Reading a great book over summer break isn’t just about reaching the last page. It’s about the way your heart races during a big reveal, the quotes you scribble down because they hit just right, and the characters who stick with you long after you’ve returned the book to the shelf. Summer reading is its own kind of adventure, and like all the best adventures, it deserves to be remembered.

That’s where documenting your reading journey comes in. Whether you’re a doodler, a journaler, a Bookstagrammer, or someone who just likes a good list, capturing your summer reads makes the whole experience more personal—and a lot more fun! Bonus: it also helps you get way more out of every book you read. And if you’re looking for the ultimate reading companion to help you make those memories, the Once Upon a Book Club Young Adult Book Subscription Box is a great place to start.

Why Documenting Your Reading Journey Matters

Tracking your summer reading is about more than just counting books. When you take the time to write, draw, post, or reflect on what you’ve read, you’re actually deepening your connection to the story. Studies show that engaging with literature in meaningful ways, like journaling or discussing, can improve comprehension, boost memory retention, and even increase empathy. 

Think of it as active reading. You’re not just watching the story unfold amongst the pages; you’re actually participating in it! Whether you’re highlighting your favorite lines or posting a TikTok review that captures your exact reaction to the ending, documenting helps you absorb more and express more. Plus, when summer’s over, you’ll have a record of where you traveled through books, how you felt, and who you met along the way.

Creative Ways to Track Your Summer Reading

1. Keep a Reading Journal

This is a classic for a reason. A reading journal gives you space to reflect, rant, swoon, and process every part of your reading journey. You can jot down plot predictions, sketch maps of fantasy worlds, or write letters to your favorite characters. There are no rules—just your thoughts and your imagination!

Once Upon a Book Club offers beautifully designed journals to get you started. Try the  Classic Coral, Periwinkle Prose, or Seafoam Stories to find one that matches your style. 

Each journal features a sewn-in ribbon bookmark in a coordinating color, matching floral endpapers, 75 unique book review pages, index pages to list which books you've reviewed, fun prompts to help you craft your review (including major characters, favorite quotes, a spice rating, etc), and space to be creative with drawings, stickers, or even display your OUABC Collectible stickers! Let’s make every book feel like a big deal (because it is).

2. Make a Visual Reading Log

Not into writing? No problem. Try documenting your reading through visuals. This could be a bookshelf-themed coloring page where you fill in a book spine every time you finish a title. Or maybe you want to draw mood boards for each book, with images that reflect its themes, characters, and setting. You could even track character arcs on a timeline or use emojis to rate your emotional state chapter by chapter.

This style of tracking is perfect for creative minds who like to “see” the story as much as read it. It’s also a great way to connect with your favorite books on a more emotional and artistic level. And it makes your reading journey look pretty epic on your wall or in your journal.

3. Create a Digital Bookstagram or TikTok Recap

Let’s be real—half the fun of reading something incredible is screaming about it online. If you love social media, start a summer reading series on Instagram or TikTok! You can do dramatic readings, aesthetic flatlays, outfit recreations, or reaction videos where you document your face through every emotional plot twist.

Need a little inspo? Check out these recap videos on TikTok by Peruseproject and Edensarchives. On Instagram, BrillsBooks and Pageswithmolly also have great recap graphics. There are so many beautiful bookish accounts out there that are packed with fabulous content to inspire you.

Whether you go full glam with transitions and filters or keep it chill with vlog-style updates, you’re building a digital scrapbook of your reading journey—and maybe even inspiring other readers along the way.

4. Use a Printable Tracker

Sometimes you just want a quick, clean way to track what you’ve read—and that’s where printable reading trackers come in. These are perfect for goal-setting. You can keep track of pages read per day, books finished per month, genres explored, or moods felt. There is something quite wonderful marking off your progress!

5. Build a Reading Scrapbook

For the ultimate memory-maker, combine everything into one amazing summer reading scrapbook. Include book covers, themed stickers, photos of where you read (poolside, in a tent, under the stars), ticket stubs from book-related events, or anything else that ties into your story adventures. Add handwritten notes, favorite quotes, and maybe even a little spilled lemonade from reading in the park.

Scrapbooking lets you turn your summer reading into a keepsake you can flip through whenever you need a little nostalgia—or book recs for next year. It’s also a super fun way to combine creativity, memory, and storytelling into something completely personal.

Documenting with the Young Adult Book Box

One of the easiest and most exciting ways to start documenting your reading journey is with the Young Adult Book Subscription Box. Each monthly box includes a new release YA book, along with surprise gifts that match key moments in the story. You open them only when you reach a certain page, which turns reading into a full sensory experience.

These page-marked surprises are perfect memory markers. Snap photos or videos of your reactions as you open each gift, then include them in your journal, scrapbook, or social media posts. You’ll not only remember what happened in the story—you’ll remember how it felt to experience it.

You can even use past boxes to build themed content around what you’re reading. Check out the Ready-to-Ship YA Boxes for more adventures that are just waiting to be documented.

Your Story, Your Summer, Your Way

Every book you read this summer adds a new chapter to your story. Whether you write about it, sketch it, post it, or keep it close to your heart, documenting your reading makes it stick. It gives you a space to celebrate what you’ve learned, how you’ve grown, and the characters who’ve walked beside you.

So go ahead—download that reading tracker, grab a journal, subscribe to our Young Adult Book Box, and make this summer unforgettable. Your reading journey is yours to create—and it deserves to be remembered. We can’t wait to hear about your summer reading adventure!

Sources

Clark, C. & Rumbold, K. (2006). Reading for pleasure: A research overview. National Literacy Trust.