Storage system and method for improving read latency during mixed read/write operations

A storage system receives a request to read data that is located in a wordline undergoing a program operation. Instead of waiting for the program operation to complete, which would increase read latency, the storage system aborts the program operation and reconstructs the data from successfully-programmed memory cells in the wordline and from data latches associated with unsuccessfully-programmed memory cells in the wordline. The reconstructed data is then sent to the host. The program abort command can be similar to one used to provide a graceful shutdown in a power-loss situation.