It’s Okay to DNF a Book

There was a time I felt guilty about not finishing a book. No matter how slow it felt. No matter how disconnected I was.

I would still push through—just to say, “I finished it.” (Oh!! That reminds me of a book that tortured me so much.) DNF used to feel like failure.

But somewhere along the way, that changed.

Not every book is meant for every reader. And not every book is meant for you—at this moment.

Sometimes it’s the mood.
Sometimes it’s the timing.
Sometimes… it’s just not for you.

And it is definitely okay.

Because reading, for me, is not a task. It’s not something to tick off a list.
It’s not a performance.

It’s something I return to—for comfort, curiosity, and connection. It’s something that transports me to a different world while I’m sitting in an armchair with a book wide open on my lap and a cup of hot tea on the side table.

And forcing a book?
That takes away from all of that.

Also, I have come to realize:

Some books take time to grow on you
Some feel slow but stay with you later
Some just need patience

And I’m still learning to tell the difference.

At the same time, I’m also learning this—

It’s okay to stop.
It’s okay to leave a book halfway.
It’s okay to come back later… or not at all.

Honestly, I still struggle to DNF. I do a lot of research before picking up a book.
That helps me save time and money—and also saves me from saying, “Oh! I DNF’d that book.”

I am on my way to learning to DNF as a choice.

A quiet one.
Choosing to step away instead of forcing yourself through something that isn’t working.

Now tell me, have you ever DNFed a book and felt guilty about it?

Or are you someone who must finish every book you start?

This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026

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