NetGalley Reading Journal

by We Are Bookish

The team behind We Are Bookish (NetGalley’s blog for members) lovingly crafted this Reading Journal to help members achieve their bookish goals for the year—and have fun along the way! The NetGalley Reading Journal is a free digital PDF that members can download, edit, and customize to track their reading. There are pages to write reviews, participate in reading challenges, track habits, and more!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

ebook

First published December 18, 2023

Reviews

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to We Are Bookish and NetGalley for this amazing free copy—y’all really know how to spoil a bookworm! 💕

Okay, let’s talk reading journals. I’ve been on the hunt for one that actually fits all my chaotic bookish needs, and this? OMG, it’s a digital DREAM. ✨

First off, the organization? Chef’s kiss. The layouts are clean, easy to navigate, and totally user-friendly. 📚 Whether it’s tracking your books, reviews, or yearly goals, it’s all laid out so perfectly. The customizable review pages? LOVE. You can add star ratings ⭐, favorite quotes, and even sprinkle in your thoughts. Oh, and the challenges? Reading bingo and A-Z? I’m officially obsessed. 😍

But wait, there’s more! The NetGalley ratio tracker? Absolute genius—it’s like they read my mind. And don’t even get me started on the sections for favorite quotes, monthly habit trackers, and book stickers. It’s like the ultimate hub for bookish bragging rights. 🖋️

Now, the designs? Vibrant, aesthetic, and downright gorgeous. 🎨 This journal doesn’t just help me stay organized; it makes me want to show it off. Honestly, scrolling through it is half the fun.

Okay, tiny critique: I wish there was a bit more space for notes or maybe a dedicated spot for a monthly bingo board. But it’s so versatile, you can easily tweak it to match your style. 🖌️

Whether you’re a journaling newbie or a digital pro, this is perfect. It’s fun, stress-free, and ready to help you conquer Mount TBR like a boss. 📖✨ Highly recommend for anyone looking to add some extra sparkle to their reading life!

[Aya ☕︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always wanted to try journaling but I couldn't find a journal that has everything I wanted I hope this one delivers Thank you Netgalley for providing a free copy 💕

[SusanTalksBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This journal is absolutely gorgeous, and I was excited to play with the digital stickers, which were easy enough to download, but even after reading the User Guide, I'm having issues figuring out how to use it on my windows laptop. I know Xodo is recommended, but I believe they have recently gone to a pay-only model, which I'm not interested in. I think this would work really well on an iPad with a stylus, but I don't have that at the moment. I'm going to keep looking at how to make this work for my set up because I am a scrapbooker and love the creativity of journaling to augment my GoodReads tracking and reviewing.

[✨️ Jessica's Bookshelf ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great and thorough book journal! This is extremely helpful to track my arcs, but also journal about all my reads. This had everything one could need. I love that this gives you plenty of space to write. Thanks to Netgalley and We Are Bookish

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This customizable reading journal is a fabulous resource for:

-Writing reviews
-Tracking habits
-Reading challenge records
-Much, much more!

Thank you, We Are Bookish!

[Libbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and useful looking reading journal. For anyone using netgalley this would be very helpful and a way to organise your reading and opinions.

I don't think it is something I will personally be using. I am content in the way I am currently journaling and organising my reading stats digitally.

However, I think the aesthetic of this is pretty and it could be useful for those wanting to track their reads and goals.

Thank your to NetGalley and we are bookish for providing a free copy. All opinions are my own

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've not tried using a journal like this before.
I appreciate the opportunity to try this and see how I like it.

[Neon · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off I would like to thank NetGalley and 'We Are Bookish' for the ARC.

I decided not to use the reading journal as I found this (GoodReads) more than enough for me. However, this would be really good for a classroom setting for a younger audience. The directions are simple and it comes with the how to book anyway. The pictures/graphics are clean and clear, giving no wrong impressions onto what everything is about.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"May your shelves always have room for more."

This is such a fun intro to a reading journal. I love the covers for each month, the added star rating in the review and the quotes throughout. I also like that each book review spot has a spot for a favorite quote (which I note with almost every book so it's a perfect spot for me!) and I love the bright colors all through the journal.

The challenges at the end were absolutely perfect! I loved the bookshelf, bingo, and A-Z challenge. They even had a spot for the monthly favorite faceoff to get to the ultimate favorite of the year. The only thing I'd wanted was a spot to add the monthly Bookish Bingo board. Otherwise, it was perfect! There were even a notes spot at the end where you could add swatches, color guide or other guidance. This is a great intro journal!

[Val~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reading journal is super cool! I loved it! It's really complete and fun! It even includes a colorful habit tracker, challenges, a wrap up section, and space for personal notes and stickers! Loved the design and colors! Thanks so much to We Are Bookish and NetGalley for this useful resource!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time using a reading journal and I love it! I use it in GoodNotes and it is so easy to use. Thanks to NetGalley for providing this Reading Journal!

[Read-n-Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the Net Galley Reading Journal! Thank you We Are Bookish! Very helpful!

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A journal comprising of templates that can be used to record your reading journey. There are monthly templates with space to add a cover and information about a book you read, including a review. An 'about me' section including a list of books others can read to get to know you. The journal does not list an age range but I don't see anyone doing the work required except maybe tweens. For me it is far easier to use https://www.goodreads.com/ to record my reading and reviews, and the site provides all the information you need except a review, which is the work needed to be done by the reader. No pasting needed.

[Kathy Kennerley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great idea! I’m slowly learning how to upload and edit and copy so I can use this journal. I’ve been having fun all weekend with it!

[Maritza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested a copy of this reading journal as I have been wanting to try to set one up. I am not into digital journaling but find that i can incorporate parts into a physical one. It gave great ideas into sample tracking spreads, what to track and how to track. It was very well organized and easy to use. This would be a great reference for newbies interested in reading journals, especially digital versions.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me with a free copy. Opinions are my own and freely given.

[Amber Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The NetGalley Reading Journal is a delightful companion for all book lovers. Having it digitally makes it so easy to use anywhere. I personally loved the organization. The layouts were great for reviewing my books. It had space for my notes. I loved the designs. I was also a fan of having the challenges in the Journal. I love doing A-Z and Bingo! Thank you to NetGalley and We Are Bookish for allowing me the digital version of the planner in exchange for my honest review.

[CybercrrEDU · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the presentation and artwork on these guides and this one is definitely exceptional! It has a clean feeling and it's not distracting. It feels accessible and usable.
Props to the designer team.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

This journal is a really cute idea. I'm not sure I'll use it frequently, as I use Goodreads more than PDFs, but in general, I love the concept. I do like how customizable it is--definitely a perk!

[Nik W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good book journal! Thanks NetGalley and We Are Bookish for giving us Book Lovers a digital journal to play with. So much fun!

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually use Google Docs to draft my reviews and Goodreads to keep track of my books but this could be a handy tool for someone who wants to use more of a journal format.

[Jolie Lennon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this cute reading journal. This journal was so cute and was perfect for my bookish needs! Thank you again NetGalley!💕📚

[Erica Robbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great idea! I love this! I'd recommend this to any reader.

I would like to thank We Are Bookish for providing me with an advance readers copy via access to the galley for free through the NetGalley program.

The Story
This reading journal as displayed is an interactive, customizable PDF file, which is a perfect way to help set goals and organize your reading life.

Going into the New Year is a great time to start a journal like this.

Or even part-way through the year if you're feeling like you're in a reading slump, need some inspiration or refreshment. Whether a new (formal or informal) or more seasoned reader of any type. Would be great for youths.

Especially if you wanting a new way to organize or motivate your reading in a more formal way. Particularly for us NetGalley members who feel compelled to put everything on request like a shopper in the aisles of the final round of the television show Supermarket Sweep. Where everything catches your eyes and you find yourself putting absolutely everything in your cart.

The format is great for organizing your thoughts and spurring on a good balance of your daily, event-based, monthly, and yearly reading activities.

For myself, I actually don't really keep track so much. I typically read when, what, wherever I want. Roughly according to seasons and just my own accord. Having a physical, digital, and audiobook on hand at anytime for certain occasions and variability for the format and types of books I prefer to read accordingly. So I think the value for those who love to keep track will enjoy trying this out.

It contains following chapters:

Home
Cover
Welcome
NetGalley 101
About Me
Yearly Goals

Shelf
My Shelf
Book Tracker
Audiobook Tracker

Stickers

Activities
Habit Tracker
A - Z Challenge
NetGalley Bingo
Categories Challenge
My Bookcase

Wrap Up
Best of the Year Bracket
Favorites of the Year
Reading Reflections

Months

Notes

So within these are reflective questions, plus a way to track numerically, tracking NetGalley ratio, anticipated reads, a fun bingo card, and much more!

The Writing
This guide is very well-organized.

Color scheme is soft and allows for plenty of open field type space for adequate note-taking.

The reference tabs in addition to the right margin linear monthly tabulation has the jump to page feature linked to them which is an incredibly convenient and thoughtful touch.

I appreciate the large spacing and the function of the guide to include the popular features that people love to incorporate as design in their daily journal as popularized by the bullet journal features.

I'm excited for this one!

Blog post

[Jodee · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're the kind of reader who loves keeping track of every book you read, the NetGalley Reading Journal might just be your new favorite companion. Created by the team behind We Are Bookish, this journal is designed to help readers organize their reading life in a fun, easy way. It offers space to log your reviews, jot down thoughts, plan your TBR, and even reflect on reading goals.

The journal doesn’t tell a story in the traditional sense, but it definitely serves a purpose. The main goal is to provide readers—especially those who use NetGalley—a space to stay organized and mindful about their reading habits. It promotes thoughtful reviews and makes it easy to track progress with a clean and simple layout.

One of this journal's biggest strengths is its practicality. The design is straightforward, the prompts are helpful, and it never feels overwhelming. There are sections to track your reading dates, rate books, and even record your mood while reading. It also includes a section for wishlists and quotes, which is a nice addition for anyone who likes to remember special moments from their books.

That said, the journal might not provide much value for someone who already uses digital tools or apps to track their reading. If you prefer everything in one app, this could feel a bit redundant. Additionally, while it’s great for NetGalley readers, people who don’t use that platform might find some sections less relevant.

Still, there’s something nice about putting pen to paper and taking the time to reflect on what you’ve read. It adds a personal touch that’s often missing in digital spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned reviewer or just someone trying to stay on top of your TBR, this journal has something to offer.

Overall, I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars. It’s thoughtful, user-friendly, and definitely worth trying, especially if you’re into journaling or want to be more intentional with your reading.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The NetGalley Reading Journal by We Are Bookish is a game-changer for book lovers and reviewers alike. Whether you're a seasoned NetGalley user or just dipping your toes into the world of online book clubs, this journal has got you covered.

One of the standout features for me is the dedicated space for NetGalley specifics. Being able to track my NetGalley ratio and keep tabs on books currently on my shelf has been a lifesaver when it comes to meeting review deadlines. Plus, the inclusion of sections for favorite quotes and book photos adds a personal touch that enhances the overall reading experience.

While I could always use more space for notes (let's be real, who couldn't?), the simplicity of the layout is both functional and detailed. It strikes the perfect balance between providing essential information about the books I'm reading while leaving room for personalization.

What sets this journal apart is its versatility. Whether you're tracking audiobooks, setting reading goals, or participating in reading challenges, the NetGalley Reading Journal has you covered. And if a page or tracker you want isn't already included, you have the freedom to customize and create your own.

As someone who's kept a reading journal for years, I can confidently say that this digital version ticks all the boxes. It's got everything I need, with the added benefit of digital flexibility. Plus, the ability to easily add book covers and other visuals enhances the overall aesthetic appeal.

Whether you're a digital aficionado or just starting out on your journaling journey, the NetGalley Reading Journal is a must-have. It's aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and perfect for anyone looking to elevate their reading experience. Thank you to NetGalley and We Are Bookish for providing such a fantastic resource!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been familiarizing myself with the NetGalley Reading Journal for the past few weeks. I use several methods to track my reading: a bullet journal, Goodreads, a large sketchbook that I journal in and paste in thumbnail images of the book covers, and notes in several books of the "everything you need to read before you die" variety. But except for Goodreads, none of it is electronic.

The NetGalley journal can be downloaded or saved in an app like Goodnotes. Users can create a copy for each year and fill it in as they go. There are tabs for each month. The cover page for each month has places to list stats such as your NetGalley feedback ratio, goals, number of books read, and number of books on your NetGalley shelf. The remaining pages offer a place to store all the information on a book, even your review and favorite quotes.

Other tabs include shelf, stickers, and activities. The shelf tab allows you to add a cover image of a book, the title, author, and illustrator, and there is a sticker download available from NetGalley to add your star rating. The stickers tab provides a place to upload and store stickers for easy access. And the activities tab even gives you pages to track reading challenges such as A-Z and categories, or play NetGalley Bingo.

For those who like to keep everything neat, tidy, and filed away - this could be the reading journal you have been waiting for. Even if you are accustomed to using a pen and paper journal it won't hurt to give this one a try and see if it suits you better. And there is no danger of leaving this journal behind and losing it, a definite plus.

[Rebecca Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fellow Journal keepers and reading chroniclers your prayers have been answered!
This electronic reading journal is beautifully presented and simple to use.
I downloaded the Net Galley Reading Journal by We are Bookish onto my Samsung Tablet and was delighted to find it simple to use and easy to navigate. The hyperlinked tabs make it easy to skip through to the Month you would like to view, or other activity pages.
The monthly sections contain a check in section where you can set goals, record your NetGalley feedback ratio and give a summary overview of the month. Each Month also includes book review pages with space for the book cover image, dates read, details of the book, star rating, review and quotes. There are 4 book review pages per month, although I'm sure the clever clogs and IT savvy readers will find a way to insert more pages if/when needed.
The activity Tabs include sections titled Home, Shelf, Stickers, Activities, Wrap Up and Notes. The Home tab includes a content page followed by an "about me" page and a place to set Yearly goals. The Shelf Tab includes 5 pages to manage your To Be Read List, and it includes a section for books and Audio books. The Sticker tab is a blank page for managing your stickers for easy access. The Activities page includes a habit tracker, an A-Z Book Challenge, a NetGalley Bingo card, a categories challenge and a book case template for electronic scrap booking style recording. The Wrap Up provides pages that allow you to sum up your year, including favourite books and reading reflections. There is also a section for notes.
Ive already started using mine, and loving it.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for NetGalley and We Are Bookish for the opportunity to use and review this Reading Journal

The NetGalley Reading Journal is a comprehensive reading journal, perfect for ALL bookish tracking (not just NetGalley use).. It contains annual goal pages, monthly sections for book reviews and summaries, plus challenge pages and blank dot, lined and grid pages for setting up your own spreads or long form notes. There are page variations for tracking audiobooks as well!
If a page or tracker that you want is not already included, you can always draw/create your own. Plus you’ll never run out of pages/space like in a regular notebook because digital journaling allows duplication and insertion of pages!

I have kept a reading journal for the past 2 years, and this digital version has what I would normally include, or the flexibility to create what I would need. The added benefit is being able to undo/erase and copy/paste images with ease. I especially loved adding book covers for the visual appeal of “seeing” my reads.

You can choose to be as minimal or extravagant as you like, by using the basic prompts or adding stickers and other embellishments. You are only limited by the platform that you import the journal into (and your creativity).

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone wanting an aesthetically pleasing, digital journal. Preferably someone who is digital friendly or open to learning. Beginners to journaling will have all the tools and pages to get started.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The NetGalley Reading Journal is a new resource for making and utilizing a reading journal and a general guide with tips to getting started with electronic journaling as well as a toolkit with tips for being an effective book advocate.

The folks at We Are Bookish have put together a journal, customizable pages, stickers, and more. This guide contains instructions for getting the most out of the journal and resources.

Graphically, it coordinates with the other items for e-journaling from We Are Bookish, and is a fun energetic "sunset" palette of oranges to purples.

It is fairly simple, but readers should be comfortable with basic computer tasks, downloading apps, setting them up, importing files, and copying/customizing pages.

Additionally, depending on how much time readers wish to spend on journaling, it could come at a cost of valuable reading time (finding covers, copying them, tracking reading time, filling in charts, etc). All in all, however, it's a great resource for -using- the journal and getting the most out of figuring out how to set the journal up and how to use it for maximum effect.

Five stars. It's very kind of the We Are Bookish folks to provide support and tutorials to make book advocacy easier and more fun.

[Emma Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute little reading journal! I have been in the hobby of journaling for longer than reading so this really made feel ALL the feels. While I personally love blank notebooks for reading journals so I can add and remove what I want on a whim, this digital version is totally capable of being that. You can also print this how and add it to any journal cover you want. Even a cheap binder from Walmart would do! Since, it is digital, you have the opportunity to add and subtract the pages you like best.

This reading journal comes with a lot! In the beginning you are given a "My Shelf" section which is more of a quick view of your yearly reads. Then it takes you into monthly pages. Each month gets a check-in page as well as several individual pages for you to give in-depth reviews of books. At the end of the book there are quite a few activity and wrap up pages. Including options like the A to Z challenge, a habit tracker, a Netgalley bingo board, a favorites page, and more.

Another reviewer stated they wished there was note pages to add what they wanted that wasn't available... take note: there are! The best part is they give you different note pages. Such as a blank page, college ruled and wide ruled lined, graph, dotted and a smaller dotted option. So if there is a page you wish to add on you totally can!

Thank you Netgalley and We Are Bookish for the fantastic resource!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable! NetGalley’s Reading Journal is comprehensive and customizable. I was delightfully surprised at the variety of templates included in this journal. I think I was expecting a more bare bones document, but this Reading Journal is actually incredibly practical and I will definitely be using it this year!

Some of my favorite templates include:
Yearly Goals. I loved that this template also included a place to track your NetGalley feedback ratio as well as the more typical “how many books I want to read this year” and general goals.

Monthly Check-In. I appreciated the unique twist on this template, which included a space to add book covers for your “Most Anticipated”, “Favorite Read” etc. It also separates the number of books read by medium (audiobook, e-book etc.), which as a diverse medium reader I appreciate!

Best of the Year bracket. This page was probably the most fun surprise. It is definitely outside of the scope of “typical” book/reading review pages, but is such a fun extra!

If there’s one thing I might like to see added, it would be to be able to easily edit the color scheme of the document or to have color scheme options.

Overall, I highly recommend NetGalley’s Reading Journal as an excellent way to digitally track your reading, inspire social media posts and also organize your reviews for NetGalley.