I have a confession. I'm notoriously stingy with my five-star ratings. 😂

In 2024, I read over 200 books, and only 5% earned five stars. In 2025, I read over 300 books, and that number barely budged to 6%. So when I give a book five stars, I REALLY mean it. But here's what I've been thinking about lately, not all five-star books are created equal.

Some books earn five stars because I physically cannot put them down. I'm neglecting responsibilities, staying up until an ungodly hour, and thinking about the story every second I'm not reading it. Golden Son by Pierce Brown is a perfect example. That book had me in an absolute CHOKEHOLD.

Others fundamentally alter my brain chemistry. They challenge how I think, change my perspective, or leave me sitting in silence trying to process what I just experienced. Once an Eagle by Anton Myrer is one of those books. I genuinely don't think I'll ever be the same after reading it.

Then there are books where the writing itself is the magic. The kind of prose that makes you stop and reread a passage because you can't believe someone managed to string those words together so beautifully. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien immediately comes to mind.

But you know what else? Sometimes a book is five stars purely because of the VIBES AND THAT'S OKAY. 👏

Maybe the plot wasn't particularly groundbreaking. Maybe the characters weren't exceptionally complex. Maybe you could predict every single twist, but you had the BEST time reading it. It delivered exactly what you needed at exactly the right moment, and you closed that book feeling ridiculously happy. Why shouldn't that be worth five stars?

I know some readers use structured rating systems like CAWPILE, which evaluates seven elements: characters, atmosphere, writing, plot, intrigue, logic, and enjoyment. I can absolutely appreciate the appeal of having a consistent way to evaluate books, but I've never used it...not because I don't care about those elements. I absolutely do! I'm constantly thinking about character development, pacing, worldbuilding, prose, and whether a story actually delivers on its premise.

I just don't believe every book needs to excel in every category to earn five stars. A literary masterpiece and a ridiculously entertaining popcorn thriller can BOTH be five-star reads, even if they earn those stars for completely different reasons.

I think that's where book ratings get really interesting. Are we rating a book's technical execution, our personal enjoyment, or some combination of the two?

For me, it's a combination, but the balance changes depending on the book. I can recognize that a book is exceptionally well-written and still not connect with it. I can also recognize a book's flaws and love every single second of reading it.

Sometimes the difference between four and five stars isn't something I can neatly explain. It's just that little extra SOMETHING that makes a book unforgettable, which is probably why I'm so stingy with my ratings. A four-star book can be fantastic, but a five-star book has to give me something more, even if that something is just a feeling.

The best part? Your five stars don't have to look anything like mine. That's what makes discussing books so much fun.

💬 Let's talk about YOUR rating system!

Are you a vibes-based reader, a meticulous ratings person, or somewhere in between? Do you use CAWPILE or another system? Most importantly, what's a book you gave five stars to, and what made it earn that rating?

I'm especially curious whether you're generous with your five stars or as stingy as I am. 😂🖤

The Literary Apothecary

A series where we step back from WHAT we're reading, prescribe a little introspection, and talk about WHY we're reading.

I will admit, in the grand scheme of things, I'm relatively new to the online bookish space - I made my first Instagram post to DocoftheDarkArts about a year and a half ago. But I have been a reader to some degree my entire life. I have had periods where I've loved fantasy, sci fi, horror, non-fiction, medieval literature, plays - I've read a lot over the years. So imagine my surprise when I started interacting with the bookish community to find that there were some folks with really interesting reading habits out there.

Now, to be perfectly clear, I am a big believer that everyone should read what they want, how they want, I don't judge people for how they enjoy their free time, and I believe strongly in making reading as accessible and friendly as possible. I also try to live by the idea that it is not my job to yuck other people's yum - if you enjoy certain books, or read certain ways, that I don't, I think that is great.

During the last year and a half, I have heard a number of discussions about people who only read dialogue in their books. I have no idea how widespread this actually is, or whether or not this is a very small amount of readers simply amplified on socials be3cause it is different and controversial. And while I do not believe in telling anyone how to enjoy reading, I do believe in talking about why we do the things we do, and this is such an interesting phenomenon to me. That I would put into one of two buckets, and I have a few arguments for those who fall into the second bucket as to why they may want to reconsider.

Now the first bucket of people who might read dialogue only are folks with neurodivergence or possible information processing issues. For instance, I have heard people with ADHD say that long passages of exposition take them out of the story, and the dialogue keeps them engaged. This is similar for folks with aphantasia, or the inability to make a mental picture from a description. If you can't picture what you're reading, that can lead to confusion, boredom, or disengagement. Finally, especially for neurodivergent folks who have trouble with subtle communication and social cues, the sections of exposition can be a barrier to understanding. And while I think for all of these folks, reading the non-dialogue portions of a book can still be beneficial, I understand where this comes from.

The second bucket is what concerns me a bit more, especially in an age where attention spans have grown shorter and hustle culture rules the day. This bucket is filled with folks who look at this as a life hack, or a way to read more books, and read them faster. They will often argue that the dialogue is what drives the narrative, and that when we watch movies, it's pretty much just dialogue when it comes to words, so why treat books differently. I've talked before in my first installment of this series about how the online book community can sometimes feel like a constant push to do more faster, and how this can take the joy out of reading and turn it into a task to be accomplished rather than a story to experience. And there are a few reasons that I think the stuff between the dialogue is really important.

• The exposition gives us context clues and teaches us reading comprehension. How are the characters saying the things they are saying, and what is going on around them?

• Exposition gives us the setting, and that is critical - especially in fantasy, sci fi, and horror. When we watch a movie, sure we're listening to dialogue. But we're seeing and hearing what would otherwise be described in books. The haunted house with the creaking roof, the army amassing at the border, the glowing orb the sorceress is conjuring - these are all things we don't get from dialogue only. And try reading The Lord of the Rings without exposition and setting - it just doesn't work!

• We wouldn't watch a movie with our eyes closed, so why would we do the same in a book?

Again, I think it is really important to ask ourselves why - why do you want to consume a book faster at the expense of missing important elements of the story and the reading experience? So many things in our lives are getting busier and busier - our jobs expect more with less, we are constantly facing an onslaught of technological advancements, and we have more information at our fingertips then may be healthy sometimes. Reading gives us a chance to slow down, to dive into a different world from our day to day lives, and provides a multitude of benefits. So at the end of the day, while I will always say read what you read the way you want to read it, it is always worth evaluating your reading habits and asking why, and seeing if you may get more of a benefit from your reading if you approach it differently.

So here's what I would encourage you to do. Read what you want how you want, but figure out what it is you want first. Before you read a book, ask yourself the question What do I want to get out of reading, and why and I reading this book? Don't feel like you have to read more or faster just because your favorite influencer is out there doing it. Read at your own pace, and don't feel bad about being a "slow" reader. And if you are reading dialogue only just to speedmax your reading, really sit with that and ask yourself - why?

I do a short form video on these topics every Friday - you can check out this one here!

Want More In-Depth Book Discussion?

If you enjoy getting into the details with me about reading, then consider upgrading to The Dark Travelers or Apothecary tiers! My Dark Travelers get an exclusive Discord role and channels, a weekly deep dive reading update video, early access to YouTube videos, and each month they get to pick a book for me to read. This can be a book they want to read with me, or something they want me to try for them. I then do a member's only review when I'm done. It's super fun and a great tight knit group that I really enjoy talking books with, and I'd love to have you part of it!

The Apothecary is a quarterly book box I'm starting in January 2027! You get all the benefits of the Dark Travelers above, as well as a quarterly themed book box. Thank you to everyone who has joined already!