15 Book DNFs in 2 Months: Honest Reading Confessions

Okay, so… this was a rough couple of months for finishing books. Fifteen DNFs. Fifteen.

At first I felt a little embarrassed putting this list together, but then I realized, this is actually a really useful post! Sometimes a DNF says more about timing than the book itself, and I think breaking down the “why” behind each one is genuinely interesting. So let’s get into it, rapid-fire style.

The “It’s Not You, It’s Me (Probably)” Pile

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries both lost me for the same reason: 25-30% in, and I genuinely could not tell you what either book was about. Two beloved classics-in-the-making, two total blanks from me. I suspect both are “give it more runway” reads, the kind where everyone says “trust me, it gets good,” and I just… didn’t trust enough this time.

The “Too Slow for My Current Attention Span” Trio

My Grandfather, the Master Detective, Shrink Solves Murder, and Wellness all suffered from the same issue: pacing. Shrink Solves Murder was especially frustrating because the psychiatrist-author clearly knows her stuff (the psychological grounding was fantastic) but I kept mentally yelling “GET ON WITH IT.” Wellness is just… a big book, and big + slow wasn’t the combo I needed.

The Plot-Twist-Too-Far Club

Murder Your Employer had such a fun premise (a school for assassins!) but the execution got so tangled I lost the thread completely. Meanwhile Under the Whispering Door… I have no idea what was happening. None. Both have passionate fan bases, so chalk this up to “wrong reader energy” on my part.

A Tale of Two Reformed Skeptics

Here’s where it gets personal. Clown Town (Slough House #9) broke my heart a little. Books 1 and 2 were spectacular, but the “ragtag underdogs outsmart the experts” formula finally felt stale to me here. On the flip side, Doocey Half Sees Whodunnit gave me a lot to think about: it’s written by a visually impaired author about a visually impaired detective, and the humor leans dark and self-referential. I think that kind of “we can joke about our own experience” comedy lands very differently depending on whether you’re inside or outside that experience, and for me, an outsider, some of it felt sharper than funny.

Doocey Half-Sees whodunnit by TomMcAndrew
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The “Just Didn’t Click” Catch-All

Surrounded by Idiots felt too generic despite my high hopes. A Cryptic Clue left me feeling disconnected the whole way through. Replaceable You was too clinical, too medical, too… beige, honestly. And with Lucky, I just never warmed up to the main character, Too much drama, not enough reason to root for her.

The “See You Later, Not Goodbye” Section

Last but not least, two books I’m not writing off. The Very Merry Murder Club has such an interesting premise, but the timing felt off; I think a reread later could go very differently. And The Queen Who Came in from the Cold? I genuinely love this series. This was 100% a “wrong moment” situation, and I fully intend to pick it back up.

In conclusion:

So that’s the damage: fifteen books, zero finishes, and a whole lot of “it’s not you, it’s me” energy. Has anything on this list surprised you, either because you loved it, or because you DNF’d it too for completely different reasons? Drop a comment, I’m dying to compare notes!

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ispeakbooknerdreviewer

June 16, 2026 at 12:20 pm

I love this post. I’ve had a couple of DNFs lately that I felt guilty about myself. I think, though, that it’s good that we set an example of putting down what we aren’t enjoying. Life is short, and there are just sooooo many books. And I don’t know about you, but if I try and push myself through something I’m not enjoying, my reading slump just gets even worse. Thank you for sharing this! — I feel less alone!

Views She Writes
June 16, 2026 at 12:40 pm

I have a rule that Google shared some years back, about when’s the right time to quit. 25% or 50 pages whichever is most. If the book really doesn’t create any intrigue for me in that time, I give up. You’re right. There are just so many books. And I know of some friends who keep going even though it’s not working for them. But that feels like a task for me and I read for fun, not as a work. So, the rule applies 😊

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15 Books, 0 Finishes: My Big Fat DNF Round-Up

The “It’s Not You, It’s Me (Probably)” Pile