People like different things.

I didn't get AC:NH, because I wasn't looking for an AC experience this year, but I did have a lot of fun with AC:NL on the 3DS and played it over a longer period of time. The appeal, to me, was the non-competitive, "home away from home" aspect. In-game time matching real-time was a core element that made the game (and series) appeal to me. It was fun to have the same holidays and the same day/night time in the game as in the waking world. There was always something to do, but I never felt I had to play every day or all day. It wasn't a race. That is what I liked about it (New Leaf anyway).

If you approach this like a normal game where you control the pacing and can binge and grind for 12+ hours a day and complete the game in a week or two, you'll probably not enjoy it. It's just not the game you're looking for. That is why I didn't pick up NH. I didn't want the long term, sandbox, life sim experience, but the distraction of binge-able, object-driven, faster paced games. Not every game needs to be like this, though, and the success of AC:NH shows that many people were wanting and needing exactly the experience NH offers. It's just not for everyone.

Anyway, you either like a game or you don't. No point in forcing yourself. The lesson here is probably to research games more before buying them even if they are wildly popular