When I started the anime after I read up to Saboady. My gf watched it with me, and she's usually done with something by the standard 24 eps for a season.
She watched straight through and was enjoying it, with a bit of boredom with Killer Barc and the Foxy arc. When we got 1/4 through Dressrosa, I noticed she was on her phone during all the episodes, and after a while even I started to check out. We were both glad when it was finally over.
I didn't remember it being that bad, but reading it all at once after it was already complete, I could go at my own pace, so I imagine that was a big help.
We've given the anime a break, which has allowed us to catch up on Ancient Magus Bride and now we're halfway through Frieren.