Giving up on books is self-care

Like a lot of other readers, I used to struggle to quit on a book. It didn't matter if I had read 10% or 85%, quitting was not an option for me. Perhaps it was my younger mind being ashamed of giving up, or maybe just the impossibility of quitting on something I had put time and effort into; even worse if I had already told someone what I was reading, how could I quit then? This was also at a time I did not think reading multiple books at the same time worked. 

With time, and some needed age, I realized how much worse it was to force myself to read a book I had no interest in. Reading (very) slowly the same book for weeks is still the cause of many of my reading slumps. To this day, I still struggle to decide to give up on a book, but I know myself enough now to understand there is so much more I rather be doing (or reading) than living stuck to a book that I have no interest on. Plus, research has shown that there are more negative effects on staying stuck to a goal that does not serve you anymore than letting go. 

My perfect solution (that works for me) on reading habits and giving up (or not): 

I always have 3 books on rotation: One physical copy (usually just stays on my nightstand); One book on my Kindle (I most likely will bring this with me if I travel or even on my commute); and one audiobook (on my Libby app). Between the three, I try to diversify on the genres. The diversity is the key for me, both because it has happened before that books got mixed up in my mind because they were too alike, and because I can be tired of one book but simply take a break, read something else, and then see if I was momentarily tired or if it is time to let go. 

Some books are just slower; there's no way around that. The question is: what keeps you interested? The answer might be different depending on who you ask. For me, there must be a least one 'mystery' concept that sparks my creativity - maybe someone's personality, the plot, or even the location the book is set. Anything can keep that spark on. If I am completely uninterested in the story, I need to give it up. I've started books I could not get over the first 10% because the plot and/or characters were annoying (to me) and I could not keep on going. 

Not promoting Goodreads (but kind of anyways), the newest update to the app now includes a "Did Not Finish" shelf, so you can keep a list, if you'd like. I was skeptical to see my 'give ups' all together, but now I am treating it as a case study: what is the similarity between all of these? Maybe there is none at all. I will have to investigate further before I get to a conclusion. 

Keeping the same flow from last week's post, I wanted to list books I read very slow and loved, and books I read remarkably fast and low-key hated. This is also to show that reading speed does not matter when it comes to a good story! 

Books I read slow and loved: 

- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah 
- The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese 
- Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors 

- Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid 

Books I read fast and did not like: 

- The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes 
- Mother-Daugther Murder Night by Nina Simon 
- The Love Haters by Katherine Center 
- All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers 

The weird in-between: I started Milk Fed in June of 2025. I read about 25% and did not touch the book again for nearly 6 months - it was my physical copy on my nightstand. One night I went to bed and had no idea where my Kindle was, so I picked up the physical copy, my back-up. I finished the book the next day. 

Sometimes life just happens and books get forgotten. You can always choose to go back if you feel like it! 

Sources: 

- When Goal Pursuit Gets Hairy: A Longitudinal Goal Study Examining the Role of Controlled Motivation and Action Crises in Predicting Changes in Hair Cortisol, Perceived Stress, Health, and Depression Symptoms 

- Stuck in Limbo: Motivational Antecedents and Consequences of Experiencing Action Crises in Personal Goal Pursuit