A reading journal is a notebook where you record the books you read and what you thought of them. To keep one, set up a to-read list, a finished-books log and an index, then fill one short review page per book with the title, dates, rating, a favorite quote and a few lines of reflection.
Key Takeaways
- Track five core fields for every book (title and author, dates, rating, one quote, a short reflection) and add optional fields only when you will actually use them.
- Budget your pages before you start: about one page per book plus a few setup and wrap-up pages keeps a year of reading in a single notebook.
- A quote section with page numbers and a simple index turns your journal into something you can search, not just reread.
- A5 is the easiest all-round size; bookmarks and tabs make it fast to jump between your log, reviews and quotes.
What is a reading journal and why keep one?
A reading journal is a personal record of your reading life: what you read, when, how you felt about it and which lines you want to keep. It sits somewhere between a simple book log and a diary, and you can make it as plain or as decorated as you like.
Plenty of people have something to record. In a Pew Research Center survey of 8,046 U.S. adults conducted in October 2025, 75% said they had read all or part of at least one book in the previous 12 months, and roughly two-thirds had read a physical book (Pew Research Center, published April 9, 2026). Yet plot details, favorite characters and the exact wording of a great line are easy to lose once you move on to the next book. A reading journal fixes that by giving every book a page you can come back to.
The habit also has deep roots. Readers have long copied passages into personal notebooks, a practice known as keeping a commonplace book, which was taught in universities by the seventeenth century (Wikipedia: Commonplace book). If you are new to journaling in general, our guide on how to start journaling covers the basics of building a habit that lasts.
What to record: core and optional fields
Record five core fields for every book and treat everything else as optional. Core fields make your log complete and comparable from year to year; optional fields add color but also add time, so choose the ones that match why you read.
| Field | Type | What to write | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Title and author | Core | Full title, author, and translator if any | Makes the entry searchable in your index |
| Dates | Core | Started and finished (or abandoned) | Shows your reading pace and seasons |
| Rating | Core | Stars, a 1 to 5 score or a simple yes/maybe/no | Lets you spot favorites at a glance |
| Favorite quote | Core | One or two lines with the page number | Brings the book back to mind instantly |
| Reflection | Core | Three to five sentences on what stayed with you | The part you will value most later |
| Format | Optional | Print, e-book, audiobook, library copy | Useful if you are tracking habits |
| Genre and mood | Optional | Mystery, memoir, cozy, dark, hopeful | Helps you pick the next read |
| Characters | Optional | Names and one-line notes | Essential for long series and big casts |
| Who recommended it | Optional | Friend, podcast, book club, bookstore | Shows whose taste matches yours |
| Would I reread or gift it? | Optional | Yes or no, plus who would love it | Makes gift shopping easy later |
A good rule: if you skip an optional field three books in a row, drop it from your template. A shorter template you actually fill in beats a beautiful one you abandon by March.
How to set up a reading journal in six steps
Set up your journal in one sitting before your next book, so the structure is ready when you finish reading. The steps below fit into one evening and need only a notebook, a pen and something to mark pages.
- Choose one notebook. Keeping everything in one place matters more than the brand or cover. Dot grid pages make it easy to draw trackers and tables without a ruler.
- Number your pages and reserve an index. Leave the first two pages blank for an index where you list each book and its page number.
- Add a to-read list. One or two pages for books you want to read, with a small box to tick when you start one.
- Add a finished-books log. A numbered list with title, author, finish date and rating. This becomes your complete record, even for books you never review in full.
- Design one review template. Sketch the five core fields on a single page and reuse the same layout for every book so entries are easy to compare.
- Mark your sections. Use a ribbon, a bookmark or small tabs for the log, the current review and the quote section so you can open straight to them.
Plan your page budget for a year
Estimate how many books you read a year, then add setup and wrap-up pages to see how much notebook you need. This avoids the common problem of running out of pages in October or carrying half-empty notebooks into a new year.
| Books per year | Setup pages (index, lists, log) | Review pages (1 per book) | Monthly or yearly wrap-ups | Approximate total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 6 | 12 | 13 | About 31 pages |
| 24 | 6 | 24 | 13 | About 43 pages |
| 52 | 8 | 52 | 13 | About 73 pages |
| 100 | 10 | 50 (review half, log the rest) | 13 | About 73 pages |
These are planning estimates based on one page per review and one page per month plus a yearly summary. If you write long reviews or add a quote section, double the review pages. Heavy readers often log every book in the list but write full reviews only for the books that matter most.
10 reading journal layout ideas
The best layouts are simple enough to fill in quickly and visual enough to make you want to open the journal. Here are ten ideas described in words, so you can draw them in any notebook without a printable.
1. The one-page book review
Title and author across the top, dates and rating in a small box on the right, a quote in the middle, and the reflection at the bottom. This is the workhorse layout most readers use for every book.
2. The bookshelf tracker
Draw a row of book spines on a shelf, one spine per finished book. Write the title vertically and color the spine by genre or rating. Over a year, the shelf fills up and shows your reading at a glance.
3. The monthly reading log
A small table for each month with columns for title, format, pages and rating. Add a one-line "book of the month" at the bottom of each table.
4. The to-read jar
Draw a jar and fill it with small rectangles, each a book you want to read. Shade a rectangle when you start that book. It is a friendlier way to face a long to-read list.
5. The genre wheel
A circle split into slices for the genres you read. Shade a little of a slice for each book, and by year end you can see whether you read as widely as you hoped.
6. The series tracker
One row per series with a box for each volume. Tick the box when you finish a book and add a short note on where the story left off, so you can pick up the next volume months later.
7. The quote collection
A few pages in the back for favorite lines, each with the book title and page number. Group them by theme, such as courage, home or grief, to turn them into a small commonplace book.
8. The character map
For big casts, write the main character in the center and connect others with lines labeled "sister", "rival" or "mentor". It makes long fantasy series and family sagas much easier to follow.
9. The book club page
Discussion questions you want to raise, page references for scenes you want to talk about, and a space after the meeting for what others noticed that you did not.
10. The year-end wrap-up
Your top five books, the best quote of the year, the longest and shortest reads, and three books you want to read next year. It is the page you will enjoy rereading most.
Quote collecting and indexing
Write every quote with its book title and page number, then give each quote a short theme word so you can find it again. Without page numbers and themes, a quote section quickly turns into a pile of lines you cannot place.
The idea of sorting passages by subject is centuries old. In 1706, John Locke's treatise A New Method of Making Common-Place-Books set out techniques for entering quotations and ideas, arranged by subject, and his method also offered a popular way to build an index (Wikipedia: Commonplace book). You can borrow the same logic in a modern reading journal:
- Theme words: write one or two theme words in the margin next to each quote, such as "hope" or "work".
- Theme index: on your index page, list each theme with the page numbers where it appears.
- Color code: use one highlighter color per theme if you prefer to scan visually.
- Cross-reference: on the book review page, note "quotes on p. 84" so the review and the quote section point to each other.
Bookmarks make this system fast in daily use. Keep one in your current review, one in the quote section and one in your log. A slim marker like the brass leaf bookmark with tassel or a flat vegan leather strap bookmark adds very little bulk, and you can find more markers, stencils and tools in our stamps and journal tools collection. For a deeper look at the theme-based approach, see what is a commonplace book.
Choosing a notebook size for a reading journal
Choose A5 if you want one page per review and a notebook that sits comfortably beside your book; choose A6 for portability and B5 for big trackers. Under the ISO 216 standard, A5 measures 148 x 210 mm, A6 measures 105 x 148 mm and B5 measures 176 x 250 mm (Wikipedia: ISO 216).
| Size | Dimensions (ISO 216) | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| A6 | 105 x 148 mm | Carrying daily, quick logs, quotes on the go | Tight for full reviews and trackers |
| A5 | 148 x 210 mm | One-page reviews, monthly logs, most layouts above | Slightly bulky for small bags |
| B5 | 176 x 250 mm | Bookshelf trackers, character maps, long notes | Best kept at home |
Paper matters too. Dot grid pages help you draw layouts neatly, and a thread-bound notebook is easier to keep open on a table while you copy a quote. The A5 hardcover dot grid journal is one option, and you can compare more formats in our notebooks and planners collection. For a full size comparison, read notebook sizes explained.
Tips for keeping your reading journal going
Write your entry within a day of finishing a book, while it is fresh, and keep the template short. Most reading journals stall not from lack of interest but because each entry feels like homework.
- Keep the journal where you read, not on a shelf.
- Write the log line first; the full review can wait a day or two.
- Allow "did not finish" entries. Knowing why you stopped is useful too.
- Add a sticker, stamp or sketch only when you feel like it, never as a requirement.
- Reread last year's wrap-up page every January to choose new reading goals.
A reading journal also makes a thoughtful present for the reader in your life. Our gifts for book lovers guide pairs notebooks with bookmarks and other small extras.
Frequently asked questions
What are good things to put in a journal?
In a reading journal, the most useful entries are the title and author, the dates you started and finished, a quick rating, one or two favorite quotes with page numbers, and a few sentences on what stayed with you. Lists also work well: books to read, books you gave up on, and books you would gift to a friend.
How do I start a reading journal?
Pick one notebook, number the pages, and set up three things before you read your next book: an index page, a to-read list and a finished-books log. Then add one review page each time you finish a book. Decorate later if you like; the log matters more than the look.
What size notebook is best for a reading journal?
A5 is the most flexible choice because a full review fits on one page and the notebook still sits next to the book you are reading. A6 is better if you want to carry it in a bag every day, and B5 suits readers who like big tracker spreads and long notes.
Do I have to write a review for every book?
No. Log every book in a one-line list so your record stays complete, and save full review pages for the books you want to remember in detail. Many readers write longer entries only for favorites, book club picks and books they plan to reread.
Is a reading journal the same as a commonplace book?
They overlap but are not the same. A reading journal is usually organized book by book, while a commonplace book collects quotes and ideas under subject headings so you can find them by theme. Many readers keep a quote section in the back of their reading journal that works like a small commonplace book.
Start your reading journal
All you need is one good notebook, a pen and a couple of bookmarks. Browse our notebooks and planners to find a size that fits the way you read, set up your index and log tonight, and let your next finished book be the first page.
