Tag: dnf

❌ Why I DNF’d ‘Carrie Soto is Back’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid

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I generally give a book 100 pages to get me in. If an author can give me the hook, have me invested in the characters, have me rooting for the journey/challenge the characters are facing and has me wanting to read, read, read – I will continue with a book. Sadly, I’ve lost that momentum with Carrie Soto is Back.

Only two nights ago I posted on my Instagram (give me a follow @melreviewsherbooks) to say how much I was enjoying this book and I was around the 60 page mark. But now, I’m sitting at 107, about to start a new chapter first thing this morning and I just find myself avoiding it!

I love tennis and the premise of this novel is fantastic. Carrie Soto is coming out of retirement after having 5 years off from a knee surgery, and she is aiming to defend her title of 12 grand slams in women’s singles. She is the greatest tennis player of all time. But the thing is, I don’t really feel connected or frankly like Carrie enough for me to keep reading her story. At the beginning, we’re learning about her Spanish heritage and how her father never made it pro and has invested his life in making Carrie a ‘tennis warrior’. Now at 100 pages, we’re in the thick of her play by play about which match is coming up, who she has to beat next, how she is training and what’s involved on her journey back to glory.

I think me DNFing this novel is a mixture of wanting deeper investment in Carrie, reminiscing on how I felt reading other Taylor Jenkins Reid books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & the Six, and just not feeling the same buzz with Carrie. Also, having so many books to read that I can happily re-home this to a friend who may enjoy it more.

What books have you DNF’d lately?? ❌

A few books I’ve DNF’d lately

~ melreviewsherbooks ~ 5 Comments

Fire round coming up … I’m going to give short statements as to why I DNF’d these books. I can say with absolute clarity and honestly that I will be going back to these books. They are not leaving my shelves. They have just been started, stopped and then removed from my bedside table (immediate book grabbing pile).

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

  • Writing was a big rough for what I was looking for at the time
  • Have been told by a beautiful customer that this was her least favourite in the series and also believes I will like further books in the series more
  • My mood for smutty reading slowed down

Five Bush Weddings by Clare Fletcher

Iris by Fiona Kelly McGregor

  • Written with no quotation marks – something that doesn’t resonate with my reading style
  • Dark Australian mafia read and comes across as a strong feminist read as well – love that
  • Gritty, well-written and researched
  • Based on fact and will need to be in the right mood to read of possible gruesome and graphic retellings

I am now currently onto The Night Travellers by Armando Lucas Correa and it is fantastic! What are you reading this week and how is it travelling?

3 DNF’s (did not finish) in August

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Reading tastes are like a wave, they come and go, they morph and evolve. And you know what readers, this is okay! In my opinion, it can mean that you are growing as a person 🌱 What you may have enjoyed a month, 6 months or a year ago is now different. It can also mean that your environment or situational experiences at the current time of your book selection just didn’t correlate with your feelings at the time. And again, this is okay! Books draw you in at different times of your life – that’s why I find it hard to let go of them 😉📚

Legendborn by Tracey Deonn

At the moment, this YA Fantasy isn’t for me. Myself and a lovely friend were planning on marathoning this book for the month of September but sadly, it’s not gripping me.

I give a book 100 pages before sinking my teeth in and settling in for the reading ride. I gave this 111 and still wasn’t feeling connected. The magical language, environment and events of the first 100 pages lost me… I will give it another go soon.

Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane

I was looking for a romance book, then it turned sad! REAL QUICK! This isn’t a bad thing and I can see that the book has potential. I’ve laughed and been left thinking about some scenes throughout this book but again, it wasn’t giving me the feels I was looking for.

DNF’ed for now. I purchased this on Kindle when it was on sale, therefore I am not overly upset about setting it aside. It will stay on the Kindle until it jumps out to me again.

Careless by Kirsty Capes

Now, now, now – this book is temporarily on hold but I am determined to finish it! A debut novel with stunning reviews, young adult challenges and first person fictional experience of the foster care system in the UK. These are all topics that interest me, yet at the moment I’m looking for something with quick, fast-paced and immediately immersive writing. This has beautiful lyrical writing that I want to savour. I’m sadly just not wanting that in my reading this month therefore, Careless is staying very close to my bedside and ready to resume next month 📚