Reviewing Rules

Read on to have a wee look into my mindset while reviewing.

A Book to Review?

  • Books sent to me will be considered for review and, unless I have read it before, will most definitely be added to my To-Be-Read list. Now, this list is ever-growing and already about 200 books long, so I can’t provide a guarantee on when a book will be reviewed by. I also work full-time, so please bear that in mind and bear with me!
  • My reviews will be posted on the following social media: Goodreads, Belle in Pages (blog), Instagram, and my Facebook page.
  • I accept all format of book and these will be noted and photographed within a review. Paperbacks and hardbacks are more likely to be commented on for having beautiful cover art, but this is probably to be expected.

Preferred Genre

I’ll pretty much accept any genre but my most favourite to read are as follows:

  • Fantasy fiction
  • Young-Adult fiction
  • ROMANCE (!!!)
  • Historical fiction
  • Chick-lit
  • ‘Coffee-table books’ – style, interiors, cooking/baking, photography, travel
  • Poetry
  • History (British & European medieval – The Tudors, Plantagenets etc., ecclesiastical history, Victorian; Edwardian; Georgian)

Non-preferred Genre

There are some books that are just, not my jam. At this time, as follows:

  • Erotica
  • Memoirs/biographies
  • Saga
  • Religious-lit

Ratings

As I’ve linked up my blog with my Goodreads account, I’m following the same star rating system on both as to ensure cohesion (the obligatory 5 stars). Unsurprisingly, 2-4 stars is my most common rating. A book has to be pretty bleak to gain only 1 star, and likewise it has to blow me out the water to gain 5. I love it when a book gets a 5.

1 star * – It’s got to be a no from me. Emphasis on the me. I appreciate that my reading tastes are not the all-universal fancies of every reader out there. Just because a book doesn’t quite do it for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be ‘the one’ for someone else. I have a very bad habit of skim reading; so although I never truly give up on a book if I realise it’s not for me, I do blast through the final 100/200/300 pages with a fast eye. This would also fall into a definite non-recommendation to anyone else.

2 stars ** – Some elements that I like, others that I hate. I made it through – no skimming! That being said, I would not reread this in a hurry. Or ever. Once was enough, and it was a bit of a trawl through. Often if a book gets 2 stars, there were elements of it that I really enjoyed: characters, world-building, themes and concepts introduced, or just the writing style. I would recommend but with a cautionary warning that it may not be an amazing read.

3 stars *** – A good or great read. Definitely enjoyed it, and would most definitely recommend it to a friend as an example of a good book in said genre. I enjoyed the majority of elements that made this into a story. Likely the reason it didn’t make it to 4 stars is because it exhibited a common writing cliche (insta-love, turned a stereotype completely on its head, stolen an already exhausted storyline and done it badly). This would probably fall into the re-read to give it another chance to LOVE IT category.

4 stars **** – A FANTASTIC book, but forgettable. I REALLY REALLY LIKE THIS BOOK. Up until this point (Jan 2020) the 4 stars has only been afforded to fantasy, romance and a handful of contemporary novels. I’m ready to branch out. I would recommend to others but the love I feel for it has dwindled until it is a vague memory, of an experience I enjoyed but couldn’t quite relive if asked to. That being said, if it’s part of a series, I wouldn’t think twice before picking up the next book(s).

5 stars ***** – Well bloody hell, this book is sensational. The only way to truly describe in any way of accuracy is to describe my time with this book as a life-affirming experience. This book has left me dumstruck when it’s finished. I devoured it and I feel sad that it’s over. It has offered me an experience I have never had the opportunity to witness before, and new perspectives I didn’t realise I could have about my own life and the way I conduct it. Would re-read in a heartbeat and recommend to everyone I know a million times over.

(Some)things I Try to Include in Every Review

In every review I will try to include the following qualities I took from the book.

  • Something which I admired about the book and it delivered really well.
  • Something that I think the book could have done better.
  • My favourite quote from the book.
  • My favourite character from the book.
  • Would I re-read and would I recommend.

If you’re interested in sending me something to review, please contact me via Instagram, Twitter or Facebook: @belleinpages or via email: belleinpages@gmail.com.

Annabelle xo