How to Create a Reading Journal

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If you want to keep track of the books you’re reading, create aesthetic spreads for your personal book reviews, or write down your favorite book quotes, I highly recommend a reading journal. 

It’s a great way to document your book goals and incredibly satisfying to check books off your list! My TBR (to be read) list of books is long (it’s in the hundreds at this point), so keeping up with my reading journal helps motivate me to read more books and find new books. It’s easy to go back and check out my personal book reviews to look through what I’ve read and remember what quotes I’ve loved.   

Here’s how to create a reading journal in five easy steps:

1. Choose a journal – there are so many options from pre-made book journals or blank journals that you customize.

2. Channel your inner book critic and determine how you want to format your reviews.

3. Grab your journaling supplies.

4. Create your book review.

5. (Optional) Add some spice with fun pages that keep track of your TBR list, favorite quotes, reading goals, reading log, etc.

Step 1: Choose your reading journal

There are so many different types of journals you can choose from, whether you decide to create your own or buy one that’s ready to go – but whether you buy a lined, dotted, blank, or pre-made journal, make sure you get one that’s sturdy and can handle daily use.

Here are some great pre-made reading journals/book trackers that I recommend:

KUNITSA CO. - Reading Journal

PPP - Reading Journal

PS - Reading Journal

If you’re looking to create your own custom reading journal, take a look at some of these journals that I love (and check out a few more in this post about my top 2024 journaling supplies):

YOP & TOM - Dot Grid Journal

SeQeS - Dot Grid Journal

Vivid - Dot Grid Journal

My recommendation is to use a grid dot journal because it offers you the most flexibility in terms of design and can also be used as a bullet journal – this way, you maximize what you’re using your journal for and don’t have to worry about wasting pages! This is what I use for my reading journal.

Step 2: Determine your review format

Ready to channel your inner critic? Here’s a quick list of things you can potentially include in your reviews – I’ve bolded the things that I record, but you don’t have to follow my method at all!

• Book title and cover image

• Name of author

• Genre

• Star rating

• Number of pages

• Personal thoughts/takeaways

• Favorite quotes

• Date read (or date started and ended)

• Date the book was published

• Spice level

• Format of book (i.e. audiobook, hardcover, e-book, paperback)

• Why you chose to read the book/who recommended it to you

• How much the book costs – great for keeping track of how much you’re spending!

• If you would recommend the book to a friend or family member

Remember, this is your reading journal, so you can put whatever information you want and as much or as little as you’d like.

Step 3: Grab your supplies

You can’t create or use a reading journal without pens (or other fun journaling supplies!). I use a lot of stickers, markers, and washi tapes for my reading journals – take a look at my post on my top 2024 journaling supplies.

Step 4: Create your book review

Here’s a tip – try different review formats to see what you like best. If you don’t love your original book review format, change it up the next time until you get it just right. 

Make sure you’re setting aside some time each week (or month) to rate and review the books you read so you stay on top of your reading list. Doing this regularly helps you remember what you’ve read and helps you stick to a journaling routine that you keep. 

Step 5: Add some fun pages

In addition to book reviews, I love adding extra pages that help me look back at my reading journey throughout the year. Here are some fun things you can add:

• TBR (to be read) gallery or list

• The number of pages you’ve read for the year

• Your reading goals – monthly or annually

• Book series that you started reading and how much you’ve read

• A habit tracker that tracks how often you read

• Reading challenges you join (Goodreads has a lot of great group challenges)

• Favorite quotes or book passages

Stay tuned for my next post, which will include more examples from my personal reading journal!