How I Rate My Reads - New Rating System
The more I read, the more reviews I write, and the more ratings I give, the more I have come to terms with needing a better rating system. I have been going off the Goodreads rating system of 1-5 stars for quite a while. I will continue to utilize it on Goodreads but have decided that going forward, I would like to give a rating out of 10. I’ve been finding that some of my 3-star ratings are not equivalent to other 3-star ratings, and the same is true with 4s and 5s. This is why I’d like to give myself a wider range to better define what I read on my blog and Bookstagram.
So, without further ado, here is my new rating system!
1 star: Usually a DNF, I will never rate a story zero stars even if I don’t like it/finish it because regardless of my opinion the author put a lot of hard work into their story & deserves at least one star.
2 stars: Possibly a DNF or close to being a DNF, but still completed. Character development, plot, or writing weren’t strong enough for me, so it was difficult to remain interested. It likely took a long time for me to complete it.
3 stars: I debated DNFing for a while but stuck with it. It was challenging to get through but finished in a reasonable amount of time. It still had me wanting to know what would happen. Likely very predictable and left me questioning about characters or plot holes.
4 stars: Could do with or without this book. It was entertaining enough but it still wasn’t the best.
5 stars: Turning the corner of entertainment. I found this book fun and enjoyable, with some easy characters that I wished had a little more depth but still compelling enough to begin an attachment. The plot was iffy but still engaging.
6 stars: Most of my reads. Acceptable & fun predictability with the occasional twist. Found myself smiling a lot & found the characters relatable.
7 stars: Beginning to see deeper parallels between myself and the characters. A depth in the book is established that calls out to me, and I find the book, plot, and characters all very compelling. However, something throughout the story stood out to me that I wasn’t a fan of.
8 stars: Throughout my reading, I found myself talking to others about this book prior to completing it. It’s speaking to me and entertaining me in more ways than one. The plot is strong and leaves me guessing. The characters are lovable, but overall, the book falls flat in an area.
9 stars: Really enjoyable & hard to put down. The characters & world-building were spot on. Not super predictable & had me in my feels at one point or another. It was likely missing a little something, but I will continue talking about it after finishing.
10 stars: Couldn’t put it down & absolutely shook me to my core. Super memorable & was able to surprise me more than once. Evoked a variety of emotions & likely made me cry at one point. Will have scenes on repeat in my mind for the foreseeable future & will always recommend.
