
These are the books that I decided not to finish this past month. If I don’t have any from current lists, I’ve decided to go through my currently reading list and look at books that have been on there for a while that I haven’t gone back to, and then decide on one to just DNF at that point. I’ve noticed also that when I have a full review schedule, and things get busy, I have more DNFs as I don’t have time to struggle through books that aren’t grabbing me. As happened last month when I had three, and now three again this month.
You Belong With Me (Edie Thompson #2) by Mhairi McFarlane
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Published by Avon on September 3, 2024
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 352
Source: the publisher
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads
International bestseller Mhairi McFarlane delivers a charming, hilarious, and heartfelt new novel about a woman adjusting to life in the spotlight when she begins a relationship with a famous actor, in this highly anticipated follow-up to Who's That Girl.
She found The One. But when everyone wants him, can she keep him?
Edie found true love. And on Christmas day, he’s knocking at her door.
Elliot Owen is handsome, charming and basically Hollywood royalty. And, he insists, madly in love with Edie an ordinary citizen with tomato soup stains on her coat. It’s going to be complicated. Edie will have to learn how to live in the limelight, but they’re just too good together not to try.
Edie discovers it’s not easy when the press is the third person in your relationship, or when stories start leaking that force you to mistrust the motives of those around you. It’s tricky when you’re separated by an ocean and gorgeous co-stars and charismatic new colleagues are closer by. It’s harder still when your past is raked up by envious people determined to destroy your present.
Edie already knows how it feels to be infamous, now she’s going to find out what it’s like to be famous.
Are she and Elliot a fairytale, or a cautionary fable about getting what you wish for?
My thoughts:
So I have wanted to read this author for awhile and when I saw this one available on Edelweiss, I went ahead and downloaded it. Sadly I was quickly bored and just gave up at about 5%. First was the fact it was 3rd person, which is always harder for me to read, and second I just couldn’t seem to care enough to keep reading. I know that I didn’t give it long, but I just knew it wasn’t going to be for me, so it wasn’t worth it for me to keep going and waste time.
Casket Case by Lauren Evans
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Published by Dell on September 10, 2024
Genres: Adult Paranormal Romance
Pages: 398
Source: the publisher
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads
In this warm-hearted debut rom-com, a young woman returns home to run her family's casket business and falls in love with a seemingly perfect stranger. But there's just one problem . . . he works for Death.
Nora thought she was finished with Rabbittown, Alabama, for good. But an unexpected tragedy turned her life upside down, and she's found herself back in her tiny hometown running the family casket business.
There aren't exactly a lot of prospects for a single woman in her thirties in a place like Rabbittown. Until Nora Clanton's ordinary, casket-selling day is interrupted by a handsome stranger wandering into her shop and asking for directions--as well as a date.
Garrett Bishop seems like the ideal guy. He's thoughtful, he's kind, and he has a lucrative job as a logistics coordinator, for which he seems to have a passion. She's not totally sure what "logistics" entails, but she knows it means long hours, lots of travel, and urgent calls in the middle of the night.
When a few of Rabbittown's residents suddenly pass away--a heart attack here, a car crash there--and Garrett is spotted at the scenes of, well, all of the deaths, his frustratingly vague job description starts to become increasingly . . . suspicious. What is it that Garrett actually does for a living?
He's a logistics coordinator for Death.
When Nora discovers the truth, she is unable to reconcile the wonderful man she knows with the unthinkably cruel job he loves. Will she ever be able to understand how he can do what he does, or will she have to lay her best chance at love to rest?
Casket Case is the heartfelt story of a small-town girl who feels surrounded by death--literally and figuratively. This clever, endearing, and romantic debut explores how love and loss are forever intertwined . . . but death might not be as scary as it seems.
My thoughts:
Another one that sounded really good. But between the formatting of the e-galley PDF being weird, and the story itself just not grabbing me, I gave up pretty quickly, only 2%. When I saw the low ratings on Goodreads, I figured I wasn’t missing out either.
The DM Diaries by Teagan Hunter

Published by Brilliance Audio on August 6, 2024
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance
Length: 11:41
Source: Purchased
Format: Audiobook
My Rating:
Goodreads
Falling in love with a guy like this is easy. Finally meeting him is a different story in a funny, flirty, and emotional romantic comedy about celebrity, secrets, and plus-sized dreams.
Olive O’Brien is a plus-size influencer with half a million followers and big dreams. And she’s feeling the pressure to stand out while staying true to herself. To cope, Olive finds solace in an unexpected the DMs of Jasper Rafferty, the world’s hottest movie star, where she feels safe to share her hopes, fears, and secrets because it’s not like he’ll read them. Until he does. Kind of.
Career-wise, Jasper’s younger brother, Jude, is in free fall. After an interview gone wrong, Jude now has the thankless job of managing his brother’s social media accounts to help reboot his own image. Olive’s messages are unexpected, and her wit and vulnerability catch his interest. How can “Jasper” not respond? And how long can Jude keep up the ruse?
As the DMs get flirtier and more personal, the bigger question is what’ll happen when Olive finds out she’s fallen for a fraud. It might not be what either of them expects.
My thoughts:
Okay, so I usually adore this author. So I immediately used one of my Audible credits to get this audiobook and finally got started listening this month. Unfortunately I just wasn’t feeling the characters at all. I ended up DNFing very quickly, like after the first 2 or 3 chapters. I might try reading the physical book instead of listening, but for now I’m counting it as a DNF. I ended up just returning the audiobook since I’d used a credit and getting a different one which I’ve started listening to and enjoying.
I just tried my first McFarlane book and enjoyed it. If I Never Met You. I really liked it.
I might have just not been in the mood for 3rd person, but oh well. I don’t have to read EVERY author, lol. I also didn’t like the Emily Henry book I started listening to, but I might give both of these authors another chance.
McFarlane’s books are somewhat hit and miss for me, I have read some really good ones, though. It’s disappointing if it’s from an author you usually like. It’s happened to me too.
Good to know, maybe I’ll give another of her books a try then!
I’m not familiar with any of these so I can’t comment on the writing or content. Interesting about how being busy makes it easier to DNF. I think that’s true for me as well.
It just makes me have less patience with a book I’m not enjoying.
Casket Case is sad mostly because the cover is so cute! Sorry that these didn’t work for you, but I think it’s way better to give up than push through unhappily. Hope your next books are better!
I know, it has such an adorable cover! This month has been worse for DNFs for me, as you will see if you check out my DNF post later this coming week. 🙁