Rating System

Everyone's rating system is different, for some people 3 stars is still a book they would recommend, and for others 3 stars is just okay.  I've done my best to explain how I rate the books and what each rating means.

Please keep in mind, I rate books based on how well they achieve what they set out to achieve. For me, this means a five star YA book is not the same as a five star classic. If I give a YA book five stars, that means I believe it did everything it was supposed to for a YA book, not that it is the same level of literary writing as a classic book I also gave five stars. That being said, I wouldn't say I'm a particularly harsh critic, or extremely lenient, but lie somewhere in between.

0 Stars

This book did not achieve anything it set out to achieve. The book is poorly written, the plot is convoluted, unsatisfying, or otherwise feels underdeveloped, the characters are not fleshed out and the arcs are non-existent, nonsensical, or unsatisfying. The worldbuilding is shabby, and messages or themes are entirely absent, poorly executed, or even offensive. There is very little, if anything, positive to say about this book, I would not recommend it to someone.

1 Star

Very similar to zero stars, except there is at least one redeeming factor about this book.

2 stars

The concept or foundation was likely interesting, but the execution was poor. Of all the elements I pay attention to (writing style, plot, character, worldbuilding, and theme), a couple were well done, but it was not enough to overshadow the book's shortcomings.

3 Stars 

The book is pretty good. It was a decently enjoyable, if not particularly well constructed. It's a book that is the embodiment of "meh". It wasn't bad, it wasn't good, and you have a hard time saying anything about it because it is the book equivalent of a room temperature glass of water.

4 Stars 

This is a good book, one I would regularly recommend and likely reread. Most of the elements present are well executed, with only a few things that could improve the book.

5 Stars 

These are amazing books that execute every element nearly perfectly. Any flaws are minor, and do not inhibit the entertainment value or messaging of the book. They tend to have that "je ne sais quoi" element to it that makes it shine. These books are among my favorites, and are the first books I recommend.

***Note: I will occasionally give decimal ratings, if I feel like it falls somewhere in between. The most common use for me will likely be a 3.5 book, which is perhaps not the most well rounded, but still enjoyable. These are books I would be comfortable saying are pretty good, and recommending on a case by case basis, with the understanding that it is not an outstanding book. 

Also, keeping on theme, I use flowers instead of stars! You'll see little daisy icons instead of stars, but the rating will still be typed out next to it for easy readability. 

Happy reading!

Daisy