The Ultimate Book Lover’s Journal: What to Track & How to Design It in Canva
- Rea Weeks
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
📚
If you love books, a journal is one of the easiest ways to make reading feel even more meaningful. This guide walks through what to track, how to set it up, and how to design a beautiful, printable journal in Canva.
Why a book lover’s journal is worth keeping
A book journal is part memory-keeper and part reading toolkit. It helps you:
Remember what you read and what you thought about it.
Notice patterns in what you love and what you want to read next.
Make your TBR feel doable instead of overwhelming.
Keep quotes, cozy moments, and mini-reviews in one place.
The best part is that it does not have to be complicated. You can keep it simple and add pages over time.
What to track in a book lover’s journal
You can mix and match these sections depending on how you read.
1. Your TBR (to be read) list
A good TBR page makes decision-making easier.
Title and author
Format (print, ebook, audio)
Why you want to read it
Priority (high, medium, low)
Where to find it (library, owned, wishlist)
Tip: Add a short “mood” tag like cozy, thriller, romantic, brainy, comfort reread.
2. Reading log (the simple tracker)
This is your quick overview.
Start date
Finish date
Rating (stars, hearts, or a simple 1–10)
Pages read or listening hours (optional)
Genre
Tip: If you want a gentle pace tracker, add “days to finish” and keep it judgment-free.
3. Book review pages (the memory-keeper)
This is where the magic is. One page per book is enough.
What you loved
What did not work for you
Favorite characters
Favorite quote(s)
Best scene
Would you reread it
Who you would recommend it to
Easy review framework: Plot, Characters, Writing, Vibe. A couple sentences for each keeps it flowing.
4. Quotes and highlights
If you are a quote collector, make this a dedicated spread.
Quote
Page number (or timestamp for audio)
Why it stood out
Tip: You can also add a “life lesson” column if you like reflective journaling.
5. Series tracker
Perfect for fantasy series, romance series, and long backlists.
Series name
Books in order
Read / unread checkboxes
Notes (where you left off, favorite book so far)
6. Monthly or seasonal reading wrap-ups
This helps you look back without having to reread every review page.
Books finished
Favorite book of the month
Biggest surprise
Best character
A theme you noticed
What you want to read next
7. Reading challenges (optional, but fun)
If challenges motivate you, keep this light and flexible.
Prompt
Book you picked
Completion check
Examples: “A book with a color in the title”, “A debut”, “A book set in a place you want to visit.”
8. Wishlist and bookish goals
A wishlist is different from a TBR. It is the “maybe someday” space.
Books you want to own
Special editions
Bookish subscriptions
For goals, keep them personal:
“Read 10 minutes before bed.”
“Try one new genre.”
“Reread a comfort favorite.”
How to design your journal in Canva (step-by-step)
Canva makes this easy because you can start with a template and customize everything.
Step 1: Decide your journal style
Pick one of these:
Printable PDF (classic, binder-friendly)
Digital journal (for tablets and styluses)
Hybrid (print some pages, keep some digitally)
Best practice: If you are printing, choose a standard size like US Letter or A4.
Step 2: Choose your page size and margins
In Canva, create a new design with your chosen size.
Add generous margins so nothing gets cut off when printing.
Leave space for hole punches if you are using a binder.
Step 3: Build a consistent page system
Instead of making every page from scratch, create a few “core” layouts and reuse them.
TBR page
Reading log page
Review page
Quotes page
Series tracker
Monthly wrap-up
Consistency makes the journal feel cohesive, even if your style changes over time.
Step 4: Use a simple visual hierarchy
A clean hierarchy makes pages easier to use.
Big heading for the section title
Smaller subheadings for categories
Lines or boxes for writing spaces
A simple icon set used consistently
Tip: Keep the writing spaces larger than you think you need. It is better to have extra room than to feel cramped.
Step 5: Pick 2 fonts and stick with them
A simple pairing looks polished.
One font for headings
One font for body text and labels
If you print often, prioritize readability over trendy fonts.
Step 6: Choose a color palette that matches your reading vibe
Try one of these palettes:
Cozy neutrals (cream, tan, warm gray)
Vintage library (deep green, burgundy, gold accents)
Bright and playful (pastels, colorful icons)
Use color as an accent. Too many bold colors can make pages harder to write on.
Step 7: Add helpful little touches
Small design details make the journal feel personal.
A mini “favorite quote” box on review pages
A “would I recommend this” checkbox
A mood tracker for reading vibes
A tiny shelf graphic where you color in books you finish
A simple structure you can copy (easy, not overwhelming)
If you want an uncomplicated journal, start with:
Cover page
TBR list
Reading log
10 review pages
Quotes page
Monthly wrap-up
You can always add more later.
Printing and binding tips (so your journal actually gets used)
Print in draft mode first to check spacing.
Use slightly thicker paper if you are using markers.
A binder is the easiest because you can rearrange pages.
If you want it to feel “book-like”, consider spiral binding at a local print shop.
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🌟 Final Thoughts
Quick next step: Pick 3 pages to design first (TBR, reading log, and a review page). Once those feel good, the rest of the journal comes together fast.
Rea 🌻Creator of A Rea of Treasures
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