If your star ratings feel chaotic, this might help.
Whether you’re a book blogger, a casual reader, or someone who wants to be more intentional with your reviews, having a clear rating system can be a total gamechanger. As a very moody mood reader, I know how easy it is to finish a book, and then completely blank on what rating to give it. Or, if you are like me, end up cycling through several (sometimes conflicting) emotions, often for days, before being able to settle on a rating. Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever said ‘I’m just going with vibes,’ I get it, and that’s totally fine (we don’t police or judge review approaches here). But if you’re looking to give those vibes a sense of consistency, then this post is here to help.
About DNFs
As I am a mood reader, I don’t usually rate DNF’d books because it’s often a ‘right book wrong time’ situation. I may well come back to it in a different mood and love it. The only time I will make an exception is if there is something in the book that I consider to be harmful and the platform does not allow for a note without a star rating. I’ve only had to do this once in nearly 7 years.
What About Half/Quatre Star Ratings?
I don’t use quarter stars. With my system, they are simply unnecessary. But I do award half stars when a book almost reached the next level but didn’t quite. For example, a 4.5-star read might have been beautiful but rushed the ending, leaving just shy of a book hangover. A 3.5 might have had stunning writing and promising themes but flat characters who I struggled to feel emotionally invested in.
If I’m using a platform that doesn’t allow half stars, I usually round up.
How I Decide on a Rating
I naturally rate books the way I approach beta reading. In beta reading, I consider specific areas. However, I also take my emotions and reactions into account. I like to annotate as I go along, or write notes in my phone (similar to leaving comments on a manuscript for beta reading) so I refer to those to decide how involved I was with the story. Here’s what I look at:
- The Opening – Does it hook me? Do I care from page one (or at least that first chapter)?
- Plot and Pacing – Is the story structured well and moving at the right rhythm? Or did I find myself bored or uncaring in certain sections?
- Themes – What deeper ideas are being explored? Did it make me reflect or feel? (This is a major one for me. I love a book that makes me think or react to a certain topic.)
- Characterisation – Are the characters complex, compelling, and emotionally resonant?
- Language and Dialogue – How does it sound? Does it flow naturally? Is it immersive? Does it suit the style and setting of the book?
This structure helps me move from ‘I liked it’ to ‘Here’s why it worked for me.’
Posts
My Personal Star Rating System
⭐ 1 Star – Harmful, inaccurate, or offensive
I reserve it for books that contain content I believe is genuinely harmful. That could be offensive stereotypes, dangerous misinformation, or themes that cross a serious line. This goes beyond ‘not for me.’
⭐⭐ 2 Stars – Difficult to finish
There were too many issues for me to enjoy it — maybe the writing was clunky, the pacing was off, or I simply wasn’t invested. I can appreciate the effort, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars – Just okay, not my cup of tea
This is the ‘okay’ neutral zone. The book might not have landed emotionally or stylistically, but it wasn’t bad. Usually it just didn’t hit hard enough for me, but would probably be loved by someone else.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars – Really enjoyable
I connected with the story, highlighted some quotes, and probably talked about the characters like they were real people. This rating means I genuinely liked it and would recommend it with confidence.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars – Bookmatized!
This is the highest tier — soul-snatching brilliance. If I’ve cried, gasped, highlighted half the book, found myself thinking about it for days, or needed to lie down afterward, this is where the rating lands. These books hold a special place in my heart and I will be very excited to find out anyone else loves them too.
Want to See My Ratings in Action?
Curious how all of this looks in practice? You can read my latest reviews on the reviews section. From cosy fiction and indie debuts to magical realism there’s something there for everyone. And new reviews are being posted regularly.
At the time of writing, my average rating according to StoryGraph is 4.37. So I’ve experienced some great reads lately!
Make Your Rating System Yours
If you’re trying to rate books more consistently, I hope this gives you a nudge in the right direction. Create something that reflects your values as a reader. Whether you care most about pacing, prose, characters, connections, or plot twists, build a system that supports how you connect with a story.
Letting Others Know About Your Rating System On Socials
If everyone rates books differently, how do you let people know what your system actually means? Many readers and reviewers have a pinned post or something similar that explains how they rate books and often includes a quick introduction too. I created a carousel post on Instagram for mine. I used Canva to make a little chart, and when I remember, I include it in my review carousel with the rating circled.
Here’s what mine looks like below. There’s no right or wrong way to do it, and everyone shares their system in their own style.
So if you’ve been second-guessing your star ratings, or just want to bring a bit more intention to how you review, I hope this post has given you something useful to think about. My system helps me stay grounded, especially when I’m juggling both personal reads and beta projects. Maybe it’ll inspire you to create one that works for you too.
How do you rate books? Do you use a system, go with your gut, or something in between? I’d love to hear about it in the comments or over on Instagram @the_abundant_word.
Happy reading, and happy rating, Wordies!
The Abundant Word
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