You will find some of my book recommendations on words&ash. This means I go over the fine points of books I read and give my suggestion as to whether or not it is worth others reading it. This is different from book reviews as I will not summarize (or spoil!) the entirety of a book’s plot.
In my recommendation posts, I use a simple five-star rating system. This sums up my overall thoughts on each book I cover. I provide a brief synopsis, my initial impressions on the book (the hook that caught me), things I enjoyed or were not to my taste, and my overall opinion. Then I offer a star review to provide a quick snapshot as to whether I would recommend the book to others.
Book Recommendation Rating Scale
Each rating is based on my personal opinion of the book — overall enjoyment, author’s writing quality, emotional impact, pace of plot, etc. Here is what each rating means:
(5/5)
A masterpiece that you must read – Everything about this book worked for me. It was beautifully written, caused severe emotional impact, and had unforgettable characters and storyline. I will recommend it to everyone.
(4/5)
Strong writing and highly recommend – There may be a few personal preferences that kept it from being a full 5-star, but it is still a standout book. It was a strong and enjoyable read with very few minor flaws. I will recommend it to anyone looking for their next read.
(3/5)
Great story for easy and enjoyable reading – An enjoyable and solid book that is worth reading, but not quite a favorite. Personally, there was something that did not fully meet my preferences, whether it be pacing, plot hole, or a certain character. I will recommend it to anyone with similar preferences.
(2/5)
Good story but not particularly to my taste – This book held potential but fell flat for me. There were too many issues with the writing style, characterizations, plot, etc. I will not recommend it, though know it might appeal to others.
(1/5)
Not for me and I did not finish reading it – I desperately tried enjoy this book but could not connect with it for a number of reasons. This was both disappointing and frustrating. I will not recommend it, though know it might appeal to others. *I may try to re-read it in the future and provide a different recommendation then.
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) Rating Scale
I am a strong advocate for self-published authors (sometimes known as “Indie Authors”). Sometimes, I am blessed with the opportunity to read a book prior to its release. These opportunities come through Advanced Reader Copies, or ARCs, and allow readers to enjoy and review an upcoming book to help the author hype its release.
With this in mind, though my reviews will always be honest, I only publish two ratings for ARCs: 5-star or 4-star. ARCs are not the final version of the book and cannot be held to the same esteem as traditionally published books. If the ARC does not fit my taste, I will simply not publicize a rating for it. It is never my intent to bash a new author’s written achievement. For ARCs that fit this criteria, I will provide my feedback privately with the author.
Each rating is based on my personal opinion of the ARC — overall enjoyment, author’s writing quality, emotional impact, pace of plot, etc. Here is what each rating means:
(5/5)
Strong writing and highly recommend – This is a standout manuscript. It was beautifully written, caused emotional impact, and had unforgettable characters and storyline. There may be some typos or formatting issues. I will recommend it to everyone, and go above and beyond to hype it before its official release.
(4/5)
Great story for easy and enjoyable reading – An enjoyable and solid manuscript that is worth reading. There was something that did not fully my preferences, whether it be pacing, plot hole, or a certain character. There may be some typos or formatting issues. I will recommend it to anyone with similar preferences, and help market it before its official release.
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