Welcome to the chaos. Here’s how I break down ratings and intimacy levels on this blog—no guesswork, no fluff, just straight-up honesty.
⭐ My Rating System
I don’t do complicated spreadsheets or a secret algorithm. My star ratings boil down to one thing: how hard I’d push you to read (and maybe buy) the book.
- 5⭐ → Must Own.
The elite few. These are the books I rave about, the ones I shove into people’s hands. Buy the special edition, the ebook, the audio, hell—tattoo the cover on your arm. Totally worth it. - 4⭐ → Highly Recommended.
Strong contenders. Worth owning, but I won’t tell you to break the bank. Digital, used, or discounted is plenty. - 3⭐ → It’s Fine.
Decent reads. Borrow it from the library, don’t clutter your shelves. Enjoy it, but don’t marry it. - 2⭐ → Hard Pass.
I read it so you don’t have to. Not worth the shelf space, not worth the cash. - 1⭐ → DNF.
Did not finish = did not connect. I usually give a book 25% before calling it quits. You won’t see full reviews of DNFs here—because why waste breath dragging a book you might end up loving? (Happy to chat specifics in DMs, though.)
🚦Intimacy Meter
People always ask: “How spicy is it?” And honestly, I keep it simple. You’re either cool with on-page intimacy… or you’re not.
Here’s the shorthand you’ll see in my reviews:
- 🟢Clean / Closed Door
No explicit intimacy. Think swoony kisses and fade-to-black. Safe zone for “no spice” readers. - 🟡Low Spice / Cracked Door
Intimacy happens, but it’s not detailed. A softer middle ground for readers who don’t mind it showing up. - 🔴Spicy / Open Door
Intimacy is explicit and on the page. For readers who like their fantasy with fire.
When I list “What’s Inside” in a review, you’ll always see whether it’s 🟢, 🟡, or 🔴. That way you know exactly what kind of escape you’re walking into.
🖤 The Book Boyfriend Meter (What the Hearts Mean)
Not all fantasy men are created equal. Some are endgame. Some are… a learning experience.
In addition to my star ratings and imtimacy meter, I use a Book Boyfriend Meter to show how dateable the main male love interest is based on chemistry, vibes, emotional damage, and whether I’d willingly make poor decisions for him.
And for the men who go above and beyond (or absolutely wreck my standards), I keep an ongoing ranking on my official Book Boyfriend Leaderboard — because some fictional men deserve more than a single review.
Here’s what the hearts mean:
🤍 No chemistry. No thank you.
Hard pass. Nothing is happening here.
💛 Hot, but not for me.
I get the appeal. I am not the audience.
🧡 Would consider. Would absolutely regret something.
Attractive. Problematic. A mistake waiting to happen.
❤️ Would date (I can fix him).
Strong book boyfriend energy. Questionable choices forgiven.
❤️🔥 Endgame. No notes.
This man has permanently altered my standards.
If a character earns ❤️🔥 status, there’s a very good chance he’s fighting for a spot on the Book Boyfriend Leaderboard.
You’ll see this book boyfriend meter included in my reviews whenever a book has a notable MMC because sometimes the love interest deserves his own rating.
All ratings are based on vibes, not real-world dating advice.
Good? Good. Let’s move on to the fun part — the books.