I was going to start this blog post out by saying that I am an avid reader but I’m not sure that’s an accurate description of my reading habits, especially if you’re on booktok. Instead, let’s say I’m an above average reader, since most people read only 12 books a year and I read approximately double that. A couple of year ago I started tracking what I was reading in my regular bullet journal, but in the past few years, I’ve created a completely separate journal just to track my books. Today, I’m going to open the cover and take you inside my reading journal.
Inside my Reading Journal
The very first page you’ll find inside my reading journal is a cover page. Every year I try to keep this really simple. The first year my cover page was just a sticker and the year written under it. This year I got a little “extra” and traced the year really big and colored it in some of the colors I use in my journal. Below you will see the last three years worth of cover pages in my reading journal.
I also have a basic planning page as well. This page helps me remember what books I want to read during certain months. For example, if I know a book is coming out in March, I’ll put the book in March because I will likely read that book when it comes out. I sometimes also set themes for certain months as well. For example, I will often read a WWII novel in May to commemorate when the holocaust ended. There is also a “to be read” shelf page but I used it once and didn’t really use it/like it. It just didn’t work for me.
Tracker Pages
After my cover page, you will start to find my tracker pages inside my reading journal. These has evolved a lot over the past three years. The first year, I hand drew my trackers and I knew O needed to adjust how I was doing things moving forward. That’s when I created a reading journal printable! It really helped streamline things inside my reading journal. For those of you who don’t want to print things, I’ve also created a reading journal you can just order from Amazon. It has all of the same pages in the printable, but they’re all inside a nice little book.
The first of the two trackers I use now are my “When I Finished a Book” which tracks the days I finished a book, what kind of book it was, and where I got the book. The second tracker I use is a “Daily Reading Log”. Typically I track how many pages I read in a day using the Bookmory app on my phone and then once or twice a month, depending on when I finish a book, I will go inside my reading journal and transfer that information to the spread. It does seem kind of redundant, but it’s easier to track on my phone but easier to view habits and trends when it’s in the journal.
Challenge Pages
Once you get past the tracker pages, you’ll find a couple of challenge pages. I never thought about doing reading challenges (other than reaching my goal for the year) until recently. Last year I only did a reading bingo which was fun and I got a couple of bingos which was cool. This year, I also chose to do an alphabet challenge as well. I’m not sure if I’ll complete this but I figured it was worth a try.
Review Pages
The next pages in my reading journal are the review pages. In the printable, I have two different options for this. I typically don’t get too into detail with my reviews so I use the 4 to a page review sheets in my journal. I’ve also included a single page review for those who really like to get into detail with their reviews. The already printed book you can buy on Amazon only has the one page reviews. On the review pages I have a place to add a picture of the cover, all the pertinent details about the book, your star rating, and a space to write a review. They are simple but effective.
The Final Page Inside my Reading Journal
The last page you will find in my reading journal is my book of the year bracket. It’s typically pretty clear which book is going to be my favorite of the year but it’s fun to see how things shake out month to month. This year is going to be interesting because there are a couple of new releases I am looking forward to so we may have a pretty good bracket this year. I’ve actually included the bracket as a Freebie if you sign up for my newsletter (which you can do HERE)!
And that’s what’s inside my reading journal!
Keeping a reading journal has completely changed the way I track and reflect on my reading each year. From simple cover pages to detailed trackers, challenges, and reviews, it helps me stay organized and make the most of my reading life. Whether you prefer a printable version or a pre-made journal, having a dedicated space for your bookish thoughts can be both fun and motivating. If you’re looking to start your own reading journal, be sure to check out my free book bracket printable by signing up for my newsletter. Happy reading, and may your book stack always be full!
