Book Review Rating System

Firstly, here are the six (6) categories I look at when reading and reviewing books:

  • PLOT (What is the story and why is it important?)
  • SETTING (Where does the story take place? Is there world-building?)
  • WRITING STYLE (What literary devices or language is there? Is the dialogue realistic or relatable? Is it fast-paced or slow-paced?)
  • CONFLICT/RESOLUTION (What is the main conflict? Is there internal/ external conflict? Was it (not) resolved?)
  • CHARACTERS (Who are the main characters? Supporting or minor characters? What are their personalities or backstories?)
  • CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (What are the characters’ motivations or aspirations (i.e., their wants, needs, and/or dreams)? Did it change by the end of the book?)

Why these six categories? These are the categories I typically look for when reading fiction, whether its a standalone book or a new series. The categories keep me focused on the plot, the characters, and their goal in the book. It helps me organize my thoughts and reflect back on what I might have liked or disliked about the book to give a genuine review to readers.

Secondly, I use a 5-Star Rating System based on the fulfillment on the six categories I look at when reading and reviewing books:

  • 5 Stars – A fantastic book that was both enjoyable and memorable! I would highly recommend it!
  • 4 Stars – A great book read, and I would recommend it to others!
  • 3 Stars – It was a decent read, and I would recommend it to others (depending).
  • 2 Stars – I was not too fond of the book, but I finished it. I would not likely recommend nor re-read it.
  • 1 Star – NO! I did not finish the book, or it was painful to read! I would not recommend it!

Thirdly, in each book review, I would do my best to add trigger warnings for readers if books have certain topics like violence or language. Additionally, I will share some interesting book/character tropes found in the book. I personally have a certain set of book/character tropes and I’m open to loving new ones – if done in a respectful or tasteful way.

Notes

  • This 5-star rating is based on the fulfillment of “Categories I Look at While Book Reading/ Reviewing.”
  • It includes a 1/2 point margin for the overall book review/rating as there may be some books that fulfill some of the requirements.

Disclaimer

  • Reviews are based on my personal opinion & thoughts.
  • Since I work & go to school, I will create reviews as soon as I have time.
  • Additionally, I purchase books with my own money, so there will be times I can’t obtain newly released books.