How to make a year in review book with your own writing, not just photos.
Most year in review books are photos with captions. Here is how to make one that also holds your own writing: how much to write, five ways to structure it, and how to get friends' notes in.
Written by Philip · Published October 13, 2026
The short answer
A year in review book with writing combines a year's photos with your own reflections, usually a short piece for each month or theme, so it records what the year meant and not only what it looked like. Decide how much writing you want first, choose a structure, write short and often rather than long and once, and print it as a hardcover.
- Decide the balance up front. A good starting point is mostly photos with a short piece of writing for each month or section, and heavier writing only if you want an essay-like book.
- Long writing is fine. It flows onto extra pages automatically, and every printed page counts toward your book's page total.
- You can add a writing-only memory, and you can record a voice note instead of typing.
- Friends can add notes to your pages from a private link, without making an account.
- It is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: $129 for a printed hardcover with up to 120 pages and worldwide shipping included.
Three ways to balance writing and photos in print
How different writing lengths translate onto physical pages in a finished yeerbook.
1. Captions plus
Photo-led with quiet anchors
One or two sentences anchored directly beneath photos or at the start of a month. Ideal for visual years or when you only have a single weekend to assemble the book.
2. Monthly notes
The sweet spot for most books
A dedicated reflection page for each month facing a photo collage. Balances visual browsing with the personal context of who was there and what changed.
3. Essay chapters
Narrative and deep reflection
Long-form writing that flows naturally across consecutive pages, paired with selected photos. Best for major milestones, personal transitions, or letters to yourself.
Why most year in review books are all photos
Popular year in review photo book guides tend to focus on the pictures: sort them by month, pick a layout, add a dated caption, order. That makes sense for a gallery, and it is why so many of these books look good and say very little.
The meaning of a year usually isn't in the photos. It is in what changed, what you decided, what you learned, and what you would tell yourself in January. A photo shows that you were at the lake. Your own writing says why that weekend mattered. A book that holds both is the one you will actually reread.
Decide how much writing you want
Before you pick photos, decide how much of the book should be words. There is no right answer, but the choice changes how you build the book and how many pages it takes. The table below compares three common levels as rough guides, not rules.
| Level | What it looks like | Best for | Page impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captions plus | A line or two next to each photo page, with a short note at the start of each month. | People who are short on time, or whose year is mostly visual. | Adds little to the page count. |
| Monthly notes | A short paragraph or two for each month on its own writing page, alongside the photos. | Most people. It balances reading and looking. | Usually about one extra page per month. |
| Essay chapters | A few paragraphs for each season or theme, with photos placed to support the writing. | People who like to write, or a year with a strong story. | Can run several pages per chapter, so check the page count. |
Pick a structure that makes writing easy
A structure is what keeps you from staring at a blank page. Here are five that work well. You can combine them, for example by month for most of the book and a top-moments spread at the end.
- 1
By month
One writing page and a handful of photos for each month. The easiest to build, because the calendar does the organizing, and it is how a yeerbook is organized by default.
- 2
By season or chapter
Group the year into three or four chapters, such as "the move," "the new job," or "the summer." This suits a year with a clear story.
- 3
By theme
Pages for people, places, work, and changes rather than dates. This reads more like a collection of short essays.
- 4
By question
Answer one reflection question per page, such as "what almost got lost?" or "what is worth carrying forward?" Our year in review questions give you twenty-five to choose from.
- 5
Top moments
Pick your ten best moments and give each a photo and a short story. The lightest version, and a good one if you only have a weekend.
Write short and often, not long and once
The year in review writing that gets abandoned is the one that starts with a December plan to write about everything. A better rule is to write one short piece for each month or section, three or four sentences is enough to begin, and let it grow if you have more to say.
If you are staring at a blank page, use a simple three-sentence monthly check-in:
1. Where you were: The place, project, or trip that took most of your attention.
2. Who was there: The person who made the weeks lighter, or a line from a group chat worth saving.
3. What you know now: One quiet lesson, surprise, or friction you did not expect when the year began.
If you are starting at the end of the year, work one month at a time instead of trying to hold the whole year in your head. Our guide to rebuilding a past year from your camera roll, calendar, and chats walks through that method.
How long writing works in the printed book
Longer writing is supported. A long reflection flows onto additional pages, and each printed page counts toward the book's page total, so a long essay takes several pages and is worth counting. A yeerbook includes up to 120 pages, and extra pages can be added if a big year needs more room.
You can also add a writing-only memory with no photos, which suits an essay, a letter to yourself, or a month where nothing photographable happened. The printer needs at least 24 printed pages including the cover and blank pages, and the app tells you how many more to add if you are short, so writing is one good way to reach that number.
Open and close the book with a page of writing
Two pages are worth writing even if the rest is mostly photos. Open with a short note about what kind of year it was, in a sentence or a paragraph. Close with a letter to next year's version of you: what you hope carries forward and what you want to leave behind.
A closing letter works well as a writing-only memory, since it needs no photos, and it gives the book an ending that is yours rather than a last photo.
Speak it instead of typing it
Some people think better out loud. You can record a voice note instead of typing, and the app can turn it into text that you can edit. Voice recordings are transcribed privately and are never used for model training. The printed page shows the text, not the audio, so read what it wrote and edit it before it prints.
Add other people's voices
Your account of the year is one side of it. The people in it noticed things about you that you didn't. In yeerbook you can share a private link to a memory, and anyone who gets it can sign, draw, leave a note, or add a photo sticker from their phone, without making an account.
A good prompt to send is one question: "What is one thing you noticed about me this year?" It is easier to answer than a blank page, and the replies are often the most reread pages in the book. If you turn on "Make this a group memory," written notes are visible to everyone who signs it, so use it for shared events and keep personal notes to a personal memory.
The method, in order
- 1
Decide how much writing you want
Choose between captions plus, monthly notes, and essay chapters. If you are unsure, start with monthly notes.
- 2
Choose a structure
Pick by month, by season, by theme, by question, or top moments. The calendar structure is the easiest to build.
- 3
Choose a handful of photos for each section
You do not need every photo. Pick the few that carry the section, and let the writing do the rest.
- 4
Write one short piece per section
Start with three or four sentences. Say what happened, who was there, and what you know now. Speak it as a voice note if typing is a barrier.
- 5
Ask friends for one question each
Share a private link and ask what one thing they noticed about you this year. Their replies become pages.
- 6
Check the page count, then order
Long writing adds pages, and the printer needs at least 24 printed pages including the cover and blank pages. The app shows how many to add.
For the questions to write about, see our 25 year in review questions, and if you are starting after the year has ended, see how to rebuild a past year month by month. For the full walkthrough from first photo to printed book, see how yeerbook works. If you are making an annual family chronicle, see yeerbook for families, and for trips or shared chapters with friends, see yeerbook for groups. To see how it fits an ordinary year, see yeerbook for everyday life, and if you are creating this as a holiday or milestone gift, see our gifts guide. For how it compares with the usual photo book tools, see how yeerbook compares.
Frequently asked questions
What is a year in review book?
A printed book that records your year, usually with photos organized by month or theme. A year in review book with writing also holds your own reflections, and sometimes notes from friends, so it captures what the year meant and not only what it looked like.
How much writing should a year in review book have?
It depends on the book you want. A good starting point is a short piece of writing for each month or section, with the photos doing most of the visual work. Heavier writing suits people who like to write or whose year has a strong story.
Can I put a long essay in my book?
Yes. Long writing flows onto additional pages automatically, and each printed page counts toward the book's page total. A yeerbook includes up to 120 pages, and extra pages can be added if you need more room.
Can I speak my reflections instead of typing them?
Yes. You can record a voice note and the app can turn it into text that you can edit before it prints.
Can my friends add notes to my year in review book?
Yes. Share a private link for a memory and anyone with it can sign, draw, leave a note, or add a photo sticker from their phone, without an account. Notes in a group memory are visible to the others who sign it.
Can I make one for a year that is already over?
Yes. A yeerbook can be built for a period that has already ended, using the photos and memories you already have. The start of a book can be this year or last year, and it runs for three to twelve months.
How many pages does a printed book need?
The printer needs at least 24 printed pages, counting the cover and blank pages. If your book is short, the app tells you how many more pages to add before you can order.
Can I try it before I pay?
Try free for 30 days. No credit card required. During the free trial you can use every feature except printing and downloading the final book, so you can write and share the whole book before you decide to order.
Are my photos and writing private?
Yes. Your photos and writing are end-to-end encrypted, and a memory only becomes visible to someone else if you share a private link to it. Notes people add to a group memory are visible to the others who sign it.
How much does it cost?
A yeerbook is a one-time purchase, currently $129, not a subscription. It covers the printed hardcover with up to 120 pages and worldwide shipping.
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