Stop reading the last 20 pages first, it ruins the unravel

I noticed a bunch of people in book groups admit they flip to the ending to check if it's worth the cry. Big mistake. Last month I read The Song of Achilles and skipped ahead, saw the final line, then spent the whole book waiting instead of feeling it. The punch landed flat because I already knew the shape of the wreck. Try reading the first 50 pages blind, then check the ending only if you're quitting. Has anyone else spoiled a gut punch this way and regretted it?

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the_willow5d ago

My cousin did this with every Harry Potter book starting at book 4, she'd read the last chapter first then go back. She got so good at predicting twists she guessed the Snape thing years before the last book came out, which was honestly impressive but also completely insane. She never got to experience the shock of finding out in real time, she just sat there smug the whole read. I still bring it up at Thanksgiving to mess with her lmao.