Dork Diaries 14 – Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever

Rachel Renee Russell's Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever is a Dork Diaries story for 10 year olds about a dream summer tour that nearly doesn't happen.

What happens

It's the fourteenth Dork Diaries book. Nikki Maxwell's band has been picked to open for the Bad Boyz, a world-famous boy band, on their summer tour. SQUEEE! Then her little sister Brianna grabs her phone and hangs up on the music producer.

Nikki spends days ringing a full voicemail and getting an out-of-office email back. And she can't bring herself to tell her best friends Chloe and Zoey, who've already started a scrapbook for the tour. (Who hasn't put off giving friends bad news?)

Because it's her diary, you get absolutely everything. One minute she's convinced she's ruined everyone's summer forever. The next she's admitting she might be overreacting. She's SO dramatic and so honest about it that it's funny and a bit touching at the same time.

The Fourth of July picnic is the best bit. Dad insists on taking a pedal boat out on the lake, falls asleep, then falls in. Brianna throws an SOS message in a bottle that bonks him on the head. Nikki ends up in the water as well. Your reader will be giggling all the way to shore.

There's a crush in here too. Nikki and Brandon really like each other, and she's terrified of doing something embarrassing in front of him. (She does. It involves Brianna's doll mud bath.)

Chloe also brings a stack of magazine quizzes about the band, which the three girls pore over. Which Bad Boy would be your best friend? It's all very giggly and very summer holiday.

And in the background is MacKenzie Hollister, the girl who told the producer Nikki was away in Paris. Nikki is sure the tour will be a MacKenzie-free zone. Long-time fans may have their doubts.

If you've got a reader who loves a diary full of drama, crushes and friendship ups and downs, this one's a treat.

What to read next

If they haven't met Nikki yet, go back to Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life. It's the one where she's starting at her new private school and would do almost anything for a decent phone.