Wonder what all those symbols really mean? You’ll find some consistency here, though I rate based on how I feel. I do rate on the same things over and over again, and structure my reviews based on ratings, recommendation factor, and content rating. 

 Judging a Book by its Pages

All fantasy and romance books use the following ratings;

Worldbuilding 

How immersive, logical, and vivid the world feels.

✅ Do the settings, magic systems, or cultures make sense?

✅ Can I picture myself there?

✅ Does it feel unique and cohesive to the story?

Scale: 🗺️🗺️🗺️🗺️🗺️ Flat → Vivid → Living World

Ick Factor 

How much the story crosses my personal “nope” line.

✅ Problematic behavior romanticized?

✅ Too much cringe, violence, or forced situations?

✅ Basically my “this made me cringe” meter.

Scale: 😇 None → 😐 Mild → 😬 Major → 🚫 Hard Pass

Fangirl Moments 

Those scenes or details that make your heart race.

✅ Did you gasp, swoon, or shout internally?

✅ Were the reveals, dialogue, or emotional beats satisfying?

✅ Did it make you feel something?

Scale: 💖💖💖💖💖 “Flat → Cute → Swoon → Screaming → Feral

Spice 

Classic but essential for romance and romantasy.

✅ How explicit or steamy are the romantic scenes?

✅ Does it match the tone of the story or feel forced?

✅ Did the characters explore kinks/fetish or have multiple partners

Scale: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ None → Suggestive→ Open Door→ Spicy→ I’d try it

Errors/Plot Holes 

The quality check — pacing, editing, and consistency. 

✅ Typos, missing logic, character inconsistencies, or timeline gaps?

✅ Did the story deliver on its setup?

Scale:❗❗❗❗❗Polished →Minor Issues →Noticeable Gaps →Major Holes

For Self-Improvement titles the rules change a bit;

Though rare, I am trying to read 1 Self-Improvement title each month.

Clarity

How well the book communicates its ideas.

✅ Is the writing approachable and organized?

✅ Do examples and stories make the lessons easy to understand?

✅ Is it free of unnecessary jargon or filler?

Scale: 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

Engagement

How easily the book held my attention.

✅ Did it flow naturally, or did I have to push through?

✅ Was it enjoyable to read, or did it feel like homework?

✅ Was it worth finishing?

Scale: ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

Credibility

How trustworthy, relatable, or motivating the author feels.

✅ Is the tone genuine or preachy?

✅ Does the author share real experience and research?

✅ Would I trust them as a guide or mentor?

Scale: 💬💬💬💬💬

Inspiration

The “aha” factor — how much it makes me think or feel.

✅ Did it shift my mindset or reinforce what I already knew?

✅ Did it feel fresh and thoughtful?

Scale: 💡💡💡💡💡

Takeaways

How easy it is to apply what I learned

✅ Are the takeaways actionable or too theoretical?

✅ Do “micro-habits,” exercises, or lessons actually help?

✅ Would I recommend this book to someone trying to improve in that area?

Scale: 📝📝📝📝📝

All books come with a Recommendation Scale

📚 Book Content Rating System

All reviews on this blog include a simple content rating to help readers find books that match their comfort level. Ratings are not judgments — they’re guides. I believe in informed reading at a glance. I have three young daughters and despise the fact that I have to look up a book and its reviews – specifically its spice rating – before I consider buying it for them. 

On my page you’ll find a lot of A/MA/R rated books. I read smut, not just spice and I am not ashamed of it. I’m also an adult and appreciate adult themes in my stories; mental health struggles, depression, drug and alcohol abuse and overcoming, language, government or political intrigue, morally grey or dark choices, violence, war, real stakes. I do my best to tag books as a source of truth to what’s between the pages.

💫 A – Adult (Ages 18+)

For grown readers — emotionally aware and ready for nuance

• Mildly explicit or fade-to-black intimacy; sensual or suggestive language.
• Profanity may be present but not pervasive.
• Themes of love, loss, identity, and purpose explored with adult perspective.
• Violence occurs off page but is mentioned.
• Tone and subject matter intended for adult audiences, but without explicit content.

**You’re old enough to crave stories with real stakes and real emotion; where love isn’t always easy and choices carry weight. The doors might close before things get heated, but your imagination doesn’t have to.**

🔥 MA – Mature Audiences (Ages 18+)

For adults — emotionally, thematically, or sexually

• Explicit or open-door sexual scenes, sensual language, or erotic undertones.
• Strong language or frequent profanity.
• Mature themes (trauma, abuse, addiction, war, moral ambiguity).
• Graphic violence or gore, if relevant to the story.
• Complex emotional or psychological content.

**You’re an adult and can make your own decisions. But may feel squeamish if blood is mentioned or detailed, skip over reading ‘bad’ words, or blush and need privacy for the scenes detailed in the ‘bedroom’.**

⚫ R – Restricted / Adult-Only (Ages 21+)

Explicit, dark, or potentially triggering material

• Graphic sexual content (erotica, dark romance, fetish/kink).
• Extreme violence or horror elements.
• Heavy mature themes or morally dark content.
• Explicit language throughout.

**You may be new or a veteran to well described scenes but you’ve found what you like. There is probably little that could make you blush and maybe you’ve even applied some of what you’ve read to your own bedroom. **

🌿 E – Everyone (Ages 10–13)

Wholesome, safe for all readers

• No profanity or violence beyond mild fantasy action.
• No sexual or suggestive content.
• Themes are age-appropriate (friendship, courage, family, adventure).
• Romance is innocent — hand-holding, blushes, maybe a sweet kiss.

**No matter your age, reading is fun! Following characters on epic adventures or learning something new, share what you read with those around you!**

You may see the following content rating, but rarely. The story must have been pretty epic for me to read;

🌸 T – Teen (Ages 14–17)

Emotional depth but still age-appropriate

• Mild to moderate language (occasional swearing, nothing explicit).
• Light romantic tension or brief kisses; may allude to intimacy but no action taken on page.
• Some emotional or darker themes (grief, betrayal, loss) handled sensitively.
• Fantasy violence or peril, but not gory.

**You’ve discovered the joys of reading, the adventures you take from the safety of your own space. Growing from short chapter books to series, watching your favorite characters grow right before your eyes. Maybe you’ve even started writing your own story or fanfiction.**