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.
Related: How to Start a Reading Habit in 4 Easy Steps
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).
Related Articles:
- How to be a Faster Reader in 4 Easy Steps
- How to Write a Book Review (it’s easier than you think!)
- How to Start a Reading Habit in 4 Super Simple Steps
And that’s the tea!

How do you rate the books you read?
Featured Image by Ekrulila