Readers Gotta Read

I like organization. It makes me happy. One way I stay organized with reading is by tracking books online. Over the years, I’ve found two systems that work well for me —Goodreads for books I’ve finished, and an Amazon Wish List for books I want to read.

Tracking Books I’ve Read with Goodreads

Goodreads is my go-to for keeping track of books I’ve read. The platform is simple to use:

• Search by title in the top bar
• Or scan the book’s bar code using the app on your phone
• Add the book to the “Read” shelf

This has been helpful for me when I’m browsing for books at a store and wondering, Have I already read this?

When I first discovered the Goodreads website, I entered every book I owned into the system. It took a while, but now I have a master book list that’s not only useful for reference but also gives me peace of mind (hello, insurance purposes in case of disaster!).

Tracking Books I Want to Read

While Goodreads has a “Want to Read” shelf, I prefer to use an Amazon wish list for my TBR. Why?

• I can instantly see the price of the book
• It’s makes gift-giving easy – I simply share the wish list with family for Christmas or my birthday.
• It’s quick to update when I buy a book

When I go book hunting at Goodwill, I keep the Amazon book wish list open on my phone. That way I can check titles as I scan books titles. If I find a book on my list, I grab it and then delete the book from the Amazon book wish list. (Bonus joy: seeing a book listed at $15.99 on Amazon that I scored for $2!)

What’s the Best Way to Track Books

There are so many ways to keep track of your reading: Goodreads, Amazon Wish Lists, spreadsheets, book journals, or even bullet journals. I love Goodreads for my books read, and Amazon for my books to read, but everyone has their own system.

👉 How do you keep track of the books you’ve read and want to read? Drop a comment—I’d love to hear your method!