Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renee Russell

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Recipe for disaster:

4 parties.

Add 2 friends and 1 crush.

Divide by 1 mean girl out to RUIN Nikki.

Mix well, put fingers over eyes, and CRINGE!

Settled in at her new school and flanked by awesome friends Chloe and Zoey, life is looking up for Nikki Maxwell, especially since her crush, Brandon, asked her to be his lab partner—a seriously awesome development. However, when Nikki overhears mean girl Mackenzie bragging that Brandon's taking her to the Halloween dance, a bummed Nikki signs on to spend Halloween at a kids' party with her little sister, Brianna, instead. After she finds out Mackenzie was lying and her dream of going to the party with Brandon could be a reality, Nikki has two events to juggle . . . plus plenty of other entertaining trials and tribulations along the way!

Review:

After reading the first Dork Diaries book I couldn't wait to read the second addition, and luckily enough, Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl was even better than the original book!

From the first page of Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl the reader is thrown back into the hectic life of seventh grader Nikki Maxwell, dork extraordinaire. Much to Nikki's surprise she's quickly adjusting to middle school life and is actually enjoying it. You see, she has her two equally dorky side-kicks Chloe and Zoey on her side and her crush Brandon is starting to notice her. Plus, she's been invited to popular/ mean girl Mackenzie’s latest party. Though soon enough all the good things in Nikki's life come to an end when Nikki finds out Mackenzie is set to not only sabotage Nikki's chances with Brandon but the Halloween party Nikki is now in charge of as well. What will one No-So-Popular Dorky Party Girl do? Well, only time and more pages can tell!

Nikki is such a fabulous main character! Sure, she's awkward and dorky, but she's hilarious, a great friend, and full of snark in all the best kind of ways as well. While Nikki is a lot younger than me, I can still find myself relating to her, especially when I think back to my own middle-school days, and I feel most people will feel the same kind of way if they give this series a chance. I also loved the additions of Nikki's best friends, Chloe and Zoey, two girls anyone would be lucky to have on their side, and Brandon, the seventh grade's token cutie.

Another aspect I love about this series is how it's told through Nikki's own personal diary entries. I feel that they give the reader a great and a more personal look into Nikki's life than what a regular narration would provide. Plus, I have to admit the pictures and comic strips included are simply hilarious!

While the story is a bit predictable, it never stopped it from being cute and laugh-out-loud funny. I loved being there right along with Nikki as she went through planning the Halloween party to attending two parties at once.

In all, the Dork Diaries is well-worth the read no matter how old you are, and I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who can't wait to read more about Nikki's adventures!

Grade: B+

Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl is now out!

Source: Publisher. Thanks Simon and Schuster! :)