5 stars - I will gush about this book to every person I know and several that I don’t until they either read it or swear they’ll never read it because I can’t shut up about it. I liked the ending. Maybe one or two of these a year, if I’m lucky.

4 stars - I liked it a lot. Good story, good writing, good pacing. I probably hated the ending but I’m not holding it against the book in its entirety.

3 stars - it was okay. It wasn’t a complete waste of time to read it but I’ll probably forget that I did until I review my reading list at the end of the year. And I hated the ending.

2 stars - bad story, bad writing, bad pacing, typos, ridiculous premises. I will roll my eyes every time I remember I read this book and will probably never touch anything from the author again. Goes without saying, I hated the fucking ending.

1 star - basically my DNF rating since they don’t have an option for that. So bad that I don’t care to confirm that I will hate the ending (although it’s definitely assumed)

I also only trust 2-4 star ratings from other people when I’m looking for a book. 1 & 5 star reviewers are too dramatic, hyperbolic, or fanatical to be taken seriously.

I read this a few years ago. I ended up putting it down for a few months after reading “Especially Heinous.” Im not a book club type of person but I went looking for people to talk to about that story because it took over my brain for weeks and weeks. I ended up finishing the book eventually but pretty much all the other stories pale compared to that one.

Stephanie Meyer (Twilight) and E.L. James (50 Shades) faced similar criticisms for similar reasons, they’re broadly considered to be bad writers.

At the end of the day, read what you like. If you enjoy Hoover’s stories and can look past the bad writing, who cares what anyone else thinks?

Are these mysteries and thrillers you’re reading or “romantic suspense” novels? Because there is an actual difference, and in one (I bet you can guess which) there are pretty strong romance/sex/erotica tendencies.

I don’t pay any mind to 5 star ratings on Goodreads. I feel like 2-4 stars will give you the best idea if the book is worth reading. 1 star reviews always seem super hyperbolic to me.