797 ratings (3.52 avg)
573 reviews

arielle

Add friend

arielle’s Bookshelves

to-read‎ (3282)
currently-reading‎ (3)
read‎ (917)
did-not-finish‎ (22)
year-in-review‎ (10)

on-pause‎ (8)
4-stars‎ (318)
3-stars‎ (229)
5-stars‎ (120)
2-stars‎ (109)

1-star‎ (17)
books-i-own‎ (1105)
young-adult‎ (207)
arc‎ (158)
graphic-novels‎ (136)

non-fiction‎ (80)
short-stories‎ (58)
favorites‎ (30)
botm‎ (16)
2026-reads‎ (1)

Stats | More…

arielle is Currently Reading

arielle is currently reading

How Girls Are Made

by Mindy McGinnis (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, arc

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

arielle said: " Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

RTC. "

Jan 17, 2026 06:11AM · see review

arielle is currently reading

An Academic Affair

by Jodi McAlister (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: books-i-own, botm, currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

arielle said: " RTC.

---

2025 BOTM Selections:
November 2025: An Academic Affair
October 2025: The Ten Year Affair
September 2025: To the Moon and Back
August 2025: Seduction Theory
July 2025: These Summer Storms
June 2025 (2.0): The River is Waiting
June 2025: The Summer We ...more "

Oct 29, 2025 06:02AM · see review

arielle is currently reading

Normal People

by Sally Rooney (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: books-i-own, 5-stars, favorites, currently-reading

Reading for the 3rd time

read in April 2019

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

arielle said: " While I'm bumping this up to five stars, I don't believe Normal People is a five-star read throughout. Nor do I think it will be a five-star read to everyone. I had similar thoughts following my reading of Sally Rooney's other novel, Conversations wi While I'm bumping this up to five stars, I don't believe Normal People is a five-star read throughout. Nor do I think it will be a five-star read to everyone. I had similar thoughts following my reading of Sally Rooney's other novel, Conversations with Friends. I would anticipate the style being something of an adjustment to most people. However, I would say that if you enjoyed her other novel, this is cut from the same cloth... and was, in my opinion, a step up.

While Conversations... was a slow build and took awhile for me to feel fully committed, I was immediately hooked on Marianne & Connell's story. The dynamic between the two of them was so complex and upsetting and real. Though Rooney crafts precocious characters who are often more intelligent and interesting than the people surrounding them, she proves that is not a guarantee for a more simple, happy lifestyle. In this novel, specifically, she explores the idea of what it means to be a normal person. She considers how we can navigate the world in a way that leads to fulfillment while maintaining healthy relationships with other people and leaving behind past grudges and trauma. Marianne and Connell's friendship and intimate relationship demonstrates a duality many readers will find relatable: sometimes the most confusing, messy, and hurtful bonds we have with people are the ones that teach us the most.

There were aspects of this novel I didn't enjoy, but I believe that was the intention. It's not a light, breezy read. It's an investigative character study that packs a powerful punch and deals with a number of uncomfortable issues (the most overarching of which seems to be our preoccupation with how others see and think of us). It's not going to offer a full sense of closure. It's not going to provide a clean happy ending. However, I don't think anyone going into one of Rooney's novels should ever expect that.

The level of wisdom and insight that went into this piece is commendable. I appreciate Rooney for her sharp, precise writing, deliberate choices, and ability to naturally embed commentary in a way that feels both subtle and organic. I remain impressed by the work she's done and fully intend to read any follow-ups in the future. ...more "

progress:

(page 112 of 273)
— Nov 22, 2025 07:04AM

May 01, 2020 09:03PM · see review

arielle’s Quotes

“Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
― Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy

tags: justice

581 likes

“We accept the love we think we deserve.”
― Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

tags: inspirational, love

76573 likes

“Gender as it functions today is a grave injustice. I am angry. We should all be angry. Anger has a long history of bringing about positive change. But I am also hopeful, because I believe deeply in the ability of human beings to remake themselves for the better.”
― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, We Should All Be Feminists

tags: feminism, gender

147 likes

“People over forty can seldom be permanently convinced of anything. At eighteen our convictions are hills from which we look; at forty-five they are caves in which we hide.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bernice Bobs Her Hair

tags: foibles, ideals

524 likes

“I believe feminism is grounded in supporting the choices of women even if we wouldn’t make certain choices for ourselves.”
― Roxane Gay, Bad Feminist: Essays

463 likes

More of arielle’s quotes…