How Ashley Rates + Reviews Books

Below is a helpful guide to understand Ashley’s rating system.

Interested in working together to promote an upcoming release or series? Send her a message!

Strange, isn’t it? To love a book. When the words on the pages become so precious that they feel like part of your own history because they are.
— Erin Morgenstern

Review Policy

FOR BOOKS

While I would love to say yes to every review request, sometimes my schedule doesn’t allow for it, or it’s outside of my preferred genres. For reference, please scroll below for a list of the genres I typically read and review.

I am currently accepting books and typically do an unboxing and social media mention if a physical copy has been sent. If time allows, I may read and give an honest and fair review (which I disclose in my posts). I appreciate receiving ARCs or finished copies, preferably physical copies, as I love to take beautiful photographs for my Bookstagram posts, but I am open to audio or e-books as well.

My reviews are posted on Goodreads, Storygraph, TikTok, and IG, and occasionally featured in my newsletter, and the blog.

A note for authors: Art is subjective and sometimes a book just isn’t for me. If I didn’t connect with your book, it does not mean your book is bad. It only means I am not the intended reader. But another reader might absolutely love it. By sending a book, you automatically agree to me sharing an unbiased and impartial review. Reviews are for potential readers.

If you would like to offer a giveaway copy to my newsletter subscribers, please message me for details and timing.

FOR SPONSORED CONTENT/PAID COLLABS

If you’re interested in paid promotional content on my TikTok, photographs or licensed content creation for your own channels, or another idea you have, please shoot me a message to discuss rates or review my media kit.

If you’re an author, business, or publisher looking to sponsor one of the weekly newsletter editions, you can visit the sponsor page here.

My Star System (for sites like Goodreads + Storygraph)

FIVE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

PERFECTION. A book I could not put down and completely devoured. I can’t stop thinking about it, talking about it, recommending it to everyone. It’s a book that stays with me, one I want to come back to and read over and over again. It makes me think and feel deeply. I’m INVESTED. It instantly goes on my favorite reads list. There was nothing to nitpick about.

FOUR ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A FANTASTIC read! I loved it, it made me FEEL something, and I will probably read again, but there may have been some very minor issues keeping it from the five star pedestal. Perhaps some typos were found, minor plot holes, character issues, or nitpicky dislikes, but overall, a fantastic read I will still widely recommend to everyone.

THREE⭐⭐⭐

A solid read. This book had things I enjoyed while reading, but also had a number of things that I didn’t. This is usually related to lack of character development, plot holes, or the author’s writing style that’s just not for me. There may have been parts that were quite slow to get through, or bothered me, but overall, I would still recommend it to others, especially if I know they’ll enjoy it.

TWO⭐⭐

I didn’t like this book. It’s not a book I would recommend, nor will I be reading it again. It was not for me, and something probably either offended my values, bored me to tears, or there were major grammar/typo errors throughout. I will often DNF if it’s that bad and choose not to review.

ONE⭐

I LOATHED this book, and only finished it in order to give it this review. There are many issues with this book, including offensive or triggering language (without warning). Again, I don’t typically leave one star reviews as I will DNF before it gets to that point.

Genres I typically read, review, and create content around:

FANTASY  |  SCI-FI  |  HISTORICAL FICTION  |  CLASSICS 

MYSTERY/THRILLER  |  MEMOIRS   |  LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT  |  MARKETING | POETRY 

(I READ THESE SUB-GENRES OF THE ABOVE: YA/NA/Adult/Epic/Romance)


It all begins with the first page.