While on the hunt for a bullet journal notebook with something other than a boring plain black cover, I came across the Rhodia Goalbook!​

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase this notebook using my affiliate link I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only affiliate with products I use and recommend.

Quick facts

• Size: approx 5.75″ wide x 8.25″ high (about A5 size)
• Sewn binding
• Leatherette soft cover
• 16 different cover colors to choose from
• This belongs to page in case your planner is lost
• Dates at a glance
• 224 dot grid pages
• Extra pages: future log, annual planning, index
• Pocket folder

Price: $25 USD on Amazon

Let’s take a closer look!

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The Cover

The cover is soft and very thin.

Approx 1.5cm thick

Index / Contents

Annual Overview

Future Log

It’s good that this notebook includes these pages already set up for you, and I know this layout seems to be the default / original way to do a future log; but when I do an annual overview / monthly overview planning I find 3 months per page doesn’t provide enough space to write.

Dot Grid Pages

The dots are approx 0.5cm apart.

Unlike most bullet journal notebooks – the pages actually lay flat by themselves without you having to hold the page open.

Related: How to make printable graph paper in Photoshop (perfect for habit tracking and bullet journalling!) 

Built in ribbon bookmarks

Pocket Folder

Very roomy!

Pen Testing

I tried various ballpoint, gel, fine tip and marker tip pens – there was some ghosting on the back side of the page (especially the marker pens which almost bled through). I also did some highlighter and stamp swatches. The highlighters also had some ghosting and, as always, the MAMBI stamps bled through the page.

More bullet journal brush pen testing in this post.

Pros of the Planner

• Portable size
• Extra pages specifically for planning – it’s not just a generic notebook with dot grid paper
• Numbered pages
• The stitched binding lays flat by itself and doesn’t feel like it’s going to come undone easily
• The notebook and pages have rounded corners to prevent wear and tear
• Pocket folder
• Multiple color covers to choose from
• Paper feels super smooth and is nice to write on

Cons of the Planner

• The cover is thin – I’m not sure how well it would hold up to frequent use
• The paper is cream / yellow not white
• The numbers impose on the rows of dots (i.e. you don’t get a full row of dots for the last 2 on each page)

Would I use this notebook?

I like the Rhodia notebook – it has a colorful cover (which is a nice change from the black that most bullet journal notebooks come in). It also had the least amount of ghosting and bleed through of 8 different bullet journal notebooks that I pen tested (more on that in this post).

Yes I would use this notebook.

If you like this notebook, it’s available on Amazon (affiliate link)

Rhodia also do notepads which you could use for bullet journaling too:

More planner reviews:

• Review of Frixion Erasable Highlighters by Pilot – are they worth the cost? 
• Review of the Point Journal (similar to the bullet journal) 
• Unbound Weekly Planner Review

Planning Tips:

• Color coding and planner decorating: 10 Pen brands that are available in a pack of 20 or more colors
• How to make planner stickers for free using Silhouette Studio (Introduction – Video Tutorial)
• Planning Tips: 10 Ways to Plan Your Week Faster

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