My GR legend is

1 star - hated it because it seems to be an outline rather than a finished work. These are almost always self published. Probably DNF’d. I will generally give cliffhangers 1 star because I hate them and the author who wrote them.

2 stars - wonderful concept but looks like Mom read it and author took her gushing approval as a good substitute for an editor. I might finish it.

3 stars - good book, I enjoyed it. I’ll recommend it based on what else the person likes. I rarely (but not never) read again. It’s average. I do wish people would stop thinking a 3 star book is bad. They will miss a lot of fun reads

4 stars - really good with very few, if any grammar/usage/spelling mistakes. You can tell an editor was involved. Will recommend if “I’m looking for a book like…” comes up in conversation.

5 stars - fantastic story with an original (or at least not overused) premise. Has excellent world building, well developed characters, only a few typos if any. Language that will make you weep with its beauty. Makes you think. I will insistently recommend whether or not I’m asked.

For me, every book, before I open it, starts at 5 stars. It’s only as I read that the rating changes.

I mostly read genre fiction and memoirs. Sometimes I’ll read literary fiction, but many end up being 3 stars.