How to Know When It's Time to Quit a Book, According to Avid Readers

"Is it taking me longer than normal to read this book? Am I rolling my eyes about what characters say or do? Do I care about the Chatsworth? Do I have other books to read? Move on. There are too many books that you'll enjoy to keep reading one you're not!" — Kari

"I use the Nancy Pearl rule: 100 minus your age. That's how [many pages] a book has to grab you. So I give about 60 pages and then if I'm still not engaged, I let it go. Life is too short for boring books." — Jessica

"I try to give a book 50 pages, but [I've DNF'd in] as little as nine. I get physically antsy, and realize that I either don't like the characters or don't care enough about them to see what happens next. I don't miss them when they're gone and I'm relieved to get on to the next book." — Tamara

"I think some women are so socialized to be receptive and positive all the time that it takes a nudge to realize they're even allowed to say, 'I don't like this book and I don't want to spend any more time with it.' It's empowering to take charge of your reading time. I might quit on page two if a book is just clearly not my thing. Nope! Moving on!" — Penny

"I try to give it 100 pages because some of my favorite books start off slow. Until last year I would never even DNF because it gave me anxiety. But life is too short (and my to-read list is too long) to read bad books." — Ashley

"I try not to do this, but eventually if I find myself thinking, 'What else could I be learning or doing with my time?' often enough, I stop." — Murphy

"I don't have a set time or page limit, it's more of a feeling. If I dread picking a book up or I think I've given it a fair chance and am still bored, it's time." — Jean

"For me, it's when I start to dread opening it. Or when I walk by it, look at it, and think, 'I need to read it, but I don't want to read it.'" — Heather

"I will DNF a book after the first sentence or eighty percent through (and I have done both). Life is too short to read books I don't like." — Morgan

"If a book hasn't 'sucked me in' within the first 75-100 pages (depending on the length of the book), I set it aside. If I don't feel compelled to pick it back up after a couple of days, I move on." — Cloi

"Am I constantly spacing out and thinking of other things? Am I not engaging with the characters? Do I want to know where this story goes or am I good knowing what I know? I regularly read multiple books at a time, but if I get to the point where I really don't think I'll ever pick it up again, I'll just stop and call it quits. It's harder to do with books I own though. I try to read two-thirds of a book I bought." — Anamaria

"Usually [I decide] about 30 percent or 100 pages in. If I'm not enjoying it by then it's a DNF, earlier if there are problematic things in it." — Brianna

"If you're asking, it's time." — Adam

"For me, it was the feeling of being back in school and having to read the book no matter what. I found myself finding chores or work rather than reading. I have yet to regret DNF'ing the books, but I am most definitely confused as how one of them is a series that has continued to grow. I've kept them to the side. Maybe one day I'll go back." — Sally

"I'm a pretty strict one audiobook, one "reading" book girl. When I'd rather listen to the radio than my book on my commute, it's a DNF on audio. When I pick up another book instead of reading what I've started, it's a DNF." — Kaitlyn

"Depends, [I'll give] really bad writing maybe one to two chapters. Unlikable characters, bad plot, [I'll give] 50-100 pages. I often come back to books, especially if I own them. I finally gave Les Miserables away after owning if for about 20 years and never getting to chapter four." — Audrea