I look through year end awards list for books to see what I may have missed. But for most of the time, it’s because I liked the cover while browsing. Giving myself the permission to DNF has been better for me. If I don’t like it, I drop it.

The only time I actually read reviews is for when I am about to DNF a book. If there is anything worth reading through the end. A slog to read could still have a big payoff. Or if it ends just how it started, and you’d best move on.

Some people find it helpful to set goals while reading. When they are just starting out and want to make it a habit. To teach themselves to reach for a book instead of their phone. For when they think they aren’t reading enough. To help make time for it out of a busy day. People with ADHD, setting goals can help them focus. Some people need to “gamify” activities to concentrate or for motivation. There a million different reasons why you would set goals for yourself. And not because they aren’t enjoying what they are doing.

It has a prettier cover.

Cyril frustrated me a lot as a protagonist. Especially in the beginning when he such a spineless twat. Dozens of moments when I thought, if your badass mother could see you right now she’d be ashamed. While he did end up finally, finally sorting his life out. I thought, he’d have gotten there a lot faster, hurt a lot less people had Catherine chose to raise him.