• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Connect With Me
    • Request A Review
    • Beta Reading Requests
    • Policies
    • Testimonials
  • Book Review Archive
    • Book Review Archive
    • Audiobook Review Archive
    • Spooky Children’s Book Review Archive
  • Resources
    • A Running List of 2023 Horror Book Releases
    • Interview Archive
    • List of Horror Author Online Bookshops
    • List of Horror Publishers That Sell Books Directly
    • Podcast Recs
    • Referral Links
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Goodreads
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Erica Robyn Reads

a horror book review blog

Recent Posts

Magick by Judith Sonnet book photo by Erica Robyn Reads

Magick by Judith Sonnet | Book Review

Depart, Depart by Sim Kern book photo

Depart, Depart by Sim Kern | Book Review

American Cannibal Anthology edited by Rebecca Rowland

American Cannibal Anthology edited by Rebecca Rowland | Book Review

[Book Blogger Hop] What I Do When I’m Not Enjoying A Book

May 24, 2019      Erica Robyn      32 Comments

Book Blogger Hop Meme

Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer, where you answer a question and join a “hop”. The purpose is to help bloggers discover and get to know one another.

For this week’s Book Blogger Hop, Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews asked:

Do you continue with a book even though you aren’t liking it?

BBH My Answer

This is a tricky one.

I used to refuse to DNF. I would push through every book no matter what. While I finally got myself to a place where I’m okay DNFing books, I’m still working on it.

My goal is certainly to put down a book when I’m not enjoying it. I’ve wasted my time pushing through far too many books that I wasn’t enjoying just to end up rating them 1 or 2 stars. My reading time is just too precious to me to keep getting stuck in that cycle.

Speaking of… I have a book on my table that I need to DNF. I’m off to do that right now 🙂

Thanks for reading!
I’d love to hear your personal preferences when it comes to DNFing or pushing through.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Myra Dutkiewicz says

    May 24, 2019 at 7:19 am

    It depends on the story being told. It’s usually writing style that will put me off. If the story unique and different I’ll push through if I want to know how it ends. If it’s a “this has been done before” book(i.e. just another romance, crime, etc.) I’ll DNF it. And then there’smy recent attempt at Wuthering Heights, a much loved classic… I just didn’t “get it” and it took me forever to push through. I can’t fault it, it just wasn’t for me but I’m glad to be able to tick it off. That as a DNF would forever hang over my head!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 7:40 am

      Oh man, trying to get through classics that just aren’t working for you is the most difficult!!

      Reply
  2. Angela says

    May 24, 2019 at 7:51 am

    I definitely DNF a lot! Sometimes I can tell within the first couple pages that a book isn’t going to work for me.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 7:55 am

      Same! 🙂 I’m still working on getting better at putting books down!

      Reply
  3. chucklesthescot says

    May 24, 2019 at 7:56 am

    As soon as I stop being interested in the book, I ditch it and move on to my next read. I have too many books to read and very little time to waste on things I don’t like!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 7:58 am

      Yeah!! That’s such a good process. I need to work on that!

      Reply
  4. Paige Schildkamp says

    May 24, 2019 at 10:06 am

    This is so tough! I always hate not finishing something. BUT, life is short (and there are SO MANY BOOKS), so I’m trying to be better about that!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 4:08 pm

      Right?! It’s so complicated!!

      Reply
  5. Sara says

    May 24, 2019 at 12:52 pm

    If I DNF a book it’s because it really sucks. I try three different times to read it and if I just can’t, then I’m done. But if I DNF a review book (which I RARELY do because I feel like it’s my job to finish it and review it) I’m fairly detailed on why it was a DNF.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 4:08 pm

      Great answer!!

      Reply
  6. Flora says

    May 24, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    I don’t DNF many books; I know what you mean about reading time being precious. I take every precaution to ensure the books I pick up are ones I’ll want to read; if the blurb sounds good I check the lower rated reviews on Goodreads to see if the niggles are things I’d hate too.
    It’s harder with ARCs but I use the same precautions before saying yes.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 4:09 pm

      Same here! I have been working on getting better at turning down books I’m just not interested in when I’m asked by an author or publisher if I’d like to read something.

      Reply
  7. Greg says

    May 24, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    This can be tough, but I will DNF if it looks like there’s not much hope of things getting better. 🙂

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 4:09 pm

      Definitely!!

      Reply
  8. Deanna says

    May 24, 2019 at 3:47 pm

    I’m so BAD at DNfing books, but I am also trying to get better at it.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 4:09 pm

      <3

      Reply
  9. Alicia @ A Kernel of Nonsense says

    May 24, 2019 at 8:42 pm

    I have become much better when it comes to DNFing books. I used to push through as well, but I’m less interested in how many books I read compared to what kinds of books I read. I want to read good books, ones I enjoy. The only books I will make myself read are ones I get from NetGalley because it’s really satisfying having a 100% ratio, haha.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      <3

      Reply
  10. Nicki j. markus says

    May 24, 2019 at 8:59 pm

    I really hate to DNF a book, as some I’ve disliked at the start but pressed on and appreciated by the end. However, you have to do what works best for you. I generally won’t pick up a book unless I strongly believe it’s something I’ll enjoy, and that does limit the chances I will find myself struggling with it.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 24, 2019 at 9:21 pm

      That’s a great process!!

      Reply
  11. Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum says

    May 24, 2019 at 11:27 pm

    I’m still stuck in the phase where I refuse to DNF, haha. I can’t help it, I really think it’s part of my OCD! How badly I wish I could get past it though, life’s too short to stick with a bad book!

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 25, 2019 at 8:06 am

      It’s SO hard!! There’s always the “what if” issue… What if it gets better. What if I picked it up at a bad time. Ugh!

      Reply
  12. Erica Watkins says

    May 25, 2019 at 5:21 pm

    Ah…the art of DNF’ing a book. The ability to DNF-at-will is something truly unique to each reader. I have a process, but I don’t always follow it. Why? It is literally a dramatic struggle when I have to put a book down.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 25, 2019 at 6:05 pm

      hahahaha! I totally understand!

      Reply
  13. Lindsi says

    May 25, 2019 at 9:14 pm

    Like you, I would always finish books when I first started blogging (my first blog, not this one), and I think that’s when reading started feeling like a chore. I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let that happen again, because reading should be an amazing experience, and now I DNF something the minute I know it’s not working for me. I’ve had time to read more books, and ones that I’ve really enjoyed! May has been a weird month for me, which is why my DNF&Y post is up to seven (largest one yet, I think). Not every book is for every person, but I think it helps to state why something didn’t work for me. I’ve been happier since I’ve only been reading the books I like!

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 26, 2019 at 7:47 am

      Definitely! It’s never fun to force yourself to read and review something! I love that series on your blog!

      Reply
  14. Nicci @ Sunny Buzzy Books says

    May 26, 2019 at 11:56 am

    I used to struggle through them too. Now? Not so much. Time is too precious.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 26, 2019 at 3:34 pm

      <3

      Reply
  15. Lauren @ Always Me says

    May 26, 2019 at 11:23 pm

    Too many books, too little time to not DNF a book you’re not enjoying.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      May 27, 2019 at 7:37 am

      <3

      Reply
  16. Olivia Roach says

    June 2, 2019 at 12:14 am

    I don’t really DNF but that makes me sad and I need to get better at doing it. I’m just always wondering what if it gets better? I also don’t like to review books when I haven’t read the whole thing.

    Reply
    • Erica Robyn says

      June 2, 2019 at 4:58 pm

      Right?! It’s SUCH a difficult thing. I’m still pretty bad at it, but I’m trying to get better. I’m getting better at determining what writing styles work well for me vs the styles that don’t, and that plays a major role in DNFing for me.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Erica Robyn Reads!

Erica Robyn of Erica Robyn Reads
Hello! I’m Erica, a Mainer living in New Hampshire who runs on hot tea, good books, and loud music. Join me as I seek out amazing horror tales and help support the indie horror community!
 

Subscribe via Email

Loading

Search This Blog

Browse By Category

Recent Popular Posts

  • Cover Reveal for The Wild Fall by Katherine Silva
  • Little Ghosts Unboxing | February 2023
  • [Feature] Little Free Library Visit – #14
  • Book Launch Party for Hell On High by Michael Clark | Book Event
  • Magnum Opus by Caitlin Marceau | Book Review

An Easy Guide to Locating Horror Reviews Without Losing Your Mind created by Lori of Barks At The Ghouls
Shirley's Book Blogger List
Ultimate List of the Best Book Review Blogs by Kindlepreneur

Copyright © 2023 Erica Robyn Reads