How to Keep a TBR List From BookTok Recommendations (Without Losing Track)

By Kiruthika, founder of SnapTBR

A TBR list, short for "to be read," is the running list of books you plan to read. BookTok makes it grow fast. A few evenings of scrolling can leave you with a dozen books you want and no record of any of them. This guide covers how to build a TBR that actually works, and how to get a book onto it before the video scrolls away.

Why BookTok TBRs fall apart

The video ends, the title was on screen for one second, and a week later you can't remember what it was. Most TBR trouble starts right there. A good system catches the book at the moment you see it.

Step 1: Pick one place for your list

The best list is the one you'll actually open. Some common choices:

• A notes app on your phone. Quick, always with you, and free.
• A spreadsheet. Good if you like sorting and filtering.
• A reading tracker. Apps like Goodreads or StoryGraph let you shelve books as want to read.
• A saved library in SnapTBR. If you scan screenshots, the books you find can live in one place.
• Paper. A notebook in your bag works for plenty of readers.

Pick one, and resist the urge to spread your list across five places.

Step 2: Capture the book right away

Record a book the moment you see it. Memory is a terrible filing cabinet, and if you wait until the end of a scrolling session you'll forget half of them. Screenshot the cover or title as soon as it appears. It takes a second, and you can work out the title later. If you don't feel like rewatching the video, upload the screenshot to SnapTBR and it will find the title and author for you.

Step 3: Write down more than the title

A title alone won't help much in three months. Add a few short details:

• The author. It helps you find the right edition and other books by them.
• Where you heard about it. A creator's name tells you whose taste you trust.
• Why you wanted it. One line like "slow-burn mystery" or "cozy and funny" brings the reason back.
• Whether you own it. Mark the books already on your shelf so you don't buy them twice.

Step 4: Sort the pile

A list of fifty books is hard to use. A little structure helps:

1. Next up. Three to five books you're genuinely excited about.
2. Soon. Books you want, just not this month.
3. Maybe. Interesting, but not urgent. Look at these now and then.

You can also sort by mood, like light reads, long reads, or books for a trip, so the right book is easy to grab when the mood hits.

Step 5: Trim it now and then

A TBR is allowed to change. Every so often, remove the books you're no longer curious about. A shorter list you trust beats a long one that makes you feel behind. Nobody is grading you.

Step 6: Check the library before you buy

If you borrow books, see whether your library has a copy before you buy. Many libraries let you place a hold or borrow digital copies. It's a good way to test a BookTok favorite before you spend money on it, and your wallet will notice.

Where SnapTBR fits

SnapTBR handles the capture step. You upload a screenshot, it identifies the books in it, and it links you to Amazon so you can look them up. With SnapTBR Unlimited ($3.99 a month, up to 50 scans per day as a fair-use limit), the books you scan are saved to a library where you can search them, mark which ones you own, and see how many times you've scanned the same book. Short tags are included when the cover or title makes them clear. Free accounts get 5 scans per day, but results aren't saved, so copy what you want to keep.

The Amazon links in SnapTBR are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Nothing stops you from taking the title to a library or bookshop instead.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The short version

Pick one place, capture books the moment you see them, write down the author and why you wanted the book, sort the list into a few groups, and trim it from time to time. That's all a TBR needs to do.

Want to catch your next book before the video disappears? Upload a screenshot to SnapTBR and start your list.

SnapTBR is an independent app. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by TikTok, Amazon, Goodreads or StoryGraph.