The Lazy Reader’s Guide: Track Books Read Throughout the Year Easily!
Forgot to update your reading tracker – again? This easy method to track the books you’ve read takes just seconds and helps you remember your top reads all year — perfect for those of us who want to remember our favorites without turning reading into a part-time job!
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Do you have a Goodreads account or reading journal filled with good intentions and spotty follow-through? You’re not alone. Every January, millions of readers vow to track their books and hit ambitious reading goals. By February, many of us are already behind – leaving our reading trackers gathering digital (and literal!) dust.
Late last year, I tried a new way to track the books I read that’s so much easier! The best part? You already have everything you need right on your phone.
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My Easy Method to Track Books I Read Throughout The Year
Here’s the stress-free way I track the books I read throughout the year. Give it a whirl – I’d love to hear how it works for you!
I keep a running list of the books I read in my phone’s Notes app, simply titled Books I’ve Read in 2025. I pin this to the top so it doesn’t get lost in the dumpster fire that is my Notes app! After finishing a book, I quickly jot down the title, author, a rating, and sometimes a quick note or two. I compare each new read to others from that month, ranking it as I go. Did it dethrone my current favorite? If so, it takes the top spot. If not, I work my way down the list until it finds its rightful place (see my January example in the photo below).
I use my phone, but for those who prefer pen and paper, I’ve created a printable version of this simple system. You can download it here and get started immediately!
By the end of the year, I can instantly see my personal favorites at a glance, making it so much easier to choose my top book — or books! — of the year.
Another bonus: whenever I have a moment (usually December 31st – I always wait until the last minute 😂), I can hop onto Goodreads and use this list to update my READ shelf. After all, I’m a box-checker at heart and need to hit that reading goal I optimistically set back on January 1st!
For those who prefer pen and paper, I’ve created a printable version of this simple system. You can download it here and get started immediately!
How Do You Track The Books You’ve Read?
If you like the idea of tracking the books you read but struggle with keeping up – and feeling like you MUST fill in every field in a book journal! – this straightforward approach might be your sweet spot. Give it a try – I’d love to hear how it works for you! And if you use another system, please tell me about it in the comments – readerly minds want to know!
prefer pen & paper?
Use this simple tracking system any way you want with the FREE printable version!
Print it, color it, use stickers – have fun!
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