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The Bookish Deep Dive · Nov 25, 2025 · 16 min

The Psychology of Cliffhangers

Do you remember a cliffhanger that you loved or has stayed with you or kept you reading at the time? Cliffhangers are deliberate moments of unresolved tension, where the story pauses right at the point where your mind expects answers. And that’s exactly what we’re exploring today: What exactly is a cliffhanger? ​The psychology behind cliffhangers ​4 key ways authors craft great cliffhangers ​How cliffhangers shape our reading experience I hope you enjoy, and let me know in the podcast comments which cliffhanger you remember and loved. https://linktr.ee/eves.bookclub

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show notes

Do you remember a cliffhanger that you loved or has stayed with you or kept you reading at the time? Cliffhangers are deliberate moments of unresolved tension, where the story pauses right at the point where your mind expects answers. And that’s exactly what we’re exploring today:


  • What exactly is a cliffhanger?
  • ​The psychology behind cliffhangers
  • ​4 key ways authors craft great cliffhangers
  • ​How cliffhangers shape our reading experience


I hope you enjoy, and let me know in the podcast comments which cliffhanger you remember and loved.


https://linktr.ee/eves.bookclub