If you’ve ever laughed out loud at a middle school drama, crushes gone wrong, or the eternal struggle of being the “dorky” kid in a sea of CCPs (Cute, Cool & Popular), then you already know and love the Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renée Russell.
With over 50 million copies sold worldwide, Nikki Maxwell’s hilarious journal entries have been making readers ages 9–13 (and plenty of nostalgic adults) snort-laugh since 2009. Whether you’re a longtime fan or picking up the series for the first time, here’s the ultimate, up-to-date list of every Dork Diaries book in chronological order — plus spin-offs and companion books!
Complete List of All Dork Diaries Books in Order
The Dork Diaries universe, created by Rachel Renée Russell, includes the main series, spin-off books, and interactive companions. Below are the complete lists in chronological publication order, organized into tables for easy reading. Dates are based on first U.S. editions. As of December 2025, the main series has 16 books, with the spin-off Max Crumbly series at 3 books and several companions.
Main Dork Diaries Series
| # | Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life | 2009 |
| 2 | Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl | 2010 |
| 3 | Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star | 2011 |
| 4 | Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess | 2012 |
| 5 | Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All | 2012 |
| 6 | Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker | 2013 |
| 7 | Tales from a Not-So-Glam TV Star | 2014 |
| 8 | Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After | 2014 |
| 9 | Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen | 2015 |
| 10 | Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter | 2015 |
| 11 | Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy | 2016 |
| 12 | Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe | 2017 |
| 13 | Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday | 2018 |
| 14 | Tales from a Not-So-Spectacular Girl Scout | 2019 |
| 15 | Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure | 2023 |
| 16 | Tales from a Not-So-Bratty Little Sister | 2024 |
Spin-Off: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly Series
This companion series follows Max Crumbly, Brandon’s best friend, in his own middle school adventures.
| # | Title | Publication Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Locker Hero | 2016 |
| 2 | Middle School Mayhem | 2017 |
| 3 | Masters of Mischief | 2019 |
Companion and Interactive Books
These include activity books, journals, and specials that tie into the Dork Diaries world but aren’t part of the main narrative.
| Title | Publication Year | Type |
|---|---|---|
| How to Dork Your Diary (3.5) | 2011 | Activity/Guide |
| OMG!: All About Me Diary! | 2013 | Interactive Journal |
| Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter Special Edition (Puppy Love) | 2015 | Special Edition |
| Drama Queen (Blank Journal) | 2015 | Journal with Prompts |
| Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker Special Edition | 2016 | Special Edition |
For the best experience, read the main series to follow Nikki’s ongoing story. The spin-offs and companions can be enjoyed anytime for extra fun! If you’re hunting for box sets, check out collections like Books 1–10 or the full 1–16 set.
Dork Diaries Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide (2025 Updated)
Main Dork Diaries Series in Order
- Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (2009) Nikki’s very first diary! New school, new crush (Brandon ♥), and new nemesis (Mackenzie Hollister). The book that started it all.
- Dork Diaries 2: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (2010), Halloween dance drama a, and the infamous “Party Palooza” disaster.
- Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star (2011) Talent show chaos, bad-girl band dreams, and Mackenzie trying to steal the spotlight… again.
- Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess (201.2) Ice-skating competitions and charity fundraisers gone wrong.
- Dork Diaries 5: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (2012) Nikki and her friends start an advice column — which could go wrong?
- Dork Diaries 6: Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker (2013) School dance heartbreak and the legendary “Brandon kiss” cliffhanger!
- Dork Diaries 7: Tales from a Not-So-Glam TV Star (2014) Reality TV cameras follow the gang — cue total mayhem.
- Dork Diaries 8: Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After (2014) A school play fairy-tale mashup that turns into a total dork-tastrophe.
- Dork Diaries 9: Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen (2015) Spring break in Paris? More like spring break with Mackenzie as your roommate.
- Dork Diaries 10: Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter (2015) Nikki accidentally becomes a pet-sitter for eight adorable (and chaotic) puppies.
- Dork Diaries 11: Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy (2016) A school exchange program swaps Nikki and… Mackenzie?!
- Dork Diaries 12: Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe (2017) Nikki joins the school newspaper and gets paired with — you guessed it — Brandon!
- Dork Diaries 13: Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday (2018) Nikki’s 15th birthday party turns into the ultimate disaster… until it doesn’t.
- Dork Diaries 14: Tales from a Not-So-Spectacular School Trip (2019) A week-long trip to Paris with the entire grade? Total recipe for dorkiness.
- Dork Diaries 15: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure (2023) Nikki becomes a runway model in Paris Fashion Week (!!!). Released after a long hiatus — fans went wild!
Book 16 – As of December 2025, Rachel Renée Russell has not officially announced Book 16, but she has teased on social media that “Nikki’s story isn’t over yet.” Fingers crossed for 2026!
Spin-Off Series: Dork Diaries Companion Books
- The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1: Locker Hero (2016)
- The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 2: Middle School Mayhem (2017)
- The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 3: Masters of Mischief (2019) (Nikki’s awkward crush, Brandon’s best friend gets his own hilarious series!)
- Dork Diaries: Drama Queen (2015) – Blank journal with prompts
- Dork Diaries: Puppy Love (2015) – Special edition with bonus content
- OMG!: All About Me Diary! (2013) – Interactive journal
- How to Dork Your Diary (2011) – Guide to starting your own diary
Box Sets & Special Editions
Most popular collections right now:
- Dork Diaries Books 1–10 Box Set
- Dork Diaries Books 1–14 Box Set
- Dork Diaries Books 1–15 Deluxe Collector’s Set (includes Book 15 Paris edition)
Should You Read Them in Order?
YES! While each book can technically stand alone, the ongoing drama with Nikki, Chloe, Zoey, Brandon, and (unfortunately) Mackenzie is way more fun when you read them sequentially. Inside jokes, running gags, and crush developments hit different when you’ve been along for the whole awkward ride.
Final Thoughts
Sixteen years and 15+ books later, Dork Diaries is still the ultimate comfort read for anyone who’s ever felt like a total dork (so… all of us?). Nikki Maxwell reminds us that being imperfect, dramatic, and a little bit ridiculous is actually pretty fabulous.
Grab the first book, a fuzzy pen, and maybe some bug spray (you’ll get the reference after Book 1), and dive in — your inner middle-schooler will thank you.
Happy reading, dorks! ✏️💕
Which Dork Diaries book is your absolute favorite? Drop it in the comments — let’s relive the drama together!
