How do you rate your GoodReads?

[Catherine]

I've established a system by which I determine how many stars I give a book when I rate it. Here's my process:

⭐ Writing Style - clever turns of phrase and creativity in sentence structure and composition

⭐ Captivation - does it hold my interest and keep me turning the pages?

⭐ Reading Ease - is the story easy to follow and digest?

⭐ Emotional/Inspirational - does the story elicit a response?

⭐ Plot Strategy (Fiction) or Storytelling Process (Non Fiction) - quality character interactions, twists OR facts provided, lack of bias

How do you decide how to give out your stars?

[Kat]

Great question!

I'm definitely a gut reaction kind of reader. I think about how I feel immediately after finishing the book. Did it make me think? Did I find beauty, humor, excitement or thoughtfulness in the words? I'll forgive some writing flaws, if the story can keep me interested. I'll even forgive rather ridiculous aspects of a story, as long as it doesn't take me out of the overall story.

What brings the star count down for me is if the story is so convoluted I can't follow it, the author creates unlikable characters without any room to find interest in them, or it's just poorly written.

[The Ravishing]

This is my usual heading system of stars: 1 star means that it was so bad that I didn't finish, 2 stars mean that i finished but I disliked the book either for a plot that's unrealistic, poorly written, boring...etc. 3 stars means that it was ok, but I would not read again/would not recommend. 4 stars mean that I really liked and would recommend but it was missing that umph factor. 5 stars mean that I loved it, would highly recommend it, and it made me feel something or think about something from a different perspective.

[The Ravishing]

*rating

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

My enjoyment of reading the book plays a major part in my ratings. I also have different expectations depending on what genre it is.

[[deleted user]]

For me, it's just my subjective impression, lined up with the Goodreads definitions:

1 star means I didn't like it and probably didn't finish it.
2 stars means I slogged through it for a book club.
3 stars means I'd recommend it to a friend who reads that book's genre.
4 stars means I enjoyed it.
5 stars is a rare rating from me - a book that gets that rating has to really stay with me.

If I'm in between stars, I go up or down depending on how pretentious I think the book was. Humbler work gets a higher rating. As a result, most "literary" or "lyrical" novels get fewer stars from me. Yeah, I'm biased.

[Leena]

Its a personal impression and I'm learning and trying to accept that. However I do believe in justifying my rating with my 2 bits. And ii believe that helps in giving a perspective on the book. I love reading others views on it too. But, I'm also a little petty and it stumps me and angers me when books I've rated 1 star or haven't had the perseverance to complete it get a 4 .

[Renee]

I rate on my feelings. It has to have good char development. It has to be consistent, Its chars have to have shown growth by the end of the book.

[Celine]

I rate based on a few things:

Did I dread picking up the book? If I had any anxiety or draw away from the book it loses a star (sometimes 2!)

Was I captivated by the book and characters/did I feel as though I was present in the story?

Was the writing clear enough and was the book thought provoking or emotion provoking?

That is pretty much it for me! Most of my books are recommendations and I rate them 3-5 stars. I always ate my books for what they are too so if I read a really well designed YA book I don't hesitate to give it 5 star rating.

[Federica]

I rate based on my feelings mostly
1 star = hated it/didn't finish it (I try to finish books tho)
2 stars = boring, didn't really like it, but can't say i hated it, wouldn;t recommend
3 stars = I liked it but nothing too special. I could recommend it to a person that enjoys the genre, or I think could like it (for instance if it is a classic, or a very well written book, but I don't care about the topic or the characters or just I found it a bit boring)
4 stars = good book, would recommend
5 stars = loved it (and also I think it has a literary value). I probably give 5 stars if I keep thinking of a book months later I read it

Often I also rate books from the same author, or in the same saga, comparing them to other books of same author/saga.

[Rose]

I'm wondering if other ratings affecting your scoring. If it's a new book or a new author with few reviews, would you be kinder and not rate it or would you happily give a one star review?

I personally would just not bother to rate (or more likely not bother to finish reading) a one or two star book. My minimum would be 3 (to let people know that it might not be well written or perhaps be a bit boring) and I'm probably a bit overgenerous in my ratings.

[sonya]

I’m a mood reader. I rarely give out less than three stars.

[Ｄｒｅｙ]

1 = DNF or I absolutely hated it
2 = Boring and I mostly skipped pages
3 = Predictable or cliché
4 = I enjoyed it
5 = Great characters, great storyline and I absolutely can't forget the book

[Salma]

I've never given a book one star (so far) but I've become a bit harsher with my grading recently lol- usually the ones that I just didn't enjoy got 3 stars, but I've downgraded them to 2. Before, I used to be pretty liberal with my 4 stars.

Writing style combined with tight storylines, amazing characters and deep themes usually get 5s- I have a bookshelf called 'genius-women' and most of my 5 star book are there.

For the 4 stars, I overlook writing style/characterization flaws if the story made a huge emotional impact for me or if it was just hugely entertaining (Twilight, for example :-D.