The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.
Do you finish reading every book that you have slotted for a review?
(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver’s Reviews))
As soon as I get an ARC (not a book that I buy), I put it on my calendar. So every advanced copy that I get is slotted for a review.
Every once in a while – 23 times in 4 years to be exact – I can’t get through a book, so I DNF it. Those books I do not write a review for, and I take them off of my calendar. I know some people do write reviews for books they DNF, but, for me, I don’t feel right writing a review for a book if I haven’t gotten to the end. I’m not sure why that is. It’s just a “me” thing. I do let the publisher know though.
On the other side, though, if I do finish a book I feel obligated to review it even if I strongly disliked it. I always try to be fair in my reviews and those situations only seem to arise in blog tours. It is always a conundrum for me.
Do you finish reading every book that you have slotted for a review?
23 responses to “#BookBloggerHop | Reviewing Books You Don’t Finish”
I’m still quite new at this but I do the same as you, put them on the calendar. I think my last read was one of the main ones I have struggled with and I’m not sure if I will even be able to review, but I will try 😊
I read one last weekend that I really wish I didn’t have to review. I really hated it and that does not happen often.
I think it’s not a review but an opinion and thoughts when someone writes review of DNF books. It’s not exactly wrong to write them as they are letting people know or even a publisher and author why they couldn’t finish the book. In a way, it also can help readers who share the same tastes to decide whether to read the book or not.
I agree. I don’t think it’s wrong – how can an opinion ever be wrong, right? And, I definitely think that is important when a book was DNF’d because of triggers. I have done that.
I don’t DNF often, in fact this year I think I’ve only DNF one book. I didn’t rate it but I did write my reasons for not being able to finish it. I wouldn’t call it a review just a reminder (mostly to myself really) as to why I DNF in the first place! Even if I DNF an ARC (which I’ve never done lol) I do feel obligated to review it simply cos it’s an ARC but I won’t post it anywhere other than NetGalley.
I think it makes sense to write about why you DNF a book. You’re right, that’s not really a review but more of a reminder to yourself.
When it comes to my Netgalley books I will always try my hardest to read them all even if it’s not quite by the release date. I’ve had one or two where I couldn’t finish them but like you I let the publisher know.
Most of my DNFs have been because I accidentally took on a fantasy book that was part of a series and didn’t realize it. Fantasy series pretty much require you to read all in a series and in order.
So far I have finished every ARC. Sometimes though, it is a real challenge. Since it might just be me, I try to phrase what didn’t work for me and that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you!
Oh, yes! I always use my “I” statements because it is so subjective.
I will review a book if I finish it. I try to be fair when reviewing books, especially if they are ARCs. I will give my reasons about whether I liked or disliked a book. If I DNF a book, I may give my reasons for not finishing (ie: unexpected profanity or sexual content, too much descriptive violence etc.) I try not to select books that are too far out of my genre as I think it is setting a book out for failure.
I do too. I just press the “I’m not providing a review for this book” option and explain why in the feedback area – always using my “I” statements. My biggest issue is when I unknowingly take on a fantasy book that is later in a series. That genre requires having read other books first. And, I rarely have time for that unfortunately.
I never write a review for a book I DNF – I couldn’t judge something I never finished. When I finish a book I’m not crazy about, I always try to give a balanced review. Have a great weekend, Tessa!
I do too. I never want to just bash a book. Those kind of reviews just make me cringe inside.
I never give up on a book I agreed to review, even though some may linger for a long time on my TBR list.
I never force myself to write a review for a book that I don’t want to, whether I finished it or not, as I want to enjoy writing reviews 🙂
I review EVERYTHING I read on Goodreads, but that is for my use and records. If it’s a DNF I make clear it was a DNF, at what point I stopped reading and why the book didn’t work for me. I don’t share those reviews on Amazon, my blog etc. I have read a book based on 1 star reviews as what the reviewer disliked are things I enjoy in a book.
I won’t review a book I didn’t finish, maybe the end is really amazing and I never got there? But, I can see the other side too. I did DNF one book this year, and I did not write a review, but I did send the publisher a note letting them know why I could not finish the book.
I’m with you on this Tessa. I won’t write a review for a book I didn’t finish. Normally, the only reason I finish a book I didn’t like is because I committed to a read/review, and then I do feel obligated to write a review, even if it isn’t favorable. Fortunately, most of my reads fall into the 4-5 star range. I don’t mind giving a 3 star, but 2 or 1 is always hard to do. I’ve given a handful of 2s, but to date, never a 1.
If I don’t finish a book, review copy or not, I don’t review it either. Doesn’t seem fair. Instead I just do a brief explanation as why I DNF it to send to publisher/author and might mention it in my reading round up posts for the week/month.
I also don’t review books that I don’t finish. It doesn’t seem fair to me either, Tessa. What if the last 20% is utterly mind blowing? Probably not, but who knows? For me, it’s an easier choice, I think, since I’m not under any obligation to finish books or review them. I strongly resist making any commitments of that kind since my reading is strictly for fun. 🙂
NetGalley does have a not reviewing button that I have been known to use. I think publishers would prefer that to be a bad review.
Yeah. Though I do think it’s very nice that you send a note. I would definitely want to know why a book was a DNF. 🙂