{"id":737,"date":"2026-06-07T16:51:48","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T21:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=737"},"modified":"2026-06-07T16:51:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T21:51:48","slug":"should-you-finish-every-book-you-start-a-readers-guide-to-dnfing-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=737","title":{"rendered":"Should You Finish Every Book You Start? A Reader&#8217;s Guide to DNFing Books"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>DNF = Did Not Finish<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DNF-blog.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-738\" srcset=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DNF-blog.png 940w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DNF-blog-300x251.png 300w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/DNF-blog-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I used to think I had to finish every book I ever started. If I DNF\u2019d a book, I felt like I was quitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After college, I wanted to rebuild my reading habit. One strategy I tried was alternating between fiction and nonfiction. I flew through the fiction books but often slogged through the nonfiction titles. Reading started to feel more like homework than a hobby. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then I became a mom, and free time became scarce. During those precious quiet moments, I didn\u2019t want to spend my time reading books I wasn\u2019t enjoying simply because of a self-imposed rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, I gave myself permission to stop reading books that weren\u2019t working for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It felt liberating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em> (You can read more about how my reading habits have changed over the years <a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=36\">here<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DNF Statistics: How Many Readers Quit Books?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve ever DNF\u2019d a book, you\u2019re far from alone. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/poll\/show\/85679-when-do-you-abandon-a-book?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Goodreads poll<\/a> of more than 21,000 readers, nearly 62% said they had abandoned a book before finishing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Readers quit at different points in the story. Nearly 28% said they stopped reading between pages 50 and 100, while about 16% gave up within the first 50 pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DNFing has become so common that Goodreads recently added a dedicated \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/blog\/show\/3092-new-did-not-finish-shelf-is-on-its-way\">DNF shelf,<\/a>\u201d and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/TheStoryGraph\/comments\/1rylnx4\/what_books_did_you_read_that_many_dnfed\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Storygraph<\/a>  now tracks DNF percentages for individual books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Common Reasons Readers Quit Books<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are so many reasons someone might DNF a book. Below are several:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The story moves too slowly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The writing style doesn\u2019t click with the reader.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The book contains triggering or disturbing content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long descriptions make the story feel bogged down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The book isn\u2019t what the reader expected based on the summary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Too many characters, timelines, or locations make it hard to follow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The book doesn\u2019t fit the reader\u2019s current mood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What&#8217;s Your DNF Rule?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every reader has a different threshold for quitting a book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some readers give a book 50 pages. Others commit to three chapters or 10% of the audiobook. Some never DNF at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s no right or wrong approach. The important thing is finding a reading style that helps you enjoy books rather than treating them like an obligation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Do DNF Books Count Toward Your Reading Goal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, your reading goals are personal, so you get to make the rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Personally, I don\u2019t count DNF books toward my yearly <a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=471\">reading goals<\/a> because I didn\u2019t finish the entire book. However, I still track them so I can remember what I tried and why I stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Goodreads now allows users to place books on a DNF shelf, making it easy to record them without including them in annual reading statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to Reduce Future DNFs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No one starts a book expecting to abandon it. If you\u2019d like to reduce the number of books you DNF, try these strategies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose authors or genres you\u2019ve enjoyed before<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check ratings on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/\">Goodreads<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/\">Amazon<\/a> or other trusted book review sites ahead of time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use resources like <a href=\"https:\/\/ratedreads.com\/\">Rated Reads<\/a> to screen for content concerns<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Set a benchmark before quitting, such as 50 pages or five chapters, before deciding whether to continue or not.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DNF or NRN (Not Right Now)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes a book isn\u2019t bad \u2013 it\u2019s just not the right fit at the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of viewing every unfinished book as a DNF, consider labeling some of them as NRN: Not Right Now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe you\u2019re in the wrong season of life for that particular story. Maybe you\u2019re craving a different genre. Maybe the book will resonate more a year from now than it does today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Giving yourself permission to set a book aside doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll never return to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, I believed finishing every book was part of being a \u201cgood reader.\u201d Eventually I realized that reading is supposed to be enjoyable, not an endurance test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since giving myself permission to DNF books that aren\u2019t working for me, I\u2019ve spent more time reading books I genuinely love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Life is too short, and most readers already have more books on their TBR than they\u2019ll ever finish. Sometimes the best reading decision is turning the page. Other times, it\u2019s closing the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What about you? Do you finish every book you start, or are you comfortable DNF&#8217;ing a book that isn\u2019t working for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 Come hang out with me for daily bookish chats on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61571135243421\">Facebook <\/a>or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/readersgottaread.blog\/\">Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other posts you may be interested in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=36\">My Approach to Reading: How My Reading Habits Have Changed Over Time<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=517\">Best Methods for Tracking Books: Apps, Tools and Simple Systems That Work<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=665\">An Interview with Cathy Lim of Rated Reads: How to Check Book Content Before You Read<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=471\">To Set Reading Goals, or Not to Set Reading Goals \u2013 That is the Question<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DNF = Did Not Finish I used to think I had to finish every book I ever started. If I DNF\u2019d a book, I felt like I was quitting. After college, I wanted to rebuild my reading habit. One strategy I tried was alternating between fiction and nonfiction. I flew through the fiction books but [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[221,460],"tags":[232,342,12,231],"class_list":["post-737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-tracking","category-dnf","tag-book-finisher","tag-dnf","tag-rated-reads","tag-reading-habits"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=737"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":742,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/737\/revisions\/742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}