- Illustrated Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Comedy
The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy Brewster: The Frenemies
Book 1 of 3 in The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy BrewsterView the full series
A funny, doodle-packed diary in the Dork Diaries mould with a celebrity twist: ordinary Daisy has to share her very unfamous life with her Hollywood child-star cousin Maxxy, and discovers the real girl behind the million followers.
- Best for9–12
- FormatIllustrated
- Length208 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr25 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Comedic
- Conversational
- Epistolary
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Irreverent
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Daisy Brewster has resolutions: to be her best self, get along with her big brother, and land a good part in the school play. Then her cousin Maxxy Bloom blows into her ordinary life. Maxxy is a Hollywood child star with A-list friends, a million followers and a lifestyle Daisy can only dream of, so when she comes to stay, Daisy braces herself for a spoiled diva. But the real Maxxy turns out to be a big surprise, and Daisy's decidedly unfamous world has an unexpected effect on her glamorous guest. Told entirely through Daisy's diary and stuffed with doodles, lists and laugh-out-loud asides, this is the sparkling first book in a new series for fans of Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries. Behind the jokes about fame, frenemies and school-play disasters is a warm story about seeing past the followers to the friend underneath.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Squarely a 9-12 independent read: short diary entries, big print and constant doodles make it very approachable, while the friendship and family threads give it enough substance for confident tweens. Works as a shared read from about 8.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Moderate
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Reading together
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
3 / 5 · Workable
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Funny diary
- Reluctant readers
- Friendship
- Celebrity culture
Avoid if
- Wants high stakes adventure
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Reluctant reader
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Daisy's diary is packed with doodles, cringe moments and brilliant asides, and the clash between her unfamous world and her cousin's million-follower fame is very funny. Kids love spotting that the real Maxxy is nothing like her online self.
- Friendship and belonging
- Proving yourself
- Being understood finally
Why parents love it
A pacey, illustrated diary that reluctant readers race through, with a gentle message about looking past followers to the person underneath. Warm and jokey without a mean bone in it, and easy to hand to fans of Lottie Brooks or Dork Diaries.
- Shared humour
- Quick to read
In the series
The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy Brewster.
3 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
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Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
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