The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby

This diary-style novel captures the painfully relatable world of middle school through the eyes of 11-and-three-quarters-year-old Lottie Brooks, who documents every cringe-worthy moment of friendship fails and social missteps in her first year of secondary school. From fashion faux pas to flirtation fumbles, Lottie's honest confessions create an immediate connection with readers navigating their own tween anxieties, while the arrival of a new baby sibling adds fresh family dynamics to her already chaotic world.

What makes this story resonate is its unflinching honesty about the awkward transition into adolescence, treating embarrassing moments with humor rather than judgment. Young readers who devoured the first book will appreciate seeing Lottie's continued growth, while newcomers will find a kindred spirit in her self-deprecating charm. The diary format makes these friendship struggles and middle school challenges feel immediate and authentic, offering both comfort and comic relief to anyone who's ever felt socially awkward.