I rarely DNF books usually I’ll push through them but sometimes a book is so terrible I have to make an exception. The things I list in this post are also things that will make me rate a book lower or give it a bad review, since I don’t always DNF but you get the point.
So yes just to clarify I don’t always DNF EVERY book that has these elements in it but more than likely the book will receive a poor review from me even if I finish it.
Slow Pacing (With No Atmosphere)
I’m the kind of reader that likes a lot of fast pacing and action! However, when those things aren’t present the LEAST I need is some atmosphere or some very well written characters. With NO atmosphere or well written characters though a book with slow pacing is absolutely unbearable to me, I have a short attention span and very little patience.
Unlikable, Under-Developed Characters
This is just a given right? Sometimes an unlikable character can work depending on how it’s done such as a morally grey character, an anti-hero, or an unreliable narrator. In those cases I can enjoy a character I love to hate but when there’s no rhyme or reason to it? No. Also no one likes a flat one-dimensional character, it’s boring and unrealistic.
Cliched, “Focus of the Plot” Romances
I am not a big romance in books lover, I’m just not. This usually has to do with the fact that most YA romances are FILLED with tropes such as love triangles and insta-love. Which I hate. I also hate when there is a plot that sounds interesting and WOULD be interesting if the trope-filled romance didn’t completely overshadow it. Does the book’s synopsis promise a story filled with romance? Then that’s fine. Does the book promise action and thrills but instead delivers a story filled with romance? Then that’s where I get frustrated and angry.
Poor World Building
If I’m reading a fantasy book with its own unique world I’m going to want to learn more about it, I want to be immersed! It’s hard to be immersed when I’m given zero information about the world I’m reading about! I just….like a complex fantasy/sci-fi world in my books it makes things so much more enjoyable and interesting.
Plot Holes
Once again this is kind of a given but I hate when there are plot holes in my books. I don’t like reading through the story and having a bunch of inconsistencies or things that were brought up and then dropped never to be explained later.
Dull Writing
Does anyone like dull writing, really though? I love fast-paced, addictive writing and lyrical/purple prose style writing.
Predictability
This is probably one of my number one pet peeves! There is nothing worse to me than reading a book whose plot twists are predictable but especially when it’s a mystery/thriller that heavily relies on the twists to make it interesting. I read books to be entertained and guessing “whodunnit” at the beginning of the story is not entertaining.
Tropes
Love triangles, Special Snowflakes, Mary-Sues, and Insta-love. I could go on but I won’t. I don’t like seeing the SAME thing over and over in every single YA book it’s not fun.
Girl on Girl Hate
This is kind of a cliche and a trope in itself. Here’s a magical concept: girls can all be friends and not sit and hate each other and fight each other over boys. Amazing, right?
Book Synopses That Lies!
No one likes liars! Don’t tell me a book is about pirates and then give me a historical fiction romance with NO pirates! You’d be surprised how many books have a synopsis that is misleading like this. Also just a side note: I hate synopses that spoil the books as well.
What are some things that make you DNF a book?
Do we have any book turn offs in common?
Let me know in the comments!
i’m totally with you on these :/. another one that’ll make me want to dnf a book is no unlikable characters bc i personally like characters over plot. great list!
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Thank you and glad you agree with a lot of these! I 100% agree that characters can make or break a book, I think you can have a bad plot and great characters and be fine but bad characters are never okay! 🙂
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these are very good reasons for dnfing a book. i usually do it, when i do not have the urge to pick the book back up. then something is wrong with it and just the thought of picking it up is exhausting. then i know, that book isn’t for me 😀
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Thank you and yes exactly same here! We shouldn’t have to force ourselves to pick a book back up that just takes all the fun out of it! 🙂
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These are all such valid reasons to banish a book to the dreaded DNF list. Also, I love the gifs you used. 😛 Great post!
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Thank you so much and glad you agree with some of these! Sometimes books just have to go, haha! 🙂
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I’m a guilty lover of love triangles… but only because I like to predict who they’ll end up with and get pissed if I’m wrong, haha! But I agree with everything else you listed, especially misleading synopses. Why do you have to lie to me?!
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I am all for love triangles when they’re done a certain way so I’m not always going to be mad if they’re present!
Glad I’m not the only one who gets upset with synopses sometimes! Another one that bothers me is when there are spoilers in the synopsis, why???!!!! 🙂
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Yes, I hate that so much! Most of the time they’re major spoilers too, which is even worse! I don’t know what to know about the twist before I actually read it. 😂
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Exactly! I try to warn people off if I’ve read the book and the synopsis is a spoiler, I don’t know why the publishers do that.
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Yeah, me neither. Why bother reading the book now?
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I agree with a lot of these. I also DNF when there is too much gratuitous sex or violence. It’s one thing if it fits in the plot and is not central, its another to just throw it in for the heck of it.
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That’s a great point I definitely should have added that one too because I feel the same way! Like don’t just add a ton of sex or violence for the sake of sex and violence, it’s one thing if it’s relevant to the plot but don’t add it just to have it. Great point! 🙂
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I am glad we agree. I see people seeking out gratuitous sex and violence and I’m just like, why? Lol.
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I actually never DNF a book. But I DO skim read books when I’m not enjoying them. And most of my reasons for not enjoying a book are the ones you mentioned. I have no idea why I don’t DNF books, I guess I’m always hoping that they will get better? Or something like that. Amazing discussion Heather! 😀
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That’s a really good way to be Anna, seriously. I wish I didn’t have to DNF books sometimes. I try really, really hard not to and I’ll do what you do and skim through parts of it that aren’t interesting me. I haven’t had to DNF one in a while and I think we are the same way hoping the book will somehow take a turn and get better, even though that usually doesn’t happen! 🙂
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