BOOK RATING SYSTEM
Every reader has a way they rate, or judge, the books they read. It can be as simple as:
Did I like this? Yes/No
Others might base their ratings on vibes. Some, a star system. And still more have found a process they enjoy via other readers/reviewers on social spaces.
If it works for you, then that’s all that matters!
WHY HAVE A RATING SYSTEM?
As someone who thrives on consistency and lives a life centered around lists and timers, I wanted a system that’s a bit more … formulaic. And, yes, that can make reading seem clinical, but I think it has helped me know myself better as a reader. In fact, starting in 2025, I plan to test out the CAWPILE system, coined and designed by one of my favorite Youtubers, Book Roast. (Check out the break-down video from this creator and download their free tracking spreadsheet!)
I also hope this will help those of you who read my reviews (thank you, you’re AMAZING) gain a better idea of what a 5-star read v. a 3-star read looks like on this page.
This being said, my written reviews will always break down a text into the following sections: Characters, Plot, Craft, Overall Thoughts. Sometimes, depending on the book, there may be further sections, such as: Romance, World-Building/Magic System, Smut, Audiobook … well, you understand. This helps me organize my thoughts, and I hope it gives you guys a well-rounded view of the novel!
So, without further adieu, here is a breakdown of the rating systems used on my site!
*Some of the descriptions in my CAWPILE system have been altered from the original creator, Book Roast. This is to better fit what I look for in a story. The points are also adjusted, as I like to give quarter-star ratings. If you wish to see the original descriptions or point variables, please view the linked video above.
CAWPILE RATING SYSTEM FOR STAR TOTALS
Are they memorable? Were the secondary characters distinguishable/important/additive to the story? Did you care about what happens to the characters? Were they flat/one dimensional? Do you have a good idea of their personality? Would it be easy to describe them to a friend?
Characters
How immersive was the read? Were you able to picture the setting, characters, creatures? Was the energy in the scenes palpable, or was it not very convincing? Could you feel what the characters felt, or slip into the mood/tone of the story as though you too were experiencing it?
Atmosphere
Was the prose lyrical or unique? Was the writing hard to follow or jarring? How was the dialogue to narration ratio? Did it feel beautiful, but effortless? Was it seamless, though not notable? Would you be keen on picking up another book by this author based solely on their writing style?
Writing
Was the pacing good? Were there any parts of the story where you thought things dragged on and got a bit tedious? Were the reveals worth the journey? Was this unique from other books you’ve read? Has it left you wanting more like this book? Did the subplots elevate the story/help its progression? Were there plot holes or developments that didn’t make sense? Did you feel satisfied upon completing the story? Did the author leave too much to reader interpretation, resulting in confusion, or did they overexplain to the detriment of the pacing?
Plot
Did you think about this book during busy parts of your day, wishing you could get back to reading? Did you have to convince yourself to pick the book back up? Were you excited/anxious to see where the story would go, what would happen with the characters, and how the plot would evolve? Did the story hold your attention, or did you find yourself distracted, bored, and/or setting the book down to pursue other interests?
Intrigue
Were the characters acting in accordance to their motives? Were you able to follow the rules of the world (and magic system, if applicable)? Were those rules broken at any point? Was the world building sufficient/overwhelming/clear? Did the setting, storyline, characters, etc. fit together, or did it feels as though certain situations happened solely for plot, despite being in opposition to the logic of the novel?
Logic
Did you enjoy the book overall, and did this enjoyment last from the very beginning to the very end?
Enjoyment
Each category can receive a total of 1-10 points:
10 - One of my favorites ever.
9 - Excellent. Maybe one little problem holding it back, but that’s it.
8 - Great. A couple of problems, but nothing major.
7 - Good. Nothing groundbreaking, and certainly has issues, but I still enjoyed it.
6 - Okay. Lots of good things and a fair amount of bad things, but the former prevails.
5 - Mediocre. Basically, for every good thing, there’s something bad.
4 - Poor. A lot of good things, but the bad outweighs the good.
3 - Bad. A few good things, but overall, not enjoyable.
2 - Horrible. Maybe one potentially good thing, but not enough to redeem.
1 - Abysmal. Shouldn’t have been published. Needs serious work.
BREAKDOWN OF CAWPILE SYSTEM POINTS
The points are then totaled and divided by 7 for a number score. The below chart converts that score into a star rating.
Additional Rating Systems
Spice ratings will only be found in Adult reviews and never in a Young Adult review. Since Adult books often have differing levels of intimacy, I tend to only leave spice ratings on Romance novels, or novels that could be considered “smutty”. I tend not to read dark romance books, so my rating system doesn’t take trigger/content warnings into account. Any commentary on trigger/content warnings will be found at the bottom of the review in the Content Note section.
Even still, please look into trigger/content warnings on your own if concerned about a book! It’s never fun to be blindsided by an unwelcome trigger.
SPICE RATINGS
These rating systems will go into effect in 2025. As I read, I may continue to add systems based on the genres I lean towards, but these are what you can expect for now!
Happy reading!