How Many Stars?

How many stars are in the sky?  That's a good question for an astronomer.
But how many stars should you leave when reviewing a book? 
I may be able to help with that ...   
Many people have the same question -- but don't let it stop you from leaving your feedback! 

Here's what the stars mean for book reviews on Amazon, according to Inside the Inkwell.  I liked their rating scale, so I'm reposting part of it with a few modifications and added thoughts. 
 
5 stars:
Enjoyed the book in the way that it was meant--it delivered what the description promised. It may have given you a break from reality, surrounded you with lifelike characters, or perhaps made you smile or learn something.  If you really liked the book, in addition to rating it, leave a review with what you liked about it. You could also check out the author's website to see if there are more books in progress.
 
4 stars:
Generally liked the book—you like it, but an issue with the book detracted from your enjoyment.  This issue could be too much repetition in the writing, an annoying plot hole, way too many typos, etc.  You might consider being a bit kinder in your rating of a self-published book (especially a low-cost one) than one that has a larger publisher backing it.  Be specific in your review and if it was a plot hole or something you didn't understand, consider emailing the author through their website or contact info at the end of the book.
 
3 stars:
You are iffy about the book, and you would not recommend it or read it again. Be specific about what you did and didn't like, so others can judge for themselves. Be aware that this review hurts an author’s rating because some advertisers and listing services don’t allow 3-star books.

2 stars:
Only leave this rating if the book is plagued by serious issues and you want to prevent others from suffering.
For example, the book is over-hyped as "hilariously funny" or "best cozy mystery of the year" but it turns out it's very marginal.  Or there are typos on practically every page (lack of editing), serious inconsistencies, or a glaring lack of research.  Or you found the plot, characters, or setting tedious and a waste of time.  If you are giving this rating, be specific about what bothered you, it will be helpful to other readers as well as the author.
 
1 star:
Colossal failure with no redeeming qualities. You really regret picking this book and would like your money and time back. It could be that there was no plot or it was so boring you couldn't keep reading. Only leave this rating if you want to discourage the author from writing.
 
Does this sound anything like how you review a book?
Do you have another way to evaluate what you read?


Please add your comments below or join the conversation on my Facebook page
 
Thanks for reading! 
 
Do you read on Kindle?  This blog explains the steps to leave a review with your comments. 
 
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