I love this series. I think you are expecting it to be something different than it is, though.

It's not meant to be realistic. It's supposed to be over the top and exaggerated. Some commenters below mentioned that it's supposed to be about adults not believing children when they try to tell them something bad is happening, and I agree.

It's also important to realize that these are children's books. I read them in elementary school for the first time. I remember waiting eagerly for books eleven, twelve and thirteen. I loved that at the time because most series I was reading also were about children solving their own problems (Harry Potter, the Boxcar Children, even Narnia), where the adults are mostly useless and the kids have to get themselves out of the mess on their own. If you compare it to Harry Potter, especially the first four books of Harry Potter- Voldemort is doing something bad, none of the grownups believe the kids, and then Harry Ron and Hermione have to solve the problem themselves. Formulaic and "unbelievable", just like most children's series, especially the long ones. I'm reading The Magic Tree House to my nephews right now, and that entire series is the more formulaic thing I have ever read. And kids love it, because they are the audience.

As a kid, I felt like the adults didn't understand me, and when bad things were happening, didn't believe me or tried to discount what I was saying to placate me. A Series of Unfortunate Events reflects that reality.

It's also supposed to be an ubsurd story with quirky antics (one of the reasons I absolutely loved the Netflix series- I think they captured the tone so so well. One of my all time favorite book to screen adaptations).

I reread the entire series about a year ago, and I loved it just as much as an adult- less so for the plot, which can be simplistic, especially in the first few books, but moreseo for the writing and deeper meanings. First of all, I find the narration really funny and very witty. I love the wordplays and the puns and the codes and all the secrets. When I was a kid, I hated that the book didn't end in a super satisfying way. As an adult, I cried at the end. I was also much more aware of just how horrible the kids lives are, and the TV show also made me see it more. It's tragic and they are alone and just trying to survive.

I always say that the best children's literature are the books you like as a kid, and still like as an adult. So I can still enjoy Narnia and A Series of Unfortunate Events, because there is a second layer of meaning going on in those series, but I can't really enjoy the Magic Tree House or the Boxcar Children. Same goes for movies- I love most Disney and Pixar movies, but then there are things like Trolls or the Paw Patrol movies which are clearly only meant for kids and I was bored (I watch/read a lot of kids things because of my nephews).

I think you need to suspend you belief and appreciate the series for what it is. And if you don't like it, then it's just not for you. Plenty of other books out there to enjoy.