To DNF or Not To DNF

The other day, I was discussing my current reading list with friends. I had 13 books—2 started in 2021, 3 in 2022, and the rest over six months ago, except for a few I was actively reading. I am a prolific book finisher. No matter how long ago I started a book, I always feel the need to finish it. However, the idea of returning to a book I abandoned over four years ago feels a bit ridiculous. The problem is that after such a long break, I’d have to reread parts of it to remember what happened—only to be reminded why I stopped in the first place. That puts me right back at square one. At some point, I realised it was time to let some of them go and DNF. Realistically, I knew there was no chance I’d ever return to them. As difficult as it was—because I hate leaving stories unfinished—I had to accept it. 

In my various reading communities, I have friends with varying opinions when it comes to DNFing a book. What does DNF mean you ask? A Book you Did Not Finish. Some will refuse, no matter how much they aren’t enjoying a book, whether they’re bored, hate the plot, or it’s badly written, they simply have to see it through. Some readers run a tight ship—if a book doesn’t grip them, it’s gone. It doesn’t have to be bad, just not enjoyable enough to justify the time. If it’s not delivering, they have no problem letting it go. 

I remember recently reading The Capone Series by Jacquel J. with my friends. It’s a three-book series with spin-offs based on side characters. When I started, I enjoyed it—the main character was captivating and not the usual love interest. Even though it had that “thug” element, it wasn’t over the top (which I can’t handle anymore), and it still felt like the author was genuinely committed to the romance.

However, by book three, I was completely checked out. Miss J lost the plot—God knows why it was stretched into three books when two would have been more than enough. I practically skimmed through the last book just to get it over with. By then, it was clear that the story had completely gone off the rails, and I knew that didn’t bode well for the spin-offs. I was right.

My friends who decided to keep going spent days complaining about how terrible the books were from the characters to the plot, everything. But at that point, they were in too deep to walk away. Now they were stuck in a literary hostage situation, they couldn’t get out of.  Every time they came to complain, I felt so vindicated, because I knew! I cut my losses early on and maintained my peace.  I have one friend who is now on a spinoff 4, ( a character she hates, mind you), but because she has started, she will be finishing, despite acknowledging that everyone has lost their mind.

To that, I say—reading is meant to be enjoyable, right? So why force yourself through a book you already know won’t be a good experience? Because I’m feeling a bit contrarian today, here are some reasons to DNF a book.

Reason 1 to DNF: Book Quality

Sometimes, let’s face it, it’s just a bad book. 😂 And I don’t mean that in a subjective ‘it’s not my taste’ way—I mean it’s bad for a bunch of reasons. Maybe the story isn’t engaging, the pacing is all over the place, or the writing feels childish. The characters? Either they’re downright annoying, lack any real depth, or have no clear arc to follow. Without that, there’s nothing to connect to, nothing to feel invested in, nothing to look forward to. And more often than not, it just ends up being… boring.

Then, there are books that are badly written. This isn’t up for debate; it’s a fact. Whether it’s a barrage of grammatical errors or the inability to properly use literary techniques, it’s clear that some authors just can’t convey what they’re trying to say. Instead, we’re stuck in the trap of ‘telling’ instead of ‘showing,’ and it’s exhausting. I am one of those people who can’t overlook grammar, spelling, and bad sentence structure in a book – it throws me off. Especially at the pace which I read, it can stop me in my tracks and disrupt my flow.

Reason 2 to DNF: It is not by force!

Sometimes, a book just isn’t your taste. The dullness of a book is incredibly subjective, so never feel weird if you’re not captivated by something that others love. Your needs as a reader are different, and sometimes a book just doesn’t meet them. It might not even be the book’s fault – you simply aren’t connecting with it. That’s okay! Not every book is meant to resonate with every reader, and that’s what makes reading so personal.

There’s no real reason to force yourself to do something you don’t want to, especially when it’s entirely up to you. We’re not in school anymore—there’s no required reading. No one’s grading you, and there’s no report card waiting at the end. The beauty of reading is that you’re doing it because you want to, because you love it, and because it brings you joy. Sure, not every book is going to spark intense emotions, and some are just… okay. But if you’re trudging through a novel or finding it difficult to get through and you’re not enjoying it, it’s perfectly fine to put it down. Reading shouldn’t feel like a chore—it’s meant to be an escape, not a forced activity. So, it’s not about pushing through just for the sake of it.

Sometimes, pushing through a book just isn’t worth it. If a story fails to engage, the writing style feels tedious, or the characters lack depth, it’s okay to DNF. Reading should be enjoyable, not a chore. Please Life is way too short for books that don’t spark any excitement for you. Leave that book alone and free up your time for something better, whether it’s slow pacing, problematic themes, or simply not the right book for your mood. Don’t force yourself—countless amazing books are waiting. This doesn’t mean don’t challenge yourself, but please, prioritise enjoyment and move on without guilt – no one is going to beat you! Your next favourite read could be just ahead! It is always important to be introspective about the amount we are reading, and why?

Of course, who am I to tell you what to do? Do what you want—read what you like! Besides, I’ll happily sit back and listen to my friends rant about the craziness they just read because, honestly, the rundown is always entertaining. There’s no one more animated and captivating than a girl describing the absurdity of a book she just finished. It is one of my favourite pastimes. 

As a reformed book finisher, I’m slowly learning to let books go and that starts with deleting them from my ‘Currently reading’ on goodreads. If I can’t see them, I can’t be reminded and they don’t exist!

Once again I do hope I have provided some food for thought and you have enjoyed reading. 

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