My Thoughts on DNFing Books

I’ll be honest—I'm not a huge fan of DNFing (Did Not Finish) books. I understand that not every book is for everyone, and sometimes it’s totally okay to put a book down. But personally, I try to stick with a book as long as I can. I’ve found that there can be redeeming qualities the deeper you get into the story, so I tend to push through until I just can't anymore—usually around the 60% mark.

In fact, there have been times where I didn’t enjoy the first half of a book at all, but ended up loving the second half. That experience alone has taught me to be patient with stories, even when the beginning doesn’t immediately grab me.

I’ve also noticed that I rarely love the first book in a series. A lot of times, the first book is mostly setup—building the world, introducing characters, and laying the groundwork for what’s to come. If I gave up early, I never would have discovered some of my favorite series. So I try to give series a little extra grace and push through that initial slow start.

That said, I also know my time is valuable. There are so many amazing books out there, and as my grandmother wisely says, “There are too many great books in the world to not enjoy what you’re reading.” So while I don’t DNF often, I do recognize when it's time to move on.

At the end of the day, it’s all about balance—giving books a fair shot, but also knowing when to let go and make room for something better.