What To Do When You Don’t Like a Book

What To Do When You Don't Like a Book header

Every now and then I come across a book I do not like whether it is part of a series like Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs or a standalone book like The Girls by Emma Cline. In this post I want to talk about what I do when a book lets me down.

Library of Souls Book Review

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs hardback book
First I will start with Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs. I loved Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and I quickly made my way through that book as well as Hollow City. I was captivated by the story and the setting and the pictures added a unique touch. However, when I started reading the hardback of Library of Souls, I did not experience the same effect. Even though Library of Souls picks up where Hollow City ended and follows Jacob and Emma as they rescue their peculiar companions from a guarded fortress, I did not like the story. Some parts of the story were interesting, but for most of the book I felt like I was forcing myself through it, and I ended up putting it down. That was back in 2017. However, I then discovered Libby and saw they had the audiobook of Library of Souls and I decided to give the book a second chance. I actually ended up finishing the book! The book was still slow-paced and it did not help that the narrator talked so slow that I actually had to speed up the audiobook! However, the book did get a little more interesting as the story progressed especially since there were new characters introduced. Since this book was supposed to be the final book of the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children trilogy (A Map of Days was released in 2018 that follows a new story arc), I did feel like the ending concluded the series well, but I do agree with other reviews that stated it was a convenient ending.

If you have read the first two books of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, I would only recommend continuing the series if you are curious about how the trilogy is concluded.

$14.51 at Book Depository

Rate: 4/10


The Girls Book Review

The Girls by Emma Cline audiobook screenshot

Now for The Girls by Emma Cline. I have seen other bloggers recommending this book, and I decided to listen to the audiobook on Libby. I did not like this book at all, but I decided to finish it since the other books I had on hold on Libby were not available yet. It took me a whole month to actually finish the audiobook even though it is only 10 hours long! It would normally take me half that time to make my way through an audiobook of the same length. The Girls is set in the 1960s and it follows 14-year-old Evie Boyd who spends her summer with a group of girls who live at the ranch and are devoted to a man named Russell. The book is inspired by the Manson Family and the murder of Sharon Tate, which makes this book interesting, but I felt like nothing actually happened in the story. The murders are not even discussed until near the end of the book. However, the book was a bit interesting since it described how Evie got caught up in the cult and also the rise and fall of the cult. However, the book was overly written and it felt like Cline would use every metaphor imaginable to describe one thing. Also, the story switches to the present when Evie is older and reflecting on her time at the ranch, but I felt like the present perspective did not add anything to the story. I also felt like Evie constantly went on tangents that took away from the story and made it harder to listen to. I really do not know what I expected from the ending, but I found the ending less than desirable.

Overall, I would only recommend The Girls if you want to read a re-telling of the Manson Family and the murders from the perspective of one of the girls involved in the cult.

$14.13 at Book Depository

Rate: 2/10


What Can You Do When You Do Not Like a Book?

I believe there are several options you can take when you encounter a book you do not like. You can:

  • Put it down and move onto another book
  • Pick up the book at a later time and give it a second chance (optional)
  • Do not put the book down and finish reading it (not recommended)

Out of these options, I think the best one is to just put the book down and move onto another one. If you would like to give the book a second chance, I recommend reading another book first before going back to it. I do not recommend forcing yourself to finish the book because there are so many books out there that you would probably enjoy a lot more than this one book you do not like.


What do you do when you are reading a book you do not like?

 

What To Do When You Don't Like a Book Pinterest pin

41 thoughts on “What To Do When You Don’t Like a Book

  1. This is such great advice. It can be very daunting to stop reading a book but it is a waste of time forcing yourself to read it. However sometimes it is worth the battle, there are books that I pushed through and learnt so much from even though I wanted to put them down

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes sometimes a book can be worthwhile if you finish it, but in general it’s better to move onto another one & maybe pick up the book at another time.

      Like

  2. It’s always really hard when you’re not enjoying a book, isn’t it? I hate it when that happens with a review book because I feel like I’m committed to reading it. I’m fortunate that with my commute, I can normally get through books quite quickly and it’s either that or stare out the window, so I tend to just force myself through a book I don’t like, which isn’t the best approach as it then kills my reading buzz! Probably should use your tactics more! Lovely post.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know what you mean about feeling like you have to get through review books, but you could always contact the author/publisher/whoever sent you the book & say the book isn’t for you & you didn’t finish it. I also occasionally receive books on NetGalley & they have a “I will not be giving feedback” option if you don’t finish books.
      Like you said, forcing yourself to finish a book can cause a reading slump so it would better to put it down, move on & maybe pick up the book at another time.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I had a same effect with “The historian by Elizabeth Kostova”. Everybody seams to adore it except me, I started reading it and just after few chapters I got confused and had “wtf” moment. I put it down and did not pick it up for years. The again started it and the same, so I will not even bother. Also I hated fifthy shade of gray. Still do not get what is a big deal with that book.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think it’s good you gave the book a second chance & then decided to put it down for good! No need to bother with a book you know for sure you don’t like!
      I haven’t read fifty shades of gray since I figured I wouldn’t like it.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I just can’t put a book away even if it’s morbid. Recently, I fell in love with a polish crime novelist who wrote many great books and when she wrote a trilogy I was so excited. I loved the first part and then the second was like… meh. I couldn’t even go through a 100 pages of the third one and it destroyed my love for this author forever. I reread one of her first books and it was great again, so my style didn’t change. Thanks for this post, I really liked your reviews.
    Dorota
    http://www.journalofdorota.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you!
      It seems like she should’ve just stuck to writing standalone novels! It’s a shame that the trilogy destroyed your love for her, but at least you know your style didn’t change but the trilogy was subpar.

      Like

  5. I recently finished the entire Wheel of Time series and Crossroads of Twilight is the worst of the 14 book series. I almost put it down and just skip to the next book but I felt like the author Robert Jordan didn’t deserve that. So I read more pages in less time than I have ever with that series. Just to get through it. Pressing on is a key mentality to have with some authors. If I remember correctly there are about 100 pages on gutting a whale in moby dick. Kind of boring.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great job on finishing the series & I’m glad to hear you could get through the book! Yes some books you do need to press on but in general it would be better to move on instead.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes I know what you mean. You spent time already reading the book so if you just stopped then you feel like you wasted that time, but it’s better to not force yourself to finish something you don’t like

      Like

  6. It’s rare that I come across a book that I dislike to the point that I just have to DNF it and put it down. But it rarely happens mainly because I barely pick up books that I’m unsure of simply because I feel like when you force yourself to finish something you don’t like then you’re just going to put yourself in a reading slump which isn’t fun at all. I don’t think people should feel guilty for stopping reading books cause there no point cause you are never going to like every single book you pick up.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I rarely pick up books I’m unsure of either like w/ Library of Souls I loved the first 2 books so I thought the third would be as good. I do agree that no one should feel guilty for putting down a book, but when you spend money on a book you can feel like you wasted it since you didn’t finish it.

      Like

  7. It’s one of the worst feelings ever when you don’t enjoy a book, especially the ones you’ve been looking so forward to. I always have this feeling of guilt inside of me when I don’t like one, but if necessary, I just move on and try another 🙂 Being as I am a book blogger, I refuse to publish any negative book reviews as well, it’s not fair on the author, in my own personal opinion, and so I just silently move on and keep the thoughts just to myself 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s interesting you don’t post any negative reviews. I have no problem posting negative reviews b/c the reviews are more for the readers than the author. Since there’s so many books out there, how would people know what books to read if they all only had good reviews? So that’s what I think!

      Like

  8. Loved reading your thoughts on this. I think the way I justify stopping a book I don’t get into is by saying that I will come back to it at some point (although rarely do) haha. It helps me feel like I’m giving up on it.. just giving up on the book temporarily! There are SO many good books- gotta read what we love with our time, ya know?! But I just hate not finishing anything I start with reading! Thanks for sharing, Karalee!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s hard for me to not finish a book I started reading as well! Like with Library of Souls I put it down & I did have the intention of going back to it one day since I did buy the hardback..but I’m glad I finished the book since I want to see if the 4th book is better since it’s a new story arc!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. When I first started blogging I never ever DNF books, but I have come to realize its not worth my time to force myself to finish a book! Like you said, there are so many other great books out there! Also when I don’t like a book but try to finish it anyway I end up just not reading at all and then I get in a slump.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The same happened to me! A while back I forced myself to finish a book & afterwards I didn’t read for almost a year…now I know to just put it down & maybe come back to it later.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Haha that’s good you’re not afraid to write a negative review! It’s helpful when people share their thoughts even when they’re negative b/c how else will I know if the book is bad?

      Like

  10. Ahhh I am crying that you didn’t enjoy Library of Souls. I loved all 4 books with all my heart lol.

    I am an Option 3 girl & I need to stop! I don’t know why I force myself through books. Like, I’ve already read so much & always need to finish for some reason.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you liked Library of Souls, but for me it was a let down.
      If you already spent time reading a book, you could feel like you wasted that time if you don’t finish it, but it’s better to spend your time on a book you actually enjoy reading!

      Liked by 1 person

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