As an avid reader, I am always on the lookout for new books to delve into and explore. However, there are times when a book simply fails to capture my interest or hold my attention. In this article, I will be discussing the ten most recent books that I did not finish, and the reasons why they did not resonate with me.

1. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This psychological thriller promised a gripping narrative about a woman who stops speaking after allegedly murdering her husband. However, I found the pacing to be slow and the characters lacked depth, leading me to lose interest in the story.

2. The Institute by Stephen King
As a fan of Stephen King’s work, I was excited to dive into this tale of a sinister organization that kidnaps children with special abilities. Despite its intriguing premise, I found the plot to be convoluted and the writing to be overly verbose, making it difficult to engage with the story.

3. The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
A sequel to the acclaimed novel The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments explores the lives of women in the dystopian society of Gilead. While I appreciated Atwood’s world-building and thematic depth, I struggled to connect with the characters and ultimately lost interest in the narrative.

4. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
Set in 1930s Malaysia, The Night Tiger follows a young servant boy and a dance hall girl as they navigate a world of superstition and magic. Although the premise intrigued me, I found the pacing to be uneven and the plot meandering, leading me to abandon the book halfway through.

5. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
From the author of The Night Circus, The Starless Sea promised a whimsical and enchanting tale of a mysterious underground library. However, I found the narrative to be overly complex and the prose to be overly ornate, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story.

6. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, The Nickel Boys tells the harrowing story of two African American boys who endure abuse at a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. While I admired Whitehead’s lyrical prose and evocative storytelling, I struggled with the heavy subject matter and ultimately had to set the book aside.

7. Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
A sequel to the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Olive Kitteridge, Olive, Again follows the titular character as she navigates the challenges of aging and loss. Despite my appreciation for Strout’s insightful writing and complex characters, I found the episodic structure of the narrative to be disjointed and difficult to follow.

8. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
This debut novel explores race and class dynamics through the story of a young black babysitter and the white family she works for. While I appreciated Reid’s sharp social commentary and incisive wit, I found the characterizations to be shallow and the plot to be predictable, leading me to lose interest in the story.

9. The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Coates’ first novel combines historical fiction with elements of magical realism, following a young slave with a mysterious power to teleport. While I admired Coates’ ambitious storytelling and resonant themes, I struggled with the pacing and meandering plot, ultimately deciding to put the book down.

10. Inland by Téa Obreht
Set in the American West during the late 19th century, Inland weaves together the stories of a frontierswoman and a former outlaw. Despite Obreht’s rich prose and vivid imagery, I found the dual narrative to be disjointed and the pacing to be slow, leading me to abandon the book before reaching the end.

In conclusion, while each of these books had the potential to captivate and enthrall me, they ultimately fell short of my expectations for various reasons. Whether due to pacing issues, unengaging characters, or disjointed plotting, these books simply did not resonate with me as a reader. Despite not finishing them, I appreciate the effort and creativity that went into crafting these stories, and I will continue to seek out new books that capture my imagination and draw me in from the very first page.