The ACOTAR Book Hangover is Real. Here’s Your Cure.

Finishing a series like A Court of Thorns and Roses leaves a gaping hole in your soul, doesn’t it? I’ve seen it a thousand times. Someone comes to me, looking a little lost, and says, “I just finished ACOTAR… what on earth do I read now?” You’re not just looking for another book with fae and magic. You’re chasing a feeling—that perfect storm of epic world-building, a hard-won romance, and watching a character climb out of the darkness and find their strength.

So, let’s get you sorted. Think of me as your personal book navigator. Finding your next obsession isn’t about matching plots; it’s about pinpointing what you loved most. To make it super easy, here’s a quick cheat sheet:

• If you loved the fae court politics & backstabbing: Jump straight to The Cruel Prince.
• If you just want MORE epic romance & spice:From Blood and Ash is calling your name.
• If you miss the “found family” Inner Circle vibes: Go directly to Six of Crows. Do not pass Go.
• If you want a quick, beautiful standalone fairy tale: You need to read Uprooted.

For each recommendation, I’ll give you the real-world details: a spice rating (from 1 to 5 ), a “found family” score, and some tips on where to find them. My goal is to make sure your next read is an absolute win, not a letdown.

1. Throne of Glass

Okay, let’s start with the most natural transition. Moving to this series often feels like coming home. The storytelling style, the character focus, and the way the world unfolds will feel incredibly familiar and comforting.

Spice Level: (Starts low and builds to a solid 2.5/5 in later books)

Found Family Score: 5/5 (It takes a few books, but it becomes legendary)

At its heart, this is a story about a young woman, Celaena Sardothien, who is thrown into a deadly competition after surviving immense trauma. We get to watch her slowly let her guard down, build powerful relationships, and grow into the leader she was meant to be. If you lived for Feyre’s journey of finding her power and her people, Celaena’s path will hit all the right notes.

Heads up, though! The first two books feel like a classic YA fantasy focusing on an assassin’s tournament and court drama. The series expands massively around book three, Heir of Fire, transforming into a continent-spanning epic with gods and massive stakes. My advice? Be patient. The grand scale you love is there; it just takes a bit to rev up.

Good to know: This is an 8-book commitment, so settle in! You can find the paperbacks for around $12-$15 each at Barnes & Noble or online. There’s a huge debate on when to read the prequel, The Assassin’s Blade. Honestly, there’s no wrong answer, but here’s how I break it down for people:

• The Romantic’s Path: Read the prequel after book three, Heir of Fire. This maximizes the emotional gut punch. Trust me on this.
• The Purist’s Path: Read it in publication order (after book two). This gives you context as you go.

The audiobook narration is top-notch, by the way—a great choice if you’re a listener!

My Two Cents: This is a safe and incredibly rewarding bet. It delivers that perfect mix of action, political scheming, and deep character bonds. Just be ready for the story to shift from one girl’s trials to a massive, multi-POV war epic.

2. The Cruel Prince

Did the dangerous games and ancient, tricky rules of the fae courts fascinate you? If you loved the backstabbing politics of Prythian, then welcome to Elfhame. The creators of this world are masters of fae lore, and it shows.

Spice Level: (It’s all about the tension, not the spice)

Found Family Score: 2/5 (The focus is on one girl against the world)

This series cranks the fae court intrigue up to a hundred. It follows Jude, a human girl trying to survive in the High Court of Faerie where she’s despised for her mortality. She has no magic, so her only weapons are her wits and her willingness to be as cunning and cruel as the fae. The romance is the ultimate enemies-to-lovers story, built on genuine hatred and manipulation between Jude and the arrogant Prince Cardan. It’s a much sharper, more antagonistic dynamic than you might be used to.

The writing is sharp, clever, and fast-paced. It’s less about lush scenery and more about political chess, where every conversation has a hidden meaning. It’s a completed trilogy, so it’s a much quicker read. A great weekend binge!

Good to know: The romance is a very, very slow burn across three books, and to be frank, it’s borderline toxic at times. Cardan is no Rhysand. He’s genuinely cruel, and his journey is a complicated one. I always warn readers about the intense bullying and emotional manipulation. It’s a fantastic series, but you have to be in the right headspace for it.

My Two Cents: If you wanted more politics, more betrayal, and a romance with sharper teeth, this is your series. It’s more of a political thriller with a dark romantic core, and it’s brilliant.

3. From Blood and Ash

When someone tells me they want the high-heat romance and jaw-dropping plot twists of ACOTAR, this is one of the first books I pull off the shelf. It has that addictive quality that makes you say, “just one more chapter.”

Spice Level: (A solid 5/5. This is the main event.)

Found Family Score: 3/5 (A solid crew forms, but the focus is the main couple)

The story is about Poppy, a sheltered young woman chosen for a divine purpose who secretly yearns for freedom. Then she meets Hawke, a mysterious and ridiculously charming guard who pushes her to break all the rules. The parallels are obvious: a heroine kept in the dark, a witty love interest with a thousand secrets, and a world that’s about to be turned upside down. The slow reveal of who—and what—everyone truly is drives the plot forward.

The writing is designed for pure immersion. The chapters are punchy and almost always end on a cliffhanger, making it impossible to put down. Let me be direct: if you felt ACOTAR was a 3/5 on the spice scale, this one is a confident 5/5. The explicit romantic scenes are frequent and central to the plot.

Good to know: This is an ongoing series, and that’s a crucial piece of info. The plot twists are wild, but I’ve seen some readers get a little frustrated with the pacing of answers in later books. You can often find the first book on Kindle Unlimited, which is a great, low-cost way to see if it’s for you.

My Two Cents: This is for the reader who wants the ACOTAR feeling turned up to eleven. More secrets, more banter, and way more spice. It prioritizes the romantic fantasy experience above all else and absolutely delivers.

4. Six of Crows

Let’s be real. For many of us, what we miss most isn’t just the main couple, but the Inner Circle. That found family of misfits who would burn the world down for each other. If that’s you, I have two words: Six of Crows.

Spice Level: (Slow burn romance, no on-page spice)

Found Family Score: 5/5 (This is the gold standard for found family!)

This isn’t a story about one hero; it’s about a crew of six brilliant outcasts hired to pull off an impossible heist. The story is told from multiple perspectives, so you get deep into the minds of a criminal mastermind, a spy, a sharpshooter, a demolitions expert, a runaway, and a convict. The witty banter, fierce loyalty, and complicated relationships are the absolute soul of this story. If you ache for the dynamic between Rhys, Feyre, and their friends, you will fall head over heels for Kaz Brekker’s crew.

The plot is like a masterfully crafted puzzle box, full of twists and turns. And the world, inspired by a gritty, crime-ridden version of Amsterdam, feels so real you can almost smell the sea and the gunpowder.

Good to know: This is a duology, so it’s a quick and deeply satisfying commitment. It’s set in the same universe as the Shadow and Bone trilogy, but you absolutely DO NOT need to read that first. In fact, many people (myself included) think it’s better to start here. The audiobook is a full-cast production, and it is phenomenal—seriously, one of the best out there.

My Two Cents: This is a masterpiece of character and plot. While it’s lighter on the explicit romance, it over-delivers on everything else. It’s the perfect cure for anyone missing that found-family feeling.

5. Uprooted

Maybe what you loved most about ACOTAR wasn’t the spice or the politics, but its deep roots in classic fairy tales, especially the Beauty and the Beast vibes of the first book. If so, Uprooted is for you. This book feels like a dark, gorgeous fairy tale that was lost to time and just rediscovered.

Spice Level: (Subtle, slow-burn, and more emotional than physical)

Found Family Score: 1/5 (This is a very focused, personal journey)

This is a standalone novel—perfect if you’re not ready for another huge series! It follows Agnieszka, a clumsy village girl who lives in the shadow of a corrupting, malevolent forest. She gets chosen to serve a cold, immortal wizard known as the Dragon. Their relationship starts out prickly and argumentative (a classic grumpy-sunshine dynamic), but they must learn to work together to fight the evil Wood. The theme of a woman discovering her own messy, unpredictable power will feel very familiar.

The writing is just… beautiful. It’s lush and atmospheric, and the magic system feels ancient and intuitive, like weaving or painting rather than a set of rules.

Good to know: The pacing is slower, especially at the beginning, as it focuses on Agnieszka’s life in the Dragon’s tower. The horror elements related to the Wood are genuinely creepy and unsettling, more atmospheric than gory, but definitely something to be aware of.

My Two Cents: This is for the reader who appreciates beautiful prose, a unique magic system, and a story with a deep folklore heart. It captures that fairy-tale essence while being entirely its own enchanting thing.

A Note on Fourth Wing & Other Big Trends

I know what you’re thinking: “Where’s Fourth Wing?” And that’s a great question! It’s the other massive romantasy book right now, and it definitely hits a lot of the same notes: a heroine thrown into a deadly school, a snarky enemies-to-lovers romance, and, of course, dragons. It’s a fantastic, super-addictive read.

So why isn’t it on the main list? These recommendations are for books that have stood the test of time a bit more and represent different facets of what makes ACOTAR special. Think of them as the foundational pillars. Fourth Wing is an excellent next step after you’ve explored some of these, especially if you find yourself craving that high-stakes, fast-paced action again.

The worlds of fantasy are endless. That post-series hangover is tough, but it’s also an incredible opportunity to find a new world to get lost in and new characters to love.

Okay, your turn! What did you read after ACOTAR that saved you from the slump? Drop your recommendations in the comments below—let’s help each other out!

Galerie d’inspiration

How can I make my next read feel as immersive as ACOTAR?

Sometimes the magic isn’t just in the words, but in the world you build around them. Try creating a sensory ritual. For a dark, intense fantasy like Fourth Wing, dim the lights and light a candle with notes of worn leather and smoke. For a whimsical fae story, brew a cup of herbal tea—perhaps hibiscus and rosehips. On Spotify, search for

Physical Book: The tactile joy of turning a page, the scent of paper, and the visual satisfaction of a beautiful cover. Special editions from places like FairyLoot or Illumicrate make for stunning shelf art.

Audiobook: The perfect way to get lost in a story during a commute or while doing chores. A great narrator, like Stina Nielsen for The Serpent and the Wings of Night, can add a whole new layer of emotion and characterization. Services like Libby let you borrow them for free from your library.

Ultimately, the best format is the one that gets you reading.