Ever flip through Bookstagram or BookTok and see those beautifully tabbed, doodled, and highlighted books that feel more like works of art than novels? Annotating books is the perfect way to make your reads uniquely yours—whether you’re scribbling down spicy one-liners, noting down your feelings, doodling around a memorable scene or tabbing important parts of your novel for easy and quick future reference.

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The Best Aesthetic Beginner’s Guide to Annotating Books

Not sure where to start? This guide is here to walk you through the basics, help you embrace the aesthetic side of annotating, and make sure you’re having fun in the process. Let’s dive in!

Why Annotate Books?

Annotating is like having a mini-conversation with your book. It’s the ultimate way to pour yourself into the story and connect with it. It helps you:

• Capture your reactions in real time (yes, even those OMG and WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS?! moments).
• Remember favorite quotes, pivotal scenes, or tropes that hit just right.
• Turn your book into a keepsake that feels deeply personal.

Plus, it’s a creative outlet! If you love doodling or journaling, annotating lets you bring those hobbies into your reading life.

Step 1: Build Your Annotation Kit

Annotating Book Supplies

Before you start, gather the essentials. Here’s what you’ll need:

Book Tabs

Tabs are an annotator’s best friend and the easiest place to start! Pick a few colors and decide what they’ll mean. For example:

• 💖 Pink = Romantic moments
• 💡 Yellow = Favorite quotes
• 💔 Blue = Emotional wreckage (we see you, angsty romances)

Pro Tip: Start with a pre-made set of reusable tabs if you’re nervous about commitment.

Pens and Highlighters

For a clean, aesthetic look, go for:

• Fine-tip pens for small notes and doodles.
• Archival-quality pens to prevent bleeding.
• Pastel highlighters for soft, Instagram-worthy vibes.

Bonus Tools

• Washi Tape: Frame important sections or add pops of color.
• Sticky Notes: Perfect for non-permanent thoughts or extra space.
• Stencils: For uniform shapes like stars or hearts, if you’re not comfortable hand-drawing those yourself.

Step 2: Choose Your Annotation Style

The best part about annotating? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach! Here are some options to try:

Tabs Only

Go for minimalist and simple by using strictly tabs. You can add as many colors to the arsenal as you want but that’s all you’ll be doing. No pens or highlighters or anything else needed.

Aesthetic Doodles

Draw tiny hearts during swoony moments, flowers for sweet scenes, or stars for magical moments. You can also underline or draw a rectangle around a particular word or few of a quote that really stands out to you. If you’re into fantasy, try sketching mini maps or symbols from the story. This is the part where you draw and add different colors to those drawings. It’ll add a whimsical touch to the annotating. You can also incorporate this with the tabs or use just the doodles.

Handwritten Notes

You can either use the margins to jot down quick reactions, questions for the characters, or predictions. But you can also incorporate those notes within the text of the book (and even better if there’s doodles around it). For example, if you box in 3 words out of a quote that got you right in the feels, right your emotional reaction right underneath them. For extra flair:

• Write your thoughts as if you’re texting the characters.
• React in real-time with notes like, “I KNEW IT!” or “this is so himbo energy.”
• Write quotes or words that you want to highlight in cursive.
• Use block bolder letters for dramatic moments.
• Add emojis for relatable feels (because sometimes a “😭” says it all).

Color-Coding and Themes

We already covered that you’ll be coordinating your tabs and highlights to major themes and moments in the book and use a key. But you’ll also want to match your colors to the book’s cover for an effortlessly cohesive look. That involves the colors of the tabs, doodles, highlighters etc. Each book will have its own personalized experience which will make it even more special.

• Pair your washi tape or doodle colors with the mood of the story. A dark romance? Go for moody purples and blacks. A holiday rom-com? Reds, greens, and golds, obviously!
• Try some snowflake doodles for winter reads.
• Warm-toned tabs and sun sketches for summer romances.

Mood Boards and Aesthetic Touches

Take your annotating to the next level by turning your book into a creative playground:

• Use transparent sticky notes over your highlights to expand on your thoughts.
• Frame quotes with washi tape for a pop of color.
• Stick in small clippings, stickers, or even pressed flowers that match the book’s theme.

Design a Key

Create a mini “annotation key” at the front of your book with symbols or colors you’ll use. For example:

• 🌟 = Life-changing moment
• ❤️ = Favorite line
• ❔ = Questionable decisions

Step 3: Annotate Without Fear

If you’re worried about “ruining” your books, here’s your permission to let go of perfection. Annotating is about making your books yours, not creating a museum exhibit.

Practice Makes Perfect

Start small—try a thrifted book or a secondhand copy if you’re nervous. You’ll gain confidence as you go!

Digital Option

Not into marking up physical books? Try annotating on a Kindle, you can highlight quotes and add notes, or if you use a Kobo e-reader you can doodle and hand write on it! Plus, you can also use apps like Notion or a digital journal to track your thoughts.

While I know these are not the same vibe as annotating physical books, sometimes we don’t have a huge library or we are reading library books (and therefore we can’t play with them as much). If you want to give digital a try, check out the Notion reading tracker that I personally designed, perfect for the ultimate bookworm. Or use one of my digital bullet journals to keep track of your reads.

Step 4: Share and Celebrate

The joy of annotating is in the connection it creates—with your book and your fellow readers! Share your creative pages on BookTok or Instagram, tag your favorite authors, and watch your reading community grow. Or just treasure them as keepsakes that hold a special memory of your experience while reading it.

Final thoughts

Annotating books is like giving your reads a second life. It’s part journal, part art project, and completely you. Whether you’re filling the margins with heartfelt notes or turning your romance novel into a pastel masterpiece, the key is to have fun and embrace your unique style.

Have you started annotating yet? What’s your go-to style? Share in the comments or tag me on social media (@utcbookblog) —I’d love to see how you’re making your books your own!

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• How to organize your Kindle library
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• Spring cleaning guide to bookshelf organization

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