Are three stars really so bad?
A recent post by an author on Threads read
Does anyone else find 3-star Goodreads reviews really dispiriting? You give your book your very life, your soul, for however long, and a reader goes “yeah, it was okay. Didn’t hate it.” I know you can’t please everyone but you also can’t stop those emotions.
Another author replied, “I know not everyone will like my writing, but the throwaway comments without any real explanation or substance are really disheartening.” I get that, but I don’t know that an explanation would make the author feel any better.
Someone else responded, “Three stars on Goodreads means that the reader liked the book. Not that they hated it, but also not that they loved it. You can’t write for everyone.
Yet another author said, “I aim for ‘basic competence.’ If I get three stars, I achieved.”
My chocolate analogy
This is how I look at reviews:
Five stars is Neuhaus Belgian chocolate. The best book ever. It’s a keeper. The plot engaged me, I fell in love with the characters, I was transported.
If you’ve tasted Neuhaus, you know it will transport you, too. Neuhaus has its own cacao farm in the Guayaquil Region of Ecuador, several hundred acres dedicated to growing their own cacao beans. The climate, quality of the soil and the local farmers’ expertise give their chocolate their superior quality. The farmers have mastered the fermentation process that gives their chocolate a distinctive richness and flavor. It’s like a drop of heaven melting in your mouth, a creamy consistency I’ve never tasted in any other chocolate.
I first sampled Neuhaus in Amsterdam when my husband Donnie was working in Poland. The display was so pretty that I had to take a small box home. The next time I traveled through Amsterdam, I bought several boxes. Large boxes. Pralines from artisanal nougatine, hand-filled with smooth fresh cream or ganache and coated with dark or milk chocolate. Truffles with caramel, cappuccino and speculoos. Cocktail-inspired chocolates with gin, rum, sake, vodka and whiskey. Oh, my.
Four stars is Godiva or maybe a Choceur Milk Chocolate Bar from in Germany. ALDI sells Choceur. The plot engaged me, the characters were interesting, I would recommend it. Godiva is tasty, smooth, and melts nicely in your mouth, so I’d recommend it, too.
Three stars is M&Ms. Crunchy shell, soft chocolate inside. All those glossy colors. Crinkly bag. They tumble into your hand and then into your mouth. Satisfying. Likewise, a three star book satisfied me enough that I’d recommend it to the right person, but I wouldn’t rave about it.
Two stars is a Hershey’s bar with its undefinable slightly chemical taste. I know some people enjoy it, which can apply to some books as well, but I can easily say “no thanks” to Hershey’s. I had issues with the plot, the characters were less than believable, I had a hard time staying interested. I probably won’t leave a reader review.
One star is Palmer’s chocolate, typically sold in discount stores around the holidays. Waxy. No melt. Artificial taste. Avoid at all costs. Same with the book. Unreadable.
In conclusion:
Would I happily eat a bag of M&Ms? You bet I would. I would enjoy it, too. My chocolate craving would be satisfied.
Three star book reviews do not disappoint me. It may hurt for a minute to hear “I didn’t love it,” but not everyone is going to love what I write.
Three star reviews do not discourage me from reading a particular book, either.
How about you?
Thank you for visiting.
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist
BUY BOOKS: In the Context of Love | Gordy and the Ghost Crab | Sleepwalker
New novel for fall 2026 Love and Other Incurable Ailments, from Regal House Publishing
Connect with Linda on social media: LinkTree
Wonderful perspective, Linda. A guest at a party told some famous poet–not sure who–“I didn’t like your latest book.” The poet replied: “I didn’t write it for you.”
(Just staring with increased anticipation at the Neuhaus dark chocolate bar my daughter gave me for my birthday. Can’t wait to try it!)