thoughts on DNFing

I will state upfront that I don’t have the art of DNFing down. This is mostly because I am picky and I am a mood reader. I usually pick up a book solely because I want to read it right that second! My purchasing is a little more loose. There are many contemporary romances I have bought on a whim. No research, just vibes. I’m either out in a big box store, a local bookstore, or a used one and I think “hmm cute cover?” Something something friends to lovers or fake dating can work (RARELY!!!!!!) so why not? It takes a lot for me to DNF (do not finish) a book.

When I find myself reading a book that isn’t working for me, I usually power skim my way through and then briefly read the ending. In the past few months, I have only really done this with a few books like the first Emily Wilde and Just Our Luck by Denise Williams. I am sad about both of these because the Emily Wilde series is pretty beloved and Denise Williams books look great! As I wrote about with Say You’ll Be Mine (I resisted the DNF and did a speed read), I really don’t need to read cozy books or soft books that don’t include pretty explicit open door scenes. I was just BORED with both books. I am side eyeing so much of my shelf right now because contemporaries feel like such a gamble. I don’t know if they’ll be open door or closed. If they’ll have some toxic family that no one corrects. If the stakes are so so so slow I might as well be playing the Sims. The bar for forgiveness is higher for contemporary too. Plenty of fantasy, paranormal, and historical romance characters can get away with shit! It feels like another time and place, even if the plot is meant to cast light on current events. But with contemporary it is so hard for me to turn off the part of my brain that is like “GIRL NO!” (gender inclusive) or “where was this person on J6?!?!?” I also think I have reached the point where I cannot read college age protagonists (sorry to the Deep End lovers). GIVE ME LATE 30s! Give me 40s! Miss me with so much young struggling baker aspiring actress collegiate athlete singer song writer contemporary.

This happens with other subgenres too. I read about 30 pages of The Scottish Boy before I realized I wasn’t in the right mood for it. It felt dark (and is medieval!) and I had just finished all the Elizabeth Kingstons. It is also nearly 600 pages. I wasn’t ready but it’s a bit of a soft DNF because I know I want to go back to it but I need my brain to be ready.

I don’t ever want to completely hate on these books. I am not saying they are DEFINITELY good or bad. I do not want to yuck anyone’s yum. Also, you wrote a book! You got it published by a traditional publisher in this economy! That is a big deal! Just…plenty of books are not for me and I think I have a fairly good success rate of sussing those out for myself. I might have to take contemporary romance on a trusted rec or trusted author basis only. That’s been working out for me! What contemporaries are working for you?! Find me a contemporary I love challenge. 

An ode to Annabel Monoghan

As I was bemoaning my inability to find a traditionally published contemporary I loved, Leonor suggested Annabel Monoghan. Now, I know Leonor is not just a romance reader but her contemporary romance meter is always right on the money (she was correct about the newer Christina Laurens too). Summer Romance is a perfect book. Fair warning, it is a grief book because you can’t escape that BUT it is a tight edit under 350 pages. It is a primal scream about a shit ex husband and a fun horny hug about meeting a man who is just right for you. It has three dimensional realistic children (a teen, a preteen, and a toddler!). I just know Annabel has been through a brutal divorce and cared for children. It felt so real, so lived in. First person present is difficult because you have to really feel like you are in the head of your main character. There can be no secrets from the reader. Nailed it! I followed it up with Nora Goes Off Script which has many of the same themes but an even more fun set up. I was picturing Nora with Brett Goldstein but make him six foot tall. SWOON! I would read a million bonus scenes that take place between the last chapter and the epilogue. Just give me pages of their texts. Perhaps it is time for me to write fan fiction? 

Same Time Next Summer is the least favorite of her three published books and I can see why. The romance feels a bit more underdeveloped and it centers the heroine’s journey above all else. There is a bit of a cheating subplot involving their families and I’ll be honest, Sam doesn’t end her engagement for Wyatt but she is definitely emotionally reconnecting with him while engaged. It feels complicated in a way that I can imagine makes people uncomfortable. I live streamed my thoughts via text below:

Reading Monoghan for me felt like what many people must feel about Emily Henry. Don’t get mad at me! I like Henry and I think she is a great writer but the characters never really feel like me or the women I love. I want a late thirties heroine. I want a mom too sometimes, a mom who has been through it! I want a man who is actively pursuing her in all her mess. Truly, take a Monoghan book on vacation with you! There is a new one out in May that I am 100% ordering a signed copy from her local because I am absolutely a rabid fan now.

talk soon,

Britt