Let's Talk DNF

I've got a bit of a confession to make: I am a notorious DNF-er.

If you're super confused about what I'm talking about and starting to think that this is a smidge NSFW, it's ok, you can view this on your work computer. DNF stands for "Did not finish". So, if you start a book, and then partially through decide that it just isn't for you, then you DNF-ed it.

Some people—like me—constantly DNF. I like to listen to what my girl Marie Kondo says: If it doesn't spark joy, then get rid of it. Then some people—like my husband—basically never DNF. If they start it, then gosh darn it, they will finish it. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, I think we can all relate to starting a book and just trudging through it. Here are some books I just couldn't do.

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee

This is the only ever ARC copy of a book I've ever gotten. When one day it just appeared in my mailbox, I was so stoked! I love a modern retelling, so this one should be perfect. Anna Karenina meets upper-class New York teenagers? What sounds bad about that? Well, I'll tell you: The characters are impossible to relate to. I couldn't get past page 50, which is usually where I allow myself to DNF. I've never casually thrown back a bottle of vodka that costs tens of thousands of dollars, or locked myself into a closet full of opulent furs. It was just so above what I could relate to, I just was not interested in the character. Maybe it's the reality that I'm not an east coast personality, and that felt integral in understanding the characters.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Another hot-take coming at you: this book is not good.

Okay, okay, I guess it is good, but it is not a good read. Let me explain. The characters just will not change. They just accept that they don't like the directions their lives are headed in and complain to each other and to the reader.

This book, however, kept me reading for much longer than any book I DNFed. I got to about the 75% marker and just couldn't keep reading it for a reason I don't understand why more people haven't talked about. This book is extremely triggering for those with disordered eating histories and there is no content warning for it. I've never been one to complain about something not having one of these warnings, but since this book is more of a psychological study of these characters, their disordered thoughts hit deeper. As one character was engaging in more and more eating disorder behaviors, I just couldn't do it anymore.

If you have a similar history, please take this as your warning and remove this book from your TBR if you think it'll trigger disordered eating behaviors.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

I am so sad about this one! Some of you guys I know love this one, so this is a very personal take. Stella has a fear of intimacy and thinks that the best way to conquer her fear is to get lessons. So she hires a male escort, Michael. (I think you can guess where this is going.) Let the steamy encounters begin. Then more steamy encounters. And more. It just doesn't stop.

If you love a steamy read, then boy do I have a recommendation for you! But the thing about this plot device that just didn't work for me was that these moments didn't add to the characters. Yes, Stella is learning to be okay with these moments, but there's more to conquering anxieties than exposure therapy. The sexual moments are of course necessary to this plot, but they didn't let Stella show her true colors as a person.

One of my positive takes from this book, though, is that Michael is an understandable and charming character. His intentions are so kind toward Stella and her fears. He is empathetic to her, but at the same time, something just didn't sit right with me about the plot of paying to learn about sex. Maybe this is a personal opinion on an even more personal topic!

Have you read any of these books, too? What do you think about them? I love talking about books that we just didn't love or didn't think deserved the hype. Let me know what you think and let's chat!