February 23, 2025

I have read so many books that I began to take mental notes of the things I dislike about standalone novels and series. I’m sure that readers and writers like you have come across parts in a book that made you roll your eyes internally and set the book down, never to be picked up again. As a reader, it’s disappointing because sometimes the synopsis of a novel sounds so adventurous. But when I encounter any of these issues, I put it down for good. 

#1: The ‘Arse’hole Female Protagonist

There have been many times when I am in the middle of the first book in a series, and the main character is so insufferable that it makes the experience less enjoyable. I often find myself rooting for the antagonist to put them out of their misery, but of course, that never happens. In my reading experience, these types of protagonists are mostly found in YA fantasy. The “not like the other girls” trope bleeds onto the pages, resulting in me closing the book in disappointment.

Understandably, the author wants the female lead to be strong (especially if she is the weapon-carrying protagonist), but I often notice that these characters create their own problems simply because they do not seek answers from anyone but themselves. 

#2: The Initial Plot Dump

We’ve all been there—grudgingly making our way through the first chapter of a book, spoon-fed backstory about the world. In reality, it’s just too much information to remember. I feel overwhelmed by books like this because they seem like a waste of time. I understand the desire to give readers a comprehensive view of the author’s world, but it can be simply overwhelming.

My favorite way to start a book is to thrust the reader into the action. Forget about establishing a backstory; let the reader be thrown head-first into a situation, then gradually introduce the backstory. 

#3: Unlikeable Characters

The whole point of reading a book is to fall in love with the characters, to genuinely care about them. If I don’t care what happens to them, then the book clearly isn’t for me. Reading starts to feel like a chore when all the characters become insufferably dull. 

#4: …Where Are We Again?

I feel guilty knowing that there are several books I haven’t finished because I became confused about the setting. I often find myself flipping back to previously read pages, trying to figure out where I got lost. Sometimes I’m able to pick up where I left off, but there have certainly been times when I genuinely did not understand where we were in the story. I appreciate that many books include maps so we can follow along, but there are times when the settings aren’t clearly established (so frustrating). 

Before I started DNFing books, I would continue reading and end up disliking them simply because I didn’t understand them. Now, I don’t feel guilty and stop whenever I notice I’m no longer having fun. It’s supposed to be enjoyable, after all.

#5: Writing Style

Sometimes the author’s writing style just doesn’t appeal to me, and that’s perfectly fine! I love books with beautiful writing (yes, you, V.E. Schwab), as well as a more straightforward style. However, there have been times when I disliked the prose because it felt devoid of personality.

Spill the Tea: What was my fastest DNF?

The fastest book I DNF’d was “The Drawing of the Three,” the second book in Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series. 

I enjoyed the first book, “The Gunslinger,” but the second book was extremely confusing to me. Throughout the first half of the novel, I found myself trying to distinguish memories from what was happening in the present. We were often in Roland’s head, and although I understood this was probably important information, I found myself zoning out, only to discover I was reading about a lobster and scorpion hybrid that says, “Dad-a-chum? Dum-a-chum? Ded-a-check? Did-a-chick?”

… It’s safe to say I set this book aside because it began to feel like a fever dream.