Book Reviews

I understand the need for scale ratings thanks to rankings and algorithms (i.e. 1- 5 stars), but feel they fail to really tell the reader much about the book. And the system is inherently flawed, not every book can be a 5-star, and just like any list, something always has to be at the bottom. Think of it as an annual review – even if you did well at your job, the boss is still required to find a negative, something to work on. Your best is never good enough.

Anyway, before I get too philosophical, I avoided the 5-star ranking system and try to use the same format for each review. It’ll look something like this*:

Title: (Self-explanatory. Will be in the post title.)

Author: (Also self-explanatory.)

Date/year published: (Relevant if book contains hot topics or triggers.)

Genre: (Again, self-explanatory.)

Format: (Print, e-pub, or audio. Format can affect a book’s pacing or interpretation by the reader/listener.)

Why did I choose to read it: (Am I reading it for a purpose, because I liked the cover, or some other silly reason?)

Synopsis: (Usually taken from book cover or reference.)

Thoughts: (Pretty self-explanatory. Will try to note spoilers.)

Would I re-read or recommend it? (Again, pretty self-explanatory, but reveals a lot about a book.)

Beginning January 2025, I’ll be posting my review on my Substack. Follow me there to see what I’ve been reading and what I have to say about each book.

I hope these reviews will help you find great books you many not have considered, encourage you to open the cover of that one you’ve been meaning to get to, or even skip the one you were on the fence about. Whatever your favorite genre or reading method, turn that first page, swipe to open, or press play. There are gazillions of stories out there waiting for you.

*There are a few, two or three, book reviews from my original blog, The Goat and the Hippie Chick. They do not follow this format.