What to Read After... Dork Diaries

Published on: 13 February 2023

If you've finished the hilarious Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renée Russell, check out our recommendations on what to read next...

Millions of fans love reading about Nikki Maxwell and her adorkable mishaps at high school. The doodles, sketches and short diary entries make the Dork Diaries series super appealing. Plus, all the cringe moments with her family, and the fun with her BFFs are so relatable.

There are a lot of Dork Diaries books to read, and once the super-fan is happy to move on, here are some books that are equally enjoyable.

Dazzling drawings

If illustrations are important to this reader, try The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby, which has similar doodle pictures, and the two-colour graphic novel Frankie’s World by Aoife Dooley. Both chart the main character’s often hilarious progress through the choppy waters of secondary school and friendship. Similarly, Loki by Louie Stowell has scribbles and drawings throughout it, and is the very funny story of the Norse god Loki forced to go to school as a human boy.

Maddy Yip’s Guide to Life by Sue Cheung is very funny, packed with illustrations and is written in such a conversational tone that Maddy will feel like a real friend to the reader.

Delightful diaries

Illustration: Jen Carney

If it’s the diary format that’s particularly captivating, try The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. by Jen Carney. Follow the feisty Billie’s ups and downs as she tries to work out who the school purse thief is. Could it be the annoying new girl trying to steal her BFF? Bea in Diary of an Accidental Witch by Perdita and Honor Cargill also has school troubles – her dad’s sent her to a school for witches!

If you want two perspectives, try The Offline Diaries by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené, where Ade and Shanice become instant friends. But then Ade is invited to hang out with the popular girls…

We can’t miss out The Princess Diaries – a classic series by Meg Cabot, but do read the books before you watch the films. Funny, warm-hearted and full of drama, they are a must-read.

Finally, for a slightly older read, Glow Up, Lara Bloom by Dee Benson follows Lara, star of the school football team, as she and her friends ‘glow up’ to become the best possible versions of themselves.

Funny friends

Illustration from the cover of Glow Up, Lara Bloom

We love stories about friends – and BFFs. All the stories above have brilliant friends in them as well, but the following recommendations particularly focus on friendship. What’s New, Harper Drew? by Kathy Weeks explores how important it is to impress the popular girl. The Amazing Edie Eckhart by Rosie Jones also has a sparky narrator in Edie, who’s navigating new friendships when starting senior school.

Best Friends by Jacqueline Wilson is a classic and asks the question what would you do if your best friend moved miles away?

Finally, sisters can also be friends – or not! Cathy Cassidy’s Chocolate Box Girls series is about step-sisters, and explores this sibling friendship dynamic.