Having a rating guide is helpful to keep track of the initial impression that a book has on us. Books, like all art, are subjective. What we enjoy reading and how we rate those stories varies from person to person. At Dite & Patra, we rate three main categories: engagement, immersion, and the emotional/intellectual impact. Here is a closer look at our system.
Purpose:
Evaluate a book’s ability to hold attention (story), draw the reader into its world (writing), and leave a lasting impression (emotional/intellectual impact).
Rate each category from 0–5 points.
Total possible: 15 points (convert to stars ★).
DID THIS STORY KEEP ME TURNING PAGES?
1. Engagement — Story (0–5)
🌼 Focuses on the story itself: plot, characters, conflict, and stakes.
- Does the story capture your attention from the start?
- Are the plot, conflicts, character goals, and stakes compelling and interesting ?
- Does the story make you want to keep reading?
DID I FORGET THAT I WAS READING?
2. Immersion — Writing (0–5)
🌷 Focuses on the writing itself: style, tone, descriptions, dialogue, and atmosphere.
- Does the writing draw you into the world and make you feel present in it?
- Are tone, pacing, descriptions, and dialogue vivid and compelling?
- Is the book’s atmosphere or “vibe” immersive?
DID THIS STORY LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT?
3. Impact — Emotional & Intellectual (0-5)
🍐 Focuses on the lasting impression the book leaves.
- Does the book evoke strong emotions, or make you reflect deeply?
- Does the book make you ponder a question or think meaningfully?
- Are the emotional or intellectual elements resonant and memorable?
⭐ OVERALL SCORE & RATING (out of 15)
[Total Score, Equivalent Rating, Overall Impression]
13–15 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Exceptional — story is engaging, writing immersive, and impact memorable
10–12 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good — mostly compelling, immersive, and impactful
7–9 ⭐⭐⭐ Decent — some engagement, immersion, or impact, but uneven
4–6 ⭐⭐ Weak — struggles to hold attention, feel immersive, or create impact
0–3 ⭐ Poor — fails in story, writing, and impact
These are the general guidelines we try to follow when rating engagement, immersion, and emotional/intellectual impact in the stories that we read. Again, ratings are subjective, so be sure to look for any trigger warnings about content, and familiarize yourself with plot summaries if this information is important to you, before you dive into a book.
