This is a difficult topic for me, since a lot of these authors are still wonderful. Some I outgrew, some I plan to go back to at a future time, some I may never be able to read again. I stopped auto-buying all the authors on Rowena’s list awhile ago. Some others I stopped buying are…
Hannah Howell
I adore Howell’s older highland romances. She writes fabulous heroines who are smart and plucky and always manage to save themselves. Plus, she does female relationships really well. But after awhile they all sort of blend together. While she’ll always have a special place in my heart, I don’t buy her new releases anymore.
Christine Feehan
Oh, Christine Feehan. Where do I begin? About 14 years ago, Casee sent me the first 4 Dark Series books and told me I had to read them. I stuck with that series for about 15 books until I gave up. I still gobbled up every Sea Haven and Leopard book she put out, though. Now that the Sisters of the Heart series is done, I think it’s time to say goodbye. I’m not interested in the MC books and the Ghostwalker and Leopard series just don’t work for me like they did.
Jill Shalvis
I used to love JS’s small-town contemporary romances. They always managed to hit the spot. It’s not that I’m really over her book, necessarily, just the small-town romances in general. I have a good number of her books in my TBR pile, but until I start reading them again, she’s off my auto-buy list.
J.D. Robb
Robb’s In Death series was a long-time favorite of mine. I eagerly awaited each release and read them as soon as they came out. I think I’m behind about 9 books now. As much as I love Eve and Roarke, I haven’t been in the mood to read them. I may go back to the series at some point, but for now I’m no longer buying them.
Julia Quinn
Y’all. This one is hard to admit, but it’s true. I’ve stopped buying JQ. To be fair, I’m really not reading historicals much at all lately. Even so, when I see a new JQ release I don’t immediately think “I need to buy that”.
Which auto-buy author was the most shocking for you to give up?
Linda Howard would have to take that honour! Followed her slavishly for years, years . . and then her writing voice changed, to the point where I was checking the copyright. I felt quite wretched about giving her up but when it was clear that this new voice was here to stay I jumped ship!
Have also bid farewell to Sandra Brown – read one of her older books and in the sequel she killed the hero of the 1st books off! Outrage/book hitting wall/reader trust broken.
And finally Jayne Ann Krentz – adored her books, still have some, still reread some but am not buying any new.
Linda Howard is a tough one. Some of her books ranks in my top 10 favorite of all time, but her more recent releases are so disappointing.
I never really got into JAK or Sandra Brown, but I completely understand about the killing off of a past hero. Who does that?
I’ve actually stopped most of my auto-buying since my tbr is so out of control. Jill Shalvis, Rachel Gibson, Julia Quinn, and Kristan Higgins are some of the ones that my enthusiasm has cooled on.
Rachel Gibson is another on my list. I loved her early hockey books, but I just don’t feel the same excitement with her anymore.
Jill Shalvis is one that I’m still reading but she’s nowhere near the top of my favorites anymore. She’s more of a habit read but I’m still enjoying her.
Oh, Julia Quinn. I still adore her stuff. She writes such cute and funny historical romances…though I’m wondering how many freaking Bridgertons there can actually be in England.
I still like JQ’s books, I just rarely read them anymore. It may have more to do with my historical slump than anything else, but when I’m in the mood for a historical I tend to reach for other authors instead. It’s strange, I know, since her books tend to be really fun.
Hannah Howell I’ve not read, so I do not need to give her up.
I haven’t read a Christine Feehan book in quite some time.
I only read the occasional Jill Shalvis book.
I’m still happily reading Julia Quinn (though I agree with Rowena that there are a LOT of Bridgertons in England. One went to the colonies in a recent book …. BEWARE!)
And, Holly, I’m with you in that JD Robb’s … in Death series was my absolute favorite series for the longest time. (Shall I shock you by saying that I read the first one when it came out?) I’ve been on hiatus for about six or seven books now, but I do still collect them. I intend to return to the series … one day.
I continued to buy the In Death series for years, but I finally threw in the towel. I came late to the series (I believe 7 or 8 were out when I started) and I binge-read them back-to-back. I intend to go back to the series someday, but I’m not buying them as they’re released any longer.