You finish a great novel, then a month later you can’t recall the title. Here is how to track books you have read: pick one simple method and log each book the day you finish it.
You will find more ideas for keeping a record among the reading lists collection.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Default Goodreads shelves | 3 shelves: Read, Currently Reading, Want to Read |
| Custom Goodreads shelves | As many categories as you want |
| Goodreads yearly challenge | A goal of reading a certain number of books |
| Goodreads cost for tracking | Free |
Figures come from the Goodreads blog and a public library tech tips post. Features can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Why tracking your reading is worth the small effort
A reading record answers the questions that memory loses: what did you read, when, and what did you think? It also stops you buying a second copy of a book you already own.
It does not have to be fancy. The best system is the one you will still use in March, so start with whatever feels easiest.
Whichever method you choose, a few details are worth capturing:
- Title and author
- The date you finished
- A star rating or a one-word verdict
- One line about why the book worked or did not
- Where you got it, such as an independent bookshop or the library
Paper options: notebooks, bullet journals and index cards
A plain notebook is the oldest method and still a good one. Write one line per book as you finish it, and leave room for a short note.
If you like drawing and layouts, a bullet journal spread lets you build a list, a rating grid or a simple shelf diagram. You could colour in a bar for each book to see a year at a glance.
Index cards work well if you want to sort by author, genre or rating. They are bulkier, but they are easy to rearrange.
- Pros: no screen, no account, fully private, and a lovely keepsake.
- Cons: hard to search, and easy to lose if you skip a few weeks.
Digital options: apps and websites
If you want searching, statistics and reminders, an app does the work for you. Goodreads is the best-known: a public library’s tech tips post describes it as a free way to track books read.
Its structure is simple. According to the Goodreads blog, the shelves page includes three default bookshelves: Read, Currently Reading, and Want to Read. You can add custom shelves for genres or for things like “up next” and “will come back later”.
Other reading apps exist, and features and pricing differ and change. Check a service’s site before you commit your list to one.
How to set up a simple digital reading log
Follow these steps and you will have a working log in one short sitting.
- Choose a service, or a spreadsheet if you prefer to own your data.
- Add the books you are reading now to a Currently Reading shelf or column.
- Add the books you hope to read to a Want to Read list.
- Back-fill past reads you remember, starting with favourites. Completeness is not the goal.
- When you finish a book, move it to Read and add a rating and a sentence of notes.
A spreadsheet needs only a few columns: title, author, date finished, rating, notes, format. Sort and filter it whenever you like.
Using shelves, tags and goals to get more from your list
A list of titles is useful. A list you can slice is better. Custom shelves, according to Goodreads, let you group books into as many unique categories as you want.
Ideas for shelves or tags include:
- Favourites you would reread
- Books bought from independent bookshops
- Borrowed from the library
- Gifts to recommend
- Did not finish
Goals can add momentum. The library post notes that readers can enter a yearly book challenge with the goal of reading a certain number of books, and that progress is shown throughout the year. If you want themes rather than a count, these reading challenge ideas offer several approaches.
Choosing how to track books you have read
Different readers need different things, so match the method to your habits rather than to what is fashionable. A few questions will help you pick.
- Do you enjoy handwriting? A notebook or bullet journal will feel like a pleasure, not a chore.
- Do you want search and sorting? A spreadsheet or app wins here, because you can filter by author, rating or year.
- Do you like sharing? Social apps let you follow friends and see what they are reading, as the library tech tips post explains.
- Do you value privacy? Paper or a local file keeps everything to yourself.
There is no rule against combining methods. One pairing is an app for the quick daily log and a notebook for longer thoughts on the books that really stayed with you.
Whatever you choose, give it a fair trial of a couple of months before judging it. Habits take time to settle, and a system that feels awkward in week one may feel natural by week eight.
Tracking physical books, library loans and ebooks together
Many readers mix formats: paperbacks from a local shop, borrowed hardbacks, ebooks and audiobooks. A good log notes the format so you can see how you read across the year.
A simple way to do this is a short code beside each title, such as “pb” for print, “eb” for ebook, “au” for audio and “lib” for library. In a spreadsheet, make it a column. In a notebook, add it in the margin.
If you buy from independent bookshops, it can be fun to jot down the shop’s name too. The entry then records where you found the book as well as what you thought of it.
For library loans, note the return date if it helps you plan. You can keep a small “borrowed” shelf or tag so they never forget to return a book or lose track of who lent them what.
Keeping the habit going
Most reading logs fail because they feel like homework. Make the habit small and attach it to something you already do.
- Log the book the same day you close it, while the ending is fresh.
- Keep notes short: one sentence is enough.
- Record unfinished books too. Knowing what you abandoned is useful.
- Review your list once a year and pick out patterns in what you loved.
Your record also becomes a handy guide for what to read next. If you notice you have skipped older titles, the best classic novels to read are a gentle place to begin.
If you change method later, that is fine. You can start in a notebook and move to an app, or the other way round, and keep both for different purposes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to track books you have read?
Show answer
A notebook or a free app with a Read shelf. Both need only a title and a finish date to be useful.
Do you need an account to keep a reading log?
Show answer
No. A paper notebook or a spreadsheet on your own device needs no account and keeps your list private.
How can you record books read years ago?
Show answer
Start with the ones you remember best and add them without dates or notes. Fill in more whenever you spot an old title on a shelf.
Should you track books you did not finish?
Show answer
Yes, if you want a complete picture. A separate shelf or tag for unfinished books keeps your Read count honest.
