Rachel Renée Russell Books In Order Of Release

If you’ve ever laughed out loud at a middle-school disaster, cringed at a cafeteria food fight, or secretly wished you had your very own cartoon doodle journal, chances are you’re already obsessed with Rachel Renée Russell’s blockbuster series Dork Diaries. With over 50 million copies sold worldwide, this hilarious illustrated series has become a rite of passage for tweens (and plenty of nostalgic adults!).

Whether you’re a longtime Nikki Maxwell stan or a brand-new reader wondering where to start, this ultimate Rachel Renée Russell books in order list has you covered—from the very first crush confession to the latest drama-filled adventure.

List of Rachel Renée Russell’s Books in Series Order

Rachel Renée Russell is best known for her hilarious Dork Diaries series and its spin-offs, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. Below is the complete list of her published books (as of December 2025), organized by series in publication order. I’ve included all main entries, spin-offs, and companion titles for a full bibliography. Note: Dork Diaries #16: Tales from a Not-So-Bratty Little Sister was released in late 2025, marking the latest addition.

Dork Diaries Series

This flagship series follows Nikki Maxwell’s middle-school misadventures. Read in publication order for the best experience.

Companions to Dork Diaries

These are interactive or supplementary books tied to the main series.

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly Series

A spin-off focusing on Max Crumbly, Nikki’s crush, Brandon’s best friend, set in the same universe.

This covers all 22 of Rachel Renée Russell’s books to date—no other standalone works or series exist. If a new release drops after December 2025, we’ll update this list! For purchasing or more details, check out Simon & Schuster’s official page.

Dork Diaries Series In Publication Order (Recommended Reading Order)

1. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (2009) Meet Nikki Maxwell—scholarship student, proud dork, and chronicler of all things awkward at Westchester Country Day. This is where the magic begins!
2. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (2010) Halloween dance drama + Mackenzie Hollister sabotage = pure chaos.
3. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star (2011) Talent show terror and a possible record deal? Nikki’s life just got crazier.
4. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess (2012) Ice-skating disasters and charity fundraisers—Nikki style.
5. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (2012) Nikki and Chloe start an advice column… what could go wrong?
6. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker (2013) Brandon + school dance + heartbreak = maximum feels.
7. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Glam TV Star (2014) Reality TV comes to Westchester! Cue the glamour (and total embarrassment).
8. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After (2014) A fairy-tale school play turns Nikki’s life into a literal storybook nightmare.
9. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen (2015) Mackenzie moves in with Nikki?! Say it ain’t so!
10. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter (2015) Seven bratty puppies + one huge lie = classic Dork Diaries mayhem.
11. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy (2016). Bad-boy exchange students and a school swap gone wrong.
12. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe (2017) Nikki and Brandon are finally “crushing”… until everything explodes.
13. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday (2018). Sweet 14 turns sour fast when Mackenzie crashes the party.
14. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever (2019) School trip to Paris! But will the BFF squad survive the drama?
15. Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Problem (2023) Nikki’s modeling gig in Paris takes a hilarious turn.

Book 16 – Coming Soon! Rachel Renée Russell has teased that another book is in the works—fans are already losing their minds!

Spin-Off Series You Can’t Miss

Dork Diaries: The Misadventures of Max Crumbly (for readers who love Nikki’s crew ,sh Brandon’s best friend)

1. Locker Hero (2016)
2. Middle School Mayhem (2017)
3. Masters of Mischief (2019)

The OMG! All About Me Diary! – A fun, interactive journal.I Love Rachel Renée Russell! – Activity book packed with quizzes and doodles

Bonus: Special Editions & Box Sets

• Many books have awesome special editions with posters, stickers, and bonus content.
• The first 15 Dork Diaries books are available in beautiful box sets—perfect for gifting (or treating yourself!).

Why Read the Dork Diaries Books in Order?

While each book works as a standalone (Rachel is a genius at recaps), reading in order lets you:

• Watch Nikki, Chloe, Zoey, and Brandon grow up together
• Catch every inside joke and recurring drama with Mackenzie
• Experience the slow-burn crush that had us screaming for YEARS

Final Thoughts: Are You Team Dork?

Fourteen years after the first book dropped, Dork Diaries is still making readers laugh, cry, and doodle in the margins. Rachel Renée Russell created more than a series—she created a safe, hilarious space where being a “dork” is the coolest thing you can be.

Ready to binge the entire series? Grab book one and cancel your weekend plans—Nikki Maxwell is waiting!

Which Dork Diaries book is YOUR favorite? Drop it in the comments—let’s argue about whether Brandon or André is the better crush! 💕