my recent dnfs 🥲 | books i absolutely could not finish and why

[@throneofpages]

i let out a breath i didn't know i was holding when i reached the end because i didn't see any books i've liked 😂🥰

[@MinaReads]

😂

[@LifeofTaeShan]

The way that complaining is one of your favorite things to do and you’re really good at it.. I love it, I normally hate hearing people complain but you do it so well it’s like super calculated and it makes sense. Needless to say I loved this video and you’re literally hilarious

[@Owlzindabarn]

I'm a "Mood reader" too, now that I think of it. But when I DNF it's usually in a fantasy novel when they get halfway through the "journey" and it seems like they're just running 'round in circles. I hate fantasy books that pad the journey lol

[@thescarediest]

Honestly normal people seems so stressful bc sally Rooney doesn’t use quotation marks and I just can’t do it 😭

[@MayaKalia]

Definitely agree with you on Sorrowland. I was sooooo lost I had to stop, several times and finally gave up

[@chandlerainsley]

yeah the writing in Normal People wasn't it... it's meant to be this heartbreaking and angsty story but like. no. flavor. bland writing. imo the show is much better.

[@Joharis]

Omg Sophie Lark has the booktok girls on their knees and yet...I can't find the romance in these romance books of her 😭

[@jennab8649]

Headcase by Onley James was like a parody of the previous books. I read it from 12 am - 3 am and it was soooo….. I actually enjoyed it because it went off the rails immediately and never recovered. I was like that’s what I thought you would do Onley James.

[@goldglitterglam]

Hook line and sinker is not worth the second try imo, i just finished it yesterday and it was lackluster. fox continued to have that hangup over how ppl saw him and pushed hannah away and she was like "imma stay by his side and wait bc my love can fix him and im the main character of my story"

[@natarsha2203]

Right! He was just whiny and she put up with it because she wanted to be a "leading lady". I couldn't handle it.

[@virginiaattawayrounds6925]

I really liked Love and Other Disasters, but I am also an Anita Kelly superfan. I would recommend people start with their novella series about a queer karaoke bar.

[@GlitterCarnival]

I just love the way you give your opinions. So conversational, like I'm talking to my best friend. There's no other booktuber who's opinion I trust and vibe with more tbh

[@mandymckk]

Love and Other Disasters was cute! I liked Anita Kelly’s first Moonlighters novella better though, so if you want to give the author another chance, I recommend picking that one up!

[@toribrookss]

im def a mood reader and pro-dnfing! i will dnf a book with the quickness if it's not holding my attention🤣

[@JayGTheAwkwardBookworm]

“One of my favourite hobbies…. Complaining” 😂💀

[@rainy5320]

"and she just seemed like a fkn dummy" had me dead lmao

[@misosoupcup]

I agree with you on Normal People, I really enjoy character studies but the book was too slow and the writing was extremely dry. I only finished it because I put the audio book on three times speed. As for Sorrowland, I found the book very interesting but it unfortunately was not Solomon's best in my opinion. Like you mentioned some of Vern's choices didn't make sense, and the metaphors in the book were unclear to me

[@ohladysamantha]

I really enjoyed Love & Other Diasters. Just finished it. I understand how Daliah could be grating as the MC for you tho! As for Sally Rooney… you are either a fan or you aren’t. I am, but I understand how you might not get along with her writing style. Veronica Speedwell series is EVERYTHING. listen on audio the narrator is great!

[@allison7723]

You should definitely give the Veronica Speedwell audiobooks a shot. The narrator is so good!

[@thebeautygirl79]

i have read A Curious Beginning & enjoyed it! you are absolutely right that Veronica is a great character. i think, mystery aside, she & Stoker make it worth the read. it was probably not for you at the time, so i hope that you will give it another try! 😊 a few books on your dnf list i have on my tbr, so i do plan to read them soon {Normal People; Love & Other Disasters}. thanks for another enjoyable video- your honesty is much appreciated!!📚💞

[@ryannabrown8467]

my toxic trait is being obsessed with normal people and sally rooney. 😂

[@lua_ferraz]

Burn Normal People 😂 It's not worth it, honestly, it's just a lifetime of miscommunication with no sort of resolution at all. And I loved Sorrowland, I loved Vern's journey and I thought there were some interesting conversations about gender, but it's a really weird ride indeed.

[@QueenAino]

I agree 100% about Normal People lol

[@shayb.8294]

Honestly, I read the Kingmakers series by Sophie Lark first cause I didn't realize that Brutal Birthright was supposed to come first and I vastlyyyy preferred Kingmakers over Brutal Birthright series personally. Really the only of the Brutal Birthright series that I actually finished and enjoyed was Dante's story (Bloody Heart) which was recommended to me cause the other ones I either finished and didn't like, DNF'd or just didn't read. But I personally would recommend trying the Kingmakers series and seeing if you like that any better. The first one in Kingmakers is my least favorite of the series but I still liked it overall and I lovedddd the other 3 -(or now there's a fourth one but I'm currently reading it and I have mixed feelings atm) especially The Bully which is the third book in the series and I'm so obsessed lol

[@Maria-kb3nq]

If you’re looking for a comfort read mystery try A Good Day For Chardonnay… it’s technically a cozy mystery so it has the typical punny title but it’s a good time (and has a romance but it’s not the focus). Also imo don’t bother with the Brutal Birthright series- Kingmakers is the best out of all of Lark’s series

[@ninjaturtles12121]

i LOVE the nails!!!

[@leannj.3706]

yeah headcase didnt hit for me either, i didnt hate it but i just thought it was okay 🤷🏽‍♀i do wanna give avi's book a chance though just to see if headcase just wasnt for me or if its the series as a whole now

[@RetroNoIX]

I think Love and Other Disasters was a cute read. I would say give that one another shot. I definitely get what you feel about the MC though lmao.

[@claireythefairy]

You have been dropping them back to back since your break! Can't wait to get some time to watch this weekend.

[@sarahmarx2267]

I Dnfd Malice like 70% in. I just couldnt do it haha.

[@carefree421]

Normal People yeah a LIEEE! I'm normally a big 'book' over 'movie/series' type of person, but this is a prime example of the series did it much better! Please don't be put off from watching the series if you haven't already, it truly is amazing🥺🥺 I feel like with the book Sally Rooney was trying to be all edgy and angst and it really just fell flat like I could not get with the writing style at all :(

[@dareisayit]

I also DNF’d A Curious Beginnings the first time. But I recently finished it and it was better than I remember.

[@Joharis]

I also dnfd hook line, I wasn't feeling it and it probably won't live up to one summer but I'm definitely going back to it

[@PamNg]

Yesss I love Victoria Speedwell because it’s so comforting!! And maybe watching Normal People and then reading it could help?

[@fttoma]

I just know in my heart that sally ronny is not an author I’m going to read from since I try and her writing style is so dry and like reading a textbook and it put in shitty mood and i also dnf So no just keep that book dnf Edit: just finished love and other disasters and the book is not good and the love interest is very bland and the pacing was off so no the should stay dnf indefinitely

[@themoodypages]

Ok sorrowland started to sound super interesting… yeah, I would not ask you to try again or even put myself through that 😂

[@wandguardnoodle]

I haven't tried reading any of these books xD If anything I'd give another try for Rivers Solomon, but also only based on the fact that I really enjoyed Unkindness of Ghosts. I do enjoy a book that's just a wild trip on occasion so I'll check out Sorrowland, I think.

[@KLC228]

"One of my favorite hobbies...complaining" lmao same. I haven't read Normal People but I don't plan on it because from what I've heard I don't think I'd enjoy it

[@ceilidhsdesigns]

maybe its coz I read the arc but in the copy I had of Sorrowland the kid getting swept away and her meeting the bikers were two separate scenes

[@tessalawler3120]

I’d definitely give Hook, Line, & Sinker another try, esp if you liked It Happened One Summer. That conflict with Fox’s character is definitely a focus of the book and gets talked about a lot throughout, so I think you’ll be happy with the resolution.

[@JMFoster76]

I feel like you convinced me to take Sorrowland off my TBR lmao.... I have Love and other Disasters (book) and Hook, Line, and Sinker (audiobook) that I haven't started yet but I want to soon. Romance reads have just been a bit iffy lately.

[@Joharis]

The Onley James series....I have a complicated relationship with it lmao. They're all exactly the same book/relationship with different character names but....the concept!!! The concept has so much potential, even though the romance chemistry isn't there in any of the books for me.

[@whitedaylilies]

I really weirdly loved Sorrowland...but you do have to get passed some of the weird things. It was just such an interesting story. Someone told me it was a "social horror" book..not sure if that helps but I liked it! I'm so hyped for Hook Line and Sinker...I'm sad you didn't love it but I'm hoping I do! lol

[@nova-caine]

don't think i've ever hit subscribe so fast on a video before but i lost it at the "we're going to be indulging in one of my favourite hobbies: complaining" LMAOOO

[@marcemallow13]

Ooooo, very excited to check out the Necessary Evils series. Love those blue nails 😍

[@ellys106]

I can't say I ever care about a book prophecy unless I get to the very very end of a book/series and they reveal some engaging twist to the prophecy. And not one of those half-hearted faux turns either. lol.

[@booksnbeauty3745]

I also DNF’d A Curious beginning. I got a bit bored

[@LaurenCondon]

I really enjoyed Love & Other Disasters so maybe give it another try ❤️

[@almendras4830]

ooh mina if you like dark romance maybe you should try the leander welles series 👀 it’s kind of a villain/serial killer love interest story and there are 4 atm, the amount of steam and dark themes/wtf-ness builds over the series. not sure how i felt abt them lmao but i do know that i read them all in like a week and it def kept me engaged lol so i would love to hear what you think :P

[@Jaylono0]

When i read normal people i wanted to read a book that i did not have to think about. What was on the page was exactly what i need to know and i enjoyed it so much for that.

[@AliDoisRead]

I wouldn’t bother with Hook Line and Sinker 🥴 Fox doesn’t get any less annoying and tho toxic masculinity is blamed for making him a victim, other toxic masculine behaviors of his are glorified (like hyper jealousy). Plus he was just whiny lol. Sad that this book was such a let down 😞

[@shante9700]

Lmao I DNFd Sorrowland too at that very moment cause I couldn’t feel no type of sorry fa ha!!! It was just a strange and odd book and I only was 40% in so, yeah. Had to go

[@BooksWithNeen]

You are so funny and entertaining to watch. Anytime I need a truthful, honest review, you always come in clutch.

[@kirey65]

So glad none of these are on my TBR list, lol!

[@dessertcomes1st]

This is my new favorite bookTube channel! I like how you cover different genres and not just romance, per se. Burn Normal People. Damn, that book was so dry.

[@AStarlessReader]

wow sorrowland sounds horrible lol. i like normal people, but i feel like if you didn't like the beginning of the book, you won't like the rest because it's pretty much the same. however, i loved the book more and more as we go on. (i also read this book -- i don't usually read these types of books -- when i was in a specific time of my life when i needed to read it, so maybe try it again when you feel like you'd get something out of it, but don't force yourself to read it only to have it finished with) as for malice, i was hesitating to read it, but now i seriously won't. thanks for the video!

[@nataliabmachado]

With Normal People, I listened to the audiobook and I found it soooo good! So I'd suggest you giving the audiobook a try :)

[@celestemyhand8969]

You may want to reread the Veronica Speedwell book eventually the characters are more flushed out and the dynamic between Veronica and stalker is hilarious at times.

[@M80sgirl]

I'm so sad that you're done with the unnecessary evils series. Although I will admit headcase is my least favorite by far. But I'm ready for book 5 and book 6 just got a cover and synopsis

[@MinaReads]

Let me know how book 5 goes and maybe I’ll give it another shot

[@mmorris404]

If you don't like Sally Rooney's writing style, you wouldn't like her other books. It's a very upper class and analytical style and fascinating when applied to relationships. I love it, so if you can't get into it, you won't like other books which are just as dry (positive) and analytical. I see the world in the same way.

[@getinspired-f1h]

Where’s your glasses from? Can you put a link in the description?

[@darcyreadssometimes3904]

I feel like I’m the only person who didn’t like Sorrowland AT ALL. Most other people who read it sang its praises, and I’m like - did we read the same book!?

[@darcyreadssometimes3904]

I think I heard someone say that the writing style of Normal People was bland, but they actually did better on audio with the narrator’s accent. Idk.

[@jessie3758]

I recommend skipping a re-read of normal people and watching the tv show on Hulu instead! I watched the tv show after giving up trying to read the book 5 times and I’m so glad I did. The tv show works so much better and is very enjoyable to watch.

[@nicolenickerson8354]

I didn’t understand the hype of sorrowland either!!

[@carnold1940]

Complaining is my favorite hobby as well lol

[@selwatchesyt]

Sorrowland was an experience to say the least. If you tried to read it that many times and you couldn’t do it, don’t worry about it. I like their writing but it wasn’t a life changing book.

[@ninjaturtles12121]

normal ppl the show is scene to scene, dialogue to dialogue, hand gestures to hand gestures carbon copy of the book. it works A LOT better as a show mainly due to the excellent acting by the leads. DO NOT water your time reading just watch the show!! SR just collected 2 checks for the same work as she changed not one iota when "writing" the screenplay.

[@aditi7692]

I loved it happened one summer as well but book 2 was such a disappointment. The development in their relationship is very off and it's Fox's big reveal about why he is like that was kinda dumb

[@laurenmartin2247]

People tend to love one of Sally Rooney's first two and hate the other. I am a Normal People fan but DNF'd Conversations with Friends, and I know so many people where it's vice versa. So maybe try Conversations with Friends? If you hate both, then she's not for you haha

[@lindac6060]

I would take another stab at normal people .. it was dry but I feel like that was their personalities, so it fit .. I liked it , plus it was quick and memorable… to me : )

[@christ5711]

I personally enjoyed Sorrowland for the most part (gave it 4 stars), but I would say that Rivers Solomon’s other books, An Unkindness of Ghosts and The Deep, were much better; gave both of those 5 stars (would give them 6 if I could 😂). And Sorrowland does in fact get weirder, so you made a good decision to permanently DNF it🤣

[@Sad.Purple.unicorn]

my favorite hobby complaining🤣👍🏼👏🏼

[@sirvashae1726]

Sorrowland was terrible. Don’t waste your time. I was thrilled to unhaul it.

[@BroadwayBabyyy744]

Girrtl this vid discribes my 2022 so far....its driving me crazy but its getting better

[@ambriaashley3383]

I am having the best time listening to this 😂 ❤

[@diannabrutsman5271]

In my opinion, I don't think you should give any the books you DNF another try, there's a reason why you DNF all of them and I think you should trust your gut instinct to DNF. Even if they all aren't bad, like Love and other Disasters, do you really want to have to push through a book to find out that it was okay or "not bad" or do you want to spend your time on a book you will enjoy? Mina you read what you wanna read, that is all up to you, but I think you shouldn't waste another second on these books that you weren't enjoying. Here's hoping you will find some amazing reads after all these recent DNFs. Thanks for sharing!

[@bebella9005]

Commenting for engagement 🖤

[@fourthofthesky]

Malice is sooooooo boring. I finished the whole series because I thought I was the problem, but honestly I wish I didn't finish it, it was a waste of my time tbh

[@BookedandBusy]

Please don’t go back to Veronica speedwell thanks bestie ☺️

[@MinaReads]

Oh but you can read city of brass?? Double standards smh

[@BookedandBusy]

@@MinaReads Mina you don’t like mysteries??? And you dnfd it lmao

[@MinaReads]

@@BookedandBusy but veronica and stoker were cool!!!!

[@amygolke2766]

Hi Mina

[@griffinherron4485]

I thought Sorrowland was gonna be a lot more werewolves and monsters and transformation and it ended up with. Fungus. And sci fi I guess. Not it for me

[@jellysolo]

tbh I don’t think you will enjoy Normal People any more on a second try, BUT I think you should absolutely watch the show instead, it’s… 😩 it wrecked me

[@Jules_Thee_Artist]

It's so funny coz I couldn't connect to Normal People's story but enjoyed the writing style. Interesting. I just found your channel right now so I don't know what you like but, Normal People honestly isn't worth the hype. The characters and emotions they were trying to convince us they had weren't connect, so I think if you feel detached now, you'll always feel detached throughout.

[@kimberley2471]

Normal people is awful - it really doesn't get any better so I wouldn't bother trying to get to the end.

[@monahanna2685]

Normal People is just bad. Great video.

[@mah_jayjay]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@NicoleJ.]

My hate for Normal People knows no limits, I don't trust anyone who loves this book. No one!!!

[@ninarehorowska2016]

i actually didn't mind the writing in normal people - while reading i could tell that this book was written by a quite perceptive and sensitive author but the story and the character were so deeply unlikeable and i think it's just a fake deep book that had potential since it touches on relatable topics but. it fucking sucked lol i wouldn't waste my time on rereading if i were u!

[@ginaadams7845]

Love and Other Disasters isn’t that good it is really boring!! Also annoying af that the title and cover don’t tell you anything about the book lmao