Middle school drama, doodles, crushes, frenemies, and embarrassing disasters all collide in Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries series. This guide lists the Dork Diaries books in order, including the 16 main Nikki Maxwell books, the 3 1/2 companion book, diary-style extras, and the full-color edition.
Jump to:
- Dork Diaries Books in Publication Order
- Dork Diaries Companion Books and Special Editions
- Who is Rachel Renée Russell?
Dork Diaries Books in Publication Order
I’d read the main Dork Diaries books in publication order. Each book has its own middle school disaster, but Nikki’s friendships, crushes, rivalries, and family chaos build as the series goes.
Starting at the beginning also makes the character relationships easier to follow, especially once MacKenzie, Brandon, Chloe, Zoey, and Brianna become bigger parts of Nikki’s life.
- Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (2009)
- Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (2010)
- Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star (2011)
- Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess (2012)
- Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All (2012)
- Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker (2013)
- Tales from a Not-So-Glam TV Star (2014)
- Tales from a Not-So-Happily Ever After (2014)
- Tales from a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen (2015)
- Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter (2015)
- Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy (2016)
- Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe (2017)
- Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday (2018)
- Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever (2019)
- Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure (2023)
- Tales from a Not-So-Bratty Little Sister (2024)
Dork Diaries Companion Books and Special Editions
The main Nikki Maxwell story is in the 16 books listed above, but there are a few extra Dork Diaries books worth knowing about. The big one is Dork Diaries 3 1/2: How to Dork Your Diary, which fits best after Book 3 if you want the full diary-style experience.
These are optional, so I wouldn’t stress about them if you’re only trying to read the main story. But for kids who love Nikki’s doodles, quizzes, and diary prompts, they’re a nice add-on.
- Dork Diaries 3 1/2: How to Dork Your Diary (2011)
- OMG! All About Me Diary! (2013)
- Dork Diaries Friendship Box (2018)
- Dork Diaries 1 Full-Color Edition: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (2025)
The full-color edition is a new version of the first book, not a new Nikki Maxwell story.
Who is Rachel Renée Russell?
Rachel Renée Russell is the author of the Dork Diaries books. Her daughter Nikki Russell illustrates the series, and Nikki also inspired the name of Nikki Maxwell.
The heart of Dork Diaries comes from real middle school feelings: trying to fit in, dealing with bullies, liking someone, finding your friends, and learning to be okay with being different. That’s why the series works so well for younger readers. It’s silly and dramatic, but it gets the awkward stuff right.
Russell is also an attorney, though she’s best known for writing funny, illustrated middle grade books. Her Dork Diaries series has become a major children’s book series worldwide, with Nikki Maxwell still standing as one of the most recognizable diary-style characters for tweens.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Books in Order index.
One thought on “Dork Diaries Books in Order: All 16 Main Books + Extras”
I AM IN LOVE WITH DORK DIARIES .IN FACT,I AM A DORK . I AINNT SCARED ANYMORE NOW I CAN WALK UP TO THE WORLD AND SAY I AM A DORK