How I read, rate, and review Star Wars books

I've never met a Star Wars book that I didn't enjoy at least a little bit.

I won’t lie — this post has been in my drafts for months. Along with several other post ideas that I keep telling myself I’ll write and share when there’s a lull in Star Wars book news.

Despite The High Republic spacing out its releases, it’s been a surprisingly busy year for Star Wars book news. There’s been a new Star Wars book almost every month, TV shows and video games that prompted reading recommendations, new book announcements and cover reveals, and celebrations of the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace and the 10th anniversary of the new canon.

There are two big Star Wars book releases this month and next — Tears of the Nameless (Sept. 24) and Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss (Oct. 15). But before I start reading, highlighting, and annotating them, I wanted to share my process, which is very much still evolving.

SWBC: How to be a good Star Wars book reviewer

How I read Star Wars books

I actually don’t remember the exact year when I started reading Star Wars books. I also can’t remember if I read Heir to the Empire before I started the film novelization audiobooks. I do, however, remember when I transformed from a casual Star Wars reader into one who makes reading their entire personality. It’s all thanks to The High Republic.

I’ve read and reviewed every new Star Wars book since I got my first ARC of a Star Wars book in late December 2020 (Light of the Jedi, which came out in January 2021). That’s *checks bookshelf* 46 Star Wars books over almost five years. I may have missed a few, too.

How do I do it? It’s just reading, but there is a little method to my madness.