A very honest, very vibe-based situation
Let’s get one thing clear: I rate books based on how they made me feel, not just technical perfection.
Mood, timing, vibes, characters, and yes… spice… all play a part.
This page breaks down exactly what my ratings mean so you know what to expect when you see those stars and chilis pop up across the blog.
⭐ Star Ratings — What the Numbers Actually Mean
⭐️ 1 Star — Nope, Not for Me
Dragged. Didn’t click. Would not revisit.
We tried our best… but it just wasn’t happening.
❌ Not my vibe. ❌ Not my time. ❌ No thank you.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars — Meh, It Was Okay-ish
Readable, but not memorable.
There were some good moments, but they didn’t outweigh the issues.
Fine in theory. Forgettable in practice.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars — Enjoyable Enough
A decent time!
Mixed moments, a few frustrations, but overall? I didn’t regret reading it.
Not love. Not hate. Just… vibes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars — Really Great
Loved the characters.
Loved the story.
Loved the atmosphere.
Would happily recommend and absolutely read more from this author.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars — I’m Ferally Obsessed
New favourite unlocked.
Screaming, crying, throwing my phone.
Will re-read. Will think about it at 2am. Will emotionally attach forever.
This book altered my brain chemistry.
🌶️ Spice Scale — From Sweet to Send Help
Spice ratings are separate from star ratings because a book can be amazing without spice… or messy-but-hot in the best way.
Here’s how I measure the heat 👀
🫑 No Chili — Sweet / Kisses Only
Affection, tension, and maybe a kiss or two.
No explicit content. Closed-door vibes only.
🌶️ 1 Chili — Mild / Closed Door
Soft, sweet, fade-to-black energy.
Romance without explicit scenes.
🌶️🌶️ 2 Chilis — Warm
Some on-page moments, but nothing graphic.
More emotion than spice.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3 Chilis — Blush-Worthy Spice
Clear, on-page action.
Solid heat without being explicit every chapter.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4 Chilis — Steamy & Detailed
Multiple explicit scenes.
High tension. Detailed descriptions.
Definitely adults-only.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5 Chilis — My Kindle Overheated
Fully explicit. Frequent scenes.
Possibly kinky. Definitely filthy.
✨ This is where most of my books live, let’s be honest ✨
✨ Vibes & Tropes — The Real Deciding Factors
Sometimes a book works not because it’s perfect…
…but because the vibes hit exactly right.
Things that heavily influence my ratings:
- Trope satisfaction (give me forced proximity or give me death)
- Character chemistry
- Emotional payoff
- Atmosphere & mood
- Whether I miss the characters when it’s over
If the vibes are vibing? Ratings go up. Simple as that.
💭 Mood, Timing & Headspace Matter
I’m a mood reader through and through.
A book might get:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ one month
- and a DNF another
…and both can be valid.
Stress levels, attention span, emotional capacity, and life chaos all affect how a book lands — and I rate accordingly.
❌ DNF — Did Not Finish
Not every book is a match for my mood, my patience level, or my sanity — and that’s okay.
How DNFs work in my system:
- DNFs do NOT receive star or spice ratings
(I haven’t read enough to judge fairly) - They DO get a short explanation
Pacing? Vibes? Headspace? Annoying character? Bad timing?
I’ll always note why I stopped.
Where DNFs appear:
👉 On my Library Shelves page under their own DNF status
👉 In monthly reading wrap-ups
👉 In themed lists (like “books I might retry someday”)
A DNF is not always a bad book.
Sometimes it’s just ✨ not the one ✨ for me right now — and I’m absolutely allowed to boomerang back later if the mood hits.
At the end of the day, my ratings are just one reader’s feelings in one specific moment in time. What I love, you might side-eye — and what didn’t work for me could become your next all-time favourite. I share my ratings to give context, not rules. Read what excites you, chase the vibes that call to you, and never feel bad for loving a book loudly (or quietly DNF-ing it). This little nook is all about enjoying stories the way you want to — stars, spice, feral obsessions and all. ✨📚💫
The Reading Nook 