My Thoughts on Writing Reviews and Ratings

I am pondering a review I just wrote for a book I EXPECTED to love - but was more disappointed than anything else. I do think the book was well-written, and due to the title, I built up my expectations of how the book would read. So, I wrote my review, and have it saved as a draft because I just can't bring myself to hit that "publish now" button.

As a result, I have been giving a lot of thought to how I want to review books. I do not want to be known for tearing apart books in my reviews, but I want to be honest about how I feel about them. (My husband will laugh over this, but I don't like being the bearer of bad news, as it always brings me down! ) I know that authors and editors put a lot of work into a book, and it is impossible to please everyone! Every book will have people who love it, people who think it is just ok, and those who don't like it. So - I will be honest in my opinion, and will try to help the strengths shine.

SO - I am going to aim for showcasing the positives of each book, and noting constructive feedback in a nice way.

Additionally, I am going to have a rating (not sure if I am going to use stars, or books, but I'll work on it!) as follows:

• 5 stars - I LOVED this book! Its a permanent addition to my bookshelf.
• 4 stars - I enjoyed this book, and I'm willing to loan it out.
• 3 stars - It was a good book, but I probably won't read it again.
• 2 stars - It wasn't a good fit for me, but I'll pass it along to someone else who might like it.
• 1 star - I couldn't get through it and plan to donate it to charity.

A final note - I'm an adult, and as an adult may choose to read books that I feel are not suitable for all ages. I will promise to add a note or warning to my reviews if I feel the reader may need to be aware of the subject-matter or happenings in the book.