I think DNFs that happen fast or are just not your taste I don’t care either way if you discuss. But DNFs for specific tropes or things that are possible issues (misogyny, lack of quotation marks, newly discovered problems with the author, etc) are things I’m interested in.
I always enjoy hearing about DNFs! Unless you DNF it after 10 pages or something, I think it’s worth mentioning. I enjoy hearing reasons for DNF because it gives perspective on why a certain book might not be enjoyable (slow, trigger warning, misleading premise, etc). So please keep mentioning them!
Just wanted to thank you for your videos! I look forward to yours because I trust your opinions and Gabby from Gabby reads the most! Better than others I follow and I traditionally enjoy the books you like and recommend!
I love how honest you are about hyped-books being 2 stars! I always feel so confused and alienated, in addition to disappointed if I don't enjoy something much hyped? xx
Thank you for expressing exactly my thoughts on The God of the Woods!! Was starting to feel like the only one who didn’t love the mystery and the pacing! 😅
First - I admire your ratings! Too many reviewers feel compelled to rate everything highly. Thanks. For DNF & 1-2 stars, I only need to hear details if the reasoning would help me decide. Hyperbaric treatment is typically used to treat gangrene or sores that aren't healing (diabetics). My opinion on Death in the Air & Murder After the Night Before is that both openings were for marketing purposes which only attracts readers expecting something else. I actually liked those two more than either of Hallett’s.
It's good to hear what made you dnf. If a book is bad enough for you to just stop, people who like similar books as you can save time & money. Good to know.
I reckon a one-liner for the DNFs could be helpful? Don't want to dwell, but it is also helpful to know what might not work for similar reading tastes. Also, that blurb! I want that book too!
i enjoy hearing about DNFs! also, i think we have opposite tastes bc Done and Dusted, Incidents, and God of the Woods were all 4-5 stars for me, and Horror Movie was a DNF!
One of the best locked room mysteries is The Three Coffins by John Dickson Carr. But it isn't modern at all, it was written in the 30's or 40's and is very old timey. Still a great book. Also check out the White Priory Murders - I probably like it more.
I'm so relieved to see someone else that found The God of the Woods as just fine, I gave it 3⭐️. The writing was great, but the pacing, multiple POVs, and jumping timelines weren't for me.
Huh! I'll admit that my high expectations for God of the Woods are based on the fact that I have a 27-week wait for it at my library. I feel like that alone is indicative of some promises that it won't be able to keep. After hearing you talk about it, I'm definitely tempering and adjusting those expectations. It's funny, I read both Incidents Around the House and Horror Movie, but I think you and I put them at different ends of the ratings spectrum. Incidents Around the House scared the crap out of me, it reminded me of how weird and scary it is to be a kid and have no idea what's going on or what's expected of me. I think I was a really neurotic kid and I grew to be a pretty neurotic adult, so I was definitely coming to the story with that kind of baggage. And even though I didn't love Horror Movie, you articulated exactly what I love about Paul Tremblay's writing, that sense of ambiguity. Also I think his characters (sort of like Stephen Graham Jones) have this weird, expansive inner landscapes and you spend a lot of time in their heads, and a lot of time in anyone's head is kind of disorienting. I like that about Tremblay's books, I think we see a lot of that in Pallbearer's Club in particular. But even with that too, something about Horror Movie didn't quite work for me. I wish I could pinpoint what it was, but I really just don't know!
I like hearing about what you DNF , but don’t necessarily care to know why unless there’s a very specific reason. I’m very interested in Miracle Creek and The Appeal looks so fun!
Such a bummer about The God of the Woods 😢 I ended up DNF’ing after like 150 pages? I just thought it was sooooooo slow and I didn’t care 😅 I wanted to love it so bad
I like hearing about DNFs. Like others if it happened within the first several pages I dont need to hear about it lol. But otherwise I like hearing why a book was DNF’d
Felt similar to The God in the Woods, though I gave it a bit higher rating. Doesn't feel like it was written for mystery readers, and seems more catered to lit-fic/book club type readers. I would have enjoyed the story a lot more if the main character's parents were more interesting. Thought their characterization/development felt very cliche. Liked the main character. Hated the resolution of the brother mystery, but liked the resolution of the main character mystery. I heard her previous book was really good and I think she writes in a variety of genres. Super excited for both Hallett's and Osman's books next month. Can't believe both have new releases in September.
Thank you for sharing your feelings on Incidents around the house! I didn’t find it scary or chilling at all and I was starting to feel like I was the only one. You truly are the only booktuber whose taste aligns with my own. When I heard your review of Near the bone, I immediately hit subscribe lol
I personally don't care to hear about dnfs unless you've done it because you've learned that the author is a gross human, and/or the book itself is toxic/harmful in some way. as a person who is very fond of romance books, I thought Done and Dusted was okay, I gave it a 3 star, but I loved the next one in the series, I encourage you to give it a try.
I dated a “cowboy” and it was probably my most cringey relationship lol. He was also the biggest Ahole. So I don’t blame you there. I loved incidents around the house lol. I’m also a mother though so it was easy for me to insert my family in this scenario which really gave me the creeps.
I like to hear about DNFs because it helps me determine whether or not I should pick up a book especially if I’m on the fence about it 😅 I also don’t understand the hype for Incidents Around the House. I thought the book was fine but the first half was way stronger than the second half and by the end it no longer felt creepy to me….
Oh no! I loved Incidents around the house. I am primarliy a lit fic reader who loves slow, mundane stuff. The sense of dread in this was top notch to me 😅
I’m reading Boys in the Valley right now, but I’m only like 34% of the way in. Lol. I actually love supernatural/possession stories as they freak me out the most because how do you fight that kinda thing. 👀 Sad to know you didn’t enjoy it, but I definitely see where you are coming from! The prologue got my attention, but it was pretty boring leading up to the possessed man being brought into the orphanage. I’m hoping I enjoy the rest of it, but that makes me worried it will be boring again. lol. Definitely a great writer, though! I’m not finding mistakes and I ALWAYS find mistakes. 😂
I agree with others who like to hear about DNFs. It's nice to hear that others also do this. I have DNFd books close to the end because I am no longer enjoying it and there are too many good books to read. But there are some people out there who think DNFing is some sort of sin, and it's nice to normalize it. 😂
I DNF’d Horror Movie. I think I made it to around 75 pages. I just didn’t care about any of the characters or about the plot 😅 But maybe I should give it another go.
Maybe if you get like 50+% through a book before you DNF (so you do have more to say) talk about it, or if there's something in the book like potential triggers or squicks that you think people should know about before picking it up, mention that. Otherwise, if you feel like it's not worth the time to film and edit you talking about DNFs that's totally understandable. ❤
I’d like to hear about DNFs but would be good with a shorter explanation and don’t need to hear about DNFs where you read less than 30%. That’s just my personal opinion.
I also hated Incidents Around the House! The first half was very promising but it became a boring domestic "thriller" and ended where it should have taken off. Super disappointing!
