Looking for a clear 1 to 5 star book rating system? Here is exactly how I rate fiction, non-fiction, and memoirs, and what each rating actually means.

If you’ve ever seen a three-star rating from me and thought, “but she seemed to like it” this is for you.

I’ve been rating books on Goodreads for years and the thing that bothers me most about a single star scale is the assumption that all books should be judged in the same way. A novel is not doing the same job as a history book (whether it’s about etymology or a deep dive into Walt Disney). A memoir is not the same as a self-help guide. So I don’t rate them the same way.

Here’s exactly how I think about it.

TL;DR: Fiction gets rated on feeling. Non-fiction on what it actually teaches me. Memoirs on whether the person was brave enough to be honest. A five-star book stays with me. A three-star is fine but forgettable. A one-star means something went very wrong.

How I actually use this in real life

I don’t sit there with a checklist while I’m reading.
I just pay attention to how I feel while I’m in it and how I feel when I’ve finished.
The rating comes after that.

Fiction

Fiction lives or dies by how it makes me feel, not just during, but after. Does it stay with me? Do I find myself thinking about a character weeks later, or pressing the book into someone’s hands because they need to read it immediately?

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This did something to me. I’m still thinking about it. I’m recommending it like it’s my job.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strong and enjoyable, but something didn’t fully land.

⭐⭐⭐ I finished it, enjoyed it well enough, and have already half-forgotten it.

⭐⭐ The idea was there. The execution let it down. It was an effort to finish.

⭐ A struggle from start to finish.

Non-Fiction

Here I’m asking: did this teach me something I genuinely didn’t know, and did it do it well? Non-fiction that’s padded, repetitive, or could have been a long essay gets no patience from me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It expanded how I think. I’m applying it, sharing it, and probably buying a copy for someone else.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strong ideas, solid writing, but inconsistent.

⭐⭐⭐ Informative. Decent. Not something I’ll return to.

⭐⭐ Good premise, poor execution. Too long for what it actually had to say.

⭐ This should have been a long-form article, not a book.

Memoirs and Biographies

This is where I’m hardest to impress, because a memoir that doesn’t give you real access to someone’s interior life is just a timeline. I want truth, reflection, and the courage to be actually honest.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I felt like I lived it alongside them.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Compelling, but held something back.

⭐⭐⭐ Interesting enough. But I didn’t feel deeply connected to the person.

⭐⭐ Too polished, too flat, or too careful. Lacks real depth.

⭐ Nothing new was revealed. No real honesty. I learned little.

The short version

When you see my ratings, read them as: did this book move me, teach me, or stay with me? The answer determines the stars.

Finally, if you are looking for:

• A clear 1 to 5 star book rating system
• Honest fiction and non-fiction book reviews
• Memoirs and biographies worth reading
• Book recommendations from a Black British reader

You are in the right place.

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FAQs about book ratings

What does a 5 star book rating mean?
A 5 star book is one that stays with me, whether through emotional impact, insight, or storytelling.

Is a 3 star book bad?
No. A 3 star book is usually enjoyable but not memorable.

Should fiction and non-fiction be rated the same?
No. Fiction is about emotional impact, while non-fiction is about insight and usefulness.