So I just finished the anime, what’s next?

Favorite. Anime. Ever. That being said I’ve only seen a handful, but this show has been the most captivating for me. Here’s my list of favorite arcs in order:

1. Aincrad (it’s the OG)
2. War of Underworld (this was very well done)
3. Ordinal Scale (this movie was stunning in every way)
4. Alicization
5. Mother’s Rosario (the feels)
6. ALO
7. Phantom Bullet
8. Excalibur (not even that bad but not on the same level as the others)

So with that being said, what’s next? I know Progressive is releasing sometime in December. But until then, are the novels worth reading when I’m caught up in the anime? Did a lot of people go anime first then the novels? Thanks everyone