Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

How do you get through books you hate?

66 replies

autumnleavesonthefloor · 20/08/2026 07:01

Sarah J Maas has announced the 6th and 7th books in her ACOTAR series, which means that I need to read the Crescent City series. The issue is I absolutely hate it, but it’s key to understanding the next books! Any tips please?!

OP posts:
Lunaballoon · 20/08/2026 07:28

I pushed through with the Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout. It didn’t do much for me - too much introspection, storylines that didn’t seem to go anywhere - but by the end I kind of got it and it did leave a thoughtful impression. I generally agree with the “life’s too short” principle on books we don’t connect with but sometimes it’s worth persevering.

Halfhardy · 20/08/2026 07:24

Approach it as if you're studying for an exam and set yourself the task of reading a certain number of pages or chapters before you put the book down. You could even make notes to help you focus.

NervousSheepy · 20/08/2026 07:22

I can't, I'd probably read the last page and then google a summary.

tsmainsqueeze · 20/08/2026 07:20

I don't think there's an answer , you either read it whilst hating it, you never know it may grow on you, or you don't read it.
A readers experience is individual hence no answer.

PermanentTemporary · 20/08/2026 07:19

I’m quite used to not really understanding everything that’s happening so I just accept that I’ll get less out of the other books.

Morepositivemum · 20/08/2026 07:18

Honestly why would you? Life is too short!!!

bekindtome · 20/08/2026 07:16

Listen to it on audible instead. Use headphones and get on with daily tasks at the same time.

Fiddlesticks1 · 20/08/2026 07:16

If I don’t like a book I have decided at my age to give up on it. Life is too short.

Original poster
autumnleavesonthefloor · 20/08/2026 07:13

Okay, I’m not asking whether I should or not. I need to - I’m asking how I do it?

OP posts:
hollyblueivy · 20/08/2026 07:13

I stop.

Santasbigredbobblehat · 20/08/2026 07:12

I ask chat GPT to give me the plot and ending if I’m really struggling with a book but want to know what happens. Or go on Reddit and ask for someone to tell you.

CaptainMyCaptain · 20/08/2026 07:08

CrustyBread1977 · 20/08/2026 07:02

Life is too short to read books I hate. I give it a few chapters and if I don’t like it, it’s in the donation pile.

Read a summary online.

Exactly this. Why bother unless you need to for work or an exam?

Original poster
autumnleavesonthefloor · 20/08/2026 07:07

CrustyBread1977 · 20/08/2026 07:02

Life is too short to read books I hate. I give it a few chapters and if I don’t like it, it’s in the donation pile.

Read a summary online.

Sadly in this case I don’t think it’s really possible, as apparently they’re tied quite closely together.

It’s a shame because I genuinely love her other series, but this one just doesn’t do it for me at all

OP posts:
Gateappreciation · 20/08/2026 07:05

I don’t. According to my kindle, I’d read 23% of the last book I did-not-finish. I realised I wasn’t particularly interested in the characters and the storyline, so decided not to continue. Reading the Amazon reviews afterwards to see what others thought, plenty of people loved the book, but others also didn’t feel connected to it.

Blisterinthe · 20/08/2026 07:04

I second @CrustyBread1977. Life's too short for bad books.
I've even skipped a book in a series I love and it wasn't all that bad.

CrustyBread1977 · 20/08/2026 07:02

Life is too short to read books I hate. I give it a few chapters and if I don’t like it, it’s in the donation pile.

Read a summary online.

Swipe left for the next trending thread