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On the Lookout for a Reading Journal
Apr. 21st, 2025 01:57 pm
Lately, I’ve been leaving my iPad untouched at night and instead reaching for my Kindle Scribe—a quiet little shift that’s completely changed how I end my days. (The Kindle Scribe is also a notebook and planner, but that’s a post for another time.) Since making that switch, I’ve read almost six books in the last two months, which is more than I’ve read in a while, and I’m realizing that I really need a reading journal to track everything.
But I don’t want just any journal. I want something that fits how I read, what I value, and how I think about books.
Avoiding Tracking My Reading Online
I’ve tried GoodReads—and while it works for my author page, I really dislike using it as a reader. The community can be... intense. I’ve also used LibraryThing, which I actually enjoy for keeping a full catalog of my books and wishlists.
But when it comes to actually logging what I’ve read and how I felt? I’d rather keep that offline and to myself.
I don’t enjoy leaving harsh reviews, especially as someone who writes. Even if I didn’t love a book, I don’t want to hurt the author’s feelings—or worse, get into an online argument with internet strangers about it. That said, I do want to track things like my favorite scenes, notable quotes, and just a general impression of what I’ve read. And I want to do it on paper.
Reading Journal Requirements
I’m not trying to build a bullet journal from scratch or turn this into a second job. I just want something simple, low-pressure, and thoughtfully designed. Here’s what I’m keeping in mind as I browse:
Possible Options So Far
Erin Condren Book Lovers Reading Log & Journal
Of course Erin Condren has a planner for readers. It’s big, it’s full of extras, and it’s the most expensive option I’ve seen. I’m not shocked—it’s on-brand. It looks nice, but it’s also large and a little overbuilt for what I need. I wish they made this in their Petite Planner format. Not ruling it out completely, but it feels like more planner than I’m looking for right now.
Clever Fox Reading Journal
Clever Fox comes through again. This one’s shorter, smaller, and cheaper, but feels like a lot of work. Each book entry asks for detailed ratings on things like characters, plot, writing, entertainment value, which is great if you want a comprehensive review log, but not so great if you're looking for something more casual. I already have a job; I don’t need my reading journal to give me homework.
Creator’s Friend Storylines Friend
I’ve used this one before for tracking TV shows, and it actually checks a lot of boxes. It’s compact, simple, and doesn’t ask too much of me. The Storylines Friends are multimedia, which means I can definitely use one for books—and I might! But as I mentioned previously, Creator’s Friend ships from Australia, and while I love their planners, the shipping takes a while. Still on the table, though.
Something from Etsy
Just because I don’t want to design a reading journal myself doesn’t mean I’m not open to supporting someone who has. There are a ton of creative, handmade options on Etsy. I might spend a little time browsing to see if someone’s already built exactly what I’m looking for: something small, thoughtful, and no-frills.
(Almost) Final Thoughts
I haven’t found the one yet, but I’m narrowing it down. I’m also not going digital—at least not for this. I can definitely see the benefits of using my Kindle Scribe for notes and highlights, but for now, I want something physical that I can flip through, scribble in, and return to over time.
Once I choose one, I'll definitely follow up with a post about it, and then another after I've used it for a while. I’ll also be back with my thoughts on the Scribe as both an e-reader and notebook!
But I don’t want just any journal. I want something that fits how I read, what I value, and how I think about books.
Avoiding Tracking My Reading Online
I’ve tried GoodReads—and while it works for my author page, I really dislike using it as a reader. The community can be... intense. I’ve also used LibraryThing, which I actually enjoy for keeping a full catalog of my books and wishlists.
But when it comes to actually logging what I’ve read and how I felt? I’d rather keep that offline and to myself.
I don’t enjoy leaving harsh reviews, especially as someone who writes. Even if I didn’t love a book, I don’t want to hurt the author’s feelings—or worse, get into an online argument with internet strangers about it. That said, I do want to track things like my favorite scenes, notable quotes, and just a general impression of what I’ve read. And I want to do it on paper.
Reading Journal Requirements
I’m not trying to build a bullet journal from scratch or turn this into a second job. I just want something simple, low-pressure, and thoughtfully designed. Here’s what I’m keeping in mind as I browse:
- Size: Preferably small and not overwhelmingly long. Ideally under 150 pages. A5 might even be too big for this one.
- Layout: Space for title, author, format (print/ebook/audiobook), maybe start and end date, a rating, and a few notes. Genre would be a nice bonus.
- Design: I don’t need reading lists, trackers, or giant challenge pages. Those just stress me out and make me feel like I’m falling behind.
- Cost: I don’t want to spend more than $25 USD on this thing. I’ve got enough expensive stationery habits.
Possible Options So Far
Erin Condren Book Lovers Reading Log & Journal
Of course Erin Condren has a planner for readers. It’s big, it’s full of extras, and it’s the most expensive option I’ve seen. I’m not shocked—it’s on-brand. It looks nice, but it’s also large and a little overbuilt for what I need. I wish they made this in their Petite Planner format. Not ruling it out completely, but it feels like more planner than I’m looking for right now.
Clever Fox Reading Journal
Clever Fox comes through again. This one’s shorter, smaller, and cheaper, but feels like a lot of work. Each book entry asks for detailed ratings on things like characters, plot, writing, entertainment value, which is great if you want a comprehensive review log, but not so great if you're looking for something more casual. I already have a job; I don’t need my reading journal to give me homework.
Creator’s Friend Storylines Friend
I’ve used this one before for tracking TV shows, and it actually checks a lot of boxes. It’s compact, simple, and doesn’t ask too much of me. The Storylines Friends are multimedia, which means I can definitely use one for books—and I might! But as I mentioned previously, Creator’s Friend ships from Australia, and while I love their planners, the shipping takes a while. Still on the table, though.
Something from Etsy
Just because I don’t want to design a reading journal myself doesn’t mean I’m not open to supporting someone who has. There are a ton of creative, handmade options on Etsy. I might spend a little time browsing to see if someone’s already built exactly what I’m looking for: something small, thoughtful, and no-frills.
(Almost) Final Thoughts
I haven’t found the one yet, but I’m narrowing it down. I’m also not going digital—at least not for this. I can definitely see the benefits of using my Kindle Scribe for notes and highlights, but for now, I want something physical that I can flip through, scribble in, and return to over time.
Once I choose one, I'll definitely follow up with a post about it, and then another after I've used it for a while. I’ll also be back with my thoughts on the Scribe as both an e-reader and notebook!
