How to Start a Reading Journal: Simple Ideas for Book Lovers

Finished a brilliant book, then forgotten the character names when someone asks about it? A reading journal gives you a place to keep the details, feelings and recommendations you want to remember.

You don't need elaborate artwork or a perfectly colour-coded tracker. If you're wondering how to start a reading journal, begin with a notebook, a pen and the book you're reading now. Here's a simple setup you can adapt as you go.

What is a reading journal?

A reading journal is a personal record of your reading life. It can hold a list of books you've finished, short reviews, favourite quotes, book club questions and titles you'd like to read next.

Unlike a public review, an entry doesn't have to make sense to anyone else. “Loved the ending, wanted more of the best friend” is a perfectly useful note if it helps you remember your response.

1. Choose a notebook you'll enjoy using

Start with a format that suits you. Lined pages work well for written reflections, blank pages leave room for drawing, and dot grid pages provide a guide for tables and layouts without fixing their shape.

If you'd like a dot grid option, Bookish Store's Foliage A5 Dot Grid Journal has 192 pages, a 5mm dot grid and 160gsm paper. It also features an elastic closure, two ribbon bookmarks and a back pocket.

The Mystic A5 Dot Grid Journal and Castle A5 Dot Grid Journal offer alternative designs with the same page count, dot spacing and paper weight. Choose the design you'll be happy to reach for, rather than feeling you need a particular aesthetic.

2. Set up a simple reading log

Use your first spread for a reading log. Draw four columns: book title, author, date finished and a quick impression. Leave enough space for a short phrase such as “comfort read” or “couldn't put it down”.

You can add a rating column if you enjoy scoring books, but it's optional. A journal can be useful without turning every story into a number.

Start with your current book. You don't have to reconstruct everything you've ever read before you can begin.

3. Make a repeatable book-entry layout

Give each book a page, or half a page if you prefer brief notes. Write the title and author at the top, then add the date you finished and a few thoughts.

Try these five prompts:

• What was the book about, in my own words?
• What stayed with me after the final page?
• Which character or idea interested me most?
• What worked for me, and what didn't?
• Who would I recommend it to?

You don't need to answer every prompt every time. Choose the ones that help you capture your experience, and leave the rest.

4. Keep a manageable to-be-read list

Reserve a few pages for books you'd like to read. Record the title, author and why it caught your attention. You might also note who recommended it or whether you already own a copy.

A short “read next” section can be more useful than one enormous list. Pick a few books you're genuinely excited about and revisit the list when your mood changes. It's a menu, not a set of obligations.

5. Save favourite quotes with context

When a line stands out, record it with the book title, author and page number or ebook location. Add a sentence explaining why it mattered to you. That context makes the entry more meaningful when you return to it later.

For physical books, a Small Town Romance Book Magnetic Bookmark can mark your place while you pause to write a note. It folds over a page using two round magnets. Remove it gently when you're ready to keep reading.

6. Add book club notes if you need them

If you read with a group, use one section of your entry for questions to bring to the discussion. Try “Did the ending change how you understood the beginning?” or “Which decision would you have made differently?”

After the meeting, jot down one interpretation you hadn't considered. Keeping your thoughts from before and after the discussion can be an interesting way to see how your reading experience develops.

7. Build a habit that stays enjoyable

Choose a small moment for journalling, such as a few minutes after finishing a book or before your next book club meeting. A brief entry you actually write is more useful than a complicated spread you keep putting off.

If you miss a book, simply start again with the next one. There's no need to backfill every blank space or apologise to your notebook.

Optional reading journal ideas to try later

Once the basics feel comfortable, add a monthly favourites page, a reread list or a collection of recommendations for friends. You could track genres to explore, books borrowed or stories you want to revisit.

If you enjoy decorating, leave room for doodles and colour. If you don't, plain handwriting is enough. Test unfamiliar pens on a small area first rather than assuming every ink will behave the same way on your paper.

Your first entry can be simple

Write the title of your current book, why you chose it and one thing you're curious about. That's a reading journal entry already.

Explore Bookish Store's Foliage, Mystic and Castle A5 dot grid journals if you're ready to choose a notebook. Then make it yours, one book at a time.