What are the most common reasons you'll "DNF" a book? (If you're not compelled to finish every book you start, that is.)

[Paganalexandria]

I don't like when the cover and blurb attracted me, but doesn't match what's inside. Like when the cover has hot model types embracing, but the story is about an insecure Plain Jane or Plus Sized heroine finding love, or something.

[Rachel Annie]

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "I don't like when the cover and blurb attracted me, but doesn't match what's inside. Like when the cover has hot model types embracing, but the story is about an insecure Plain Jane or Plus Sized ..."

Though I liked the book, a good example of what you mentioned is on the cover of .

The cover shows a long-haired vixen in a tube top and leather pants, when the book's h actually had short spiky hair and was often described wearing a stretchy top and yoga pants...

[La La]

OMG. Hannah Jayne's Underworld Detective Agency series is like that. The heroine in the book is nothing like character on the cover. In the book she's described as awkward and messy with frizzy red hair and slight low self esteem who complains about needing lose ten pounds while stuffing her face with moonpies. On the cover she is a sleek badass in leather. On all the covers. That annoyed me along with the heroine herself, but I still kind of like the books. I just have read them spaced out to cut down on my annoyance.

[Ann]

boring! I need witty, interesting dialogue. Between characters or even in their own head, but for goodness sake they gotta grab me early. Humor is a plus. Strong women who are still willing to be vulnerable. also like LaLa's list in part. hate when blurb and story seem totally unrelated. cannot finish books or dont want to that have wishy washy hero/heroine.

[Rachel Annie]

I've really been trying not to DNF anything anymore, but lack of external conflict is something that will slow me down. I tend to avoid genres where the MC's aren't in some kind of danger.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Rachel ~ SnapDragoness wrote: "I've really been trying not to DNF anything anymore, but lack of external conflict is something that will slow me down. I tend to avoid genres where the MC's aren't in some kind of danger."

I don't mind if there's internal conflict, but I prefer external, because I'm a bit of a literary adventure junkie. However, I really dislike when the internal conflict is manufactured (ie. big misunderstanding).

[S.K.]

Graphic killing of children. Can't handle it.

[Susan (the other Susan)]

If it hasn't trapped my imagination in the first three chapters, I'm over it. If it's an audiobook, a bad narrator can kill it in chapter one.

[Bethany]

annoying/childish MC or supporting characters

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

S.K. wrote: "Graphic killing of children. Can't handle it."

I agree!

[✿ Natalie ✿]

Susan wrote: "If it hasn't trapped my imagination in the first three chapters, I'm over it. If it's an audiobook, a bad narrator can kill it in chapter one."

I'm a big audiobook listener and have been lucky that I haven't come across too many bad narrators but when I have it can definitely make me struggle with a book or lead me to put it aside. Just shows how important getting the 'right' narrator is.

[Firetop]

If I am totally bored and skimming...i just can't finish. Some writing is just not enjoyable to read. I also need dialogue...don't like to be "told" the story. I want to experience it.

[Lauren]

Natalie wrote: "SI'm a big audiobook listener and have been lucky that I haven't come across too many bad narrators but when I have it can definitely make me struggle with a book or lead me to put it aside."

Thankfully I've only had a couple of narrators that I simply could not stand and had to DNF. One of them I ended up reading rather than listening -

[Zeecé]

Constant and glaring errors in grammar and sentence structure will cause me to put a book away. Also, a story where gloom rules will cause me to DNF. I like my books funny, sexy, romantic, full of suspense and mystery. If I want pain, I watch the news.

[Kristina]

I absolutely despise a weak and needy character, it will kill a story for me every time. I like my characters to be little bit strong and cocky with a smart mouth.

[Anino]

Excessive amounts of lag, poor editing, and flat characters will normally cause me to DNF a book... Also, excessive amounts of domestic abuse will turn me off as well...

[Aղցela W.]

I rarely dnf for me if it becomes too confusing or the story is just stupid and it doesn't make since.

[Sinthu]

I love HEA no demand it, if the book doesn't has it its DNF ,I am having compulsive disorder,I have to finish the book,so I am just too picky in choosing the book, hero sharing herione (BDSM) with the others is the most definite DNF.
not only that ,I happen to stop reading that author's book for sometime.

[Willow]

I read the blurb and Look Inside of most books anymore, so I can judge the writing and grammar style up front at least. I'm willing to overlook a few errors...it happens even with the best of intentions, eh?! But poor writing or downright disregard for any editing efforts is reason enough to NF IMHO.
That said, the only other reason for me for DNF is a frame of mind. If I just wasn't feeling the story/characters at the time, I'll put a book down. It may be a classic or super-uber-praised author, but if I'm not in the mood...baby, I'm just not in the mood.
Tomorrow, sweetheart?
The mood may strike again...

[Willow]

Ooh...and as an author, the audio thing scares the b'jeebus out of me. I have a character's voice in my head as I write. But one of the beauties of reading a story is "hearing" it from your own perspective...that and the story unfolds at your own pace. In the audio versions, both are dictated by a narrator.
I haven't ventured into the audio realm yet for these reasons...but I love the ability to "read" on the go and for the seeing-impaired.
D*mn...I'm a wimp!

[Sönïa]

If the storyline doesn't keep my interest and I am thinking about another book I read or browsing new books. Sometimes you like the characters but your losing interest yet don't want to drop the book then I just skip to see what happens near the end. But I have came to see more often than not in romance books . It starts with one good theme or storyline then suddenly its as if the author just remembers this book needs to compete fifty shades of grey or bared to you and the book becomes only about sex scenes. The storyline is just fazed out. It's sad since people like me who only read romance books that have to suffer.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Audiobooks can be really good or really bad. A narrator feels the book and interprets it for the listener. A bad one, you can tell it's just a paycheck for them. Or it's some ego trip and they just enjoy hearing the sound of their own voice and don't get into character much.

[Missyb]

I can overlook poor editing, grammar issues, etc., but not lousy characters. Some great characters can overcome the writing, and often a boring story. It doesn't mean I'll read the next book, just means that I'll finish the book.
I read a book last month that had a so so story, great ending, and wishy washy characters that were unlikable. I won't give the 2nd book a try because the characters were awful.
Sometimes I'll put a book down and pick up it months later, especially if it's part of a series.

[Sönïa]

Missyb wrote: "I can overlook poor editing, grammar issues, etc., but not lousy characters. Some great characters can overcome the writing, and often a boring story. It doesn't mean I'll read the next book, just..."

You know how you said how sometimes you can pick up a book after a time. Well I started a book which was great at start got me too tears it was called Lie to me can't remember the author . It was just out last year anyhow you know when u read a book and there is anticipation between two characters. Where there just sizzling away then bam . Well this book was like the pot boiling away but it just boil over or the bam doesn't come. I have stop then tried reading again . When that never worked I skipped a few chapters but even then the characters were not at that stage. I just feel bad that book with storyline had so much potential but I just can't finish it.

[Paganalexandria]

Something that raises my DNF probability is having more than one relationship milestone off screen. I give you only one, "Last week we went to the amusement park and had the greatest time.." If it was so great, why aren't we given details about the experience?

[Rachel Annie]

Love that this thread was resurrected as of late. It's fun to see what makes different people abandon a book.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Paganalexandria **wicked juices bubbling over** wrote: "Something that raises my DNF probability is having more than one relationship milestone off screen. I give you only one, "Last week we went to the amusement park and had the greatest time.." If it ..."

That's a really good point, Pagan. It seems like a cheat, especially when it's a romance book.

[Imaginary]

I'm one of those people that forces myself to finish a book, so if I DNF it's because I really loathe it. My only turnoffs are:

- heroine who is TSTL or is written as irrational in order to make the hero look like a badass
- the only thing that keeps the H/h together is how hot they find each other (and I mean ONLY thing...)

I also recently discovered that the heroine calling her hero "daddy" is a big no for me.

[✿ Natalie ✿]

Sharon wrote: "I'm one of those people that forces myself to finish a book, so if I DNF it's because I really loathe it. My only turnoffs are:

- heroine who is TSTL or is written as irrational in order to make t..."

Yes I agree with your second turn-off point. I was looking forward to reading a book earlier this year only to end up not finishing as all the hero and heroine seemed to do was say how 'hot' and 'sexy' they found the other...over and over and over again lol. It seemed to me the only important part of their relationship, I can't say there was another reason (up to the point where I stopped reading) that they liked the other for.

[Bigbooknut]

I recently read a book that hit one of my peeves. The book was supposed to be a romance, but even half way into the book the H/h don't do anything but have a few brief conversations. What you did see was all the sex the H was having with other women (individually or as a menage). WTF? Couldn't finish it.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Bigbooknut wrote: "I recently read a book that hit one of my peeves. The book was supposed to be a romance, but even half way into the book the H/h don't do anything but have a few brief conversations. What you did s..."

Wow! That wouldn't work for me at all! Esp. the hero having sex with other women.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

The heroine calling the hero daddy is a dealbreaker for me. Yuck!

[Reader]

This is something I've thought about quite a bit lately. I used to be one of those people that forced myself to finish each and every book. Now..not so much. Life is short and my reading time can be limited.

(1) Really poor editing. (2) When we are told and not shown a character's traits or other story points. Gushing constantly about the h/H without furthering the story. (3) conversations that don't seem natural and feel "clunky" between characters.

[Cindi]

I too try not to DNF but lately...I just tried to read one where the female was a ballbreaker at work but SO terribly insecure and TSTS (too stupid to SPEAK) when she would go out w/her friends; of course she meets up w/the guy who is even shyer (?) and they dance around - no, tiptoe around each other for over half the book, at which point I finally called it quits!!! If there was a plot, it hadn't started by then.
I also just DNF'd a book and series that I used to love because it had gotten to all-sex no-story by bk 4. I kept it on my Kindle for a year but just couldn't make myself go back!
Most often I find that my DNF's are indies. Too bad. But I'm 57 now, gotta use my time wisely!

[A]

Stay away from Knight by Kristen Ashley then...Loved the storyline but Anya calling Knight "daddy" drove me crazy!!!! lol

Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed Book Ninja) wrote: "The heroine calling the hero daddy is a dealbreaker for me. Yuck!"

[Shera (Book Whispers)]

I've started to really get tired of books were the leads are so obsessed around their love interest that they become petty and whiny. That their obsession with that love interest is what the whole story becomes about. Especially when it's not a romance.

[A]

C-H-E-A-T-I-N-G with OW/OM...and a doormat heroine. Also, a hero who thinks its OK to ogle/flirt with OW. And baby mama drawa with another woman.

[MadameZelda]

Books at the 50 percent mark and is:

ever depressing; going nowhere; is there a plot?

is a DNF.

[Firetop]

A wrote: "
Stay away from Knight by Kristen Ashley then...Loved the storyline but Anya calling Knight "daddy" drove me crazy!!!! lol

Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-Proclaimed ..."

A- that is funny because I loved Knight. One of my favorite!

[MadameZelda]

Firetop wrote: "A wrote: "
Stay away from Knight by Kristen Ashley then...Loved the storyline but Anya calling Knight "daddy" drove me crazy!!!! lol

Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-P..."

Same here. I loved Knight. (I just ignored the references to 'Daddy," but I've since learned it is accepted slang.)

[PepperP0t]

MadameZelda wrote: "Firetop wrote: "A wrote: "
Stay away from Knight by Kristen Ashley then...Loved the storyline but Anya calling Knight "daddy" drove me crazy!!!! lol

Danielle The Book ..."''

It's still creepy if she's calling him daddy, especially if he's saying 'my baby'.

[A]

Oh, I liked Knight, the story itself...Just hated Anya calling him "daddy." It creeped me out, but that's just me.

Firetop wrote: "A wrote: "
Stay away from Knight by Kristen Ashley then...Loved the storyline but Anya calling Knight "daddy" drove me crazy!!!! lol

Danielle The Book Huntress (Self-P..."

[Cindi]

MadameZelda wrote: "Books at the 50 percent mark and is:

ever depressing; going nowhere; is there a plot?

is a DNF."
"Oh my gosh, will this ever end?" is what I call it... I want to be drawn INTO the story, not DRAGGED THRU it!

[C.C.]

I used to not be a DNF, but these are now dealbreakers:
1. Story goes nowhere- you know the h/H keep vacillating between the same issues for 80% of the book. I like my story to move forward.
2. Inconsistent details. I threw a book against a wall once when heroine's eyes changed color midway. WTF?

[A.]

Bad dialogue and bad pacing. Info dumps grate my nerves. If it takes me longer to read a scene than the actual time that passes in the book, then it's too long. People standing there just thinking about history that can be more elegantly conveyed in a different way is amateur. If it's relevant, the history will come up with enough speed and frequency to make it edible in small doses.

Bad dialogue kills me. Really tried to give FSOG the ole college try and the conversations, where nobody said anything finally made it enough of a chore that I was finding distractions and procrastinating from getting through the first book.

Another thing is overly alien worlds or spacey science fiction. I've tried multiple times at different points in my life to get into space opera or planetary alien books. Can't do it. Either they use too many words that I do not understand, using them as if I have lived on the MC planet all my life, so that I cannot visualize a scene, or they do the info dump thing so it feels like I'm reading an intergalactic field guild rather than a story. And I hate over described spaceship machinery. I'm not an engineer; I do not care how it takes off and goes whoosh!

[Arch]

I don't like first person books. If I buy a book or download a book and start to read it and the POV is in first person. I will not finish that book.

I can't books where there is no chemistry between the hero and heroine. I hate when an author pair the hero and heroine just because they are the hero and heroine in the book.

[Cindi]

I bet if it was Sam Starret you'd read it, Arch!!!