The most-requested feature for Goodreads is here! Half and quarter-star ratings are now available. With this latest update, you can now give books you’ve read a, for example, 4.5, 3.25, or a classic whole-star rating. This seemingly small feature has been missing since launch, and it could have major implications for some books on the platform.
Here’s what the Goodreads update means for you
Sorry boss, I can’t come to work today, I have to change all my Goodreads ratings now that you can put half a star.
This is a great change – more detailed ratings let you express exactly how you felt about a book, helping you share your thoughts with more clarity. With finer distinctions, your ratings will also help Goodreads recommend books that are a better fit for your interests.
I know there are a few books on my list that didn’t quite deserve their star rating, but I had no choice. Now, with this latest update, you can rate your books more accurately.
But don’t worry — your existing ratings stay the same. Now, you can update any previous rating to a half or quarter star at any time. To update your rating, just click the stars next to a book title on its page and select your new rating. If you rate on your Kindle device, you can always pop over to Goodreads to refine it.
To try it out, go to any book page and start rating. Half and quarter star ratings are now available on the Goodreads website, as well as in the latest versions of the iOS and Android apps. Update your app to access this feature on mobile.
This could see a big shift in book ratings as people go back and change ratings. With the ability to fine-tune scores, average ratings for many books may become more precise, making it easier to distinguish between similarly rated titles. This extra detail could also improve the platform’s recommendations, as your more accurate ratings help Goodreads better understand your preferences.
The Goodreads star rating system helps readers quickly communicate their opinions of a book. A 5-star rating means a book was amazing, while 4 stars indicate a reader really liked it. A 3-star rating can mean the book was enjoyable or simply okay. Books rated 2 stars are considered just okay, and a single star means the reader did not like the book at all.
Books rated 4.0 and above are generally seen as very good or well-liked by readers. Only a small number of mainstream books receive a rating above 4.4, and these are often from passionate fan communities or major series. A score between 3.5 and 3.9 points to a genuinely good book, though it may have divided opinions or lacked broad mainstream appeal. Scores below 3.5 usually suggest a mixed or negative reception, where the book may not have met expectations or faced substantial criticism.