How to Track Books You've Read: App, Spreadsheet or Notebook

If you've ever stood in a bookshop holding a novel and wondered "wait, have I already read this?", you already know why people keep a list. Learning how to track books you've read takes about ten minutes, and the payoff lasts for years: better memory of what you read, honest reading stats, and a record you'll genuinely enjoy scrolling back through.

This guide covers what's worth logging, three practical methods (a notebook, a book tracker spreadsheet and a book tracker app), how they compare, and how to start today, including how to backfill the books you read in past years.

Why track the books you read?

You don't need a reason beyond "it's fun", but here are the ones readers mention most:

• You remember more. Writing even one sentence about a book when you finish it fixes it in memory far better than closing it and moving on.
• You stop buying duplicates. A quick check of your reading log in a shop saves money and shelf space.
• You see your patterns. Maybe you read mostly thrillers in winter, or haven't finished a non-fiction book since March. You can't notice trends you don't record.
• You recommend better. When a friend asks for "something like that book you loved two years ago", you can actually find it.
• It motivates you. Watching a list grow is quietly satisfying, and it's one of the simplest ways to build a reading habit.

What to log: the fields that matter

The biggest mistake new trackers make is logging too much. If every entry takes ten minutes, you'll quit by February. Start with the essentials and add extras only if you miss them.

Essential fields

• Title and author
• Date finished (the start date is a nice bonus)
• Rating (stars, out of 10, or a simple loved / liked / meh)
• Status: read, currently reading, want to read, or did not finish

Optional fields

• Format: print, ebook or audiobook
• Genre or tags, such as #favourite, #reread, #bookclub
• Pages or length, if you like totals
• Where it came from: library, gift, borrowed, bought
• A one-line note: a favourite quote, why you picked it up, or who you'd recommend it to

Tracking DNFs (books you did not finish) is worth it. It's honest data, and it stops you from picking up the same book again in three years. If the abbreviations are new to you, our guide to TBR, DNF and other reader slang explains them.

Method 1: A notebook or bullet journal

The analog option. Any notebook works, though dotted bullet journals are popular because they make tables and trackers easy to draw.

A simple layout:

1. Reserve the first two pages as an index of every book for the year: number, title, author, date finished, rating.
2. Give books you loved a full page with notes, quotes and your thoughts.
3. Add a "books to read" page at the back for your TBR.
4. Optional extras: a bookshelf spread you colour in as you finish books, or a monthly tally.

Who it's best for: people who enjoy handwriting, journaling and creative spreads, and who remember things better when they write them by hand. For layout and prompt ideas, see our reading journal ideas.

The catch: no search, no automatic stats, and you can't check it in a shop unless you carry it everywhere. Many readers pair a journal with a digital list for exactly this reason.

Method 2: A book tracker spreadsheet

A spreadsheet in Google Sheets or Excel is flexible, free and fully under your control. If you like numbers, it's hard to beat: you can sort, filter and build your own charts.

A suggested column layout

Create one sheet per year (or one master sheet with a Year column) using these columns:

Tips to keep it usable

• Use dropdowns (data validation) for Status, Format and Rating so entries stay consistent and are easy to filter.
• Write dates in one format (YYYY-MM-DD sorts correctly everywhere).
• Add a "days to read" column that subtracts the start date from the finish date.
• Keep a summary tab with a few counts: books per month, average rating, pages per year.
• Freeze the header row so it stays visible as the list grows.

Who it's best for: data lovers and people who want total customisation.

The catch: adding a book on your phone is fiddly, and there are no cover images, reminders or streaks unless you build them yourself. Many spreadsheets are abandoned around page two of the year simply because updating them feels like admin.

Method 3: A book tracker app

A dedicated reading tracker app does the boring parts for you. You search for a book, tap it, and the title, author and cover are filled in. Stats, yearly lists and streaks update automatically.

There are plenty to choose from, and they differ more than you'd think. Some are social networks first (Goodreads, Fable, Literal), some focus on stats and recommendations (The StoryGraph), and some are built for cataloguing a home library (Libib, LibraryThing). Our comparison of the best book tracker apps goes through who each one suits.

As an example of the calm, personal approach: BookStack is an iPhone app made by the team behind this site. You add books by searching by title or author (Pro users can also scan the ISBN barcode), and sort your library into Read, TBR, Wishlist and DNF. Every year gets its own bookshelf, and a timeline shows every finished book with dates, ratings and how many days you spent with it. There's also a daily reading streak, a 12-week reading heatmap, notes, tags like #favourite or #reread, and no social feed.

If you want public reviews and a big community, a social app like Goodreads will suit you better. If you'd rather keep a private, uncluttered reading log, an app like BookStack fits.

Who it's best for: anyone who wants tracking to take seconds and to live on the phone they already carry.

The catch: you depend on the app's features and design choices. Check that the one you pick logs what you care about before you add 200 books.

Notebook vs spreadsheet vs app: pros and cons

There's no wrong answer. Plenty of readers use two: an app for the quick, searchable list, and a journal for the books that deserve a full page.

How to start tracking books you've read today

Don't wait for January 1st. Here's a fifteen-minute plan:

1. Pick one method. If you're unsure, choose the one with the least friction for you. For most people, that's whatever lives on their phone.
2. Add what you're reading right now. One book, marked as currently reading.
3. Add the last three books you finished. Approximate dates are fine.
4. Start a TBR list with the next few books you want to read.
5. Set one small rule, such as "log every book the same day I finish it". That single habit matters more than any template.

How to backfill books from past years

You probably remember more than you think. To rebuild your history:

• Check your shelves and e-reader library first. They're the fastest source.
• Look through your purchase history with online bookshops and audiobook services.
• Check your library account, as many libraries keep a borrowing history if you've enabled it.
• Search your photos and messages for book covers, bookshop trips and "you have to read this" texts.
• Use rough dates. If you only remember "summer 2023", log it as July 2023. A slightly fuzzy date is far better than nothing.

Don't try to do it all in one evening. Add books from past years whenever one comes to mind, and let the list fill in over a few weeks.

Keep your reading log simple enough to last

The best way to track books you've read is the one you'll still be using next year. Start with title, author, date and rating. Pick the tool that feels easiest, whether that's a notebook, a spreadsheet or a simple book tracker app. Add more fields only when you find yourself wishing you had them.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to track books you've read?

A book tracker app is usually the easiest, because searching for a title fills in the details and stats update automatically. If you prefer analog, a single running list at the front of a notebook works well too.

Is there a free book tracker spreadsheet template?

You can make your own in a couple of minutes in Google Sheets or Excel using the column layout above: title, author, status, dates, rating, format, genre, pages, tags and notes. Add dropdowns for status and rating to keep it tidy.

Should I track books I didn't finish?

Yes. Logging DNF books keeps your reading log honest, shows you which genres or authors don't work for you, and stops you picking up the same book again by accident.

How do I remember which books I read years ago?

Check your shelves, e-reader and audiobook libraries, online purchase history, library borrowing history and old photos. Use approximate dates when you're unsure. A rough record is still useful.

Can I use more than one method at once?

Absolutely. Many readers keep a quick, searchable list in an app or spreadsheet and use a reading journal for longer reflections on their favourite books.