NetGalley Addicts Support Group discussion

at what point do you give up on a book. I have been reading a book since 8/16 and am not even 50% through it. Do I give up or keep going?

Ugghhh, give up!

20-25% the way through unless it is just horrible from page 1.

Yes, just give up! Not even the publisher will benefit from your sacrifice because the more you insist the more prone you are to hate it. If I reach 50%—and it's not a bible—, I just go on to be able to say just how much it completely sucked. So yes, the publishers would have chosen for me to give up if it were their choice, lol.

I normally give about 20%, but I also leave feedback on NetGalley as to why I couldn't finish it

50 pages is supposed to be my personal cut-off but I've been terrible about calling it quits when I should.

Dee wrote: "I normally give about 20%, but I also leave feedback on NetGalley as to why I couldn't finish it"

I also do this.

Sometimes I DNF at 20%, sometimes I DNF at 85%. It all depends on the book I am reading.

I rarely give up, but recently I had to stop at Chapter 3 of a book. At some point you realize that the book is not adding anything to your life and it's even taking from you in terms of energy spent. It was the first time I DNF a book from NetGalley, and I felt bad for a minute, but went there and left feedback anyway.

I read for enjoyment, so if I am not enjoying a book or it is not calling me back ( i.e. I'd rather spend time on Goodreads rather than actual reading) then I just move on - even if it's only after 5 pages-I can tell when I am not going to like a book pretty early on. I feel there are too many good books out there than to stick with something I'm not enjoying. I have too many books on my Kindle and I'd rather move on to something better. I usually say it's "just me" in my review and why I couldn't finish it. Give up on the book from August! 🙂

Nancy Pearl, a librarian and librarian says you should read at least 50 pages
Before you give up on a book.

I read on my Kindle. I wait until I reach 30% before I will entertain the thought of giving up on a book.

It really just depends how I feel about the book. I usually give up once I feel I've given it a fair chance but find myself dreading and avoiding picking up my Kindle and reading it. Depending on the book, that can happen at any given point.

I read a lot but not usually more than 2 at a time. When I have finished three and am still suck on the other one it is time to move on. Since I started reviewing I have only DNF three books. I try to stick to it thinking maybe it will redeem itself. I also give feedback on Netgalley as to why I could not finish.

Pretty much what everyone else has said. I've found that my threshold for giving up also depends on what sort of book it is. I've more of a tendency to give up on super drama filled YAs or romances than non-fiction or children's books.

If I'm avoiding picking up my kindle to avoid slogging through a book which is sucking the joy out of reading, I drop it like a hot rock.

In fact, I almost had a DNF this week. was SUPER tough going for me. I was not at all invested in finishing it (but I did). I wish I could have the time back, honestly.

I used to belong to a book group and we came up with our Reader's Rules. Our consensus was every book deserves fifty pages to capture your interest. After that, it's lost any claim on your time.

it depends. i will continue to go back to a book after stopping it a few times. I've done this to a few & end up happy i didn't bounce like i originally planned.

I try to get thru at least 5 chapters or so before i end my time with it.

both ways i make note of it when posting a review.

i just cannot dnf a book, unless it's like literally after one or two chapters [which i did recently for the first time in well over a year] because if i get significantly into it at all i just have to finish it even if it's awful. sometimes i will dnf an anthology but usually that's more of a temporary dnf, like last year i finished two anthologies that i dnfed a couple of years ago just because it was bugging me. but with arc books i always finish them, even though i know i'm in the minority on that.