Q: Do the star ratings a book receives on Goodreads or retail sites affect whether you buy the book or not? (submitted by Flora @ Flora’s Musings…)
A: Star ratings rarely affect whether I will read a book or not. I think that everyone rates things so differently that it’s impossible to get a true idea of what the book is like without reading reviews. What is a 5 star read for me might only be a 4 star read for someone else, but we both enjoyed it the same amount. Even I don’t rate things the same all the time. I might really enjoy the plot of a book, but have issue with something else about it and so I rate it lower. Stars are just too arbitrary!
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The Literary Counsellor 
This is very true. I find what they have to say often more illuminating but even that, sometimes I find myself wondering if we read the same book.
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It does. And over the years, I’ve been with GR for 8 years, I noticed that most books I really enjoy and love are always over 4 stars. Books that are below 4 stars have a 90% chance that I’ll give them a 3 star rating, which for me is a book that isn’t memorable enough for me to remember. BUT of course there are always exceptions. 😀
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I agree with pretty much everything you said. There are books that I have LOVED, and other people have given one star. I try not to let the ratings affect my decisions, especially if it’s a book I am REALLY interested in.
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I read books based on my interest in them, not based on ratings. However, when it comes to actually purchasing a book, it can come into play–particularly in two instances, whether I am on the fence about buying the book (a separate issue from whether I want to read it) or if I am buying a book I haven’t read as a gift for a friend. But even then, I do not take in the ratings by themselves. They are too subjective and mean different things to different people, as you said. I look at the reviews and what people have to say about the book too. And even those I take with a grain of salt. People don’t always agree on books. Your favorite might be my least favorite or vice versa.
Have a good weekend. Stay safe and well!
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Thanks for answering my question. 😉
Star ratings do play a part in my decision whether to buy a book or not but, like you, it’s more about the reviews, thoughts and comments that would sway me one way or another. 💜😊
I hope you enjoy the rest of your week, stay safe and healthy.
Here’s my BBH Post
Flora x
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Personally – I am a little more ‘shallow’ when it comes to picking my books. I tend to go for the covers before anything else.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Be safe 🙂
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Oh, covers totally catch me first, but if they have a good cover, then I start looking for more info. Thanks for dropping by!
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