Star Ratings – What Do They Mean?!

QOTD: How many books do you read in a month?

As of right now, I’ve only written one book review on the blog, and that book got a 2-star review. So – what does that mean? How do books compare when I read them and review them? What good is a book review blog if you have no idea what the reviewer means? How are you supposed to know whether or not you should click on her link and buy the book, or maybe skip it and move on to the next one?

Today, I’m going to give you the code so you can get the most out of this blog. These star ratings really carry over into everything in my life. Meals. Clothes. Handbags. Tech. It really helps me evaluate what I enjoy in my life, and what I could probably live without.

Without further ado, I present to you: The Blonde in the Office’s Book Rating Star Guide!

1-star: A 1-star review is always a DNF. It means I did not finish the book. Either it was too slow, or not interesting to me, or too tropey. In some way, this book drive me up the wall so badly that I refused to finish it. A 1-star review means that I hate the book and I do not recommend that anyone buy it. Ever.

2-star: A 2-star review is one step up from a 1-star. It means I did finish the book, but I really would rather not have. Pretty much for all the same reasons. A 2-star review means that if that genre is your thing, you might want to try the book, but I’m certainly not going to recommend it.

3-star: A 3-star review means that I finished the book and I liked it. It may not have been the most riveting book I’ve ever read in my life, but it also wasn’t the worst. Most books are going to fall here. A 3-star review typically means that I recommend the book for some light reading, but don’t expect to have your world rocked.

4-star: A 4-star review means that I finished the book and I not only liked but enjoyed it! This would be a book that I loved reading and probably wish it had 100 – 200 more pages to really flesh it out. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone and you’ll often find me referring back to these books.

5-star: A 5-star review is top notch. It means that I consider that book to be one of the best ones I have ever read. I probably didn’t want the book to ever end, and I may or may not have daydreamed about interacting with the characters. I am absolutely going to insist that you read this book. Repeatedly. Loudly.

I don’t consider myself a professional when it comes to reviewing books. I doubt you’ll ever see my name in the New York Times reviews section, but I do know what I enjoy. I’ve been reading books since I was little bitty – everything from Seuss to Steinbeck. I’ve read so many books that there are series that I’ve completely forgotten the names of. That talent, that penchant for reading, makes me feel like I can give you a recommendation and feel pretty certain that you’re going to like it.

If you want to see more of what I’ve read, and not just what I’m reviewing going forward on the blog, consider adding me as a friend on Goodreads here. You can follow my personal Insta here, though you should expect to see lots and lots of lifestyle pictures including food and paddleboarding! If you’d like to follow the Insta specific to this blog, go here – this account is still getting ramped up, so pardon my dust while I grow!