3 Ways to Keep Track of Your TBR Lists

Whether your TBR lists are on a month-to-month basis, a yearly basis, or both, it can be hard to keep track of all the books you want to read. Some things do make it easier, such as following an author you like on social media. But keeping track of your TBR lists doesn't have to be complicated or all over the place. There is a various number of ways to keep track of your TBR list. Hopefully, this post will help you decide which way is best for you.

In this post, I will be going over the three different ways of keeping track of your TBR list(s) and some pros and cons of each. So let's get into today's topic.

A Physical Journal: A physical journal, lined or not, can be a good way to keep track of what's on your TBR list.

Pros: It can be handy to have a physical, written list of all the books you want to read. I know that it's basically repeated to death that physically writing something down helps you retain it better, and this can help with your TBR lists - you may not remember the exact title or author of a book, but you know you wrote it down, and you know exactly where to look. 

Cons: You may not always have the journal handy. If you don't think to take a picture of the book to write it down in the journal later, it could be a while before you remember that you wanted to read a specific book. If you're anything like me, there may come a point where you stop writing in that journal for whatever reason (usually because you forgot once, and then kept forgetting until you altogether stopped).

A Computer Document: This is very similar to having a physical journal for your TBR lists. Whether it's a Word document or a Google Document, it's easily accessible.

Pros: It's easy to access, and it can be handy (especially if it's a Google document and you have the Google Drive/Docs app on your phone). You can also easily copy and paste the book's title and author into a search engine or online store to find it.

Cons: While it may be easily accessible if it's a Google Doc, if you did a Word document, it may not be as accessible. Similarly with the physical journal, if you're out and about and see a book you're interested in and you don't immediately take down it's title and author, it may slip your mind.

Goodreads: Goodreads is a very easy way to keep track of all the books you want to read. And it's so easy to find titles on Goodreads.

Pros: The website has a vast database of books. If you have the app on your phone, then you can scan a book's cover and add it to your Goodreads "to be read" list in 2 minutes or less.

Cons: Goodreads may not recognize a new cover immediately. I have the app on my iPad, and not my phone, and I don't always have my iPad on hand (some of you may relate). Goodreads also may not have older books published before 2000. Many books published in the 1990s on are on Goodreads, but once you go earlier than 1990, it becomes harder.