Have you ever returned a book for a refund?

August has been an interesting month when it comes to reading. I've shared some wins at finding some old favorites in digital format, but I've had some fails as well. Especially when it comes to new books. New books I have paid money for.

Sigh. I hate to be one of *those* readers. But you know what? I am. Yes, I have returned 4 books this month for refunds. Books I wanted to like. Books I wanted to read enough that I paid money for rather than waiting to try and get them through the library or another source. Which means, I really and truly wanted to both read and enjoy them.

But I couldn't. And I didn't. There was one, I was so excited to read and I couldn't even make it through the first chapter. I tried 3 times!! But, not only were there proofing errors out the whazoo (technical author term, friends), but it simply didn't make sense. I didn't care about the characters and I couldn't make myself slog through it to see if it got better.

Double sigh. I'm not usually one to moan about proofing errors, because let's face it, as a blind woman, there's more than a small chance my books are going to have them, no matter how hard I, or my proofers try. And it's an unwritten law of the universe that no matter how many times you review a document, the moment you hit publish 3 previously unnoticed errors will jump out at you. But if, I, as a blind woman could hear these errors, I guess I expect the sighted proofers to see them.

Enough complaining. I also came across a new!read that hooked me and kept me hooked all the way to the end. I eagerly wait for the next book in the trilogy. Yes, it's a post-apocalyptic/pandemic/EOTW type, but it was well done and without any of the overly-educational this is how you should have prepared before the world ended type of manual disguised as fiction.

Have you ever returned a book for a refund because you couldn't finish? What made the story a DNF for you an dhow much leeway for error are you willing to give an author?