My Book Rating System

I rate a book based on my thoughts and feelings about a book shortly after I have finished reading it. I do not rate books that I haven’t finished reading. Having a system helps create consistency in my ratings. This is the system that I use to rate books on Goodreads and that I plan to use here on this blog.

I prefer books with characters that I can relate to, settings I can imagine myself in, and plots that I can follow. I like books with stories that invoke emotion, get me thinking, uplift, and inspire me! I like books that challenge me in some way—perhaps they help me think about something from a different perspective, inspire me to ponder what I value and why I value it or provide a mystery to be solved. I prefer books that offer a good clean read—by this I mean books without detailed sex scenes or profanity.

 ⭐ 1 star – This is a book that I considered a waste of time. It didn’t keep my attention and I had a difficult time getting through it. It left me wondering about the purpose of its existence.

 ⭐⭐ 2 stars – This is a book that left me feeling disappointed but contained something I considered worthwhile. It is not a book I would recommend and is not a book I would read again.

 ⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars – This is my typical good read. I enjoyed reading it and felt like it was worth my time. However, it is not a book I would consider reading more than once. It is probably not a book that I would recommend to others.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars – This is a book that I really enjoyed reading. I could relate to some of the characters. I enjoyed the plot. It is a book that gets me thinking. I would consider recommending it to friends and might even read it a second time myself.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars – This book was a real page-turner. It is one that kept me engaged and one that I didn’t want to set down. It is a book that spoke to my heart, one that left a lasting impression. It definitely had characters that I could relate to. It is a book that I would consider reading multiple times. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to friends and family.