How to Start a Reading Journal: A Beginner’s Guide

If you love books, starting a reading journal is a lovely way to make more of your reading life. It gives you somewhere to record the books you finish, remember your favourite stories and keep track of the titles you want to read next.

A reading journal can be as simple or as creative as you like. You might prefer a notebook filled with short reviews and reading lists, or you could create colourful pages with illustrations, book ratings and monthly reading challenges. There is no single right way to do it. It’s one of those wonderful little hobbies we can all do from the comfort of our own home.

If you have been wondering how to start a reading journal, the good news is that you only need a notebook, a pen and a little inspiration. Here is how to create one that works for you.

What is a reading journal?

A reading journal is a personal record of the books you read and your thoughts about them. Some readers use theirs to track reading progress, while others enjoy writing reviews, recording favourite quotes or creating themed lists.

It can also help you remember books long after you have finished them. Have you ever recommended a novel to someone and struggled to remember what happened in it? A few notes in a reading journal can make it much easier to recall the plot, characters and reasons you enjoyed it.

Your journal can cover fiction, non-fiction, poetry, audiobooks, ebooks or anything else you read. It is your personal space, so you can decide what belongs in it.

Step 1: Choose the right reading journal

The first step is choosing a format that you will enjoy using.

Use a simple notebook

A blank notebook is a good starting point because you can organise it however you want. You do not need an expensive journal or one designed specifically for reading.

A lined notebook works well for reviews and notes, while a dotted or blank notebook gives you more freedom to create layouts.

Try a reading journal with prompts

If you find it difficult to know what to write, a guided journal can provide helpful prompts. These might include the title, author, date finished, favourite character and overall rating.

This can be a good option if you want a little structure without designing every page yourself.

Create a digital reading journal

If you prefer using your phone, tablet or computer, you can keep your reading notes digitally. A document, spreadsheet or digital notebook can work just as well as paper.

Digital journals are particularly useful if you want to search your notes or update a list of books you would like to read.

Choose the format that suits your habits rather than the one that looks most impressive online.

Step 2: Create a book tracking page

One of the most useful reading journal ideas for beginners is a simple book tracker.

Create a page where you can record every book you read during the year. You might include:

• Book title
• Author
• Genre
• Date started
• Date finished
• Format, such as paperback, ebook or audiobook
• Rating out of five
• A short note about your overall impression

You could organise the tracker by month or keep one continuous list throughout the year.

A book tracker can be satisfying because it allows you to look back over your reading habits. You may discover that you read more historical fiction than you realised or that you have been meaning to explore a different genre.

Do not worry about setting a target for how many books you should finish. The tracker is there to help you enjoy your reading, not turn it into a competition.

Step 3: Make a to-be-read list

A to-be-read list, often shortened to TBR, is a place to collect the books you want to read in the future.

You can add titles recommended by friends, books you discover in a bookshop, novels mentioned in reviews or non-fiction subjects you want to explore.

Try leaving some space beside each title to record where you heard about it or why it interests you.

You could also divide your list into categories, such as:

• Fiction to read
• Non-fiction to explore
• Books recommended by friends
• Classics I have always wanted to read
• Books already on my shelves
• Seasonal reading ideas

Your TBR list does not have to be completed in a particular order. Think of it as a collection of possibilities rather than another list of tasks.

Step 4: Create a page for each book

When you finish a book, dedicate a page or section to it. You do not need to write a long review every time. Even a few notes can help you remember your thoughts.

Here are some useful prompts:

Book title and author: Record the basic details.

What is the book about? Write a short summary in your own words.

What did I enjoy most? Perhaps it was the characters, the setting, the writing style or an unexpected twist.

Was there anything I disliked? You might have found the pacing slow or struggled to connect with a particular character.

Who would I recommend it to? Consider the kind of reader who might enjoy it.

Would I read more by this author? Make a note if the book has encouraged you to explore their other work.

My rating: Give it a score if you find ratings useful.

Try to write your thoughts soon after finishing the book, while the details are still fresh in your mind.

Step 5: Add favourite quotes and memorable passages

One of the nicest things about keeping a reading journal is having somewhere to record passages that stay with you.

You might come across a beautiful description, a line that makes you laugh or an idea that changes how you think about something. Recording a short quotation, together with the page number and edition where appropriate, can help you find it again.

You can also write down why the passage mattered to you. Sometimes the personal note becomes more meaningful than the quotation itself.

If you share extracts publicly, keep copyright in mind and avoid reproducing substantial passages from books.

Step 6: Make your reading journal personal

You do not need artistic skills to create an attractive journal. However, if you enjoy being creative, there are plenty of ways to make your pages feel special.

Try using a colour for each genre, adding small illustrations, sticking in bookshop receipts or creating a monthly reading collage. You could also include photographs of your favourite books or make a page inspired by a particular novel.

If decorating every page feels like too much effort, keep things simple. A neat heading and a few handwritten notes can be just as effective.

The most important thing is to create a journal that makes you want to return to it.

Reading journal ideas to try

Once you have the basics in place, you can add extra pages whenever you feel inspired.

Here are some ideas:

1. A list of your favourite books of all time.
2. A monthly reading wrap-up.
3. A page for books you abandoned and why.
4. A list of authors you want to explore.
5. Your favourite fictional characters.
6. Books set in different countries.
7. A classic literature reading challenge.
8. Books you would like to reread.
9. Your favourite bookshop discoveries.
10. A list of books recommended by friends and family.

You might also enjoy creating seasonal reading lists, such as atmospheric novels for autumn or uplifting books for summer.

How to keep up with your reading journal

The easiest way to maintain a reading journal is to make it part of a habit you already have.

You could write a few notes whenever you finish a book, update your tracker on Sunday evenings or spend ten minutes organising your TBR list at the beginning of each month.

Avoid making the process so elaborate that it takes time away from reading itself. If you fall behind, simply start again with your next book. There is no need to fill in every missing detail.

Remember that your journal does not have to look perfect, and you do not need to document every book you have ever read.

Final thoughts

Learning how to start a reading journal can be a lovely way to make reading feel even more rewarding. It helps you remember the books you have enjoyed, discover patterns in your reading habits and collect ideas for what to read next.

Start with a notebook and a simple book tracker. Add reviews, favourite quotes and creative pages if you enjoy them, but do not feel that you have to include everything.

Ultimately, the best reading journal is one that reflects your own relationship with books. Keep it simple, make it personal and let it develop naturally as you read.