How to Rate Books & How I Do It

You may have been like me where you just read books and didn’t even think about rating them with stars! Once I joined Bookstagram (Book lovers and sharers on Instagram) I noticed all these other readers rating books and leaving these detailed and enticing book reviews with 5 star ratings that wanted me to dash over to the bookstore to get myself a copy ASAP! I wanted that 5 star book!!

Once I started posting myself on Bookstagram, and soon after Goodreads, it made me wonder how people rate them. Overtime I’ve learned it’s a gut feeling, as well as keeping a few things in mind as I rate and review the books.

Disclaimer: This blog may include affiliate links, and any purchases made through such links may result in a commission or credit to Curly ‘N Loud at no extra cost to you. All thoughts, opinions, experience, and advice is my own.

If you have wondered HOW to write a book review, I’ve included a link to it throughout this post for you to look at and to pick up a few pointers.
I’ll keep this post short and sweet for you on how I rate my books, and what I keep in mind when I rate them.

Before Writing the Review…

…remember these few things before writing your book review:

Be considerate when it comes to particular stories and/or experiences, especially when it comes to a culture or religion that is different than yours, mental illnesses, race, age, sex, etc..
Don’t compare yourself to other book reviewers. How you review a book will be and should be different than what everyone else is saying/doing.
Use your voice to share about a book – it’s pros and cons, what you loved and appreciated about it or what could have been better.
Share your experiences that you had that may be similar to a character in the book! Did you relate to them? How so? Share with your followers!

How I Rate Books

5 Star Reads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5 Star Reads are books that I absolutely love and constantly think about. This year in 2020 I have read some PHENOMENAL books, but not all of them get a five star review.

For me, a 5 Star Read is a book that I just melt away and get lost in. That has me thinking about it day-in and day-out, gets me a little emotional, and where the pros outweigh the cons in the book to where I don’t even care about the flaws! A 5 Star Read is just something I love deep within my core!

In 2019 I read and rated two-5 Star Reads, which were One Day in December by Josie Silver and Becoming by Michelle Obama. For 2020 so far I have rated the following 5 Stars:

The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
This one had me all in my feels, and I loved how the story was being told.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
I LOVE Lousia Clark and her journey. PLUS this book had me in my feels too. It’ll make laugh and cry!
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A absolute must-read. The writing, the facts, the story. Just all of it. Love it.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This may have been the best book I have read all year, hands down. I delayed reading this book and absolutely regret doing that. Go read it. NOW.
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
The most beautiful piece of writing.
Things to Save in a Fire by Katherine Center
Was totally surprised how great this book was! I loved the humor and the main characters, Owen “Rookie” and Cassie.

The year isn’t over yet, so I am looking forward to reading and rating more 5 Star Reads.

4 Star Reads ⭐⭐⭐⭐

4 Star Reads are books that I just really-really appreciate and like, and even love – just not love as much as my 5 Star Reads. 4 Star Reads are still great and fantastic but may have been missing something that missed the 5 star mark.

I have rated so many books 4 to 4.5 Stars this year that I won’t be able to list them all out here, but they are on my Instagram and Goodreads. A few of my top favorite are:

The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
After You by Jojo Moyes
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein
The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

3 Star Reads ⭐⭐⭐

With 3 Star Reads, they are books that may have moments where I did like it, and then others where I didn’t. When I rate a book 3 Stars it is not necessarily a bad book, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It wasn’t amazing, but I also didn’t strongly dislike it.

I would still recommend a 3 Star book to someone just because I could see them really enjoying it. Most likely though, I probably wouldn’t want to reread a book I rated 3 Stars.

Books I have read this year that I rated 3 Stars are:

The Storms of May by Edward Howard
The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory
Almost Adulting by Arden Rose

1 ⭐ AND 2 ⭐⭐ Star Reads

I am combining this section for a couple of reasons. Thankfully, I haven’t read and/or rated any books 1 Star… but I have rated ONE book 1.5 Stars. That book was Island Affair by Priscilla Oliveras. I strongly disliked that book, and DO NOT recommend it. I could go on about what I didn’t like about it, but we will save that for another time!

For this year, I thankfully haven’t read any 2 Star Reads, but I had quite a few in 2019. So last year the books I gave 2 Stars to were:

29 Gifts by Cami Walker
The Great Gatsby by Scott F. Fitzgerald
An Abundance of Katherine’s by John Green
Make it Happen by Lara Casey
Whisper Network by Chandler Baker
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

When it comes to rating 1 or 2 Star reads, the reason I rate them that are because for 2 Star Reads they are books I didn’t like, ALMOST ‘hate’ but not quite. 2 Star Reads are just books that were not my favorite! I would definitely not read them again, nor would I recommend them to anyone. 1 Star Reads are books that are just DNF (do not finish).

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