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Hello Curated Reads
- Mar 17
- 7 min read
Introducing Curated Reads: A Notion Reading System I Built (And Actually Use)
For the past few weeks, I've been writing about organized reading—what most trackers can't do, what's possible when you go deeper, and how to choose the right system for you.
Today, I'm finally ready to show you what I've been building.
It started as a personal project.
I was running BLK & Company, curating book collections, writing about reading for ReadBLK—and my own reading ecosystem was a mess. Books logged in three different places. Goals abandoned after a few weeks. Reviews I could never find when I needed them or didn’t bother writing at all.
I'm a Notion user. I run my business in Notion, plan my life in Notion, manage my projects in Notion. It made sense to bring my reading there too.
So I started building.
What began as a simple reading log grew into thirteen connected databases. What started as "I'll just track my books here" became a complete system—one that tracks not just what I read, but how I read, why I read, and what I want to remember.
I've been using it for months now and it’s been pretty instrumental in my reading life. And… I think it might be for you too.
So, here's what I built.
What Is Curated Reads? (had to stay on brand with using ‘Curated’, of course)
The short version: Curated Reads is a complete Notion reading system with thirteen databases, thirty-three pre-made goal templates, a pre-populated upcoming releases tracker, and ninety-plus reading prompts—designed for intentional readers who want to track, organize, and remember every book they read.
This is for you if:
You're a Notion user who wants your reading integrated into your life system. You've outgrown basic tracking apps. You collect books and need a way to catalog them. You track multiple reading goals at once. You're a book blogger who needs deep review structure. Or you just want to actually remember the books you read, not just finish them and move on.
This is not for you if:
You want quick mobile logging—honestly, just use an app. You care about social features—Goodreads is great for that. You're not already comfortable in Notion—the learning curve isn't worth it just for reading. You're a casual reader who's happy with basic tracking—no need to switch if what you have works.
The Thirteen Databases (Here's What's Inside)
Core tracking:
Reading Log — Your complete reading history with auto-calculated stats. Every book you've read, when you read it, what you thought.
TBR List — Priority-based, source-tracked, intention-organized. No more scrolling through two hundred random titles wondering what to read next.
Reviews — Fifty-plus prompts across fifteen sections for deep reflection. Not just "did you like it?" but real, structured thinking about what you read.
Library management:
Library Collection — Catalog what you own. ISBN, shelf location, lending history. Never buy a book twice. Never lose track of who borrowed what.
Authors — Track every author you've read with nationality and book count. See your reading patterns. Notice who you keep returning to.
Series Tracker — Manage ongoing series, track completion status. Finally know which book comes next without Googling it.
Discovery and planning:
Upcoming Releases — Fifty-plus pre-populated 2026 releases with covers. I did the research so you don't have to.
Reading Goals — Thirty-three pre-made templates across six categories. Active the ones you want, ignore the rest.
Idea Bank — Ninety-plus reading prompts for when you need inspiration. Organized by theme, ready when you're stuck.
Reading Curriculum — Build thematic study paths. Not just reading books, but studying topics.
Insights and habits:
Statistics & Analytics — Auto-calculated stats. Reading pace, genre breakdown, rating distribution. See your reading life at a glance.
Daily Reading Sessions — Habit tracking. Time spent, pages read, streaks maintained. For the people (like me) who need to see progress.
Monthly Summary — Automated recaps with reflection space. Look back on what you read, how you felt, what mattered.
The key feature? Everything connects. Books link to authors. Authors link to series. Goals link to books. Reviews link to everything. It's a whole system, y’all! I know this all probably sounds overwhelming but I think I built this pretty well for it not be. Or at least I hope so!
What Makes It Different
It comes pre-populated.
Most Notion templates start empty, and you spend hours setting them up before you can even use them. Curated Reads starts ready.
Fifty-plus anticipated 2026 releases with covers and metadata already loaded. Thirty-three reading goal templates ready to duplicate. Ninety-plus reading prompts across themes.
Twenty-eight genres with auto-categorization. Sample data so you can see how everything works.
You duplicate the template and start using it immediately. No hours of setup. No staring at blank databases wondering what to do next.
It's built for depth, not just data.
This isn't just a log where you type in titles and dates. I intended for it to be a reflection system.
Thirty-plus review prompts guide you through character analysis, theme exploration, writing craft evaluation. Monthly summaries give you space to reflect on your reading journey, not just count books. Reading curricula let you build thematic study paths—actually learn something, not just consume. The Idea Bank sparks intentional reading when you're in a slump.
It connects to your life.
Because it lives in Notion, it integrates with everything else you're doing (or will potentially build in Notion).
Link books to work projects when you're reading for research. Connect reading goals to personal growth goals. See your reading life alongside your business, your creative projects, your daily habits. Everything in one place instead of scattered across five different apps you barely check.
Why I'm Releasing It
Here's the honest truth: I built this for me. It solved my problems. It changed how I read. And I thought, maybe other people need this too.
So I'm releasing it.
This is an extension of BLK & Company's mission—to celebrate diverse voices and build community around stories that shape us. Curated Reads helps readers actually remember those stories, track those voices, and organize their reading lives around intention instead of chaos.
If fifty people buy it and love it, that's success to me. If it helps even one person build a reading practice that actually lasts, it was worth the hours I spent building it (and I spent a whole lot of hours perfecting this).
What You Get
The template (one-time payment):
Thirteen fully built, connected databases. Thirty-three goal templates. Ninety-plus reading prompts. Sample data to learn from. Mobile-optimized views. Works on Notion's free plan—you don't need to pay for Notion to use this. Lifetime access. Free updates whenever I add new features.
The documentation:
Welcome guide PDF that walks you through everything. Setup instructions. Video walkthrough so you can see it in action before you even open it. Import guide if you want to bring your external data over. Tips for customizing it to fit your specific needs.
The support:
Email support for technical questions. Access to the BLK & Company community. Future feature updates, completely free. I'm not building this and abandoning it—I use it every day, which means I'm constantly improving it.
Launch Details
Launch week pricing:
Week one (launch week): $25
Standard pricing (after week one): $37
Founding Readers: Everyone who purchases during launch week becomes a ReadBLK Founding Reader. What does that mean?
Locked-in pricing for all future templates I release. First access to new features. Priority support when you need help.
Where to get it:
You can grab it directly from blkandcompany.com/pages/reading-tools or from the Notion Marketplace once it's approved.
Before You Buy
Try the free version first.
Not sure if Notion is even for you? I've also releases a free Library Catalog template. It's a much smaller system for cataloging your book collection—perfect for testing whether Notion fits your workflow before you commit $37 to a full system.
Watch the full walkthrough.
I'll post a video walkthrough on YouTube showing every database, every feature, exactly what you get. Watch it before you buy. I want you to know exactly what you're getting. No surprises. No disappointment.
Read the honest assessment.
This template is powerful, but it's not for everyone.
It's great if you're already in Notion. It's great if you need depth and customization. It's great if you're a desktop-first reader who does most of your tracking and reflecting on a computer.
It's not great if you want quick mobile logging—apps are better for that. It's not great if you're not willing to learn Notion basics. It's not great if you're perfectly happy with your current app and don't feel like anything's missing.
Don't buy it because it looks cool or because you think you should have a fancy system. Buy it because it solves a real problem you actually have.
Just a little something personal: I’ve been nervous to release this template.
Not because I don't believe in what I built—I use it every day and I believe its been great for my reading life. I'm nervous because I'm asking you to trust that something I made is worth your money and your time.
Here's what I can promise: I built this with care. Every database was designed with intention. Every feature was tested over months. This is not a cash grab… although some revenue would be nice.
If you're a Notion user who's been wanting a reading system that goes deeper than basic tracking, I think you'll love this. If you've been feeling like there's a gap between your reading practice and the tools available, this might fill it. And if you're simply curious—the free catalog is here for you.
Curated Reads is available now.
Until the next thought,
Happy Reading
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