Romance Writers & Readers discussion

If you really, REALLY aren't enjoying a book, will you keep reading it until the end anyway?

This is something I find really interesting. I know some people who will insist on finishing a series even though they aren't enjoying it. My mum, for example, read the whole of the Fifty Shades series even though she didn't enjoy the first book. I still don't get her logic - if she'd wanted to find out what happened that badly, it would've been faster to just read Wikipedia, even as a fast reader.

On the other hand, I know some people who will stop reading a book if the first chapter doesn't grab them.

Which camp do you fall into?

For me, I try and finish reading every book I start. That's more because I think there's as much that can be learnt as a writer from books I don't enjoy as from the ones I do. It's important to learn what not to do as well as what works. However, I do have a line. There's only 3 or 4 books I've ever not finished, and that was before I made the decision to read more. I think if I really couldn't get into a book I'd still put it down and send it to the charity shop. I did that with 1 or 2 when we moved house last year. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat...

I rarely stop reading a book, but there are definitely a few out there that I have quit midway. Typically it's because I have no sympathy for the protagonist and I don't care what happens to them, PLUS an author whose style isn't my favorite, so I really don't want to have to keep watching them abuse the English language. Also, too much extreme sexual violence (torture porn sort) and I'm out. Not worth it. The most I'll do is find a review that gives away the ending.
I will say, I "hate" read through Fifty Shades. I found their popularity fascinating, and kept waiting to see if there was a reason why. I know people love a HEA, and I do too, but I was honestly disappointed by how normal of an ending that series had!

I, like Abigail, rarely stop reading a book. However, if I feel the need to stop, I will, wherever that may be. The earliest I've stopped reading a book is about 25 pages in, and I'll give every book at least that before stopping.

That's really interesting. I've finished books before where I don't feel for the protagonist, but it factors into how long it takes me. A book I read recently I started to hate the characters towards the end. They were sisters, and they were selfish, narrow-minded, fixed-mindset, and frankly not very nice to each other. It was HORRIBLE to read. But I somehow finished it mostly because I wanted to learn from it...and because I was hoping it would get better. It didn't. It got worse.

If I start a book I must finish it, even if I absolutely hate it!! I have OCD so for me it isn't really an option!

But . . . if the book was part of a series then I wouldn't continue on with the other books if I didn't enjoy the first one. Unless . . . it ended on a cliffhanger and then I would have to find out how the story ends even if I didn't enjoy it!!

It really depends on the book. For example, I read the entire Maze Runner series, but I hated it. I hated it from the first chapter of the first book. I kept thinking, oh well, eventually it must get better considering all the praise the series had gotten. I actually watched the first 2 movies before I read the books. I think that played a part in it as well. Had I not watched the movies, I definitely would have dnfed them. I kind of wish I had done so anyway, since I can't have that time back.
But, I also recently requested a book on Netgalley by Devyn Quinn, I tried to read it, I really did, but by the time I was half-way through the second chapter, I realized that it was not worth my time or effort to even attempt to finish it.
I, also, will not finish a book that is loaded with editing and proofreading issues. Period. I will overlook some of them to a point, but the book has to have other super redeeming qualities for me to overlook editing issues.

It's so interesting to see how different everyone is.

I always finish a book as well, even if it isn't grabbing me, or even irking me to the point I wanna scream. Now, I have set a book down before and let it sit for a while. Sometimes it helps to walk away and revisit it later. I've done that to two books recently and the time away helped. Haha. I have no idea why, but I was able to get into them a little better. Maybe my mind was off that day...

But yes, I always finish a book.

Hi everyone!
As most of u, I always keep reading until the end of the book, even if it is the worst one. Sometimes, when the plot of a story is really bad and I finish it, I discover that the best part is the end hahaha. Did it happen to any of u?

Oh, dear.

I stop reading books the instant I lose interest. It's not even on purpose. I literally tell myself that I'll come back to it tomorrow and...

Totally forget to. Ever.

I forget everything. Just as Queen Amanda and Princess Jane. Tee hee. For reals. They can sell me out ^_~

Hugs for a stellar question,
Ann

Annie wrote: " forget everything. Just as Queen Amanda and Princess Jane. Tee hee. For reals. They can sell me out ^_~ "

Actually I think the only things Queen Amanda and I will be saying about you is that we think you're super-dupery awesomely amazing!! ❤(ˆ‿ˆԅ)

Jane wrote: "The truth"

Seriously, though....amazing!

@Princess Jane: ♡

@Queen Amanda: ♡

@Best group ever: ♡

Annie wrote: "@Princess Jane: ♡

@Queen Amanda: ♡

@Best group ever: ♡"

Throwing love right back at ya . . . ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

*greedily collects hearts*
*cackles evilly*
*eats a few cuz...reasons*

EDIT: Oh, crap. I got carried away again haha! Sorry, Miss Kristina!!

I have no problem not finishing a book I don't like or can't get into. It could be that I have way too many other things going on in my life to feel the need to spend what little free time I have reading books I don't like. I'll re-read an old one before I'll keep reading a bad one.

For example, I think I may have read the first two or three chapters of Game of Thrones, had no idea what in the world was going on, or who was who, or why I should care, so I put it down and never picked it back up. I hear the books are phenomenal. Too bad I'll never find out! Lol

Oh funny story, at least to me. Since you mentioned Game of Thrones, Nicole. My husband really wanted me to read that book and I was like, not my kind of book. I don't really wanna read it. He convinced me, because, well, he wouldn't stop bugging me and reiterated a few times it had a really good LOVE story in it. Okay, I thought. If it has some great romance in it, I'll give it a try.

*sighs* *looks at husband unamused*

I did enjoy the book, however, (won't spoil ending for others if they plan to still read it) the ending did NOT make it a love story of any kind for me. *starts crying*

He thought it was funny and then handed me the second book. I passed on that opportunity. It was good, just not my style.

Nicole wrote: "For example, I think I may have read the first two or three chapters of Game of Thrones, had no idea what in the world was going on, or who was who, or why I should care, so I put it down and never picked it back up. I hear the books are phenomenal. Too bad I'll never find out! Lol"

I'm not alone!! I thought was the only one on the planet. But nope. There are 2 of us who'll never find out haha!!

*hugs Miss Nicole*

EDIT...

Amanda wrote: "the ending did NOT make it a love story of any kind for me. *starts crying*"

Ehhhh. NOW I wanna read it hahaha...haha...ha...

Seriously.

I've read the first Game of Thrones, but it took me about 14 months. I'm really not a fan of George R. R. Martin's writing style. I don't have the attention span for it.

Lol, there are lots of us! I love the tv show, but I've tried, more than once, I might add, to read the books... I just...can't. Ugh, he bores me to death!

Is it a man's book?
By the way, what happened to Shawn??

Oh, man, Courtney, I tried to watch the TV show and it did nothing for me. *grins* Even my husband, who enjoyed the books, didn't care for the show.

I wouldn't necessarily say it's a man's book, Nicole. I would say it's fantasy and if you like that style, you might enjoy it. It wasn't bad to me, I just really enjoy reading romance more than anything else. I have a hard time getting into other books for that reason. But I didn't mind the first book.

Annie wrote: "*greedily collects hearts*
*cackles evilly*
*eats a few cuz...reasons*

EDIT: Oh, crap. I got carried away again haha! Sorry, Miss Kristina!!"

Just a couple more (don't want to derail too much more!) ♡♡♡♡♡

Never read Game of Thrones, or watched the TV show, so can't add anything to that topic . . . ( ◡́.◡̀)

I used to read a book all the way through, even when all I wanted to do was throw it against the wall. But I realize now, having read a few more books that made me say, "Dear Lord, are you serious?", those are hours I can't get back, I spent them bored and to the point of getting angry. Life is too short. Never again!

But I have a question: I just finished a book and the author is expecting a review. It was not professionally edited, NOT AT ALL!! I don't like writing bad reviews, instead I just tell the author. The book before that was the same dilemma, and when I NICELY mentioned it to the author, it didn't turn out well. So, I'm hesitant about giving my review to this author. I don't like hurting others feelings. They worked hard on these books, but didn't do the one important thing--get it edited!

And what makes it worse, they got 4 and 5 star reviews; obviously from friends. I wish they realize that this doesn't help the author one bit! I don't know what to do!

Groovy wrote: "But I have a question: I just finished a book and the author is expecting a review. It was not professionally edited, NOT AT ALL!! I don't like writing bad reviews, instead I just tell the author. The book before that was the same dilemma, and when I NICELY mentioned it to the author, it didn't turn out well. So, I'm hesitant about giving my review to this author. I don't like hurting others feelings. They worked hard on these books, but didn't do the one important thing--get it edited!

And what makes it worse, they got 4 and 5 star reviews; obviously from friends. I wish they realize that this doesn't help the author one bit! I don't know what to do!"

I'm going to start a thread on this topic . . .

Wonderful idea, Princess Jane!

YaaaY!!! I was hoping somebody would. I need help!

When it comes to finishing a book, for me it depends. If it hasn't hooked me by around the 10% mark, I have no trouble putting it down. But if I pass the 25-30% mark and am still reading, the story quality has to go seriously south before I'll drop it - although I will confess to "skimming" books that have gone bad just so I can know how it ends.

I find myself doing that with a lot of romance titles, and I'm not sure why. It's like the setup/premise will hook me, then the middle third bores me, and the ending just leaves me cold. I'm all "wait, that's it??" Like I said, not sure why.

Eric wrote: "I will confess to "skimming" books that have gone bad just so I can know how it ends."

+1

For me, Romance (particularly "just" romance) has to have some crazy amazing characters and a vast amount of feels. Cuz there's typically not a holy-moly story to go with it. No idea why I just shared that. Totes off topic haha...

Eh.

Annie wrote: "For me, Romance (particularly "just" romance) has to have some crazy amazing characters and a vast amount of feels. Cuz there's typically not a holy-moly story to go with it.."

I think what you just said is worth a discussion topic all its own. In fact, I think I shall start one. Apologies if you didn't mean to be provocative. :D

There are too many books out there to waste my time on ones I don't like.