How to Know When to DNF a Book (And Why It's Okay)

by The Book Pup on November 21, 2025

Hey y'all! Today, I want to talk about something I struggle with (and I'm sure many other readers do too): Putting down a book you're not enjoying. We all know the feeling, you're 100 pages in, completely bored, drained, and would rather be reading something else, but you keep forcing yourself to read because 'maybe it gets better?'

Let me tell you this: DNF-ing (Did Not Finish-ing) a book doesn't make you a big bad wolf. Actually, it makes you a smarter reader.

Just like my favorite quote says (creds to Frank Zappa) "So many books, so little time". 

Life is too short to read books you hate, and I assure you that there are. So. Many. Good. Books out there, and there are thousands of much more amazing books waiting for you. So why waste time on one that's making reading feel like a chore (especially if you're just getting out of a reading slump and are hating books already).

What Does DNF Mean?

DNF stands for "Did Not Finish." It's when you stop reading a book before reaching the end. You can DNF at page 10 or page 300 - whenever you realize this book isn't working out for you.

Why Readers Feel Guilty About DNF-ing

Before we talk about when to quit a book, let's address why it feels so wrong:

"I paid money for this book" - The sunk cost fallacy is real. But reading a bad book won't get your money back. Cut your losses and find something you'll actually enjoy.

Tip: Donate it to someone who likes this genre, to your local library, or your community's 'A Little Free Library' if you have one (you borrow a book for free, and bring out a book to share in like a small mailbox, shelf kind of box).

"Everyone else loves it" - A book with 100,000 five-star reviews can still be wrong for you. Your reading experience is valid even when it differs from the majority. (This happened with me when I started reading 'The Book Thief'. Review on it coming soon!)

"Maybe it gets better later" - Sometimes books do improve, but you're not obligated to suffer through 200 boring pages hoping for a payoff.

Tip: You can always research the book's ending, character development (if you don't mind spoilers)

"I always finish what I start" - This mindset turns reading from pleasure into punishment. Reading should be warm and funzy.

Clear Signs It's Time to DNF

You're Actively Avoiding Reading Time

If you find yourself choosing literally anything else over picking up your book - scrolling social media, reorganizing your bookshelf, suddenly deciding now is the perfect time to clean your room - your brain is telling you something.

You Can't Remember What's Happening

You read a chapter, then realize you absorbed nothing because your mind wandered the entire time. You keep re-reading the same page. You can't remember character names or why anything matters.

When a book can't hold your attention even when you're trying to focus, it's not working.

You're Hate-Reading

There's a difference between a book that challenges you and one that really gets on your nerves. If you're reading just to see how much worse it can get, or you're mentally composing a rant review with every page, stop.

Life's too short to hate-read.

The Writing Style Doesn't Click

Sometimes a book's writing style just doesn't match your preferences. Too flowery, too simple, too much description, not enough description. Forcing through hundreds more pages won't suddenly make it enjoyable.

You Don't Care What Happens Next

The ultimate test: Do you care how this story ends? If the answer is "not really" or "I couldn't care less if I never find out," you have your answer.

Books should make you curious, invested, eager to know what happens. If you feel nothing, that's a que for you to move on.

It's Been Weeks and You're Still on Page 50

A book sitting on your nightstand for three weeks with the bookmark barely moved is a DNF waiting to happen. If you were enjoying it, you'd be reading it. (Unless it's a REALLY good book. In that case, you avoid it in fear of ending it. That happened for me in 'The Final Gambit', The Inheritance Games book #3)

You're Only Reading Out of Obligation

If your only motivation is "I should finish this," you're reading for the wrong reasons. Reading is supposed to be for you, not for an imaginary audience keeping score.

The Content Makes You Uncomfortable

If a book contains content that genuinely upsets you - triggering material, values that clash with yours, representation that feels harmful - you don't owe it your time. Your mental wellbeing matters more than finishing a book.

When You Might Want to Keep Going

Not every struggle means you should quit. Here are times when pushing through might be worth it:

You're in a reading slump - If every book feels hard right now, the problem might not be this specific book. Try shorter reading sessions or switch to an easier comfort read temporarily.

It's slow but intriguing - Some books start slow but build into something incredible. If you're curious about where it's going and the writing quality is good, give it a bit more time.

You're learning from it - Sometimes challenging books that push you outside your comfort zone are valuable even when they're not "fun." If you're gaining something meaningful, that counts.

You're close to the end - If you're 80% through and just want closure, finishing might feel better than quitting so close to the end. But this isn't a rule - you can still DNF at 90% if you want.

How to DNF Respectfully

On Goodreads or Reading Trackers:

• Mark it as DNF with the page you stopped at
• Be honest but not cruel in reviews
• Mention why it didn't work for you specifically

In Discussions:

• "This wasn't for me" is a complete sentence
• You don't owe anyone a detailed explanation
• Avoid broad statements like "this book is terrible"

What to Do With DNF'd Books

Physical books:

• Donate to your library
• Give to a friend who might enjoy it
• Sell to a used bookstore
• Book swap events

Digital books:

• Remove from your device to avoid clutter
• Keep a DNF list so you remember why you stopped (I personally write my DNF list in a notebook 100% for book stuff)

Creating Your Personal DNF Policy

Some readers use the "50-page rule" - give every book 50 pages before deciding. Others use percentages: 10% for shorter books, more for longer ones.

Here's my suggestion: Trust your gut. If you're not feeling it, you're not feeling it. You don't need a formula to validate your reading choices.

My personal DNF policy:

• I give most books 50-100 pages unless they're actively upsetting me
• If I'm still bored by then, I stop and research the ending (if it's a happy one)

Note: Only search up the ending if you don't mind spoilers!

• I don't feel guilty about it
• I move on to something I'll actually enjoy

You can create whatever policy works for you.

The Freedom of DNF-ing

Here's what happened when I started DNF-ing books without guilt:

I read more books I actually loved. I stopped dreading reading time. My reading life became fun again instead of feeling like obligation. I discovered new favorite authors because I wasn't stuck finishing books I hated.

DNF-ing isn't giving up. It's choosing yourself and your limited reading time. It's respecting that books are meant to be enjoyed, not endured.

Before you DNF, consider:

1. Am I bored or just distracted by other things in my life?
2. Is this book bad or just not what I expected?
3. Would I recommend this to anyone, or am I struggling to find anything positive?
4. If this book disappeared tomorrow, would I miss it?
5. Am I reading this for me or for external validation?

The Bottom Line

You're not a quitter for DNF-ing books. You're someone who values their time and knows what they enjoy. Remember that reading is supposed to bring you joy, escape, knowledge, or entertainment.

Your reading journey is yours alone. You don't need to finish every book to be a "real reader." You don't owe authors, publishers, or other readers your time and attention.

So the next time you're slogging through a book you hate, ask yourself: What amazing book could I be reading instead?

Then give yourself permission to find out.

Happy reading (only books you actually enjoy)!

The Book Pup

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