once is a good idea, how series deals work, and how to get the most from them.

How series pages work on BooksOasis

Every series on BooksOasis has its own page listing all its books in order. From that page, you can:

• Buy the first books, such as the first three, in one purchase.
• Buy the whole series in one purchase.
• Choose ebooks or print for the set.
• Skip books you own: they are left out of the price automatically.

The series of the week

Each week, BooksOasis features one series (two once enough series are available) at a discount. It changes every Monday, so there is always a new chance to pick up a series you have been meaning to start.

Print discounts are smaller because every printed copy has a real printing cost. The discount appears on the series page and on each book while the deal runs, with the regular price shown for comparison.

How much can you save?

Here is an example for a series of eight ebooks at $9.99 each:

Example calculations for illustration; prices vary by series.

For a long series, a whole-series deal can halve the cost of years of reading.

When buying the whole series makes sense

• You loved book one and want to read on without waiting.
• The series is complete, so there is no risk of an unfinished story.
• A series deal is running, especially a whole-series discount.
• You are planning a holiday and want a long, absorbing read ready offline.
• It is a devotional or study series you plan to read over months.

When to buy just the first books

• You haven't read the author before.
• The series is long and you aren't sure it is for you.
• Reviews mention the series changes direction.
• You are buying as a gift and want to test the recipient's interest.

Buying the first three is a good middle path: enough to be sure, with a saving when a deal is on.

Reading a series in order

Most series read best in their numbered order, and series pages list books that way. A few tips:

• Check for prequels. Some series have a book set earlier but published later; the series page shows the intended order.
• Standalone volumes: devotional and non-fiction series often let you read volumes in any order. Songs of the Redeemed and A Firm Foundation, for example, stand alone volume by volume.
• Keep your place: in Oasis Reader, Home shows the book you are reading and the next books in any series you are reading.

Series you can read on BooksOasis now

Songs of the Redeemed, 18 volumes

Devotional reflections on beloved hymns, each volume exploring one hymn's story, Scripture and meaning.

See all 18 volumes →

A Firm Foundation, 7 volumes

Seven 30-day devotionals, from the gospel and identity in Christ to prayer and standing firm.

See all 7 volumes →

Browse all series →

Series deals vs box sets

A box set is a single product containing several books, often as one long file. A series deal discounts the individual books in a series. The difference matters:

What makes a series worth committing to

• A strong first book that leaves you wanting more, not confused.
• Consistent quality, which reviews of later books reveal.
• A clear arc, so each book moves the larger story or theme forward.
• A finished run, or a steady release pace from the author.
• Books you would re-read, which makes owning them worthwhile.

Avoiding series fatigue

Reading ten books of the same series back to back can be wonderful, or can wear out your enjoyment. Many readers alternate: a book from the series, then something different, then back. With devotional series, a pause between volumes gives each one room to settle. There is no rule except enjoying it.

Reading a series together

Series are perfect for shared reading. A family can work through a devotional series one volume a month; a book club can take a history series a book per meeting; friends can race each other through a thriller series. Each person reads on their own account, keeping their own place, highlights and notes.

Series vs subscriptions

Many readers use a subscription such as Kindle Unlimited mainly to binge series. Buying a series on a deal can be a better fit: you pay once, keep the books forever, and can re-read without paying again. See Kindle Unlimited alternatives.

Keeping track of a long series

With a long series, it is easy to lose track of where you are. Oasis Reader's Home shows the book you are reading under Continue reading, along with the next books in any series you are reading, so the next volume is always one tap away. Highlights and notes stay with each book, which helps when a later volume refers back to an earlier one.

Series as gifts

A whole series in paperback or hardcover makes a generous gift, especially for someone starting a devotional journey or a favourite genre. Order print editions from the series page and have them shipped. For ebooks, the books go into the buyer's own library, so they suit your own reading best.

Ebook or print for a series?

Ebooks suit most series reading: they are cheaper, discounted more deeply in series deals, and the next book is ready in seconds. Print suits series you want to display, lend or give, and hardcovers make a handsome shelf. Many readers read the ebooks, then buy a favourite series in hardcover later as a keepsake.

Three ways readers use series deals

The binge reader

Waits for a series she has saved to become the series of the week, then buys the whole set at 50% off and reads it over a month.

The cautious reader

Buys the first three at 30% off, and only buys the rest once he is sure the series is for him.

The devotional reader

Buys a whole devotional series and reads one volume a month, keeping highlights of the lines that matter most.

Tips for series deals

1. Save series to your favourites so you notice when one becomes the series of the week.
2. Check on Mondays, when the series of the week changes.
3. Don't worry about owning a few already; they won't be charged again.
4. Download before travelling so the whole series is ready offline.
5. Mind the end date; the discount ends when the week does.

In short

Buy a whole series when you know you will read it: after a great first book, for a complete series, or when a series deal makes the set much cheaper. Otherwise, start with the first books. With series pages, weekly deals and no double charging, building a series library can cost far less than buying book by book.

Writing a book of your own? Read our self-publishing guides.