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Get the Best Rates for Your Room Booking at Shirdi Sai Ashram

Are you planning a trip to Shirdi Sai Ashram? If so, then you’ll want to make sure you get the best rates for your room booking. Here are some tips to help you find the best deals and save money on your stay.

The best way to get the best rates is to book your room as early as possible. The earlier you book, the more likely it is that you’ll get a better deal. This is especially true during peak times such as festivals and holidays when prices tend to be higher. It’s also important to note that some hotels offer discounts for early bookings, so make sure to check for these before booking.

Compare Prices

Another way to get the best rates is to compare prices from different hotels and websites. This will help you find the lowest price available and ensure that you’re getting the best deal possible. You can also look for special offers or discounts that may be available on certain websites or through certain hotels. It’s also a good idea to sign up for newsletters from different hotels in order to stay up-to-date on any special offers they may have available.

Look for Deals and Discounts

Finally, it’s always a good idea to look for deals and discounts when booking your room at Shirdi Sai Ashram. Many hotels offer discounts for certain types of travelers such as seniors, students, or military personnel. You can also look online for coupons or promo codes that can help you save even more money on your stay. Additionally, some hotels may offer special packages that include meals or other amenities at discounted rates, so make sure to ask about these when booking your room.

By following these tips, you can be sure to get the best rates for your room booking at Shirdi Sai Ashram and save money on your stay. So start planning your trip today and enjoy all that this beautiful destination has to offer.

This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

MORE FROM ASK.COM

How To Rate a Book- Comparing Star Rating Systems

* This post contains affiliate links to products I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links I will receive a small commission at no cost to you .

Star Ratings for Books

Wondering how to rate a book? What do the stars actually mean? Well there doesn’t seem to be a universal answer. You may be surprised to find that not all star ratings are equal and each website or app often has it’s own system.

I’ve collected together guidelines from popular book websites to give you an idea of where to start and how to come up with your own rating system.

What is a book rating/ star rating?

Star rating is a system using five stars to rank a product from good to bad. In the case of books, it gives potential readers a gage an idea of how many people liked the book, and how many didn’t.

Popular Book Websites Star Rating Systems

Amazon star ratings.

5 Stars - I love it

4 Stars - I like it

3 Stars - It's OK

2 Stars - I Didn't like it

1 Star - I Hate it

Goodreads Star Ratings

5 Stars - It was amazing

4 Stars - Really liked it

3 Stars - Liked it

2 Stars - It was OK

1 Star - Did not like it

NetGalley Star Ratings

5 Stars - Strongly recommend

4 Stars - Yes, I recommend

3 Stars - Maybe recommend

2 Stars - Not really recommend

1 Star - No, don't recommend

Bookbub Star Ratings

My Star Ratings

5 Stars - Loved it, will recommend

4 Stars - Liked it a lot, may recommend

3 Stars - Liked it, it’s OK

2 Stars - Meh

1 Star -Didn’t like it

How to Rate a Book

Make your own star rating system using the ones above as a guide and stick to it. Ask yourself what each star rating means to you. You might find yourself more harsh or more lenient than others, and this is fine. The key is to stay consistent with yourself.

Tips for rating books

Go with your gut - as soon as you finish a book select a rating while it’s fresh in your mind. It’s harder to remember how you felt later on.

Always be honest- Give the rating you think the book deserves. Don’t worry about what everyone else is rating it or if it’s a super popular book you didn’t like.

Half star ratings - If you want to give a half star ratings you can round it up to next star. Eg 3.5 stars goes up to 4. In the review say you gave it 3.5 stars and give a few reasons why. Always round up not down.

1 or 2 star ratings - Don’t be afraid to give low star ratings. It helps if you write a review with a few reasons why you didn’t like the book. This can help the book find it’s way to the right readers. Just be kind in the way you write it.

5 star ratings - You don’t have to be stingy with 5 star ratings. If you loved it, it deserves five stars.

The 6th star - This is my own bonus star. I mentally award books that are above and beyond five stars with my own 6th star award. This gives me the freedom to award 5 stars to other books, but I still hold my favourites on their own special pedestal in my mind (and on my list of favourites).

The main thing to remember is to have fun reading!

Do you have your own star rating system? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!

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Book Rating System - How To Give a Book a Star Rating

Whether you are rating a book on an App like Goodreads or for your own book blog, it can be challenging to decide on a Star rating.

After you have taken the time to give a detailed explanation in your book review, a star rating can feel like a cold, hard, definitive stamp across the whole novel.

In reality, a star rating is simply a summation of your opinion. It is there to help you (and others) to identify your favourite styles, genre and authors and help you create a vivid picture of what really makes you tick as a reader.

Of course, while writing is subjective, there are undoubtedly good books and bad books, and your star rating will likely be similar to those of other readers. However, everyone has different tastes, and you should not be afraid to express your opinion in your review or star rating.

Let's take a look at how you can decide on your star rating -

BOOK RATING CRITERIA

Read the entire book. It's unfair to judge a book on only half of its content. Who knows, the latter half could be a work of genius and will boost your star rating hugely.

Write your review first. If you're writing a full book review, make sure to gather all your opinions together first. There may be elements you forgot about which would change your star rating. (PS - If you would like some top tips on writing a book review, check out our blog How to Write a Book Review in 10 Steps – Beginner's Guide)

Don't compare it to other books you have reviewed. Over time your taste in books will change, so please don't compare your current rating to a book you reviewed five years ago.

Trust your instinct. If you thought a book was terrible, it likely was. Don't shy away from your judgment!

Be Honest. Don't change your star rating to fit with popular opinion.

How To Find Your Star Rating

A great way to decide on your star rating is to split your review into sections and find an average.

Take a look at the six subsections below, and give them each a star rating in correlation with the novel you're reviewing. This should guide you on how to rate the story overall.

Initial Response: How did you feel as soon as you had finished the book? Was it good, bad or indifferent?

Recommendation: How likely are you to recommend this book to a friend?

Re-Readability: Do you think you will reread this book? Or is it heading to the back of your bookshelf?

Style: Did you enjoy the writing style? Or did the author's tone distract you from the content?

Plot/Structure: How engaged were you in the story? Were you excited? Shocked? Moved? How keen were you to turn the page and find out what happened next?

Character: How relatable were the characters? Were there any that you particularly engaged with?

What Does Each Star Mean?

Unsure where to place your book? Take a look below at our star rating guide and work out where you will put your latest read.

Have you come across a tragically dull read? Did it lack structure , contain boring characters , or was it packed with grammatical errors ? Perhaps it was even downright offensive . Whatever the problem was with this book, there is no denying it was bad - and we mean really bad!

The 1 Star review is for books that have no place on your bookshelf. The ones that were snooze-worthy from start to finish (sadly, they are out there). If you think a book was utterly terrible and need everyone to know it, don't be afraid to use the 1 Star review.

Remember - you need to back up your star rating, so be prepared to explain why the book was so disastrous in your review. If you simply didn't engage with the content as it wasn't your cup of tea, but can still appreciate that it is a good piece of writing, consider moving it up the scale.

2 STARS (***)

It's safe to say that you won't reread this book, and it's doubtful that it will remain on your bookshelf. However, perhaps this book wasn't complete nonsense. The 2-star review is for a book that definitely wasn't good but wasn't completely bad .

If you appreciated the story or enjoyed a few snippets of text, but felt overall that the book lacked personality and storyline , then award your below-average read a 2-star review.

3 STARS (***)

Are you feeling neutral about your recent read? Were you a little underwhelmed ? Are you plagued by the feeling of indifference ? Then bring out the 3 Star review.

You should award 3 Stars to books that you mostly enjoyed but didn't leave you with the "wow, that was good" kind of feeling. If, overall, you liked the book but were still troubled by a few components (i.e. Basic characters, simple storylines, obvious endings etc.) or felt it lacked personality, award your book 3 stars in appreciation, but not glorification.

4 STARS (****)

Now the party is starting! 4 Stars are for books that you enjoyed, from beginning to end - a truly great read.

It may not be top of your reread pile, but if the opportunity arose, you wouldn't say no. You should be pleased with all the components of the novel, and perhaps you were even thrilled about one element in particular (such as an engaging character or plot twist).

A 4 Star rating is for books that are truly superb but are perhaps just missing the cherry on top to boost them to the full 5 Stars.

5 STARS (*****)

Can't wait to reread? Top of your recommendation list? Can't stop thinking about the ending? Beginning? Chapter 13, page 4?!

5 Stars are for the creme de la creme of your bookshelf . Those books that give you the "I'm so sad it has ended!" kind of feeling. Of course, no book is entirely perfect, but if this book has you almost shouting from the rooftops, filled you with a joyous buzz and reminded you how wondrous it is to read, then 5 Stars are certainly on the menu.

Let me know how you rate your books!

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How our Book Content Rating System Works

Wondering how the book content rating system on Book Cave works? Not sure what ratings to sign up for? Let us help out.

What Is Our Book Content Rating System?

On Book Cave, we use our My Book Ratings (or MBR) ebook content rating system. MBR ratings are a lot like movie ratings, and they’re divided into six groups: All Ages, Mild, Mild+, Moderate, Moderate+,  Adult, and Adult+. All Ages is good for young children, with Mild being similar to a very “mild” PG movie. Both Mild+ and Moderate ratings will be somewhere around a PG or a PG-13 rating, with the moderate having slightly more intense language, heat, and violence.

Books are assigned ratings based on seven categories : crude humor/language , profanity , drug and alcohol use , kissing , nudity , sex and intimacy , and violence and horror . Within each of these categories there are levels of varying degrees, which are assigned a rating (All Ages, Mild, Mild+, Moderate, Moderate+, Adult, and Adult+). The book itself is assigned an overall rating in relation to the highest level across all categories, and the individual rating level for each of the categories is also listed in the daily deals email and on the book’s page.

For example,  a book may be rated the following way: Moderate for moderate crude humor/language, some profanity (6 to 40), non-detailed fade-out sensuality, and moderate violence; also contains mild kissing.  In this case, the overall rating for the book will be Moderate because of all 7 categories, Moderate is the highest rating.

So lets deconstruct this book’s rating:

• The book is considered Moderate in the  crude humor/language , profanity , sex and intimacy , and violence and horror categories.
• The “ also contains ” denotes categories where the rating is lower that the book’s overall. In this case, the book is considered Mild in the  kissing category.
• The drug and alcohol use  and nudity categories are not mentioned, which means that there is no notable drug and/or alcohol use, and there is no nudity.

In other words, when you sign up for books rated Moderate, that does not mean that the books will have a Moderate rating in every category (i.e. up to 40 swears, moderate crude humor, passionate kissing, non-graphic discussion of sex, implied closed-door sex, moderate nudity, significant violence, and moderate drug and alcohol use). Instead, it means that at least one of those seven categories is rated as Moderate.

For example, a book may contain significant violence but have no swearing, no sex scenes, no drug or alcohol use, and no crude humor, and yet it will still be rated Moderate+. The rating would look like this: Moderate+ for significant violence.

Choosing a rating does not automatically select all the ratings below it. Let’s say you choose Moderate+. You are now signed up for books that have been given an overall rating of Moderate+, but you are not signed up for books with an overall rating of Moderate, Mild+, Mild, or All Ages. If you want those books as well, you must click the selection boxes for each of those ratings individually.

Some Tips From Us

If you want some romance in your books but don’t want intimacy, sign up for Mild and Mild+. If you prefer your romances with a bit more heat, from some discussion of sex to closed-door scenes, choose Moderate and Moderate+. For up to three on-screen sex scenes, choose Adult. For erotica, choose Adult+.

If you want action and adventure with fight scenes and violence, sign up for Moderate, Moderate+, or Adult. You would sign up for this rating even if you didn’t want any intimacy or swearing or crude humor. Then you’d look at the warnings on each book to make sure it has only the violence and not the other content you don’t want.

If you’re looking for children’s books or nonfiction advice and how-to books, be sure to sign up for All Ages. Very few books are All Ages because most books have some violence, kissing, intimacy, or alcohol use. Think of a book that is rated All Ages as similar to a clean How It’s Made episode or a show like Sesame Street .

If you’re not getting many books in your inbox, take a look at your ratings and change them to also include levels that are below the level you signed up for. So if you only signed up for Moderate, consider signing up for Mild+ and Mild as well. If the content isn’t as intense as you’d like, try signing up for a higher level.

We’ll Tell You Exactly What You’re Getting

In our emails and on our site, we’ll tell you what the book is rated and why. That way, if, for example, you want books with action and fight scenes, but no kissing or intimacy, you can check the rating description and only get the books that match your preference. Here are some examples of our ratings to help you get a feel for how our book content rating system  works:

Genre: Picture Books. Rating: All Ages

Genre: Christian Fiction. Rating: Mild for mild kissing

Genre: Mysteries & Suspense, Cozy. Rating:  Mild+ for mild sensuality; also contains mild (nonsexual) violence

Genre: Teen & Young Adult Fiction. Rating: Moderate for moderate violence; also contains mild kissing (If you want violence but no intimacy, you would get this book.)

Genre: Romance, Contemporary. Rating: Moderate+ for fade-out intimacy with details or significant sexual discussion; also contains moderate crude humor/language, mild substance use, passionate kissing, some profanity (6 to 40), brief nudity, and some violence (If you want a bit more heated intimacy but not much violence, you would get this book.)

Genre: Historical Fiction. Rating: Adult for non-graphic sex; also contains passionate kissing, moderate profanity (41 to 100), brief nudity, and moderate violence (If you want on-screen sex with only a few details but no crude humor or drug use, and less violence, you would get this book. Please note that there is also an adult level of “graphic sex,” and books with that level will include up to three scenes with details.)

Genre: Thriller. Rating: Adult for graphic violence; also contains moderate crude humor/language, mild kissing, some profanity (6 to 40), and non-graphic sexual references  (If you’re fine with graphic violence and crude humor, but prefer only some profanity and no on-screen sex, you would get this book.)

You get the idea! Remember to sign up for all the content ratings you think you might like in your preferences . You can always choose whether or not to download a book when you see the ratings it has for each category in the ebook-deals email we’ll send to you. And as always, let us know if you have any questions.

Happy Reading!

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I am a copyeditor and a typesetter of print books, and have been editing and typesetting (using InDesign) for thirteen years. As the executive editor at Book Cave, I enjoy helping authors be successful, and I only get interrupted a little bit (ha!) by my cute, rambunctious two-year-old.

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Leave a Reply

I was supposed to receive a number to get into app. I never received one.

I have needed you for many years. Not just for myself ( I don’t read books with sexuality, language, content that is against my Christian character). Which believe me -removes 95% of books I love to read-sci-fi, thriller, mystery. But worse, the lack of rating system that is in place for movies and music, allowed my 16 year old to check out fifty shades of gray from her high school library-without my knowledge or approval. I found it hiding Under her bed, all excuses aside, it was the adults responsible for her having the availability. In high school I was the parent the dean of English hated, and I was often my daughter was made the scapegoat for parental morality. On the opposite side-so many parents agreed with me but too afraid to sacrifice their child’s grades, or ‘standing’ with the advanced English department. Perfect example is ‘the things they carried’ for Vietnam vet FICTION book. Due to my ‘up in arms’ attitude, my daughter was required to get a 5 paragraph review from her grandfather who actually served in the Vietnam war, in combat and read the REAL-LIFE story of POW John MCCain. Parents said they were afraid their child would get a low grade or be treated unfairly if they stood with me. My daughter was a -suma cum laude for her masters and grad school. She is a smart independent woman-I believe partly because she saw me stand for what was right. My morals and beliefs were not arbitrary or moveable. Sadly, she has few friends parents she can respect due to how they acted. What made me know? I read the book. It could not be read aloud in class because it would break the honor code, yet it was ok for my child to read female-shaming words as acceptable because ppl spoke that way in Vietnam. My attitude! Ppl speak that way now-the biggest insults are female directed, and females do it-but it’s not ok. I would love to find more sites like yours that actually help our society instead of making excuses. Let me know how I can help. Thank you.

Thank you for the ratings info

I’m hoping this site can help me ! I’m 75 and enjoy murder/mysteries . I do hate graphic sex in books though and crude language I love the Elly Griffith/Ruth Galloway books . Would love to find more with similar standards .

Like mystrities, not bloody messes. Love love stories. Adults

Don’t like graphic violence.

Am I right to assume that the boxes with the check in the boxes already are the boxes I want, and boxes I take away the checks are the ones I don’t want?

How do I obtain your books?

Regards JarvisMcCluskey ([email protected])

My name is Hai Dinh. I recently saw my daughter, who is 12, reading Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon. I catched some adult content in Chapter 31. I wonder which age range this novel is appropriate for.

Thank you for your advice. Hai Dinh

I just found Book Cave Today, and I’m glad I did. I enjoy reading. I think I have found my new book store.

I really appreciate the information you are supplying on different rating levels. There is nothing more frustrating than to invest in a book, only to find out it is very different than you thought. I also pass over books I would have enjoyed, but the cover was unappealing. This is great!

I’m 75 and I like Thrillers, Mysteries no cozy mysteries for me.

I am 84. Read lots of books. Do not like erotica, violence,paranormal… just a good storyline without all the sexual distractions!!!! Have to skip over a lot!!!! Haven’t figured out how to get books here yet…..

Hi Tommie. Just email us at [email protected] . We’ll gladly answer any questions you may have.

Me too I am 75 and read all the time. That may be 4or5 books a day. I have had a hard time getting my books in by genue selection.

Hi Yvonne. I’ve sent you a new password.

This is wonderful. I am glad I finally stumbled onto this great site. I am 79 and not computer literate so I am thankful for your work. Thanks for providing it.

You’re welcome! We’re so glad you’re enjoying it.

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Our Star Rating System

Remember that each person who reads a book takes something different away from it. Books are a highly personal thing. While one person may think a book is the greatest thing they’ve ever read, another may not enjoy it as much. Below are the guidelines our reviewers follow:

1 star: Reviewer doesn’t recommend this book at all.

2 stars: Reviewer wouldn’t read it again. Needs work.

3 stars: Reviewer enjoyed the book.

4 stars: Reviewer liked and would recommend the book to friends/family.

5 stars: Reviewer considers book to be something that everyone should read. You would definitely read it again.

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Book condition ratings explained & compared.

We’re positive that if you’ve ever bought a book on Amazon or in an online store at least once, you must have seen one of these descriptions: “As new,” “Very Good,” “Acceptable,” etc. Moreover, you know these terms quite well if you resell books .

Over the years, a set of terms to rate used books and their conditions have been formed. First used mostly by publishers and booksellers, it’s grown into a full-scale vocabulary and now helps understand the book’s state and value when bought and sold online.

Depending on the online store, the set of terms defining used book conditions may vary; however, we’ll cover a few universal ones in this article with examples from different booksellers. Each of these terms conveys details regarding the characteristics and features of a used book, making clear what to expect and what not to expect: from light creasing to water damage.

• Fine (F or FN)
• Very Good (VG)

Book Club Edition

• Binding Copy
• Reading Copy

Amazon’s Book Condition Ratings

Abebooks book condition rating scale, alibris book condition grades, ebay book condition grades, the strand book condition rating system, half price books book condition guide, book condition grades comparison chart, general book condition grades explained.

This pretty much covers it: the book looks new, and it’s probably never been read (or even opened, regardless of the fact it was published a while ago), so there are no signs of wear at all. It doesn’t open easily and prefers to stay in a closed condition. Here’s how booksellers, AbeBooks, for example, describe this condition:

Fine is the next condition following As New, which describes the books that may have been opened or read but quite carefully so that there’s no trace left. There’s no defect or damage detectable, with both the jacket and the pages being in great condition. Here’s an example from Biblio:

Image source: Biblio

Feel free to check out Biblio reviews  on BookScouter.com.

Books with small signs of wear but no tears on either binding or pages are usually conditioned as Very Good. This condition allows slight flaws such as fading or staining but not too much. A book having Very Good as a description should still look really good. Here’s another example from AbeBooks:

Image source: AbeBooks

Let’s proceed to books described as Good. This term covers any average used book that has been fairly worn but still has all pages present and a relatively good jacket. In this example from Half Price Books , we can’t see the actual photo of a book, so it’s hard to tell how exactly worn is the book we’re buying. However, if it’s rated as Good, it’s probably been read many times, so you can’t expect it to be impeccable.

Image source: Half Price Books

When you see a book rated as Fair, be prepared to get a worn book that has been read and opened a lot. It has all the text pages but may lack some other pages, such as endpapers, etc. It’s probably slightly damaged, with both the binding and dust jacket bearing signs of wear. Here’s an example from AbeBooks:

The book listed as Poor bears signs of heavy wear and may have missing pages and other flaws such as spots, stains, loose joints, creases on pages, etc. Such books are hard to sell, so many booksellers don’t accept them for buyback and prefer not to deal with them. However, here on Half Price Books , you can see that they have Poor as one of the conditions listed:

Ex-library copies should always be labeled as such, no matter what the condition of the book. As the name suggests, ex-library copies are former library books that used to belong to this or that library. They are highly likely in good or worse condition and contain library acquisition and/or ownership stamped markings. The Ex-library term doesn’t usually go as a part of a conditions list (though it can, as in this AbeBooks example) and is mentioned somewhere in a detailed description of the book below:

Book Club copies, too, should always be labeled as such, no matter the condition of the book. The Book Club copy is usually an inexpensive, poor-quality reprint, cheap with little value. Book Club editions are usually sold by subscription to book club members. They don’t present any interest to book collectors, and it’s important to note that the Book Club edition is the one—not to mislead a buyer. This information can be found somewhere in a detailed description of the book, like in this AbeBooks example:

This is one of the book characteristics you can see on a book page. Simply put, a Binding Copy is a book that badly needs a new binding since the original is damaged. The book usually has all the pages or leaves in perfect condition; it’s the binding that needs to be attended to. Look for this information somewhere in a book description, like in this example:

A reading copy isn’t exactly one of the book condition grades, but it usually signifies a well-worn copy of a book in poor or fair condition, with defects or damages but is quite fit for reading. It has no appeal to book collectors unless probably after rebinding.

Here is an example of a book that can be listed as a Reading Copy:

Book Condition Rating System Examples

Now, let’s move on to Amazon. Being the largest and the most popular bookselling platform, it has its own general condition guidelines for listing any product—in our case, books specifically—in its marketplace.

Image source: Amazon

As you can see on the screen above, Amazon places all the possible variations of the book and their condition grades on the window to the right. So you can immediately choose the price-quality ratio that suits you.

As opposed to the book condition rating system we’ve described earlier, Amazon sets three categories for books to be sold on the marketplace:

• Collectible

New books are new books; there’s not much to explain. It should be in pristine condition as if it has just come directly from the publisher or very close to it.

Things get more interesting here. To be listed on Amazon, used books should be able to meet the following book condition guidelines and be classified into any of the four groups.

• Used – Like New
• Used – Very Good
• Used – Good
• Used – Acceptable

Amazon’s book condition ratings are somewhat similar to the book condition ratings we described earlier. Like New describes the same book conditions as in As New; Very Good and Good also designate the same relatively good book conditions where cosmetic defects or flaws are either absent or minor. The only difference is that Amazon singles out one category for everything from Fair to Poor, with all sorts of additional descriptions (e.g., reading copy, etc.) that we’ve covered earlier into one—Acceptable. Here come all the books that have been fairly worn but continue to function properly. The category may include copies with limited notes, some highlighting, minor page defects, minor water damage, etc.

Collectibles

Amazon also lists collectibles—books that have features that will attract collectors. These books also fall into four categories according to their condition. However, in this guide, we’ll only mention the collectibles, as this is an entirely independent category and should be discussed separately.

• Collectible – Like New
• Collectible – Very Good
• Collectible – Good
• Collectible – Acceptable

Unacceptable Books

Amazon has a strict policy on the books they don’t allow to sell on their marketplace. Here’s what can’t be listed:

• Counterfeit or photocopied book
• Restricted book inventory
• Books that haven’t been published yet
• Expired books
• Books with missing pages
• Books with “Not for Sale” labels (like instructor edition textbooks )
• Books that are meant to be destroyed
• Books with texts that cannot be read
• Books with significant damage

You can learn more about Amazon book condition ratings by going through their guidelines.

AbeBooks follow the general book grading scale we described earlier. They list books according to these states:

Plus, there’re additional conditions that AbeBooks uses to describe the used books they sell:

• Bowed (refers to the state of the covers or boards of a hardcover book)
• Chipped (refers to books with small pieces missing from the edges)
• Dampstained (refers to a book with light stains)
• Darkening or Fading (refers to a book that has been exposed to light, etc.)
• Edgeworn (refers to wear along edges)
• Trimmed (refers to a book with pages cut down to a size smaller than the original).

Check AbeBooks’ entire book condition rating scale to know about all the related terms and how they describe used, rare, and collectible books.

Alibris goes with a similar scheme. Here in the example, you can see how they rate a book, and if you click on the term, you can read the explanation for it in a pop-up window:

Image source: Alibris

Alibris follows a similar book condition grade with slight differences in terms:

• New or Very Fine —a book in a pristine condition
• Fine (F or FN) —close to new, but not quite
• Near Fine (NRF )—a few small flaws are detectable
• Very Good (VG) —a sound and collectible copy with some visible flaws present
• Good (G) —not collectible but otherwise perfectly readable
• Fair (F) —a worn book with complete text and pages but something lacking, with defects
• Poor (P) —a very worn book

Among other descriptors that Alibris uses to describe the used books are:

• Cocked (refers to a slanted book)
• Dampstained (refers to a book with some light moisture staining on the cover or leaves of the book)
• Loose (refers to a book with a loose binding)
• Edgeworn (refers to a book with worn edges of hardback covers)
• Laid-in (refers to a book containing something that’s lying loose inside it)
• Ex-library (Ex-lib.) (refers to a book that used to be a former library copy)
• Foxing (refers to a book with rusty brown spotting caused by paper acidification; common in 19th-century books)
• Shelf Wear (refers to the signs of wear on book edges that occurs from rubbing against a shelf)

Check their book condition rating system and guidelines on their website.

eBay uses its own grade to determine the condition of books and magazines that can be sold on the platform:

• Brand new —a book is new, unread, and unused in perfect condition
• Like new —a book looks new but has been read
• Very good —a book does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition
• Good —a book has been read but is in good condition
• Acceptable —a book with obvious signs of wear

Image source: eBay

The thing about eBay’s book condition grades is that they aren’t exactly the same as the ones we discussed earlier. Many seasoned booksellers note that there’s very little room between “Brand New,” “Like New,” and “Very Good,” and with eBay, practically any flaw sends a book to “Good.” That’s why most of them recommend downgrading your books when you list them on eBay . However, we’ll cover the practical recommendations on how to determine book conditions in one of our future posts. Now simply take into consideration that eBay’s system isn’t the same as Amazon’s or AbeBooks’; you have to differ.

The largest and oldest bookstore in New York that accepts books for sale uses the following rating system:

• New —a brand new book that hasn’t been sold before
• Used – Good —a used book with some signs of wear and tear, with or without a dust jacket
• Used – Very Good —a used book that looks like new, with minor marks
• Rare – Good —a rare and collectible item with signs of wear and tear
• Rare – Very Good —a rare and collectible item that’s almost as good as new

Image source: Strand

You can check how to sell used books to the Strand and what books they accept on their Frequently Asked Questions page.

Half Price Books, the largest family-owned bookstore with 120+ stores across the country, is another place that you can check to understand how booksellers condition used books. Here are the six major conditions they use to describe books on their website:

Fine/Like New (F) —a used book that looks like new but may have been read; no defects

Near Fine (NF) —a used book without defects but with slight wear signs at the edges of the book or dust jacket

Very Good (VG) —a used book with distinctive signs of wear, minor defects, reminder marks, foxing or bumping

Good (G) —a used book in relatively good condition with all pages present but quite distinct signs of wear and tear, visible defects such as water damage, etc.

Fair (FR) —a worn, used book with certain signs of damage

Poor (P) —a very worn used book with extensive damage signs resulting from different causes, from water damage to insects, etc.

Half Price Books also accept rare and collectible items; however, we’re not covering the guidelines for them in this guide. More about the book conditioning from Half Price Books can be found on their website.

For your convenience, we’ve compiled the bookselling platforms and their book condition rates comparison into one chart. We’ve tried to compare their ratings based on a 1 to 5 scale to make it more eloquent, taking into account the differences in the approaches. We hope that it’ll make each system more comprehensive when you try to check a book across several booksellers:

The Final Thoughts

Whether you’re an occasional book buyer or a seasoned reseller, knowing the details and the basic rules of how book conditions are determined is essential. Selling used books can be profitable, but you must understand what you are selling and how to do it before starting. We hope that now you understand the book conditions better; next time, we’ll tell you all about determining book conditions. So wait for the Determining Book Condition Guide soon.

Natalie Meyers

Natalie Meyers is a freelance writer and editor with more than 15 years of experience. As an English major and a psychology graduate, she worked as a teacher and a counselor. As a writer, she's covered a diverse range of topics from technology to publishing. She is an avid reader who believes that books help us become more authentic versions of ourselves. At BookScouter, she's a smart writer and an expert in all things books.

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What Does My Rating Mean?

Everyone has a different idea on what a 1 star rating is, or a 5 star rating is, and this is just so you can see what I mean when I say I’ve given a book 4 stars, or maybe even a 3.5 star rating!

I’ll start by stating that everything I rate is out of 5 stars, so 1/5 is the worst and 5/5 is the best.

A 1 star from me means that the book was horrible, I did not enjoy it, I may not have even finished it and I will not be picking it up again. It would be wishful thinking to assume I would pick up a book from that author again. I’ll probably actively recommend NOT reading this book.

A 1.5 star rating would generally mean I did not like this book, I had a lot of issues with it and It wasn’t enjoyable, but I might give that author another chance if a different book seemed interesting enough! You won’t be hearing about this book from me (At least not in a good way)!

I did not enjoy this book and it had issues. It was interesting enough to keep me reading it, though. I probably wouldn’t recommend this.

There may have been 2 or 3 scenes I liked, but not enough to think about reading this again. I probably recommend this to someone as a quick, mindless read.

It wasn’t good, but it wasn’t bad either. The good and the bad cancel each other out. I might recommend it if it happens to be what someone describes as a book they’re looking to read, but I probably wouldn’t recommend this on a regular basis.

Okay, this book had an interesting premise, but it didn’t live up to it. If it had been written and executed better I probably would have given it a higher rating. I might recommend this if this happens to be something I think you would like, or if it has representation you’re looking for. Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean someone else won’t!

This is the most common rating that I give. I enjoyed the book, the characters and only had minor issues with it. Would recommend!

I could not put this book down! If I had any issues with it, it was probably something stupid that a character did that caused second hand embarrassment, or a few scenes I didn’t like. One of my new favorite books. I will go back and reread favorite parts. You’ll definitely be hearing about this one from me!

I didn’t have a single issue with this book. I enjoyed every scene, I loved the characters and I would reread it over and over again. I most likely have tabbed my favorite spots, and I’m always recommending it.

I hope this helps you understand how I rate books! I use this rating system everywhere, such as my blog, my Instagram and Goodreads.

I’m interested, how do you rate your books? I’d like to see how your mind works! If you already have a page like this set up, drop a link below or tell me in the comments how you rate books!

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Jami's Words

Reading, Reviewing, and Revising

Ratings Explained

Guide to how i rate books and products.

When I write a review for a book or product, I often will include a rating. The following are the types of ratings that you will see on my website and what they mean.

I really like how Goodreads has their rating system. I purposely set up my ratings here to reflect the same idea.

Five stars means that all of the story elements came together very well for me, and I will very likely tell ALL of my friends about it for weeks to come. 🙂 For a product, it means that I have no suggestions for improvement.

If I rate something two stars, that means that I feel that there are significant improvements that can be made, and I will very likely make suggestions.

When I write a one-star review, which is a pretty rare occurrence, it means that there were some significant flaws that need some polishing or that I felt there was significant action, conflict, etc.

Content Review Guide

I (and likely some of you) prefer to know if a book contains questionable content. There are times when you might pick up a book at the library or at a book store and not realize there’s strong language or explicit scenes. Because I read secular and Christian content, on occasion I will include one of the following guidelines that you’ll see below. If you do NOT see a content suggestion on my content posted after today’s date (2/12/18), then you can consider the book to be safe for reading.

If you see the green caution, that means that there’s no profanity, violence, bedroom scenes, or other content that could otherwise be considered disturbing.

The yellow MILD caution indicates that there may be some mild language, mild romantic, suggestive scenes but no descriptions or details, mild violence (though no detailed description), or other content to be aware of.

Orange HIGH caution means that there could be a significant amount of mild profanity but no strong language such as f-bombs. Also, you may find moderately suggestive romance scenes, moderately detailed violence, etc.

The red STRONG caution is one I don’t expect to use at all, because I’ve never inadvertently agreed to review a book that has very strong content matter. However, I will never say never, so I’m including this rating suggestion just in case. With this rating, you can expect some strong profanity, strong violence, or strong and descriptive romantic scenes.

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Deb's Answers

~ answering questions for friends and strangers. what's your question.

What do Goodreads ratings mean?

07 Thursday Jul 2011

Posted by debsanswers in Books , Goodreads

≈ 10 Comments

Author , Book , Goodreads , Review , star ratings

Goodreads uses a 5 star rating system with the following definitions:

I do wish goodreads had half stars and some people assign half stars in their reviews. I saw one author tweet that 4.5 stars should be rounded up to 5 stars. I think that discounts the value of 5 stars, but I didn’t want to start an argument on twitter.

Authors tend to worry too much about the ratings and some think their books should only get 4 and 5 stars, but by this rating system, 3 stars is good. Actually this rating system only asks if you like the book, not if you think it is good or well written. I have no problem recommending books I didn’t like to people with different tastes.

If I’m not sure about a book, I read the one and two star (and sometimes three star, because not everyone uses the stated definitions) reviews to see if the things they didn’t like would bother me. You can click on filter at the top of the community ratings section to select which star rating you want to see. I only worry about the rating of books when the average is less than 3 stars (remember 3 is good) and even then I consider how many times it’s been rated.

Star ratings without reviews aren’t much use to anyone except the person rating that book. Which is fine, you can use the site and the ratings any way that you like. Goodreads does not police the ratings at all and only removes reviews in extreme cases. Reviews without ratings are allowed too, but they aren’t accessible by star filtering.

Maybe there would be fewer bad ratings if it was easier to find books you like and avoid the ones you don’t enjoy. Publishers, authors and marketers too often try to sell all books to everyone instead of targeting people who are likely to love the book. Covers can be misleading, genres aren’t clear and series numbers aren’t always marked.

Thanks for reading.

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10 thoughts on “What do Goodreads ratings mean?”

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May 22, 2013 at 7:04 am

Thanks for this! I’ve recently joined Goodreads and couldn’t find this info anywhere on their website. You have a very useful blog – I will follow!

May 22, 2013 at 10:19 am

You’re welcome. Thanks for letting me know and feel free to ask me other questions about goodreads too.

January 18, 2017 at 12:04 pm

thanks for the information I wanted

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July 18, 2019 at 8:16 pm

3 ratings is enough

1 actively dissuade people from subject 2 don’t care if someone enjoys it or not, it was mediocre, served it peurpose 3 actively encourage people to at least check this out

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February 13, 2022 at 11:29 am

As an author, I would love to only get 4 and 5-star ratings, but I know that we do not live in a perfect world where everyone is going to like my book. However, I do understand that authors worry when they get something less than a 4-star rating. Although you have said that you will consider reading a book with a 3-star rating I have seen countless videos and read articles where people have stated they will not read a book with less than an average of 4 stars. It is a shame that people will not do as you have and decide if the book is right for you based on the description and the reviews as a whole.

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BookLooks.org

Ratings system.

• Book Reports

Book Rating System

Why are book ratings so important?

Book ratings matter to everyone involved in the industry.

Publishers rely on readers for feedback and to market their books.

Authors rely on ratings much in the same way as publishers.

And, of course, readers rely on ratings to decide whether or not to read a book, whether or not it will be something they will enjoy too.

We all love sharing our thoughts on books with others who enjoy the bookish lifestyle as much as we do. 

Where to rate books?

There are many websites out there to rate and review books but these are by far the best: 

If you aren’t already on GoodReads, you definitely should be! This is THE number one place for books. It is user friendly and extremely popular. You can rate, review, create lists, and so much more. [I’m sure you already know this but if you don’t… seriously, go sign up for Goodreads, like right now ;)]

Ah, of course, good ol’ Amazon. If you didn’t already know, books are where Amazon got its start. When it was created, that was all they sold. So it’s no surprise that it is still one of the best places for book lovers (and I think it really needs no explanation). 

Barnes & Noble (or Books-a-Million )

Obviously the most popular book retailers are going to make it on this list as well. Although, from my experience, their online presence isn’t as large as the first two on this list. But these are two more great places to leave ratings for books. 

How are books rated?

Typically, books are rated on a five star scale , with one being the lowest score (or worst books) and five being the highest (or best books). But what do these five stars really mean, anyway? In general, this is how I use the 5-star rating system:

A 5-star book is one that I loved, an absolute must read, and now a favorite of mine. It’s a book that will live on my shelves forever and I would re-read in the future. The story has left a lasting impression on my heart and I would pick up anything else by this author without question.

A 4-star book is one that I really liked. It’s a very enjoyable story, but just short of epic. Certain areas may not be as fulfilling as they could have been. I’m not quite as captivated or blown away, but still had a great experience. I’d recommend this book to others and continue reading from this author. 

A 3-star book is good and worth reading. I enjoyed it but it felt a little lacking. I may recommend it to a certain audience. It gave me mixed feelings, possibly with potential it didn’t quite live up to. It’s a good experience, not amazing, but not bad. 

A 2-star book is just ok. It’s not a book for me and not one I would recommend. It didn’t hold my interest, and probably felt more of a chore to get through. Not completely terrible, but I didn’t have a good experience. 

A 1-star book is one I just didn’t like, at all. Most likely I DNF’d it (did not finish). I would not recommend it to anyone and it is definitely not for me. 

And while this system seems efficient, it can sometimes also feel unclear. Sometimes I agonize over deciding between star ratings.

I wanted a better rating system so that once I had stacked up a plethora of book ratings, they weren’t skewed in their comparison, but ranked equally and fairly.

No more wishy washy feelings.

I wanted something more c oncrete and decisive, that actually analyzed the content of the book.

So I created a simple but in-depth method.

My Ranking System:

I wanted a system that would work across the board for all types of genres, since I read all kinds of books. I didn’t want it to be too complex or niched. I decided on five categories that include the five essential elements of narrative for every story.

S – Setting

This includes world-building, lore, atmosphere, etc. 

P – Plot

This includes structure, arcs, pacing, climax, tension, resolution, hooks, etc. 

E – Engagement

This includes immersion, enjoyment, themes, genre, tropes, etc.

C – Characters

This includes development, relatability, depth, dynamics, arcs, etc.

S – Style

This includes writing, voice, point of view, narrator, etc. 

These “specs” are the categories and criteria I use to rate books. Each one is scored out of five , just like the typical five star system. Then you take those scores, add them together, and divide by five to get your overall score. 

When you do the math, you may end up with a decimal figure. So here’s how I would round each score so that it matches up to the overall 5-star scale: 

0 – 1.4 = 1 star book

1.5 – 2.4= 2 stars

2.5 – 3.4= 3 stars

3.5 – 4.4 = 4 stars

4.5 – 5 = 5 stars 

Here’s an example: 

Let’s say you decide on the following SPECS for a book. 

Setting = 3

Engagement = 4

Characters = 5

Add them together to get 19. Then divide by five to get 3.8.

So your overall rating for this book would be 4 stars. 

As a reviewer, I want to give my audience the most authentic opinions possible.

I want readers to understand my reviews and know they can trust I have shared my perspective based on important criteria. 

All book reviews are, in a way, subjective, because they are based on a single individual’s experience. Everyone is entitled to their own tastes, and we will not always all agree.

But the SPECS system is a method that will allow reviewers to base their feedback on evidence from these categories, rather than simply on an emotional response.

I hope that it will also help other reviewers who sometimes struggle like I do over choosing the rating that feels right. 

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February 22, 2023 at 11:36 am

As an Author, The Mildenhall Legacy, March 2022, I have received nothing below 5 stars from a certain age group (20 – 35). Professional reviewers have given the book 3.5 or above. I appreciate the fact that people of different age groups will have differing opinions about my work. That said, I like hearing (from the pros) where I can improve my writing skills!

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