Looking to put together your own book rating system, or just want to see what different types there are? This guide is here to help.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through:

  • What a book rating system is.
  • Why you should bother with one in the first place.
  • The different types of star rating systems.
  • How to communicate the one you pick.

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What is a book rating system?

A book rating system is essentially a set of rules or criteria that guide how you rate a book. It can be simple – like a few guiding principles for assigning 1 to 5 stars. Or more detailed with specific categories and scores.

Your system might include star ratings, ‘spice levels’ for romance books, coziness factors for comforting reads, or any other metric that feels relevant to you.

Some reviewers stick to a straightforward 5-star system, while others incorporate half-stars or go deeper with additional ratings. It’s up to you how complex you want to make it.

book rating system how to

Why have a book rating system?

Creating a book rating system might seem like overkill – especially if you already have a strong gut feeling about how you feel after reading a book. But there’s a good reason why many book reviewers swear by it.

A clear and consistent rating system can make your reviews fairer, more reliable, and easier for others to understand.

@lemonyreads book rating system on Instagram
@lemonyreads book rating system on Instagram

If you review books regularly, setting up a rating system keeps your reviews consistent. This consistency is crucial because it helps you avoid rating a book one way and regretting it when you compare it to other books. A good rating system also streamlines the review-writing process. It gives you a structure to work from and prompts to discuss specific aspects of a book.

Consistency becomes even more important when you review a large number of books. Without a system, your ratings can be influenced by the mood you are in when reading. A structured approach helps ensure your feelings don’t sway your final rating too much.

Different types of rating systems

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to rating books. Here are three common systems you can use or adapt to suit your preferences:

1. The basic star system

This is the most straightforward rating scale. Each star rating represents a broad feeling about the book.

@love.bookish book rating system on Instagram
@love.bookish book rating system on Instagram

Here’s an example of how you might set it up:

  • 1 star rating: Little to no redeeming qualities. I wouldn’t recommend it.
  • 2 star rating: Some redeeming aspects, but not enjoyable overall. A below-average rating.
  • 3 star rating: An average read. It had its ups and downs.
  • 4 star rating: A good book. It had a few flaws, but it was still enjoyable.
  • 5 star rating: Excellent! I loved it and would recommend it to everyone.

This type of rating system is quick and easy to implement. You can keep your descriptions brief or get more detailed depending on your needs. It’s a good choice if you prefer a simpler, feelings-based approach.

cawpile book rating system

2. The CAWPILE system

CAWPILE (which was first created by the YouTuber BookRoast) is a more detailed and methodical approach.

It breaks down a book into seven categories, each rated on a scale from 0 to 10:

  • Characters: Development and likability.
  • Atmosphere: The mood, setting, and world-building.
  • Writing: Quality and style of the prose.
  • Plot: How engaging and coherent the storyline is.
  • Intrigue: The ability to maintain interest.
  • Logic: How well the story adheres to its internal logic.
  • Enjoyment: Your overall pleasure reading the book.

To calculate the final rating, you add up your scores in each category and divide by 7, which gives you a rating from 0 to 10.

Then, convert that to a star rating:

  • 0 – 1.0: 0 stars
  • 1.1 – 2.2: 1 star
  • 2.3 – 4.5: 2 stars
  • 4.6 – 6.9: 3 stars
  • 7.0 – 8.9: 4 stars
  • 9.0 – 10: 5 stars

This method is great for those who want a more data-driven and precise review. If you’re concerned about accuracy and want to avoid gut-feeling reviews, CAWPILE might be perfect for you.

Note: Should you want to go with this system, BookRoast also has a slightly amended version for non-fiction books. Her spreadsheet also includes columns to DNF (did not finish) books, re-read books, if it’s a book series, and more.

3. The Two-Part system

If you want a balance between simplicity and depth, the Two-Part system might be for you. Here, you give two separate star ratings: one for technical elements and another for personal enjoyment.

You then average them for a final score:

  • Technical Rating: Considers plot, character development, and writing quality.
  • Enjoyment Rating: Purely your personal reaction and feelings about the book.

For example, if you rate the technical aspects at 3.5 stars and your enjoyment at 4 stars, the final rating would be 3.75 stars.

This system allows you to acknowledge the objective quality of a book while still capturing your emotional response.

Customizing your rating system

No matter which system you start with, you can always customize it to fit your needs.

Here are a few tweaks you might consider:

  • Weighting criteria: Give more importance to the elements you care about most. If writing quality is more crucial to you than plot, adjust your scoring system to reflect that.
  • Specific categories: Add or remove categories. If you read a lot of romance, you might include a Spice Level rating. If you focus on fantasy, you might add World-Building as a category.
  • Half-stars: Consider whether you want to include half-stars for more nuance. This can be especially helpful in borderline cases.
@bookrecsbyjess spice rating on Instagram

Adding bonus ratings

Depending on your preferences, you can add additional scores to highlight specific aspects of a book. These extra ratings can make your reviews more helpful and allow readers to see at a glance whether a book suits their tastes.

Here are some ideas for bonus ratings:

  • Spice Rating: For romance novels, indicating the level of sexual content.
  • Cozy Rating: How comforting and relaxing the book is.
  • Tearjerker Rating: Potential for emotional impact.
  • Scare Rating: Horror and thriller elements.
  • Humor Rating: How funny or light-hearted the book is.
  • Diversity Rep: Quality and presence of diverse representation.
  • Audiobook Rating: For those who consume books through audio format, rating the narrator’s performance.
  • Trigger Warnings: A quick check to highlight any potentially sensitive content.
rating extras gina lucia
Book rating extras in my review on Goodreads

Communicating your rating system

If you want readers to understand your ratings, make sure they know your criteria.

Here are a few ways to share your system:

  1. Profile description: On platforms like Goodreads, include your rating system in your About Me section.
  2. Social media: If you post on social platforms, create a pinned post or highlight explaining your rating criteria.
  3. Book blog or website: If you’re a blogger or have a website, dedicate a page to your rating system and link to it in your reviews.
  4. Review headers: Add a line in each review like: “For more about my rating system, check out [link].” This is particularly useful if you’re going to leave a star review on websites like Goodreads, The StoryGraph, and sites like Amazon.

Clear explanations ensure your readers know what your ratings mean, making them more valuable.

What’s your rating style?

Creating a book rating system might seem daunting, but it can be a rewarding way to bring clarity and consistency to your reviews. Whether you prefer the straightforward approach of the Basic Star System, the detail-oriented CAWPILE, or a Two-Part System, the goal is to make your reviews fairer and more informative.

Now, I’m curious – what’s your rating system like? Do you rely on your gut, or do you have a detailed method for breaking down your thoughts? Let me know, and let’s compare notes!