While reading a book, sometimes, we stop reading it somewhere in the middle. The short answer for that is reading any further is simply boring. But there are other reasons hidden as to why readers stop from reading further. Here are a few reasons below that could tell you why.
Sharp contrast
I have a habit of reading the blurb before picking any book. When it's so attractive, it's natural to expect that the story inside should reflect the blurb at the back of the book. Just by reading the blurb, we will get a mental picture of how the actual story is going to be - that's the reader's expectation. When the story doesn't meet this expectation with the right amount of characters, its setting, or the plot itself, the story falls flat that the reader isn't interested anymore to continue reading it.
Different genre
A romance fiction might talk about anything between two people meeting, falling in love, and eventually being partners for life. Of course, the story can move to any intensity when it comes to the romance the characters share. As the story proceeds, page after page, when the story deviates to talk about other things rather than its original theme 'romance', the reader eventually finds the stuff boring to read anymore. The book doesn't fall under the romance fiction genre exactly failing to fulfill the readers' expectations. By any chance, readers who choose a book shouldn't get disappointed landing up with one that talks entirely about a different genre that's not at all his/her favourite.
Being explicit
Despite being a fan of suspense thrillers some readers hate reading too much detailing along the way. It not only slows down the pace of a thriller but it could also be entirely different which is not in the interest of the reader. I remember closing off Sidney Sheldon's book years back because there were scenes too explicit that I hated to continue reading at that time. While I expected suspense, up until those 50 pages I was fed up reading scenes too explicit that I hated to continue anymore. I was not in the mood for erotica back then but that book was peppered with so much of it beyond what I had anticipated.
Promises not met
Along the story, authors would have promised a thing or two to happen down the line kindling readers' expectations as they turn through the pages. While the readers' mind is not satiated by fulfilling those promises, he/she gets really irritated putting the book down. Make sure the promises are fulfilled as the story proceeds because when it's not readers get easily bored with the book.
Confusing characters
When a book involves too many characters, a lot much attention and care is needed to portray each and every one of them, in proper intervals so that the reader is not confused with them all. The initial interest to pick up the book is lost somewhere in the middle when the reader couldn't recollect the character names and that at one point they totally forget what the author is saying, and about whom. Giving only essential elements to describe the character with the necessary length would help. Also, introducing them in places where it makes the maximum impact with the readers would be great to keep them hooked to the book.
Unexpected plot
I'd like to watch Sci-fi more than reading it. But even while watching I'm rather picky. I haven't watched Star trek or any of that series but Interstellar is my favourite. Although there is some sort of intergalactic space travel, I like it when it's realistic to the extent of what's achievable to mankind right at the moment. Or, a few decades down the line. I was watching a few scenes of Jupiter Ascending just because it's sci-fi but as soon as I saw those new worlds and their people with shiny metallic dresses, I switched it off. There are fans who love them but it's just not my cup of tea. Understanding your readers' likes and shaping your plot to cater to their tastes is extremely important. Sourcing the book to exactly those readers is also a challenge in order to make your book special among them.
Unwanted scenes
Many scenes together make up a book. Each scene should have some purpose to serve - whether it's adding to a character's trait, or giving some clue in between. It might be even hinting at something which would make sense to a scene only at the end. But scenes that serve no purpose at all tend to drag the story without adding any value. When continuous incoherent scenes line up, the reader finds it difficult to connect the story making it dull. Readers start thinking 'why is this scene even here? What's the purpose?' - finding it hard to connect with the main storyline, they stop reading midway.
As authors we want our readers to love reading our books, not stop it midway! Keeping them upright to ask for more is simply the author's skill, I'd say - something that could be learned, of course. While we enjoy writing the story, there is no doubt that the readers too will enjoy reading it.
Happy writing and reading!!!
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