★★★★★ 5
Warning: This Journal Will Pull You In
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
Before I read it, I believed this journal was a kind of encyclopaedia of all the mysteries and unexplained events of Gravity Falls. However, it turned out to be something entirely different—an intriguing work of fiction, a captivating page-turner, and a perfect TV-series companion that everyone should have at hand while watching the adventures of Dipper and Mabel Pines and their friends during that one iconic summer.
★★★★★ Art
This is a one-of-a-kind book! I’ve never come across anything like it. It is, quite literally, a diary—a journal written and designed with 100% authenticity. You’ll find hand-drawn illustrations and handwritten text sections, as if an explorer, researcher, or scientist documented all of their personal experiences while investigating the eerie town of Gravity Falls. Some pages convey pure emotion; others offer meticulous descriptions of the unknown. Altogether, it grips you and doesn’t let go until you reach the final page. Now I truly understand how Dipper felt when he found this journal—excited, curious, and full of wonder. Bravo!
★★★★☆ Text
In addition to everything mentioned above, the text itself is deeply immersive and engaging. The book consists of two main parts (without spoiling the essence): one written by an unknown author, and another by Dipper, who finds the journal and continues it by chronologically recording his and Mabel’s adventures.
The variety of fonts brilliantly reflects different personalities and emotional states: trembling handwriting, unstable and chaotic notes seemingly written by a mad scientist; Dipper’s neat, school-like typeface; and Mabel’s colorful, emotional, and expressive writing—almost as if she’s permanently fueled by a generous dose of sugar.
For readers who enjoy deciphering codes and riddles, the journal contains puzzles and sections written in several ciphers. Personally, though, these felt more decorative than engaging: sitting with a sheet of paper and decoding letter by letter isn’t quite the experience I want from a book like this. I would have preferred overlays, often used in art books, that reveal the decrypted message beneath without breaking the sense of immersion.
★★★★★ Book Design
Starting with the cover—designed to look like a real, well-worn journal—it feels authentic straight away, just like in the show. There are even intentionally distressed areas on the cover, suggesting damage and wear, which adds another layer of believability. Portrait orientation, size, weight, paper quality, font selection—everything is executed with an incredible level of care and love.
The only downside is the dust jacket, which can easily wear out or get lost. Without it, the book title isn’t printed on the cover underneath. Still, since the cover perfectly replicates the journal from the show, this small flaw is easy to forgive.
★★★★★ Price
I still can’t quite understand how such an incredible book can be sold for such a modest price. Perhaps it’s due to the large number of copies available on the market, but even so, it remains one of the best price-to-quality ratios among the books I’ve purchased in recent years—not to mention the overwhelming number of copies available on the pre-owned market.
★★★★★ Overall Impressions
We all know that Gravity Falls is a masterpiece. What I truly regret is that no one ever told me how much more fascinating and immersive the show becomes when you watch it with this journal in hand. You read the first part, get acquainted with the main characters, and then return to the journal after each episode—as if you’re staying right beside them at the end of the day, listening as they write down everything that happened. I could almost smell the wood of the Mystery Shack and hear the evening crickets outside the window while imagining it all.
In short, this journal is an absolute must-have if you’re a fan of the show—or if you have kids of the right age who are ready to watch it and join its worldwide fan community.
The biggest drawback of this journal is that it’s Journal #3. Journals #1 and #2 exist only as single pages shown in the series—forever teasing your imagination and teaching your inner perfectionist to accept this universe as it is, while firmly believing that somewhere in parallel dimensions, Journals #1 and #2 are all-time bestsellers.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2025
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