Lesson 2 of 10 · SAVE YOUR PLACE · 2 min read

How to keep your place in a print book

By The Margin Desk · Smart Bookmark Compare · Published 2026-09-29 · Updated 2026-10-11

Method 1: a bookmark and nothing else

It costs nothing and never needs charging. It fails when the bookmark falls out, when you read the same book in two places, or when you also listen to the audiobook. It also tells you nothing about the story.

Method 2: type the page into an app

Reading trackers such as Goodreads and The StoryGraph let you update the page you have reached. The record travels with your phone and is shared across devices. The weak spot is the habit: if you forget to update after a session, the app is behind and you are back to flicking through pages.

Method 3: time each session

Bookly runs a reading timer and logs pages and minutes for each session. Basmo does session tracking with a scheduler. The timer builds the habit for you: starting it is how you start reading, and stopping it asks for the page. You still enter the page yourself.

Method 4: photograph the page

Magic Bookmark asks you to snap a photo of the page you are on and syncs to your exact place, not just the chapter. Its maker says it is meant for use alongside a physical book you own, buy or borrow, including library loans. It only works with supported titles, which focus on books popular on BookTok, and you can request others in the app.

Which method suits which reader?

• Short daily sessions with the book always in the same bag: a bookmark is enough.
• Several books on the go, or reading on more than one device: type the page into an app you already use.
• You want to read more and like seeing the minutes add up: a timer app.
• Long breaks with a story you do not want to lose: an app that finds the page and reminds you of the story, if your book is supported.

A small habit that helps any method

Whatever you use, note one line about where the story is when you stop: who is in the scene and what just happened. Even a few words make the next session easier. Lesson 6 covers the apps that keep those notes for you.