What book do you regret reading?

We all have that ONE book that we regret reading…..

Looking for Alaska by John Green was my worst read so far. The main character dies half way, and the rest of the book is about trying to get over her death.

Comment your worst read

#bannedbookrecommendation #dontread #dontrecommend

2024/6/29 Edited to

... Read moreRegretting a book choice is more common than we think. Often, a book might promise a gripping story but deliver disappointment, whether due to underdeveloped characters or a plot that veers off-course. Readers have expressed similar feelings for various titles. For instance, some consider 'The Catcher in the Rye' controversial for its themes, while others find 'Twilight' lacking depth. Literary regret spans genres and styles, from classics to contemporary novels, prompting discussions in forums and reading groups across platforms. If you're seeking recommendations to avoid, engage with communities using hashtags like #bannedbookrecommendation and #dontread. Explore why certain books evoke strong negative reactions and what readers wish they had known before diving into these reads. Remember, every book can be a lesson, even if it's one about what not to pick up next!

12 comments

Devynn Michelle's images
Devynn Michelle

Wildfire…….. I was hard to get into an I DNFED IT

Related posts

Books I ignored in college & regret now
Remember those dusty books on my college bookshelf? The ones I swore I'd read “someday”? Yeah, well, “someday” is here, and I'm kicking myself for not cracking them open sooner. Turns out, those pages held insights I desperately needed back then - about history, the human spirit, dreams,
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

11.4K likes

What book do you regret reading…
What book do you most regret reading, not because it was poorly written, but more because it had a negative effect on your life as a whole. I remember when I was about 11 the girls in my school were passing around VC Andrews’s Flowers in the Attic. The cover was covered over and I took my turn a
MSJoey

MSJoey

7 likes

A yellow cartoon character with a broken heart sits sadly on a stack of old books against a misty forest background. Overlaying text asks, 'what book do you regret reading?' and 'let us know in the comments below!' with 'lemon8' and '@lemon8bookclub' at the bottom.
quick! what book do you regret reading? 🫣
If you’re a big reader, you’ve likely read some… less than enjoyable books 😳📖 Maybe you DNF (do not finish) them, or maybe you’re like me and just keep pushing through the very end and then are left feeling like you wasted a bunch of time. Either way, I’m curious to know which book or books you
Lemon8 Book Club

Lemon8 Book Club

336 likes

I regret not doing this sooner 👇
I wish someone told me healing didn’t have to hurt this much. Most of healing isn’t dramatic. It’s the quiet things you avoid because they force you to face yourself. These are the things I wish I didn’t wait so long to do. If you’re in that season too, this might help. ✨ The truth is… we
nextreadwithjade

nextreadwithjade

561 likes

A stack of five books titled "Funny You Should Ask," "Milk Fed," "Earthlings," "Nightbitch," and "The Atlas Six" in front of a fireplace, with the overlay text "Books I ignored in college & regret now."
The book cover for "Mindset" by Dr. Carol S. Dweck, with text explaining why it was ignored in college and why it is loved now for changing perspectives on learning and achievement.
The book cover for "Emotional Intelligence 2.0" by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves, with text explaining why it was ignored in college and why it is loved now for providing tools for emotional management and well-being.
4 books I ignored in college and regret now
Okay, I've gotta admit something. There are a few books I *really* wish I'd read in college. Like, seriously, why didn't I?! 🤦‍♀️ It's not like no one told me to – these titles were everywhere! But for some reason, I just...didn't 🙈 And now? Now I'm kicking myself. Becaus
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

1103 likes

A hand holds a pink stylus over a tablet displaying a digital book journal cover page with an illustration of a person reading, titled 'Book Journal'. Overlays read 'Starting a book journal' and 'Cover page!'.
A tablet screen shows a digital book journal page titled 'My Reading Goal', with a target of '50 Books' circled in pink. An overlay reads 'Reading goal!'.
A tablet screen displays a digital book journal page featuring an illustrated bookshelf with empty slots for books and decorative items. An overlay reads 'Bookshelf of the books you've read'.
Start my book journal with me ✨🩷
It’s always hard keeping track of the books I’ve read , so I’m starting my book journal journey ! First book I started a review on was Fourth Wing ! 😍 I loved that book so much ! I’ll be posting my review on here soon ! If you guys have any book recommendations please let me know !!! • • • #l
Mahriahhh 💖

Mahriahhh 💖

1394 likes

A physical copy of The 52 Book Club's 2025 Reading Journal, featuring a detailed illustration of books and reading accessories, is shown inside a cardboard box. Overlays read 'join Lemon8 Book Club' and 'Book lover life'.
An open page of The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Journal displays a welcome message to 'HELLO BOOK FRIEND', detailing the club's history since 2018, its 50,000+ members, and the excitement for the eighth annual challenge.
An open page of The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Journal lists 52 prompts for the reading challenge, including 'A PUN IN THE TITLE' and 'PUBLISHED IN 2025'. An overlay asks 'Which prompt should I do first?'.
Prep the 52 Book Club’s 2025 Reading Journal w Me✨
Hello, book friends and Lemon8 peeps! 📚✨ The 52 Book Club 2025 Reading Challenge Journal is here. (I made a previous post about the 2024 challenge.) It’s more than just a journal—an invitation to join a global community of passionate bookworms. With over 50,000 members worldwide, this challenge has
Hannahwillard

Hannahwillard

768 likes

📕 BEST Money Book You’ll Regret Skipping
📌 Quick Take (9/10) Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money breaks down why getting rich and staying rich are two different games. Bestseller. Life fixer. 💡 Key Takeaways 1⃣ Wealth is invisible – People flaunting their cars might be broke, while the quiet neighbor next door is a millionaire. 2⃣
ShelfbyAriel

ShelfbyAriel

44 likes

The book cover for 'Welcome to Fae Cafe' by Jennifer Kropf features an illustration of a man and woman sitting, both drinking from mugs. The man has a sword on his back, and a book rests beside the woman. Decorative ivy and text like 'Danger. Kisses. And a Whole Lot of Cookies' are also visible.
✨Current Book I am Reading✨
There are ten golden rules if you want to survive an encounter with a fae: 1 Don’t ask their name. 2 If they ask you what your name is, lie. 3 Avoid looking directly into their eyes. 4 Don’t invite them to your book club. 5 Don’t instigate a snowball fight. 6 Never let them burn their mouth o
em_beros

em_beros

755 likes

You won’t regret reading these books
You know that feeling when a book just *grabs* you and suddenly hours have flown by? These books did *exactly* that. I swear, I was turning pages like I was trying to set a world record 😂 They’re not just “good reads”—they’re the kind of books that slap you with a *whoa, I needed this* moment. E
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

50 likes

A blue and cream notebook, black-framed glasses, and several colorful pens and highlighters are arranged on a white duvet. The image is overlaid with text reading 'Annotating without the regret', suggesting a method for book journaling.
An open book journal displays a '2024 BOOKS' log with columns for title, author, and star ratings. Several books are listed with their respective authors and ratings, showing a reader's progress. A hand holds the journal.
An open book journal shows 'CROWN OF MIDNIGHT' written at the top, with a date '4/2/24 End of Pt. 1'. Several colorful highlighters rest on the page, which has text covered to hide potential spoilers.
Annotating Without The Regret📝
If you’re like me and you’re scared to annotate your books because you don’t want to ruin them or regret writing something later on, here’s my version of “annotating” aka book journaling! I used to try Bullet Journaling a few years ago and could just never keep up with it so instead my take on a Bu
bri ⸆⸉

bri ⸆⸉

24 likes

A woman sits in a wicker chair, looking at a book, with text overlay "HOW TO SPOT a LIAR" and "Must-read books to become a human lie detector," introducing the article's topic.
The book cover for "What Every Body is Saying" by Joe Navarro is displayed on a desk, with text highlighting it as an ex-FBI agent's guide to reading body language.
A diagram illustrates facial cues for detecting emotions like tension, anxiety, and disdain, accompanied by text emphasizing practical tips and real-life examples for reading body language.
How to spot a liar (by reading this book)
Spot them liars. Must-read books to become a human lie detector My top read to spot a liar (Yes, it's possible!) if you've ever wondering whether that “borrowed” twenty bucks will ever return, or if that new crush is actually into you or just being friendly. Knowledge is power, and the t
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

9477 likes

A stack of five books with the text overlay "I REGRET 😩 NOT READING THESE SOONER." The image has a white border and a Lemon8 logo with a username in the bottom left corner.
A book cover for "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern, with text boxes explaining why the author initially ignored it and what they now think of the magical and atmospheric fantasy novel.
A book cover for "Circe" by Madeline Miller, featuring a stylized orange face. Text boxes describe why the author initially ignored it and now praises its powerful, poetic, and feminist narrative.
I regret not reading this sooner!
You ever finish a book and immediately think “Why did I wait so long to read this???” That was me with these books. Whether it was the hype, my bad reading choices, or just pure stubbornness, I *avoided* them for way too long… and now? Regret. So much regret. These books deserved my attention YE
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

846 likes

looking for hyper specific book recs?
who’s ready for some MORE hyper specific book recs? I love when books fit into very specific niches, and you can’t go wrong with any of these ones if you’re looking for books that… 💕 make you squeal and kick your feet 🌎 challenge your worldview 😳 will raise your heart rate 🫂 restore your
Amanda

Amanda

177 likes

A person stands in a bookstore, surrounded by shelves and stacks of books, looking at the collection. Overlay text asks, "WHAT BOOK STARTED YOUR READING OBSESSION?" and states, "i'll go first."
What book started your reading obsession? 📚
Call Me by Your Name is the book that got me to love reading! I picked the book up in Target one day because I absolutely LOVED the movie. I realized how much fun I had reading the book, and went to tiktok for book recommendations! I’ve loved reading now for 3 years! I use to hate reading growing
savannie 🌞

savannie 🌞

1047 likes

What book are you currently reading?
#reading #booktok #book #whatareyoureading #youarebeautiful #youareenough #yourloved #haveagreatday
audrey

audrey

256 likes

The book cover for "The Divine Feminine" by Layla Moon, featuring a purple and blue gradient with floral designs. The subtitle reads: "Awaken Your Goddess Feminine Energy, Achieve Emotional Healing, and Become The Women You Are Meant to Be."
A page from the book discussing how Divine Femininity is influenced by energy within us. It explains that cleansing and protecting oneself from negative energy is crucial for embracing Divine Femininity with clear minds and loving hearts.
A bulleted list summarizing a chapter's content, including how negative energy manifests, methods for cleansing oneself and spaces, protection from negative energy, and why clearing it is important for activating the Divine Feminine.
Beautiful Book on Awakening your Devine femininity
#booksummary #lemon8challenge whe i cam across this book I was actually looking for #queenafua #sacredwoman book, kindle then suggested this book #devinefeminine out of curiosity i decided to get it and read and i don’t regret I wish i had come across it sooner!!! A booking on healing, s
ChicHabitsLifestyle

ChicHabitsLifestyle

28 likes

Books I regret purchasing🙂‍↕️
The first two were overhyped and just bad but I had no motivation what’s so ever after buying the last 4 books due to the horrible reviews.😅 #books 🫶🏼 #readingaesthetic #reader #book #booktok
Kyla 🫧

Kyla 🫧

779 likes

What book got you back into reading?
As a person trying to get into reading, it can be overwhelming. There’s an unlimited amount of books to choose from and it’s hard to know where to start. Check out a couple of the books I read when I was first getting back into reading! Follow me on Goodreads for honest and unfiltered reviews!
Dawn Janelle

Dawn Janelle

17 likes

You will not regret reading this!!
Okay so Jack JUST broke up with his fiancé and keeps finding himself drawn back to his school and work rival. She is feeling very empty-nest with all of her siblings moving on with their lives and these two keep winding up together. Their chemistry is INSANE. I would die for them. I haven’t
wickedreads ❄️

wickedreads ❄️

57 likes

⚠️ Regret Reading This Book on a Plane… Here’s Why
📖 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think by Brianna Wiest isn’t just a book—it’s a mental reset. It calls out your overthinking, procrastination, and excuses… and trust me, there’s no escape at 30,000 feet. ✈️💭 🔮 This book will: ✨ Shift your mindset ✨ Break your self-sabotaging patterns
Pengi.ai

Pengi.ai

2 likes

What are you currently reading? 📚💗
Hey everyone!! I’m interested in what you guys are currently reading or what is on your TBR list!?! I’m currently reading the ACATAR series and I’m about half way through the first!! I’m loving it so far! Has anyone read this series? What were your thoughts?? Can’t wait to hear from y’
Kalyn<3

Kalyn<3

119 likes

a book i still think about
this book was incredibly sad and i just couldn’t i sat and i contemplated everything including my relationship with my best friend. honestly a must read. i only gave it a 4.5/5 because the first 100 pages were just very slow. overall i feel people should read this book at least once to know how to
Valll 📚💋🫶🏼

Valll 📚💋🫶🏼

23 likes

book review ♡
I really regret not purchasing this book but I did read + listen to this on my phone and it was incredible !! I’ve been reading mystery && thrillers for some time now and I still didn’t see that ending coming .. or maybe I’m just slow lol. I really loved the way Tate was so careful w/ Wren
Stephanie S.

Stephanie S.

20 likes

A copy of Ashley Poston's book, 'The Seven Year Slip,' with a yellow highlighter, black pen, and colorful sticky tabs on a pink satin background, labeled 'Current Read.'
An open book displaying an annotation key with color-coded sticky tabs for 'Writing/Quotes,' 'Relatable,' 'Romance,' 'Funny,' and 'Other,' along with a humorous quote.
An open book showing page 16 of 'The Seven Year Slip,' with a highlighted quote about books making you miss places and people, alongside a highlighter, pen, and sticky tabs.
Currently Reading
My current read is The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston! This is @Lemon8 BookClub ’s book club pick for the month of March ☺️ Genre: Adult, Romance, Magical Realism My review so far: I’m really loving Ashley Poston’s writing and this book has such a cool plot! The only thing is I’m having a
Hannah 🧡

Hannah 🧡

17 likes

Books I regret not reading sooner
“WHY did I wait so long to read this??" That was me with these. Whether I was intimidated by the hype, the length, or just kept pushing them down my TBR, I seriously regret not picking them up sooner. Each of these books completely pulled me in, made me feel everything, and left me wondering
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

47 likes

The front cover of "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, featuring two birds on a fence, with "NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER" and a quote from Ann Patchett. A "SWIPE" arrow is visible.
A side view of "The Correspondent" book, showing its pages with small, triangular cut-outs or tabs along the edge.
The back cover of "The Correspondent" displaying advance praise from various authors like Ann Patchett and Adriana Trigiani, along with ISBN details.
The Correspondent: Book Review!
Hi readers, this post is about my experience reading The Correspondent. I hope this will give you some more clarity about the content of the book, because, despite reading descriptions and reviews of the book before hand, I was lost on what to expect this book is about. This book is a continuous am
DawnluvsBooks

DawnluvsBooks

3 likes

A bookshelf filled with various romance novels, with a text overlay that reads "Romance books I regret putting off for so long" and a white arrow pointing right. A white mug with flowers sits on the top shelf.
A hand holds the book "A Proposal They Can't Refuse" by Natalie Caña, featuring a man and woman on the cover. The background is a woven texture.
A hand holds the book "You Had Me At Hola" by Alexis Daria, depicting a couple embracing on the cover. The book is held in front of a bookshelf.
Romance books I regret putting off for so long 📚💗
Why did I wait so long to read these gems?! 😅📚 If you’ve been on the fence about these, don’t make the same mistake I did—they’re absolutely worth it! What’s a book you wish you’d read sooner? #romancebookrecs #romancebook #latinxbooks #happyreadingbesties #bookrec
Gabi | whatsgabireading

Gabi | whatsgabireading

8 likes

Virgo Tímeless Reading
Book a reading and/or shop this deck ➡️Shop.TarotHeaven.com Learn about tarot ➡️TarotHeaven.com
tarotheaven

tarotheaven

1 like

Reading your Bible📖❤️‍🩹
Day👆🏻 Today is my day 1 of reading through the book of Mark. Yesterday I finally finished my Bible study in the book of Matthew. I realized today that it took me 10 months to get through all 28 chapters! I fell off the wagon a few times and let’s be honest some days I just didn’t want to wa
🫧Sam🫧

🫧Sam🫧

19 likes

An e-reader displays the cover of the book 'Carried Away' by Natisha Raynor, featuring a man with braids and a beard in blue and purple tones. The image includes a 'BOOK REVIEW' overlay and 'lemon8 @ilalaco' branding.
Book Review
Book Review Book name: Carried Away Author: Natisha Raynor My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My review: Omg, this book is incredible from beginning to end. Shalaine reminds me so much of myself and Truce is genuinely heaven sent. 😩 I loved that the characters were in great detail and served a purpose. If
CaraShelette

CaraShelette

110 likes

Reading Update
Last: 📖Waxwing Creek by J.J. Walker. This is a horror collection of interconnected short stories. I really liked some of them but others were just alright. I did really like the authors writing style. 🎧 Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. A scifi standalone. Loved this so much!! The adventure, the hu
Iz reads📚

Iz reads📚

2 likes

Book review! And more
Book Review Book name: Summer in the city Author: Alex Aster Genre: contemporary romance Intro: “I hate you so much” My rating:5/5 My review: Alex Aster!!!!! Girl come to the front !!!!! This book is absolutely phenomenal 🥹🥲❤️ anything you could possibly want from enemies to lovers is in
Sophiasbooknook

Sophiasbooknook

17 likes

books you regret?
Tell me a book that you picked up and bought thinking you were gonna love but you just regret wasting the money on. #booktok #books #bookrecommendations #bookrevieweroflemon8 #booksoflemon8
Karleigh ❤️

Karleigh ❤️

87 likes

5 Books I Regret Not Reading Sooner!
Here are five books that would have impacted my life much earlier if I'd only picked them up sooner! Here's why each one made the list: 1. The Gaslight Effect – This book opens your eyes to how subtle manipulation can wreak havoc on your self-esteem and sanity. It's a must-read for a
Cam & Kyle

Cam & Kyle

225 likes

See more