Paperbacks and Planners

A brief discussion of all the books I (D)id (N)ot (F)inish this year.

DNFing (or did not finish) is controversial in the book world. But I do it all the time.

If you’re a reader who must finish everything they start – all the power to you! I’m just not that reader.

I have no rules when it comes to DNFing. I’ll put a book down at 80% or 8%. No shame.

Here’s everything I DNF’d this year and why I decided not to carry on with it.

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1. The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk

DNF @ 20%

There wasn’t anything particularly wrong with this book. But I was extremely bored while reading. This book lacked any semblance of subtlety so I felt like I was be beat over the head with the feminist messages. I thought the concept was really interesting, I just knew that this was going to be a 3 star at best so it wasn’t worth pushing through for me.

2. Deal With the Devil (Mercenary Librarians #1) by Kit Rocha

DNF @ 60%

I think I was just expecting something else from this book. It was pitched as badass mercenary librarians in a post apocalyptic world with romance. And I didn’t get much badass, librarian, or romance. I was so bored and I hate travel stories… But this has pretty good reviews so maybe it’s just me.

3. Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner

DNF @ 15%

Okay I know I’m not alone in my feelings for this one. But what a boring book… I hated the characters and lost interest lightening fast. I know I don’t like celebrity books so I probably shouldn’t have picked this up in the first place.

4. Meet Cute Club by Jack Harbon

DNF @ 6%

I heard SUCH good things about this when this released. But honestly I just could not handle how bad the writing in this was….

5. Deadly Curious by Cindy Anstey

DNF @ 11%

This YA mystery pulled me in with it’s intriguing premise. But boy was it a hot mess. The writing was not great and everything felt really stinted. I know it’s YA but it felt extremely juvenile and the attempts at humor was so cringey. Big nope.

6. Every Other Weekend by Abigail Johnson

DNF @ 10%

I tried so hard with this one. I’ve since stepped back from reading general YA contemporary because I know it’s just not my jam. There was nothing inherently wrong with this book. Just wasn’t anything I could get invested in.

7. Vampires Never Get Old by Zoraida Cordova

DNF @ 25%

Ugh… what a massive disappointment. I tired picking this up in October and got about 5 stories in before admitting defeat. These stories were so underwhelming and dreaded picking this back up.

8. Dead to Her by Sarah Pinborough

DNF @ 33%

Hands down the most boring story I’ve ever attempted reading. If you want to read about rich white people complaining about nothing for 400 pages, this is your book.

9. All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

DNF @ 30%

Another YA contemporary that just wasn’t for me. I’m not the audience for these coming of age stories anymore. And I’ve since come to terms with that. This definitely has great reviews though if it’s something you’re interested in!

10. Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

DNF @ 49%

AM and I have a complicated relationship. I loved Blanca & Roja but this is the second book of theirs I’ve DNF’d. This plot just didn’t do anything for me. I felt like I already read this exact story with a more engaging setting and characters. And I’m still sad about unhauling this gorgeous cover.

11. Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters

DNF @ 12%

Another cover I loved but major let down of a book… I don’t think British rom-coms are for me. I hated the main character with a burning passion from page 1. And by 12% I just couldn’t take anymore of her.

12. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

DNF @ 44%

I’m forever on the hunt for books that give me the same feeling as the Veronica Speedwell series and this one comes up all the time as a recommendation. Hard disagree. This book was TEDIOUS. It was so dry, had nonsensical perspective jumps, and the main character had exactly zero personality. Big disappointment….

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Sorry I just ranted for 12 paragraphs 😅 Do you DNF books or do you always push through to the end?

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