The Two Types of DNF’ing I Use + Why Both Are Okay

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In the magical world of being a reader, sometimes you find a book you just can’t seem to connect with. 

So you DNF it. DNF stands for ‘Did Not Finish’. 

I used to be so afraid of DNF-ing books when I first started posting online about my reading. It made me feel like I was a bad reader. 

But the truth is that not all DNFs are the same. 

I’ve come up with two types of DNFs because sometimes you just gotta give yourself some grace. 

So let’s dive in!

The Soft DNF

This happens when I am enjoying a book, but I prioritize other books over it. 

Or I enjoy the book, but maybe it is to plot heavy and I need something lighter. 

Here, I’ll soft DNF it. So I am putting it down, but I do want to pick it back up later on. 

Recently I soft DNF’s The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwood because I was also reading Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas and that started to get really good. 

I also recently created a new shelf on Goodreads for my soft DNFs so I can easily find them. 

Previously, they all went into the same DNF tag, but that didn’t feel right. 

The Hard DNF

A hard DNF is when I could not connect with a story, or it had tropes I detest, the writing was bad, or I just really hated the book. 

In this instance, it means that I will not be picking this book back up. 

Once it’s on this shelf, there is no returning. 

But keep in mind that DNF-ing is also super preferential. 

My choosing to hard DNF a book does not mean that someone else can’t like that book. It just means that for me, it’s a no. 

Wrapping Up

Please don’t feel like a bad reader because you DNF books. 

DNF-ing means that you are reading with intention. You are seeking out stories that resonate with you or stories that you will come to look back on with positive sentiments. 

And if you’ve been afraid to DNF a book and are looking for a sign, let this be your sign! 

Life is too short to force yourself to read books you don’t like. (Unless it’s for something important like school or work.)

Do you have different types of DNFs? If so, I’d love to hear about it! 

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