Signs You Need to DNF Your Book

If you aren’t happy with your current read, then it is time to DNF your book! No shame, no worries, DNFing is self-care and if you aren’t happy with what you’re reading, it is time to set it down!

We have all been there. Whatever book we are reading is just torture. For one reason or another, the book just isn’t working for you. Either you are bored, or you don’t like the writing, the characters are annoying… No matter what your reason, if you aren’t feeling the book you are reading, then you have my permission to DNF your book.

How You Know It Is Time To DNF Your Current Read

Everyone is unique and your reasons for DNFing will be different than mine, but I have found that there are a few universal signs that it may be time to set the book down and walk away.

What does “DNF” Mean?

First and foremost, I want to address the DNF meaning. When I first joined the online reading community, I had no clue what any of the acronyms meant. DNF? TBR? What does it all mean? 

So, what does DNF stand for? Put simply, DNF means “did not finish“. That’s it. So when you DNF a book, it means you did not finish it. This is an intentional thing. You intentionally DNF. Stop reading for one reason or another and move on to something else. 

So now that we know what it means to DNF, we can move on to WHY you need to DNF. 

If you are bored with your book, stop reading it!

This may seem like a given, but if you are bored with your book, it is time to DNF it. There have been many times that I have been reading and the book was just boring to me. 

Reading should be fun, if you are bored then you need to stop reading and try something different. 

DNF your Book if you find your mind wandering

This is similar to DNFing when you are bored, but a little bit more involved. If you find yourself thinking about things other than your book, it is probably time to set it down. 

For me, I will start thinking about what fantasy books I can read next. If I am thinking about other books and what else I would rather be reading, then I know it is DNF time. 

It isn’t always thinking about other books though.  If you start thinking about video games, TV shows, anything other than focusing on what you are reading, then yeah time to take a pause. 

Yes, a pause! DNFing doesn’t always have to be permanent! Sometimes I will do a temporary DNF. I will set a book down and come back to it later when I am in a different headspace. Sometimes I end up really enjoying that book at a different time, and other times I end up permanently DNFing. Either way though, the DNF makes me feel so much better. 

When you forget what you just read

Whenever I have to start re-reading passages that I just read because I just can’t retain what I am reading, I know it is time to DNF. reading and re-reading only to just not remember what I read a moment before is not a sign of reader enjoyment. 

Every time I decide to DNF a book for good, I find myself doing this. No matter how many times I try to go over a passage, I just don’t retain the information. So if you find this happening to you, it may be a sign that it is time to DNF. 

There is nothing wrong with DNFing

Look, for some reason it feels like the online book community wants everyone to power through their current read, but DNFing is self-care! Reading should be fun, and when it stops being fun, it is time to move on. 

There is no reason to continue on reading a book you aren’t loving. Even if it is a Netgalley book or an ARC for review, you are not obligated to finish it if you aren’t enjoying it! 

DNFing is a full review, you can say ” I DNFed at X% because of reason XYZ”. There you go, you have your Netgalley review!

So if you find yourself feeling unhappy, wanting to read something else, bored… Just DNF that book and move on to something that makes you happy!