How I Rate Books

Let’s be honest, book rating systems are deeply personal. Some people have spreadsheets, some rate based on vibes, and others don’t rate books at all. Personally? I have a very informal way of rating books. It might not be how other readers or bloggers do it, but it works for me, and that’s what matters!

So if you’ve ever looked at one of my reviews and wondered, “Wait… why was this only 3 stars?”  Here's a breakdown of how I rate books and what those stars actually mean to

me.

5 Stars = I’m Obsessed

These are the books that live rent-free in my brain. I can’t stop thinking about them after I finish, and more importantly, I will reread them. Yes, I’m a rereader. If a book earns five stars from me, it means it gave me all the feels, and I want to relive the experience again and again.

These are the stories that hit me hard, feel like old friends, or just completely wrecked me in the best way.

4 Stars = I Loved It 

Four-star reads are books I really enjoyed. I connected with the story or characters, but I’m not necessarily dying to read them again unless I’m in the mood for that specific genre or trope. These are solid recommendations, books I’d happily gush about, even if they don’t quite make my forever shelf.

3 Stars = Cute, Fun, Not My Faves

Okay, here’s where it gets a little personal. Three-star reads are books I liked, they were fun or enjoyable, but they didn’t blow me away. I might not go out of my way to recommend them unless I know someone likes that exact kind of story.

Also, a lot of first books in series land in the 3-star zone for me. I tend to really get into a series during the second or third book once the world and characters are fully fleshed out. So if you see me give a 3-star to Book One, just know it doesn’t mean I’m not hooked yet!

2 Stars = Not For Me

These are the books that just didn’t click. Maybe it was the writing, the pacing, the characters, or all of the above. I don’t enjoy giving out 2-star ratings, but I also want to be honest with my reading experience. I wouldn’t recommend these to others unless I know it might suit their very specific taste.

1 Star = Practically Never

I rarely give out 1-star ratings. Why? Because if a book is that bad for me, I probably didn’t finish it, and I don’t rate books I DNF. If I push through to the end, I almost always find something redeeming that keeps it from a single star. So 1-star books are few and far between over here.

What About Partial Stars?

You’ll sometimes see me give ratings like 3.5 or 4.5 stars, and that usually just means I was torn. The book didn’t quite hit the full-star criteria for me, but it also felt like more than the lower rating. Maybe there was something small that held it back, or one part that really elevated the experience. It’s my way of saying: “I liked this, but not quite that much.”

Honestly, partial stars help me reflect how nuanced reading is. Not every book fits neatly into a box, and that little half star makes room for the grey area.

A Final Thought…

Reading is personal. Rating books is personal. My system is less about technical perfection and more about how a book makes me feel. So if you ever see a 3-star review on my blog, don’t assume it’s a bad book, it just means it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, and that’s okay!

How do you rate your books? Do you follow a strict system or go with your gut like me? Let me know in the comments.