What makes a good book to me?
I rate books on a typical five-star scale. Here's my breakdown:
5 stars = the book has distinct, memorable characters, a meaningful plot, and an abundance of "oh gosh, I love this" quotes for reviews.
4 stars = the book was very close to perfection, but there are one or two things that are bugging me. Here's why... (Usually a pacing or plot issue.)
3 stars = the equivalent to "eh, it was okay." I didn't hate the book, but it's not something I'd reread. It was nice, but not memorable.
2 stars = I probably didn't finish this book unless it is requested for review.
1 star = I definitely did not finish this book. There are many issues and it was overall not enjoyable.
I also rate books based on:
chapter length, character quality, plot pacing, and plot cliche count.
Why?
Chapter length: Unfortunately, I my days typically consist of scrambling for time. Because of this, I don't always have time to sit down and really indulge in a lengthy chapter. I personally prefer books with a good amount of short chapters because it is easier for me to read them in short bursts.
Characters: I connect to stories through unique characters. If the characters are really awful or just there for filling in missing details, I lose interest and consequently begin to disconnect from the book. When considering this aspect of my rating, I ask myself if I had a favorite character or relationship in the book, and if so, why.
Pacing: I understand that some books are meant to fly by for sake of mood and reflection, but it's the most frustrating thing to me when a book seems to be moving a little too fast, and major details are not explained thoroughly. On the flipside, I also strongly dislike books that seem to drag for no reason. For me, pacing is key to understanding; and understanding is key to loving the book.
Cliche count: (This works the same way as the other ratings: 1-star meaning way too many cliches; and 5 stars = not that many/none.) I'm all for a good "cute-yet-eye-roll-worthy" cliche or two. but when the entire book becomes one big cliche, I'll probably start feeling the urge to set it aside for another time. Originality is also important to me.
**Important note for poetry books:
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My rating system has recently been altered for poetry books. If you are looking for a review of poetry, I rate based on accessibility (how complex the poems are), relateability (how connected I felt to the contents/theme of the poems), and length (as I still prefer short, consice works opposed to long ones, but I am still open to review either).
Now, with all that being said...
If you are a publisher who would like to request a review from me, please, make my day and send a request my way! The easiest way to contact me is via the contact form on the contact me page. I've currently written four reviews for Verona Booksellers, and you can find them on my review index.