I typically use a 5 star rating system:
5 ⭐ – Amazing – It may be amazing due to writing, how it made me feel, overall impact, etc. A book does not have to be a literary masterpiece to get 5 stars — I just have to love it. It’s not rare for me to rate a book 5 stars based just on vibes. I will recommend these books all day everyday.
4⭐- Really Liked It – Most books I read fall in the 4 star range. I know my reading tastes pretty well at this point and tend to pick books I know I will like, hence all the 4 stars. I will recommend these books to most.
3⭐ – Liked It – These are books that were ok. I enjoyed them or learned something from them, but they weren’t especially memorable. I will recommend these books to strategically.
2⭐- Ehh – I don’t give a lot of 2 star ratings, mainly because I don’t finish them. For those that I finish and rate 2 stars, I wasn’t a fan, but stuck it out to see how it ended or if I’m reading for a book club or something. I will rant about these books but not recommend them.
1⭐- Did not like – I don’t think I’ve ever given a book a 1 star rating.
I’ve starting doing more half stars (and wish Goodreads would allow that). There are so many books that aren’t quite a 5 star but are more than a 4 star, etc. Half stars are usually all about how they made me feel, or the vibe. Writing style doesn’t usually factor in to my ratings (at least consciously), unless the writing is really bad or really good. If writing style does impact how I feel about the book, half stars may be added/subtracted.
DNF/NRN
DNF – Did Not Finish – I’ve gotten better at not finishing books that I’m not enjoying/learning from. I try to give them at least around 30% before calling it quits.
NRN – Not Right Now – These are books that just aren’t speaking to me at the moment, but think they might at another time. Sometimes you pick up a book up in the wrong season, put it down, and then later you read it and it is perfect.