Journal Prompts After Finishing a Book: 15 Deep Questions

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Overhead view of a coffee table with a cup of coffee, an open reading journal, and a pen, ready for journal prompts after finishing a book.
Overhead view of a coffee table with a cup of coffee, an open reading journal, and a pen, ready for journal prompts after finishing a book.

Looking for journal prompts to use after finishing a book? These deep prompts will help you write a review that goes beyond “I liked it, 4 stars.”

You’ve just finished a book you thoroughly enjoyed. It made you think about your own life in ways you hadn’t before. While you read, you felt the characters’ emotions and rode their ups and downs right along with them. This book really moved you.

So you open your reading journal, write the title in your reading log, and beside it you scribble “I loved this!” and a 4-star rating (because nothing merits 5 stars, right?).

Sound familiar?

It’s one of the classic readers’ dilemmas. You wanted to write so much more, but you found yourself staring at a blank space, feeling like all your ideas evaporated the moment you went to write your review.

The secret weapon to fix this? The right questions.

In this article:

Before we dive in, just a quick primer on how to use these prompts: think of these journal prompts as inspiration, not a rigid checklist. You definitely don’t need to try answering every single one for every book. Instead, use them to guide your thoughts, spark your imagination, or even help you tailor your own questions to the books you read.

New to reading journals? Start with our simple setup guide, then come back here.

Tips for using these journal prompts

Before you start your full review

Resist the urge to jump online to read reviews. It can be tempting to go online immediately and read reviews on the book you’ve just read. Hold off from doing that, at least until you’ve sorted through your own thoughts and feelings first. This way you’ll capture your own uninfluenced view of the book and how it impacted you.

Capture your gut reaction right away. In the first hour after finishing the book, write some rough notes, just your unfiltered thoughts about the book. This doesn’t have to be exhaustive. It’s more of an emotional brain dump. Focus on your feelings. The point here is to capture your raw emotions before your mind rationalizes later. You can use this as your first pass and there are quick questions below to help you with this.

Sleep on it for deeper insights. Step away from the book overnight. Sleep isn’t just your body shutting down for the night. It’s an active time when your brain sorts and stabilizes the day’s memories behind the scenes, and researchers think this may also support creative insight and well-being.

Tips for writing your full review

Always dig into the why behind your reactions. If you write down something like “chapter 3 was so frustrating,” don’t leave it at that—explain what triggered it! For example: “The characters had a perfect shot at stopping the disaster right there, and they completely blew it.”

Try to add references to the book. A quote, a passage, a chapter heading, a retelling of a moment from the book in your own words. This provides a supporting structure for your insights on the book and can help trigger more feelings for you to capture.

Try to write full sentences instead of just dropping short phrases. For example, instead of just writing down “slow pacing,” explain exactly what you mean. Does it mean “there were way too many subplots and extra characters pulling focus from the main plot”? Or maybe “the book got so bogged down in scene descriptions that the story ground to a halt”? Whatever it is, spell out the full meaning rather than just using a basic, one-word descriptor. This way, when you return weeks or months later to read your own review, you won’t be left scratching your head trying to understand what you meant.

Quick Journal Prompts to Answer Right After Finishing a Book

Answer these quick journal prompts within an hour of finishing your book. Just write one or two sentences for each, and don’t worry about neatness or grammar.

Gut Reactions

  • When you finished the last page, how did that make you feel, in just one or two words?
  • What are you thinking about right now, in your own life?

Your Snap Verdict

  • What is your immediate rating for this book and do you think that could change tomorrow?
  • In one line: what did you expect going in, and did the book match it?

What’s Still Echoing

  • Any scene or image from the book that is stuck in your head right now?
  • Are there any parts of the book that were confusing, or you would need to reread to fully process?

Once you’ve jotted these down, step away and sleep on it.

Deep Journal Prompts to Use After Finishing a Book

These journal prompts are for your second pass, once your first impressions are captured and you’ve taken at least a day away from the book. Pick the two or three prompts that fit best rather than answering them all. For nonfiction, swap the character questions for the people and topics the author writes about.

Journal Prompts on Characters

These journal prompts help you tease out how you felt about people in the story and what made you feel that way.

  1. Who was the main character, how did the events of the story change them, and what did they want versus what they actually needed?
    Great stories usually explore the gap between what a character thinks they want and what they actually need. In A Christmas Carol, for example, Scrooge wants wealth and security, but what he needs is human connection. Try to name both for your main character, then ask whether they ever learned to notice the difference.
  2. Which characters did you like most and least, and why?
    You can sometimes find yourself connecting with characters, or being repelled by them, for reasons that aren’t obvious. Was it their courage, tenacity, sense of humor, or maybe they reminded you of someone? Try identifying those reasons.
  3. Which characters (or choices they made) frustrated or annoyed you, and do you think the author meant them to?
    It might have served the story for a character to have frustrated you, or it could have been a flaw in the writing. Think about whether the choices felt believable, taught the character something, or went nowhere.

Journal Prompts on Plot and Pacing

These help you go deeper than “dragged out” or “fast-paced” in your reviews.

  1. What was the most emotional moment in the book for you, and what led up to it?
    This cuts straight to the heart of the book’s success for you, as the reader. Big, emotional payoffs only work if the author successfully builds a connection to the characters beforehand. Pinpointing this moment reveals exactly how well, or how poorly, the narrative groundwork was laid.
  2. Where were you most absorbed, and where did you drift or want to skim? What was different about those stretches?
    This examines the pacing and flow of the book and also your own reading habits. It’s possible you had a bad reading day and that’s what made you drift or want to skim. It’s also possible the story was sidetracked with tangents or characters that didn’t interest you. Thinking about which parts kept you hooked versus which parts lost your attention helps you spot patterns in the writing and your own reading tastes.

Journal Prompts on the Ending and Setting

These help you go beyond “good ending” and “nice setting”.

  1. How did the ending work for you? Did it feel earned, given the story and choices the characters made?
    Great endings tend to be earned through ideas or clues planted earlier in the story. Even if a final twist catches you by surprise, ask yourself whether you could have seen it coming in hindsight. Ask whether the ending felt plausible, separate from whether it gave the characters you cared about what you wished for, this helps you write a stronger, fairer review.
  2. How did the world of the book (its place, time, and mood) influence the story?
    Authors often create a backdrop world that can be as important as main characters and help drive the narrative in its own right. For example, a historical war, a town in the old American West or a mythical world. Think about how this backdrop was built in the story, how the characters interacted with this world and talked about it. Think about whether this story would have worked as well without this backdrop.

Journal Prompts on Ideas and Themes

These push past the plot toward what the book is really saying.

  1. Beneath the plot, what do you think this book was really about?
    This prompt explores the underlying theme of the story. A fantasy quest might really be about sacrifice. A book on a small band of survivors in a war might be about the power of human connection. State what you think the book was really about in a single sentence, then cite some moments (at least two) from the story that support your reasoning.
  2. What question did the book seem to ask, and did it ever answer it?
    Authors will sometimes pose a question with their book. In the classic Frankenstein, the question asked might be “what does a creator owe to their creation?” Think about what you believe the question being asked was and whether you think it was directly answered in the book, or left open for the reader to answer.

Journal Prompts on the Writing Craft

These give you the words to describe how the book was written, not just what happened.

  1. How would you describe the writing style, and did it suit this story or could a different style have worked better?
    The writing style is how the story was written on the page, rather than the actual plot. The style is found in the narrator’s voice and point of view, the choice of words and sentence lengths, whether it was funny or more formal, and so on.

    Two books with similar themes and plots can feel completely different because of their writing styles. For example, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale are both books set in cruel, totalitarian worlds, where a character risks everything for a thin slice of freedom. In 1984 the narration is third-person, cold and bureaucratic, making the oppression seem vast and impersonal. The Handmaid’s Tale has first-person narration, drifting between past and present, with poetic irony, making the oppression seem more intimate and personal.

    A cold, clinical tone can suit a bleak story, or it can keep you at a distance. Think about whether the voice fit the material for you.
  2. Which quote, line, or idea struck a chord with you, and why?
    This could be a direct quote, or an idea that was developed in the book that you summarize in your own words. Think about why this stood out to you. Maybe you agreed with the idea, maybe you disagreed with it, maybe it was something familiar, or maybe it was a completely fresh perspective for you.

Journal Prompts on You as a Reader: Expectations and Perspective

These connect the book to your own life and make your review more personal and useful to others.

  1. What were your initial expectations for this book, and did it meet, defy, or completely ignore them?
    Before reading a single page, you may have formed expectations about a book from its title, cover, recommendations, or anything else. Sometimes a book disappoints only because you were expecting a different one. Asking yourself this question helps expose that bias for you. This can move your review past “this wasn’t what I wanted” and into a more thoughtful critique of how well the book actually executed on its vision. If you jotted down a quick answer on your expectations using the immediate questions, use it as your starting point here.
  2. Would you have enjoyed this book five years ago? Why or why not?
    Your perspective can change dramatically as you go through life. This question challenges you to examine your reaction to the book through that lens. Many young women identify strongly with the Jo March character in Little Women, then find themselves at a different stage in life identifying more strongly with her mother Marmee. This question helps you think about how your experiences have shaped your opinions and write a review that appreciates other perspectives. For example, “this didn’t work for me, but someone going through career struggles might really connect with it.” Start by thinking about what’s changed for you, such as new responsibilities, a loss, or how much patience you have for stories that take time to develop.

Journal Prompts on You as a Reader: Impact and Recommendations

  1. How did this book change your mood, mindset, or plans, even slightly?
    Some books can leave a lasting impression on you. This question helps you notice what changed for you, if anything. Maybe it made you want to call your mother, or hug your kids tighter, or start a conversation with a co-worker. If the book had no effect on you at all, then think about why that might have been and add that to your review.
  2. Who would you recommend this book to, and who might want to skip it?
    This question helps you think about the book from the perspective of other potential readers. You may have loved the book, but also know that your best friend wouldn’t like it at all, or vice versa. Think about some of the reasons for that. This can add real depth to your review, shifting it from a simple “I liked or didn’t like this book” to a much more helpful “Here is who I think this book is, and isn’t, for.”

Before-and-After Example: Journal Prompts in Action

Let’s put the prompts to work on a real book. First, a typical “before” review: a star rating and a quick comment. Then an “after” review built from three of the deep journal prompts.

Before review of The Great Gatsby

4 stars. I loved this book. Set in New York in the 1920s, it is a story of rags to riches and chasing a dream.

After review of The Great Gatsby

Prompts used: #1, #10, #15

4 stars. Jay Gatsby grew up poor and completely changed his life to become extraordinarily wealthy. He has only one goal: winning back Daisy, the woman he fell in love with years ago. Gatsby wants to hide his past and live an upper-class life with the girl of his dreams. However, what he really needs is to accept that the past is gone, stop chasing a fantasy, and find real meaning in his life. The struggle between what he wants and what is actually real drives the whole story.

Nick Carraway tells the story, and the writing pairs poetic language that makes the upper-class world feel dazzling with ironic humor that shows how selfish and shallow the wealthy can be. Nick isn’t a personal witness to all of the events and can only guess what others are feeling, so I did wonder whether hearing directly from Gatsby or Daisy, or from a narrator outside the story, might have given the characters more depth.

You might like this book if you enjoy stories based on America in the 1920s and poetic writing with symbolic imagery, just like my mom does. However, my teenage kids had to read it for school and for them it was slow and dull. If you want an exciting story with lots of action, you should probably skip it.

How the deep journal prompts shaped the review

Question #1: Want versus need

Who was the main character, how did the events of the story change them, and what did they want versus what they actually needed?

Jay Gatsby was the main character. After growing up poor, he reinvented himself and learned to blend into high society. His sole focus became getting rich enough to win back Daisy, the woman he loved. Gatsby wanted to bury his past and live an aristocratic life with the idealized woman he remembered. What he actually needed was to face reality, recognize that his dream might be an illusion, and find genuine meaning elsewhere.

Question #10: Writing style

How would you describe the writing style, and did it suit this story or could a different style have worked better?

Nick Carraway, a character from the book, tells the story looking back. The author mixes poetic writing with dry humor. The poetic writing evokes images of the lavish upper-class lifestyle, while the dry humor is used to show how selfish and shallow the wealthy people in the story are. The book might have been better if we got to read thoughts directly from Gatsby or Daisy, or from a narrator who wasn’t part of the story. Since Nick wasn’t witness to every event and has to guess what others are feeling, Tom and Daisy can seem more one-dimensional than real humans.

Question #15: Who it’s for

Who would you recommend this book to, and who might want to skip it?

Both my teenage son and daughter had to read this book for school, and neither of them enjoyed it because they found it slow and boring. Based on their reaction and my own reading, I might tell teenagers, or anyone looking for a fast-paced story packed with action and excitement, to skip it. On the other hand, I would recommend it to someone like my mother, or to any reader who enjoys historical stories about a bygone era in America and appreciates poetic prose and symbolism.

Three prompts turned a one-line star rating into a review someone could actually use to decide whether to pick up the book.

Conclusion: Using Journal Prompts to Find Your Voice

The next time you finish reading a book and reach for your journal to write your thoughts, you don’t have to stop at a star rating and a single-sentence review.

Start with the quick questions to ask right after finishing, then sleep on it and choose two or three of the deep journal prompts to flesh out your thoughts.

There are no wrong opinions. You don’t need to pretend to enjoy books that you think you should like, or dislike books that you think you should dislike. Just capture your own authentic thoughts, in your own voice.

Writing reviews helps you catch more details when you read. Once you get the hang of asking yourself review questions, you’ll start noticing how the author put the story together.

After a while, you’ll start noticing your own reading style, like your favorite kinds of characters, how fast you like the story to move, and the kinds of stories you love most. Looking back at your reviews is like a time capsule showing who you were as a reader and how you changed as you went along.

Which journal prompts will you try first? Share them in the comments below, or share your own questions and tell us why they work best for you.

How to Start a Reading Journal (Simple Setup Guide)

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Sample reading journal in digital spreadsheet format showing how to start a reading journal

Want to learn how to start a reading journal? A reading journal is a place to track the books you want to read (your TBR, or To-Be-Read, list), the books you’ve finished, and whatever else you feel like recording about them. In fact, learning how to start a reading journal only takes a few minutes, and all you need is something to write in and something to write with.

Getting your reading journal working only takes a few simple moves:

  1. Choose a journaling format: physical or digital, whichever feels easiest for you.
  2. Set up a simple TBR list layout: title, author, and why the book interests you.
  3. Add three to five books: then start reading the first one.
  4. Create a simple Reading Log: a place to record the books you finish.
  5. Log finished books: update your Reading Log, then add a new book to your TBR list.

That’s the simplest way to start a reading journal. Read on for more details, ideas for adding to your journal, tips for keeping your journal stress-free, and a list of common mistakes to avoid.

In this article:

What Is a Reading Journal (and Why Bother?)

A reading journal is simply a space – whether a physical notebook, a digital document, or an app – to track your reading journey. You can jot down the books you want to dive into next (your TBR list) and add a record of the books you’ve finished, along with ratings, favorite quotes, and your thoughts.

So, why bother?

  • It builds a regular reading habit. If you want to read more consistently, a plan can help. (Struggling to read regularly? See our post on finding it hard to read books.)
  • It uncovers your true reading tastes. Many people don’t actually know what types of books they’ll enjoy. Tracking what catches your eye helps you figure out exactly what you like to read and why.
  • It helps cure “reader’s block,” the reader’s version of writer’s block. Instead of staring blankly at a shelf trying to choose the next book, your journal can act as an instant menu with your next read already chosen.
  • It helps you read what you own and buy only what you’ll read. Unread books stay in view, impulse buys drop, and books you’ll never read can be donated or passed on.
  • It saves your recommendations and clears your mental clutter. You don’t have to memorize book titles when they’re captured in your journal.

Choose Your Format

Once you’ve decided that you want to start your reading journal, your next decision is to choose a format that you’d like to use.

You can use a physical journal, a digital (software) journal, or a hybrid of both.

Let’s look at each format, so you can choose the perfect match for your own journaling style.

Physical journals:

If you like holding a journal and being able to turn the pages with your hands and you enjoy the feeling of writing with a pen or pencil, then one of these could be for you.

Blank notebooks: A blank notebook where you can set your own layout and write your own headings and descriptors from scratch

Binders: Loose leaf pages that you can customize and collect into a binder, arranged how you prefer

Ready-made Journals: A pre-printed reading journal with ready-made layout, design and graphics.

Printable Digital Templates: A ready-made digital (software) journal with prepared layout, design and graphics that you can purchase, download, print out and bind yourself.

Physical FormatProsCons
Blank notebookArguably the cheapest option.
Easy to start today.
Total freedom over layout.		Layout setup difficult to change later.
Hard to reorder or edit entries.
Need to transcribe if changing layout later.
BinderPages can be added, removed, and re-ordered.
Sections stay organized.
Easy to prune old sections.		Bulkier to move around with.
Needs a hole punch and loose pages.
Ready-made journalLayout and design are done for you.
Looks refined.		May have pre-dated or other sections that don’t match your pacing or style.
Unused sections can add anxiety.
Printable templateReusable.
Print only the pages you need.
Replace a page if you make a mistake.		Requires a printer and paper.
Extra setup (printing, binding).

Digital (Software) journals:

If you prefer to use your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop and you like to write with a stylus or keyboard, then one of these could be for you.

DIY documents: A completely customized journal created by you, using tools like Google Sheets, Excel, or Microsoft Word.

Pre-made Digital Templates: Pre-made planners with layout, design and graphics, for use in note-taking apps like Goodnotes.

Dedicated Reading Apps: Platforms or Apps designed specifically for book tracking, like Goodreads

Digital FormatProsCons
DIY documentFully customizable.
Searchable, sortable, and easy to reorder.		Can be plain-looking without design effort.
Design can be high effort.
Pre-made digital templateAttractive layout with no design effort.
Type or handwrite with a stylus. Easy to duplicate content.		Requires a compatible app.
Can require a tablet device.
Dedicated reading appQuick to set up.
Can include book search, covers, and recommendations.
Can include adding book info by title or barcode scan.		Less control over layout.
Features and pricing vary.
Your data lives on someone else’s platform.

Decide What Information to Capture

Whatever layout or format you choose, your reading journal is only as good as what you track and what value you actually get out of it. If you’ve never journaled before, your best bet may be to start with the bare minimum, then add only what feels useful as you go along. For the minimalist approach, these are the essential fields we recommend to get you started:

Title: The title of the book
Author: The person who wrote the book
Reason: Why this book made your list (for example: who recommended it? or what piques your interest in this book?)

Beyond the title, author and reason, here is some extra info you might want to log:

Priority level (do you want to read this book “next” or “soon” or “someday”, for example)
The vibe or mood of the book (Tear-Jerker, high-energy, fast-paced, cozy, light-hearted, etc)
The book genre (Classical, Romantic, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, etc)
Whether or not you already own the book
Book format preference (physical, ebook or audio)
Approximate book length in pages
Re-read (whether you have read this book before)
Attempted before (whether you’ve started reading this book before)

Obviously, your mileage may vary, so just track whatever actually helps you stay engaged and hungry to read your next book.

Set Up a Simple Template to Start a Reading Journal

Let’s look at the most basic template you can use when you start a reading journal.

A basic reading journal needs only two pages: a TBR list for the books you plan to read, and a Reading Log for the books you’ve finished. Pick the format that matches your choice above.

Physical format option – A Notebook Reading Journal:

First, the TBR list. With just a notebook and pen and writing the headers “Title”, “Author”, and “Reason”, you could create the layout shown here:

Handwritten TBR list in a notebook with title, author, and reason columns

Fill in the TBR list as shown above with one entry for each book you want to read.

Now, the Reading Log. For your Reading Log, with just the headers “Title”, “Author”, and “Date Finished”, a simple handwritten notebook entry could look like this:

Handwritten reading log with title, author, and date finished columns

So, after reading through the first books in your TBR list, tracking this in your Reading Log, then adding more books to your TBR list, your Reading Journal could look like this:

Simple reading journal example with a TBR list and reading log in a notebook

Remember, the books listed here are just to show you an example of what the simplest Reading Journal might look like. If you don’t want to read these books, that’s ok, you’ll be making your own choices.

Digital format option – A Spreadsheet Reading Journal:

If you prefer a digital format, a spreadsheet (Google Sheets, Excel, or similar) is an easy way to start. Your TBR list, with the headers “Title,” “Author,” and “Reason,” could look like this:

Spreadsheet TBR list with title, author, and reason columns

Your Reading Log with the headers “Title”, “Author”, and “Date Finished” could look like this:

Spreadsheet reading log with title, author, and date finished columns

So you could have your TBR list on one tab and your Reading Log on another tab, like this:

Digital reading journal spreadsheet with TBR list and reading log

You can always add more columns or tabs later, but this is all you’d need to get started.

How to Add Books to Your TBR List (and How to Prune Them)

Your active TBR list is most useful when you add books quickly and trim it regularly.

Adding a book to your TBR list

  • Write down recommendations right away. Add one line per book, ideally at least the title, author, and reason for adding each book.
  • Also, add books you come across yourself, say, at a bookstore or after reading a review. If you think you might want to read it someday, add it to your list.
  • Noting the reason for adding each book will jog your memory later.
  • Keep your active TBR list to three to five books.
  • When you finish reading one book, add one more to the end of your active TBR list.
  • Anything beyond five can go on a “Maybe Later” list.

Pruning books from your TBR list

Your active TBR list should always feel manageable, so make sure to regularly review and prune your list.

A good rule of thumb is to review your list whenever you finish a book, and do a bigger trim once a season. While reviewing your active TBR list:

  • If a book no longer feels right, cross it off or move it to a “Maybe Later” list.
  • If you keep skipping a book, ask yourself, “Why am I saving this?”

Reading shouldn’t feel like a job. So if your TBR list stops motivating you, change it up and never feel guilty about doing that.

Extra Organizational Ideas for Your Journal

Once your journaling is running smoothly, these layout ideas can help you organize your reading journal in ways that fit how you read.

Ways to Sort Your Reading List

Maybe Later: A parking spot for books you’re unsure about, separate from your active TBR list (see How to Add Books to Your TBR List above).

By Mood: Section your journal into mood themes like “Spooky” or “Romance”, so you can match your journaling to how you feel that day.

By Season: Add seasonal sections to your journal and create as the year unfolds.

Saga chronicle: For multi-book series, a section to journal your way through series of books from start to finish.

Formats: Sections for Physical Books, Audio Books, Digital Read Books (Kindle, PDFs, etc), to help you journal based on how you consume your books.

Sections to Add to Your Reading Journal

Quotes: You could have a favorite quotes section, for quotes that moved you or inspired you, from the books you’ve read.

Coming releases: A section for books you want to read, that haven’t been released yet, you could add release date information, etc

Owned books: You could create a section dedicated to the books you already own by cataloging them and journaling some basic information about them. You might be inspired to add some books you own to your active reading list.

Extra Creative Ideas for Your Journal

When you’re in the habit of working through your active TBR list, updating your Reading Log and maybe more sections, you might want to start working on your journal’s look and feel. Here are some ideas to help you with that.

Decorating Ideas for Your Reading Journal

Visual Bookshelf: You could draw empty book outlines on shelves, which you can write on and color as you finish each book.

Ready-made stickers: these are great for filling blank spaces in your margins or placing stars next to your top-rated reads.

Custom stickers: You can buy blank sheets of sticker paper, then create and print your own custom sticker designs on your home printer.

Miniature Book Covers: You can print out small images of book covers and create a dedicated section just for book covers, or stick a cover beside each book in your TBR list, or add them to your Reading Log.

Textures and Finishing Touches

Kraft Paper: Adding pieces of Kraft paper is an easy way to give your journal pages instant texture and dimension. Quick tip: make sure you search for it with a “K”. If you search for “Craft paper” with a “C,” you’ll see generic art supplies.

Ribbon or string: You can fix pieces of ribbon or string into your journal for decoration or to bookmark important pages.

Washi tape: You can make DIY index tabs for your journal using washi tape or buy different colored tape for custom decoration.

Preserved Botanicals: You can add pressed leaves or flower petals to your journal for a soft, organic feel.

Wax Seals: Be careful not to burn yourself, but if you know what you are doing, you can add wax seals in your journal to create an old world or mysterious feel.

These are just some ideas for inspiration. If you let your creativity flow, you can make your journal into something really special to you.

How to Keep Your Journal Stress-Free

Knowing how to start a reading journal is only half the battle — keeping it going without stress is just as important. Your reading journal is only useful if you’re actually journaling and it’s so easy to stop if it feels boring or like work.

Here are some tips to help you keep it light, fun, and easy to maintain.

Just start. Use any available notebook or app. Instead of waiting around for the perfect store-bought reading journal, start with what you have. Then, if you happen to find your dream pre-made journal later on, you can copy your early entries right into that.

Begin your TBR list with three to five books. Resist the urge to add dozens of titles on day one. A long list can look like a mountain to climb. Extra ideas can sit in your “Maybe Later” list (see How to Add Books to Your TBR List above).

Keep entries short. Using your TBR list as an example, it’s good enough to note a title, an author, and a few words on why this book caught your attention. For example, if a friend recommended it, write “Ashley recommended it” and move on. Also, do this with other sections you update in your journal. Do this with other sections you update in your journal too. The easiest journal to keep is one you can update in seconds on a busy weeknight. Save the decorating for days when you have time and feel inspired.

Make Journaling Easy to Keep Up

Make it effortless. Leave your journal on your nightstand or in your favorite reading spot, and jot down any thoughts you have the moment you finish reading that day. Otherwise, having to hunt for your journal every time you want to update it creates an extra mental hurdle.

Keep everything in one place. Resist starting separate journals for quotes, reviews, and wish lists. After all, juggling multiple reading journals can lead to burnout. If you capture a thought on a sticky note or your phone, transfer it to your journal at the first chance, then trash the original.

Use it as a menu, not a mandate. If your TBR list only has long sagas and you’re more in the mood for something short or light-hearted, go for it. Add the new book to your list (it takes only seconds) and read it. You can return to the sagas later or cross them off. It’s your journal, not your boss.

Log your wins. Finished a book? Make sure to update your Reading Log to mark the occasion. Over time, looking back over your accomplishments can inspire you to do more.

Practice zero guilt. Missed a few weeks of journaling? No problem—taking a break doesn’t mean you failed. Instead of trying to do catch-up work, just jot down a quick note about what you’re reading or excited to read today. Even if your journal has been abandoned in a drawer for months, you can always dust it off, log your current book, and pick your next adventure.

Common Reading Journal Mistakes to Avoid

Even with a great routine, a few simple mistakes can suck the fun right out of your journal.

Forgetting the “why.” A cold list of book titles is easy to abandon, because it’s disconnected from the spark that made you interested in those books. Even a few words (“Sarah’s favorite” or “a cozy mystery”) help bring that spark back when you’re choosing your next read.

Letting the active trackers balloon. A long reading list of books you don’t feel inspired to read is no fun at all. The same goes for visual trackers: a bookshelf layout with 50 or 100 blank spines to fill in can be motivating, while one with hundreds is overwhelming. Keep your trackers manageable.

Treating it like homework. If writing in your journal gives you a dreading-the-assignment feeling, something has gone wrong. Instead, skip the book report. Write one sentence about how a book made you feel, or just give it a rating. Blank pages, crossed-out words, and messy handwriting are all just fine.

Comparing your journal to online ones. Elaborate, artful journals on social media or TV are usually polished products built over many hours, often by professionals. Enjoy them for inspiration, but don’t measure yourself against them. The same goes for extras like book cover stickers: they look great, but resizing and printing tiny covers can become a lot of work. Unless you enjoy that, buy pre-made stickers or order custom ones.

Tracking too much. Resist adding a dozen tracking metrics and sections at once. If every update takes an hour, you’ll quit. So start with the basics and add something new only when you find yourself wanting that.

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Reading Journal

How do I start a reading journal?

To start a reading journal, pick a format (physical or digital) and set up a simple TBR list with a title, author, and reason for each book. Add three to five books, start reading the first one, then create a Reading Log to record each book you finish. The whole setup takes only a few minutes.

What should I include in a reading journal?

Start with the basics: title, author, and the reason you want to read each book. In your Reading Log, add the date you finished each book.Then, once that feels easy, you can add extras like ratings, a one-sentence reaction, or favorite quotes.”

How many books should be on my TBR list?

Three to five books is a manageable active list. Otherwise, a longer list can start to feel like a chore. Anything beyond five can go on a separate “Maybe Later” list.

What is the difference between a TBR list and a Reading Log?

A TBR list holds the books you plan to read, along with why each one caught your attention. A Reading Log records the books you have finished, with at least the date you finished. Together, they make a basic reading journal, so you need both to see the full picture.

Should I use a physical or digital reading journal?

Either works, so choose whichever you will actually use. A notebook is cheap and quick to start, while a spreadsheet or app is easier to search, sort, and reorder. You can also use a hybrid approach, but keep it simple so your journaling stays enjoyable rather than feeling like extra work.

What should I do with books I am not sure about?

Move them to a “Maybe Later” list so they stay out of your active TBR list. Review your list whenever you finish a book, and cross off anything that no longer feels right. See How to Add Books to Your TBR List for more on this.

Conclusion

Your reading journal is your personal time capsule for your reading experience. It is a space where you can preserve inspiring quotes, surprising plot twists and the exact emotions a story stirred within you. Even if you’re completely new to journaling, the tips in this guide on how to start a reading journal will help keep the experience effortless and fulfilling.

Are you ready to start your first journal, or are you looking to upgrade your current one? Drop a comment below to share the next book on your reading list and why you chose it. We always love to hear what you’re reading!

I find it hard to read books

by
Woman looking frustrated while failing to read a book

In this article:

So, you find it hard to read books?

First off, you can be sure that you’re not alone.

40% of American adults didn’t finish a single book in the year 2025.

Ask yourself if any of these experiences sound familiar, when you’ve tried reading a book:

  • You have a book that you bought and intended to read, but now that book is sitting on a shelf, unread.
  • You find yourself staring at a single page that you just don’t get through.
  • You start feeling restless, put the book down and go do something else instead.
  • You reread the same paragraph multiple times, without absorbing the content.
  • You have abandoned more than one book after only the first few chapters.

Lots of people have these experiences, it’s much more common than you might think.

In this article we’ll look at why you might find it hard to read books and what you can do about it.

Why Reading Feels Harder Than Ever

Woman looking frustrated while failing to read a book

Next time you’re waiting at the dentist, doctor, car dealership, or airport, look around. How many people are reading a book or magazine?

Most people waiting there (including you) will probably pull out their phone instead.

One recent study showed that over 60% of Americans will do exactly that.

This is no small thing to notice.

This is a recent change in American lifestyles. The smartphone, plus cheap high-speed internet, has completely altered how people spend their spare time.

Some relatively recent developments in American life related to smartphones:

Here are some of the technologies and dates they were made widely available to Americans, just over the past two decades:

Some effects from these recent technology improvements:

We’re mainly interested in reading habits, so let’s look at one more data point, printed newspapers:

  • In 2006, the combined weekday print circulation for the top 25 largest newspapers in the United States was approximately 15.1 million issues per day.
  • By 2025, this number had dropped to an estimated 1.74 million issues per day.

“So, what does any of this have to do with why reading feels hard now ?” you might ask.

One study found adult attention spans dropped from about 150 seconds in 2004 to around 47 seconds in 2025.

One private consumer market survey found that over 60% of Americans cannot go more than 30 minutes without checking their phone.

What this means to your reading:

If you have a smartphone (and most of us do), you’re constantly interrupted by notifications and shown endless feeds. You can pick up your phone and lose minutes or hours a day opening apps or new tabs. It’s easy to do.

We’ve focused on smartphones, because depression, stress, anxiety, and poor sleep have all risen in recent years. That rise has come along with the rise in smartphone technology and usage.

What You Lose When You Stop Reading Books

When you watch a play, movie, or TV show, you’re watching something prepared for you. These are other people’s interpretations of what was written on the pages. Someone else has already chosen the locations, sets, costumes, pacing of speech, emphasis on words, and even story edits.

When you read a book, your brain creates landscapes, towns, rooms, faces, costumes, and sounds from your own imagination. Your brain works harder this way. Studies show that reading activates the same sensory and motor areas as if you were living the story.

Regular book readers give their brains a workout that non-readers miss. Studies show they develop stronger brain matter connectivity, which can improve brain function.

Here are some of the benefits of regularly reading books:

  • Deeper focus: your brain practices blocking out interruptions and holding attention
  • Reduced stress: your nervous system gets a break from real-world worries
  • Improved empathy: you immerse yourself in the thoughts of other people
  • Wider vocabulary: you are exposed to new words and see how they are used in context

There are even studies linking regular book reading with a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia in later life.

“I’m reading all the time when I scroll social media!” you might say – and that may be true.

Studies show social-media reading (quick, shallow scrolling) affects you differently than the calm immersion of books.

Here is a quick comparison of reading books vs reading social media and the studied effects shown on people:

Health measureEffect from Reading BooksEffect from Reading Social Media
Stress LevelCan reduce stress, slow heart rate and ease muscle tension.Can trap you in a scrolling loop that drives up stress and heightens anxiety.
Depression & AnxietyCan reduce depression and anxiety over time by providing an immersive break from real world issues.Can increase risk of depression, feeling lonely, and psychological distress.
Sleep QualityReading a book in bed can improve sleep quality and lower pre-bedtime anxiety.Can cause poor sleep quality, including sleep interruption and unwelcome alertness when trying to sleep.

6 Simple Steps To Make Reading Easier

OK, so we know that reading books is good for you, but if you simply find it hard to read books, what can you do to change that?

Here are some things you can do today:

1) Choose a new book to read:

  • Try choosing a book that you think you might “like” to read, not a book you think that you “should” read.
  • Choose the book right now if you can. Not tomorrow, not later, take a minute and choose it now.

2) Go get a copy of the book, preferably a physical copy

  • Try looking on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
  • For a lower cost option, try Thriftbooks for a used copy of the book, the price difference between new and used can be significant.
  • A potential cost-free option is to go find the book at your local library.

3) Start with a baby step reading goal

  • Give yourself a target of reading one page per day.
  • If you can read more on any given day, then fine, but make yourself read one page every day as a minimum.
  • The point at this step is to make reading a daily habit, something you just do.

4) Make it as low effort as possible

  • Keep your book with you, for example put it on your night table at bed time, bring it into the kitchen in the morning, to your job, to school, to an appointment where you’ll need to wait, etc.
  • When you get a few minutes to yourself, read a page.
  • The point here is to not just put your book on a shelf and leave it there.
  • With this step you are removing the feeling of “I don’t feel like going upstairs to the bookshelf right now”, removing the idea of reading being an extra chore to do.

5) Try putting your phone on airplane mode while you read

  • If you have found yourself with a few spare minutes, put your phone on airplane mode and read a page or more.
  • You can always take your phone off airplane mode once you’re done.
  • The point here is to remove distractions.

6) Give your book two or three chapters to capture your imagination

  • You won’t love every book you read, right from the first page.
  • Give a book two or three chapters, if you are still not interested in this book, choose another.
  • If you struggle to read regularly, forcing yourself to read a book that you’re not interested in will not be enjoyable.
  • The point here is to experiment and find a book you can actually feel enjoyment from reading.
  • There is a whole world of books printed in almost every language, you will find a book you enjoy.

How to Change Your Mindset About Reading

If you see reading as a talent other people have but you don’t, you’re doing yourself an injustice.

Reading regularly is just another skill that you can absolutely build up with regular practice. Think of it like going to the gym regularly and building muscle.

Don’t beat yourself up either. Whether you used to read a lot and stopped, or you’ve never been big on reading, none of that matters now. As you go through life, your priorities change, along with the demands on your time. You can definitely get to a point where reading books becomes something else that you “just do”.

Celebrate your wins, if you’ve read a few pages every day this week, that’s a win. If you’ve read more this week than last week, that’s another win and so on.

The goal is to shift your self-image from “someone who doesn’t read” to “someone who reads.” Live that identity every day. If you miss a day, don’t beat yourself up—just pick up where you left off.

Final Takeaways

Struggling to read a book is more common than most people think—especially with today’s constant distractions.

You can overcome the distractions and barriers and become a regular reader. Just take a few simple steps and stay consistent.

There are potential benefits to your long-term health if you read books regularly.

Try the steps listed in the 6 Simple Steps to Make Reading Easier section of this article.