“Thoughtful Ramblings” is a feature where we discuss bookish subjects. These posts are just our own thoughts about certain topics that may get us hot under the collar and we need a good rant or just things we want to share with fellow bloggers and readers.
Should Reviewers Finish Books They Don’t Like?
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been struggling through a book I’m really not enjoying. I pick it up again only to fling it down in despair and frustration. Quite simply, I just don’t want to read it. I posted about it on Facebook and got so many interesting replies I decided to write a post about it.
I personally think that it’s a privilege I am sent books to review. But this privilege also brings with it a responsibility. A responsibility to write a real and honest review and if I don’t like the book, to give constructive criticism and not just a book bashing. And finally if I read a book, I believe I should finish it. But by the same token, reading and reviewing is not my job. It’s my hobby and something I do for fun.
At the moment if I don’t like a book, I struggle through it, feeling the right thing to do is to finish it. It’s not unusual for me to take twice as long to read these books as I usually would, picking the book up and putting it down again and deciding to put on yet another re-run of ‘Friends’ on instead – because, you know, I might not have seen it! 
The book is often read begrudgingly and with a fair amount of grumbling on my part.
But then I think to myself the book could get a lot better towards the end. Can I honestly write a fair review for a book without finishing it? Or should I just not write a review at all and abandon it to the charity shop pile.
However, I don’t want to end up in a position where the only reviews I write are positive. That would impact the integrity of my reviews, as not all books are great and not all books appeal to everyone.
I believe the point of my reviews, in part, is to show what I like and dislike as a reader and share my thoughts on these books, but I also hope that maybe it will help others decide what books to spend their money on. I’m sure not all people will agree with my reviews, but those with similar reading tastes may appreciate being able to save their pennies by not buying a book they may not enjoy.
But, as I mentioned above, this is my hobby. At present I have at least 40-50 books on my to read pile and over 300 on my wishlist. There are so many books I want to read! Even if I do reach my goal of 100 books this year (which I doubt), that’s three and a half years worth of books without taking into consideration new releases or discoveries. Sadly there are probably some I’ll never get around to. There’s just not enough reading time in the day! Therefore, should I spend my time finishing books I’m not enjoying? Before I began reviewing, I just gave up on the ones I didn’t like and moved on. But somehow this doesn’t feel quite right now.
At the moment I’m leaning towards giving a book at least a hundred pages and if it does not work moving on to the next one, then maybe writing a mini review as to why I didn’t finish it.
As readers of BCC, what do you think? Would you prefer to see a mini review of the books we DNF (Did Not Finish) or for us to forget about them altogether?
Do authors prefer any review to no review? Whether it be negative or positive just as long as it’s constructive? Or not to post one at all? Or do you think as a reviewer it’s my responsibility to make it to the end of the book before I can give a fair review?
I have to confess I’m finding it hard to make my mind up on this one. What do you think?
46 Comments
As an author, I am always well aware of the fact that my books may not be for everyone. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and reviews are subjective.
Honestly, I'd rather someone just stated "This was not for me" and move on to another book. I have had some scathing reviews from people who didn't like the subject matter of the novel or the plot didn't develop how they anticipated. (Fore example: there is some confusion with The Tale of the Vampire Bride being gothic horror and NOT a paranormal romance). One person admitted to skimming through the book before giving it a very negative review. By skimming through the book, the person ended up not understanding the plot and gave a very insulting (and erroneous) synopsis of the story.
Since life is short and there are a ton of books to read, I have adopted a DNF rule. On goodreads, I explain why I can't finish the book and move on to the next. I also don't give a ranking to the book because I don't think its fair.
Honestly, a few of my DNF were very popular with other people, so it was obviously just not for me.
Rhiannon Frater
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I think your idea of a DNF pile with a mini review is a good one. I try to finish every book I start and find that a small book can take me a week or more to finish if i'm not enjoying it, however it also reminds me to research books better. I have the luxury of reading at my own pace so when a book takes a week it's just boring and frustrating whereas for you a weeks worth of wasted reading prevents you from passing on more worthwhile books to your blog followers.
I love your blog i get most of my books from you.
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I'm an author, but I've also done a lot of reviewing, so I see it from both sides. I think if you don't like a book, it's important to differentiate: is it a perfectly adequate book, but just not your thing, or is it terrible, ie badly written or offensive? if it's the latter, then a negative or neutral review that says "I disliked this and couldn't finish it because…" is fine. If it's the former, I think it's fairer just not to review at all, rather than give a lukewarm DNF review.
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I have the same problem and now have a 100 page rule, there's just too many good books out there to be read!
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I know how you feel! I've started just doing a small post explaining why a book was a DNF for me.
So far I've only done this a few times because I hate leaving a book unfinished but more and more I wonder why I'm forcing myself to read something I'm bored or annoyed by. As you say, it's a privilege to be sent a book for review, but it is something *we* do in our spare time.
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I must admit if theres a book I really I cant get into, I give it 100 pages then put it down – I dont review it either.
Yet if I'm not connecting with a book but think it has some redeeming qualites, like a particularly good character of plot line, then I perservere as at least then I have something postive to add to my review, rather than I just didnt like it because…
But as you said, this is something we do for FUN! So if you really aren't enjoying a book I dont think there is anything wrong with putting it down and just forgetting about it.
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I've also adopted the 100 page rule. If I put a book down and don't pick it up again within a day or two, or move on to another book, than something obviously wasn't meshing with me – and I have way too many books in my TBR pile to not move on.
I think DNF posts are a great idea. At least that way your readers/followers will know that you've read some books that even though you didn't connect with it, they might.
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I always try to read to the end of a book. I've been really lucky to have not found a book yet that I couldn't, eventually, read to the end of. But, I guess there are probably some out there. In the end, if you really can't face it, I wouldn't force yourself. In this situation I think you should stop reading and maybe write a mini-review, explaining why you didn't finish the book.
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This is an issue I've been struggling with lately. I find that with time I get pickier with books. I used to read every book I picked in its integrity and lately I've stopped reading some altogether because I didn't enjoy them.
What I've been doing as a reviewer is: if it's a book I bought or was randomly sent (aka nobody asked me if I wanted this particular book and just sent it my way), I won't bother forcing myself to read it more than 100pages. If it's a book I accepted or requested for review, I'll read every single word until half of the book, and If it doesn't get better by then, I speed read the second half so I still know everything that happened and can write an honest review.
I don't know if there's a right or wrong way to handle it, but it's the way I've been doing it for the last months. I have two double-stacked bookshelves of to-be-read books so it sucks to waste your time on a bad one.
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I try my best to finish a book, especially if its one that I'm reviewing for the site.
Being a really new regular reviewer (in the past it was just star ratings on goodreads), I'm forcing myself to read the book.
This was really evident with a book I was reading recently It was such a struggle to write, but I had to fiish it becuase I wanted to understand why I didn't like it and if there was any redeeming qualities. Luckily there was, but it did make it a slog.
I've had to be good as before I would buy full series only to find the first book not to my liking or I hated it. So now I try to buy one book in a series at at time
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I do book reviews as well, and have experienced the same problem. Forcing yourself to read something you really don't like is draining.
This year I gave myself permission not to finish everything I start and when that happens, to do a mini-review saying why I had struggled. Sometimes it's because the writing isn't working, and sometimes it's a perfectly fine book but just not my cup of tea. My readers seem to appreciate knowing why I find something hard-going.
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I've been DNFing for YEARS.
I still give negative reviews too, so you would be surprised how that would work out. You find those books that are not making your horribly bored or just straight up not for you, but end up being a good bit of negative by the time you get through them.
BUT if a book is going turn me off to the point of I just do NOT NOT NOT like it or I'm bored to tears in the first 50 pages, I'm going to know that pretty quickly and it will go into the DNF pile.
I don't rate these book, but I do a post every so often with several of them together saying why these books were DNF for me.
I own over 2000 books and I've probably only read 1/4 of them. With a pile like that there is no way I'm going to waste my time on a book that is not to my taste. I started reviewing to share my love of books and I'm not going to feel guilty because I'm not forcing myself to finish a book I don't like. If I did that I'd eventually burn myself out on reading and that's something I just refuse to do…
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I think I would review with myself if it's just my mood, the book, or something else. There are just too many books to read to continue to be stuck reading something that you can't get through. And why not review it on that base. That you couldn't finish it and maybe some reasons why. I try not to make it a habit to not finish a book and so sometimes I shelf it for several months before returning to it and then I find it amazing. Good luck!
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I have the same problem. If it is a book for review I feel I have to finish it. The idea of a DNF post explaining why this book not for you sounds good. I may start following the 100 page rule myself.
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What an interesting topic! I'm a fairly new reviewer, even though I do it as a hobbie. Since reviewing, I haven't come across a book that I couldn't finish reading. However, I have read a few books, that I honestly didn't like them at all and I just said that they were my cup of tea. Simple.
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I read to 100 pages and write a statement why I could not finish it. If it's not good or at least interesting after 100 pages it's probably not going to get much better.
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Interesting question. I remember when I got one of these books. I absolutely hated it and wanted to rip it to pieces (luckily I didnt because it was an e book and that would ruin my life). I remember what I did in that situation though. I contacted the author who requested that I review the book. I told her how I felt and asked her what hse would prefer that I do. She preferred that I post the review because she liked constructive criticism and actually thanksed me when I put my review up. I think that would be the best way to handle books you really dont like.
I would like to nothe however that I dont think its the best idea to publicly bash someones bok into the groung making sure to cover it with as much dirt as possible and then setting it on fire. I think you should make sure to provide a review and then say something about how it just wasnt for you. Or do some research on other reviews and make sure to note that other's liked the book, etc. That's the way I do it at least.
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As a reader looking at blogs for that next great book, I'm glad for those well thought out DNF reviews. I know it must be hard to write, but as long as there is a why, then I can make a decision based on my own taste to pick up that book, or pass.
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Thanks for posting this article. I have had the same debate with myself and with my husband several times. There have only been a few books that I have gotten as far as 100 pages or so and just had no interest in finishing. I stop only because I know if I have no interest in your book after 100 pages, I am certainly not going to be writing a glowing review anyway so why continue to torture myself. Especially with a TBR pile which continues to grow.
I might start adding a DNF mini review since in my opinion (not the husband's), if I didn't have enough interest to finish my free copy, someone might want to know that before they spend money on it.
Thanks for everyone's opinions.
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I think if someone sends you a book for an honest review, you owe them that. Good or bad you have to suffer through it, and give them the review you promised when getting the book. The ones who don't follow through, don't deserve review copies.
If they went to work and didn't want to suffer through a meeting for its redundancy, would they be excused?? How is this any different when you made a verbal agreement with someone to read and review their work??
If you don't hold your end of the bargain, shame on you. It shows you lack a vital part of character that is most respectable.
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Fredamans – in response to your comment:
1. You can't really compare reviewing a book for fun on a personal blog and a meeting at work – the former is a hobby and the latter you are paid to do.
2. I don't really think it's 'shame on us' if we don't finish a book, why should we struggle on if the book is awful or if it's just not for us? I think we have a right to not finish a book if we don't want to, whether received for review or not.
3. I have actually decided that we will be taking the 100 page rule from now on. If the book doesn't work for us for any reason after this time then it will be a DNF with a mini review giving an honest account of why. An explanation of this rating will be added to our rating and review policy, therefore it's up to the author/publicist to decide whether they want the book reviewed by us or not – that way everything is out in the open.
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Thanks everyone for all of your responses! I think there are some really good points about whether the book is badly written or did not just work for me as a reviewer. Ie. not my taste, not my favourite genre etc. I think it's important when the review is written that this is clarified. I also agree that even if I DNF a book a mini review should be constructive and not a book-bashing. There is a need to respect that this is someone's work after all.
It looks as though a lot of you agree with the 100 page rule too. There are just so many books I want to read out there, I'm not going to struggle through books that I'm not enjoying.
@Fredamans thanks for your comment. If I was reviewing for a living and this was my job as @bookchickcity said I would 100% agree with you. I do have a job and there are many painful meetings I have sat through! I think that differentiation here is that this (and this applies to all BCC reviewers) our hobby. It is definitely a privilege to be sent books for review, but if I wasn't sent them I would still review books and just buy them myself. And I really do think that is a an important difference. I do this for fun and I do not want this to become something I no longer enjoy.
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I amended my own review policy this year for just this reason, as the number of books on my to-be-read pile is just too big for me to stick through the entirety of a book I am not enjoying. I'll give it 100 pages or so, but after that I'll drop it if I'm not hooked and forgo reviewing it.
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Its a good job I don't review or read books for a living! My red pen would be over used sometimes! Lol!
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I will say that so far I have not put out a negative review or a DNF to date.
However I did have one book that just wasn't working for me. One part really was hard for me to even want to push through. I contacted the author and said that the book wasn't for me and that I didn't feel right giving a review on it. She appreciated that I didn't do a review on a partial read, and understood that the book wasn't for me. This was really hard for me because I usually am able to finish a book, but this one I just couldn't get through it.
Even though I haven't posted a negative review or a DNF I do enjoy reading why they just didn't work for the person. Because it is just as informative as to why another book was just so wonderful.
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I kind of think you should finish the books and give your honest review on them. I mean, the publisher or author went through the whole process of sending your the book in hopes of a review right and it's imperative for you to stick to your word and do it. I'm also a book reviewer and I get how much of a drag it can be to read books you really have no interest in but i personally, would feel even worse if i were to never review it… huh, what are we to do?! LOL!
Shae @ Understanding Shae's Story
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It's truly crap then I will not, because then i would be wasting my time with a book I hate. But if I struggle then I will read and review it. Because those reviews are needed. I would never read a book with only glowing reviews, I would think the author paid them all
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Some really great comments, I have not DNF'd a review book yet. I do understand where some of you are coming from too @Shae this has been my view for a while, I should finish the book as it was sent to me for review. But the longer I've been reviewing for and particularly now my time is more limited now I'm a mummy, I feel like I need to be pragmatic. I can't read all the books I want to read, so I'm going to be firmer with the ones I don't get on with.
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Since it's your blog, you have the option to set your own rules – which is great. Some book blogs I read do not post negative reviews, they simply only post books they recommend, therefore not having to resort to writing an unfavorable review.
I agree that the scathing reviews on Goodreads (many with animated gifs and images in them) may be funny at first, but don't do the author any justice. It's far more tactful to say a book wasn't your usual thing, but may be of interest for fans of XYZ.
If you review books, you only have limited time. I think you should focus on what you like. You can state on your blog that you aren't obligated to post a review on every book, but you will do your best to accomodate the requests given. That way you aren't cornered into giving a review you don't want to.
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I flat out refuse to finish books that I'm not enjoying, whether it's a review copy or not. I generally think that a) my review will be unnecessarily negative if I struggled through the book and b) it's a lot like work when I am forcing myself to read something.
Usually what I do if I DNF a book that was a solicited review, I will post a bit about the book, and that it just wasn't for me. Depending on the situation and how well I know the book/genre I might give some recommendations (it might be for you if you're into…) without bashing. I think that as long as you are kind, it's totally ok to say that a book just wasn't to your taste.
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I'd rather see a review explaining why you didn't finish the book than have nothing but positive reviews on the blog. I think that the most I've given a book is three chapters, then I put it aside.
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if it's a book I picked up for myself then i don't finish it, life's too short for that crap, if i got it for review i make myself finish it and try to find something good to say even if it is ' this isn't my cup of tea"
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I know some bloggers/reviewers who read and review every single book and finish everything to the end.
I have no problem dropping a book I don't like. It's a hobby first and foremost. I love the ARCs I get, but I only make sure to read/review the ARCs I ask for. If they're just show-ups, I don't feel as strongly.
I think it's good to write up why you're not finishing a book. But it depends on who the blog's for. Is it for readers? Then write up why you didn't like a book and put it down. Is it to promote authors? Then it's probably better for them you don't talk about it even if you're given the book for review.
Anyway, my .02, I think you should do what makes you happy and have the least regrets.
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I read more book than I can easily review on my blog. A few years ago as I was planning to go back to school, I decided to shy away from taking many review books. Right now about a fifth (or less) of what I review comes from publishers and when taken with all the books I read, the review copies account for about a tenth of my overall reading.
For the review books I do try to finish the book. Sometimes I can't… maybe I'm not a good fit for the book. When I have a DNF review book I usually try to write a post about why I didn't finish it and who I think will enjoy reading it.
Sometimes, though, when I don't manage to finish a review copy, I just don't have enough to say about it. In those rare cases, I don't post a review on my blog, but will mark the book as a DNF on GoodReads.
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I dont do DNF reviews but im thinking of starting. It can be tricky but I think if you clearly state why you didnt finish its fair. I just read a 900 page book in a week in a half and it was a joy! Yet a 300 page review book keeps geting started and restarted to no avail!
My blog is still growing so i dont get many books I havent agreed to review but I think a blogger who does should have the right to skip those books without feeling pressured.
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Mini DNF review! I really like those because while some books are not for some people, even if you DNf it and tell me what didn't work I can think it through to see whether these issues are relevant to me.
I used to finish all books even if I hated it, but now that I review and have tons of books to do I DNF if I can't do otherwise. The last book I DNFd I read until 70% but it irriatted me so much and I doubted I could get over all my objections of the first 70%, so I wrote a review stating that it is only for the first 70% of the book.
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I'd rather read a mini review about why you stopped reading. I think it's a waste of time to continue reading a book you don't like when there are so many great books out there.
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I'm fairly lucky in that the one large publisher I get books from sends me a list of new releases to choose from (unlike Penguin which dumps a batch at a time). I review each blurb online and then get to pick up to five books to do reviews from. I try to post at least 3 out of 5. There will always be books that looked like good reads when you read the 2-3 paragraph blurbs, but once you get started you wonder why you chose that book.
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You've touched on a really important topic. My suggestion would be to not give it a rating, but do a mini-review of what you have read, explain why you DNF, and move on. That the way you are able to give your opinion and share the critique with the author. I rarely have DNF's because I force myself to push through. You never know if your interest will be snagged later in the book. And I have found sometimes a book will pick up closer to page 150 than 100 and when I finish I feel good that I didn't miss a great read. But it's all up to the individual. So go with what you feel is comfortable and fair.
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Boy, what a great topic. I'm a published author, belong to two writer groups and also try to leave reviews for the novels I read for my own enjoyment on Goodreads, B&N and Amazon. Your job is a difficult one and I can see you really care about the authors you review in the reviews you give.
The only suggestion I have for you would be to read at least half the book. If you still find it hard to turn the pages you have the right to put it aside without guilt.
As someone who follows you, has read some of your reviews; whether you should leave a review and what you disclose in that review I trust to your judgment.
Susan Stec
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I struggle with this myself. There have been a couple books I've received for review that I just wanted to stop – if it was option for to stop reading a review book, I would probably stop but I feel like I'm under an obligation to continue.
I think stating DNF and explaining why should be o.k. though I still struggle with doing so.
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I agree with your first commenter. Rhiannon Frater wrote exactly what I was thinking. I also think it's great that you take the hobby of reading and writing reviews this seriously.
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I DNF books and write little reviews about why I didn't finish. I think they are valid reviews, and worth writing, and reading. The key, as with any review, is to be constructive. I would definitely read DNF reviews that you write.
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If I am reading for myself and I just keep getting hung up, I won't finish. If I am reading for a review I don't feel I can give an honest review unless I complete the book. That is just my feeling on this.
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Some really fantastic comments on this article! Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by
We've had some really varied opinions which is so interesting and it is quite clearly a issue that many reviewers encounter.
I for one have decided I will probably DNF more books, but try to be constructive and explain while I do so.
Thanks everyone!
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Well, I am a new blogger and recently in that situation. I used to always finish every book I start reading, but you know, some books are not enjoyable at all.
Repetitive narration, dialogue etc, those are my biggest pet peeves. If I couldn't stand it, I wouldn't torture myself for reading the book. Reading should be a fun experience, not a resentful one.
I'd tell my readers why I didn't finish though.
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