I love reading almost as much as I love writing and I do a ton of book reviews. Because I have been through the gauntlet of bringing an idea to life, I know that every book requires a great deal of work. If/when I do a book review, I keep this in the back of my mind, so even if I don’t particularly care for the story, I can focus on the positives.
I will say right from the start if I can’t give it a 3-5 star, I don’t rate it. I have also gotten out of the habit of writing a review because I simply don’t have the time, but will write one if requested. If it is a 1-2 star, I keep it to myself unless asked by the author for honest feedback. And will say it loudly for the people in the back… I don’t tag authors on their reviews! Most writers I know don’t check them or, if they are like me, only use the average star rating as a gauge to how the book is being received. Chances are by the time I’m reading their book they have already written another and are planning the story after that, so they don’t need my advice on what I would change in the book 3 books ago. Besides… its all subjective and they know what they are doing. Oftentimes they are writing the book of their heart, so who am I to rain on that parade? Anywho… I digress.
Ranking system – 5 Stars:
5- Blew me away and altered my mind… Unique, Twisty, and/or still thinking about it. Books at this level for me were: Circe by Madeline Miller, Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby VanPelt. Most non-fiction and memoir lands here as well if it is good writing and makes me feel as if I’m having coffee with the author.
4- Loved it! Super solid writing, entertaining story, a book I would recommend. If I’m honest most books end up being at this level for me because I know a TON of amazing authors! Some that write in the same vein as I do are: Colleen Gleason, Scarlett St. Clair, and Jennifer L. Armentrout. Katee Robert is another Greek Mythology fav but more on the contemporary side and a bit spicier than what I write.
3- Good book! Entertaining story and good plot, but with perhaps some typos and holes that were noticed along the way. Errors weren’t enough to stop me from reading or enjoying the story. A 3 from me is still a wonderful review in my mind, especially since my average is between a 3 and 4 on most review sites for my fiction.
2- Book was problematic in areas, may or may not have gotten through the entire story. Noticeable plot issues or unlikeable characters I just couldn’t get on board with. Typically here I’m making it through most of the book and am maybe disappointed with the experience by the end. Generally combined with poor writing.
1- Did not finish (DNF). What I will say with this is that I’m a mood reader so if it is a DNF today, I do come back to it later (sometimes) and try again. If it is a DNF again, it is something I most likely won’t read, or is distracting to the point where I won’t enjoy it.
Ranking system – Categories and Points:
I decided in the days of doing judging for contests that I needed a system that would not only streamline my review process, but also help me to remain as objective as possible. I realize that ratings are ultimately reflective of the reader’s likes and dislikes, but I often found myself in the position of reading a genre am not necessarily a fan of. I feel this system I am about to share helps me to rate the books fairly no matter the story or genre.
My rating system is set up for 10 points, but you can easily adjust it for a 5-star rating by cutting your score in half and rounding up or down. I have 10 criteria that I have listed on a worksheet, and each of those criteria are given a score of .1 to 1. They are:
Cover – Style/Color/Theme
Formatting – Justification/Flourishes/Spacing
Editing – Typos, punctuation, sentence structure
Blurb – Does it sufficiently describe the book? Or misleading?
POV – Is it consistent? Does it switch with sufficient transition?
Character Depth – Is character realistic?
Character Motivation – Does character’s motivation make sense? Is it explained?
Character Description – Is character description adequate? Can you visualize their qualities?
Plot – Does the plot move along, or does it lag in any areas? Any holes or things that don’t make sense?
Impression – Based on this book, would you purchase more from this author?
If you feel that this rating system will help you with your reviews, I have provided a copy of the document that I developed at the link below. Feel free to use it or pass it along to other reviewers who may find it helpful. This might be helpful as a starting point if you have agreed to judge a fiction contest, which is when I developed it in the first place.
Authors truly appreciate feedback in the way of reviews, but please be considerate when leaving them since there is a living-breathing human on the other end of your words. At the end of the day as authors we know that reviews are for readers, but an unkind/harsh one can definitely ruin our day. Leaving your honest opinion in a kind and thoughtful way is always appreciated… trust me!
I would love to hear from you if you feel this tool has been helpful, just make a comment here or shoot me an email. Happy reading (and reviewing) everyone! Here is the form:
Book Review Rating Worksheet
If you like:
Jennifer L. Armentrout, Scarlett St. Clair, Rebecca Yarros, Carissa Broadbent, Elise Kova, or Emma Hamm, please consider giving my fiction a try! You can head here for more information!
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D.A. Henneman - Romance Author 