Line #68 Literature/DorkDiaries


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18	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dork_diaries.jpeg]]
19
20	''Dork Diaries'' is a series of children's books by Rachel Renee Russell. They follow the misadventures of Nikki J. Maxwell, a slightly [[BrattyTeenageDaughter bratty]] and shallow but still well-meaning and likable fourteen year old girl. The story begins when Nikki's family moves because of her father's job, and Nikki is transferred to Westchester Country Day, a private school that is much too fancy for Nikki's tastes. There, she meets AlphaBitch [=MacKenzie=] Hollister, Chloe Garcia and Zoey Franklin (unpopular but awesome new friends), and Brandon Roberts (Nikki's crush, [=MacKenzie's=] crush, and overall NiceGuy).
21
22	There are 15 books so far, as well as two companions.
23
24	* Book One: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life''
25	* Book Two: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl''
26	* Book Three: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Talented Pop Star''
27	* Book Three and a Half: ''How to Dork Your Diary''
28	* Book Four: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess''
29	* Book Five: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All''
30	* Book Six: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker''
31	* Book OMG: ''Dork Diaries: All About Me Diary!''
32	* Book Seven: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Glam TV Star''
33	* Book Eight: ''Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not-So-Happily Ever After''
34	* Book Nine: ''Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-so-Dorky Drama Queen''
35	* Book Ten: ''Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter''
36	* Book Eleven: ''Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy''
37	* Book Twelve: ''Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe''
38	* Book Thirteen: ''Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday''
39	* Book Fourteen: ''Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever''
40	* Book Fifteen: ''Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Posh Paris Adventure''
41
42	In 2016, a SpinOff series, ''The Misadventures of Max Crumbly'', was launched, focusing on a character which debuted in ''Tales from a Not-so-Perfect Pet Sitter''.
43
44	In 2015, it was announced that [[TheFilmOfTheBook a live-action film adaptation]] of the books was in the works at Creator/SummitEntertainment. However, with minimal updates since, the movie appears to either be in DevelopmentHell and may have been cancelled.
45
46	[[Characters/DorkDiaries Now features a characters page.]] Feel free to contribute.
47
48	For other children's book series in a diary format, see ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' and ''Literature/DearDumbDiary''.
49	----
50	!!Tales from a Not-So-Well Troper (''Dork Diaries''):
51
52	* AesopAmnesia: Despite the fact that Nikki, at the end of each story, learns that she should [[BeYourself be proud for being a dork]], the next book will always start with her being ashamed of it.
53	* AllPartOfTheShow: In the fourth book, Nikki could never learn how to ice skate, and keeps falling over. She still has this problem by the time they perform their ice skating routine, [[spoiler:but by then their outfits were switched and they're dressed as clowns, so the crowd thinks Nikki is doing it on purpose and finds it funny.]]
54	* AlmostKiss: [[spoiler:Happens twice between Nikki and Brandon. They get interrupted by [=MacKenzie=] both times. They do get a real kiss between those two scenes though.]]
55	* {{Animesque}}: Nikki is an artist who draws pictures in manga-esque style and stick figure style.
56	* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Brianna. Her [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} wacky antics]] and overactive imagination drive [[BadlyBatteredBabysitter Nikki]] insane on a regular basis.
57	* AprilFoolsPlot: ''Once Upon a Dork'' is a [[invoked]]BizarroEpisode in which Nikki wakes up in the fairy-tale world. In real life, the whole thing takes place on April first.
58	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Used a lot. A notable example is the scene where Nikki has to do a book report about Literature/MobyDick and finds the novel extremely boring. She proceeds to list off things she'd rather do than read it: clean the entire house with a toothbrush, brush her teeth with the toothbrush she cleaned the house with, visit her neighbor lady for a detailed update on her bunion surgery, and hang out with Brianna. Her reaction: [[ComicallyMissingThePoint "HANG OUT WITH BRIANNA?! OMG! I can't believe I just wrote that!"]]
59	* ArtShift: Nikki switches between her usual {{Animesque}} style and stick figure style repeatedly.
60	** Majorly in the HostileShowTakeover, ''Tales from a Not-so-Dorky Drama Queen'', since [=MacKenzie=]'s drawing style is different from and more realistic than Nikki's.
61	* ADayInTheLimelight: "Tales From A Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen" for [=MacKenzie=].
62	* BadLiar: Usually when Nikki has to think of a lie on the spot, chances are she'll come up with something completely ridiculous, such as having to take care of a sick unicorn. Some people believe her anyway.
63	* BetaBitch: Jessica is this to Mackenzie.
64	* BigDamnKiss: [[spoiler:Nikki and Brandon have this]] in ''Tales from the Not-So-Glam TV Star''
65	* BilingualBonus: In Japanese, "Nikki" means "diary".
66	* BirthdayEpisode: ''Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday'' takes place on Nikki's 15th birthday.
67	* BlandNameProduct: "Tic Toc Breath Mints", which show up in a few illustrations. It's normally averted though - the series doesn't have a problem using the names of real-life brands and companies.
68	* BreatherEpisode: ''Not-So-Happily Ever After'' is the immediate follow-up to Nikki and Brandon's [[spoiler:BigDamnKiss]] in the seventh book.
69	* BrickJoke:
70	** In ''Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life'', Nikki puts out a burning toaster by pouring orange juice over it. In the third book, her mom shops for a new toaster and Brianna comments that "Some idiot poured orange juice into our old [toaster] and it exploded and blew up our house. KABOOM!"
71	** In ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'', Chloe and Zoey's initial plan for the Halloween dance was to lie that their boyfriends are the band members playing there. At the end of the book, Mackenzie and Jessica claim that their boyfriends are the band members at said dance. Not realizing that its Theodore's band that's playing.
72	** Nikki's "fairy repellent" from ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'' turns up again when her dad finds it 5 books later in ''Tales From a Not-So-Glam TV Star'' and she doesn't recognize it at first.
73	** In ''Tales from a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker'', when Nikki shows up to swim class with a float toy, she mentions that there's no rule against float toys in the pool, listing the rules: "1. No running! 2. No eating! 3. No horseplay! 4. No peeing in the pool!" When she mentions the rules again many chapters later, one more has been added: "5. No float toys!"
74	* BringMyBrownPants: Nikki frequently expresses that she "almost/might have peed [her] pants!" in response to the many shocking occurrences in her life. For the most part she is just exaggerating, but there are a few instances where she admits she has [[PlayedStraight played it straight.]]
75	* BrutalHonesty:
76	** Chloe and Zoey are always quick to tell Nikki when her plans or ideas kind of suck.
77	** Subverted by Nikki as she often says something brutally honest, and then admits "but I just said that inside my head, so no one heard it but me."
78	* BuffySpeak: Nikki engages in this a lot. For example, in ''Tales from a Not-So Happy Heartbreaker'', she refers to the seahorse swim tube as a "seahorse float thingy".
79	%% * BumblingDad: Nikki's dad.
80	%% * ButtMonkey: Almost nothing goes very well for Nikki.
81	* CashCowFranchise: The Princess Sugar Plum franchise is this InUniverse. The amounts of merch it gets are ridiculous, and Princess Sugar Plum valentines are sold out everywhere, except for the grocery store. This might serve as a TakeThat to big franchises and consumerism.
82	* CatchPhrase:
83	** Nikki's "but I just said that inside my head, so no one heard it but me." whenever she is saying something, but is actually just thinking it.
84	** OnceAnEpisode: "Calling [=MacKenzie=] a mean girl is an understatement. [[MadLibsCatchPhrase She is a [insert dangerous animal] in [insert two fashionable items]!"]]
85	** "WHATEVER!" is a standard response.
86	** "I just HATE it when [=MacKenzie=] sashays!" whenever Nikki sees [=MacKenzie=] struts out of the scene in a fashionista-like manner.
87	** [=MacKenzie=] frequently says "OMG" and "hon".
88	** In ''Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen'': "Yay me!" [[BorrowedCatchphrase Nikki uses it at the end of the book, after [=MacKenzie=] used it a thousand times in her diary entries.]]
89	* CelebrityResemblance: Zoey claims she looks like Beyonce in ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl''
90	* CharacterBlog: The [[https://dorkdiaries.com/ official site]] contains an online "diary" by Nikki serving as an announcement blog, as well as [[FourthWallMailSlot ask columns]] run by Nikki and Brandon.
91	* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Nearly the entire cast to varying degrees. Brianna is a neverending source of wacky ideas and plans, Zoey and especially Chloe's [[ZanyScheme Zany Schemes]] can become quite over-the-top at times, Theo believes [[Literature/HarryPotter Hogwarts]] [[DaydreamBeliever is real]], and so on. Mr. Zimmerman from ''Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All'' deserves special mention for being completely scatterbrained, absent-minded, and very, ''very'' eccentric.
92	* CockFight: A rare example where one half of the equation is purely platonic. Brandon and Andre cannot stand each other's guts and continually vie for Nikki's attention, but while Brandon is interested in [[RelationshipUpgrade something more]], Nikki and Andre are clearly JustFriends.
93	* ComicTrio: Chloe or Zoey comes up with the insane/stupid plans, the other one agrees, and Nikki is left wondering whether or not she's flypaper for freaks.
94	* CoolOldLady: Nikki's grandma, who makes the inspiring "You can be a CHICKEN or a CHAMPION" line, would likely win a lot at ''Series/ThePriceIsRight'', and can dance pretty well.
95	* ADayInTheLimelight: [=MacKenzie=] steals Nikki's diary in ''Tales from a Not-so-Dorky Drama Queen'' and writes in it, allowing us a glimpse into her life.
96	* DidntThinkThisThrough: [[spoiler:In the fourth book, Mackenzie switches Nikki and her friends pretty outfits for the ice skating competition out for clown costumes. She also knows Nikki has problems not falling on the ice. Because of this, once Nikki goes on the ice dressed in her clown costume and falls, the audience thinks she's doing it on purpose and loves it and they win the competition.]]
97	* DiscoSucks: Nikki's dad is really into disco as he likes to play on car rides and Nikki hates it everytime he does.
98	* DistaffCounterpart: The series is often seen as one to the ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' series, from both the main characters getting into predicaments and such right down to the non-canonical do-it-yourself installment between books 3 and 4.
99	* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Chloe and Zoey used to be treated as one similar, inseparable pair, but later on, Chloe became more of the silly one while Zoey became the mature one of the duo.
100	* DramaQueen: Nikki tends to act pretty overdramatic at times. The same thing goes with Mackenzie, who is an even bigger drama queen than Nikki.
101	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The drawings in the first two books are more realistic than the proceeding ones.
102	* EatingLunchAlone: Nikki is a loner and sits by herself during lunch before she meets Zoey and Chloe in gym class.
103	* EccentricExterminator: Nikki's father. He drives to the job in a van with a giant roach (affectionately named Max) on top, dances while fumigating his daughter's school, and even once tried to land himself a TV role as an exterminating superhero. His job as an exterminator is even the reason why Nikki attends Westchester Country Day.
104	* EndearinglyDorky: Nikki is a cutesy girl ashamed of being a dork, even when she's taught to be proud of it. Her little sister Brianna doesn't care that she has it. [=MacKenzie=] claims to be a CCP (cute, cool, popular) socialite while messing with Nikki for being a new student.
105	* EstablishingCharacterMoment: [=MacKenzie's=] first appearance has [[MakeWayForThePrincess a path immediately clearing for her]] as people shout out compliments to her.
106	* EverybodyCries: Nikki, Chloe and Zoey have a big cry fest in ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl''
107	* EvilLaugh: [=MacKenzie=] is often described as cackling like a witch.
108	* EyePop: Nikki's eyes fly out of their sockets when she imagines she'll get to meet-and-greet the hottest boy bands in the universe.
109	* FakeTears: Nikki pictures [=MacKenzie=]'s PHONY friends crying PHONY tears when they hear about [=MacKenzie=] handing out invitations to her birthday party.
110	* FairyTaleEpisode: The eighth book is about Nikki being trapped in a fairy tale world, with the roles being played by people she knows.
111	* FeverDreamEpisode: The majority of ''Once Upon a Dork'' (Book 8) is Nikki experiencing a bizarre dream after getting hit in the head and [[DodgeballIsHell knocked out by a dodgeball]].
112	* FooledByTheSound: In one book, Mrs. Wallabanger crosses the road, unaware that a huge truck is coming towards her. The truck honks its horn for her to get out of the way, but due to her deafness, she mistakes it for a goose.
113	* FormulaBreakingEpisode: Book nine has [=MacKenzie=] stealing Nikki's diary, with most of the book being told from her perspective.
114	* FracturedFairyTale: Book 8 as a whole, which originates from a teacher inspiring the class to rewrite fairy tales with personal twists.
115	* GenkiGirl: Nikki, Chloe, and Zoey are all this, but mostly Chloe.
116	* GirlishPigtails: Both Nikki and Brianna wear their hair like this, and they're both pretty girly.
117	* GirlPosse: [=MacKenzie=] has a group of avid followers, the most prominent member being her best friend Jessica.
118	* GreenEyedMonster: Brandon in ''Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe'', when Nikki starts spending time with Andre.
119	* GrowlingGut: Nikki gets this at one point in "Tales from a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe" since she skipped breakfast.
120	* GymClassHell: Most of the awkward, embarrassing or frustrating moments that happen to Nikki in class are in gym class, from being PickedLast to failing at ice skating, having to deal with a SmallNameBigEgo karate teacher, or [[ItMakesSenseInContext almost drowning in four feet of water]].
121	* HappyDance: Nikki does the "Snoopy happy dance" when she's pleased.
122	* HeroesLoveDogs: Brandon loves the dogs at Fuzzy Friends and wants them all to find nice, caring homes. When Fuzzy Friends has no room for Holly and her puppies he is genuinely upset at the thought that she might get into a different shelter without a no-kill policy.
123	* HiccupHijinks: At one point in ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'', Nikki and her family go to a funeral but Nikki gets the hiccups to the point it's constantly interrupting a guy's euology.
124	* HighSchoolDance: The entire plot of ''Not So Popular Party Girl'' revolves around two of them ([=MacKenzie's=] birthday party and the school Halloween dance), as well as an ''elementary'' school dance (Brianna's ballet class Halloween party).
125	* HypocrisyNod: Sometimes Nikki makes hypocritical remarks in her diary, but she is quick to admit them.
126	** When she first got her diary, she made her first entry and then swore she'll never write in it again. The next day she started writing in it again and admitted the irony.
127	** When Nikki tried to sign for an art competition at school, she hid behind a plant and spied on Mackenzie, who also wanted to sign in and denied it being spying. After Mackenzie left and Nikki signed for the competition, she saw Mackenzie spying on her and got angry because of it. However, Nikki quickly admits that she did indeed spy on Mackenzie, but unlike Mackenzie, who wanted to stop Nikki from entering the competition, Nikki just wanted to avoid Mackenzie.
128	* HostileShowTakeover: In the ninth book, thanks to [=MacKenzie=] stealing Nikki's diary and writing in it for some time.
129	* ImagineSpot: The series is chock-full of them. They range from Nikki imagining [=MacKenzie=] as a literal ice or drama queen to Brandon being abducted by aliens.
130	* InstantHumiliationJustAddYouTube:
131	** [=MacKenzie=] films Nikki and Brianna singing the Queasy Cheesy song and puts the video on Website/YouTube in the third book. She doesn't tell people about it though... [[spoiler:at first.]]
132	** In the ninth book, an embarrassing video is made of [=MacKenzie=] and spread around the school. [[spoiler:[[InvokedTrope She's the one who puts it on [=YouTube=] herself]] to convince her parents that she's being bullied so they allow her to transfer schools.]]
133	%%* ItsAllAboutMe: Mackenzie. And to a lesser extent, Nikki.
134	* KissTheCookApron: For Father's Day, Nikki, strapped-for-cash, finds a bargain bin full of tacky aprons with slogans like "Kiss the Cook!," "When Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy!," and "My Dad Is the World's Greatest Cook!," which she buys for her dad as a Father's Day present. Later, she mentions that most of the letters on the apron were burned off in a barbecue accident and it now reads "My Dad eat s ook!"
135	* LaserGuidedKarma: During Mackenzie's party in ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'', Mackenzie and Jessica flip a plate of fruit onto Nikki's dress but one of them ends up in a chocolate fountain. Shortly later, Mackenzie and Jessica try to get their picture taken by the fountain but it explodes on them from the fruit piece clogging it up.
136	* LastResortTakeout: ''Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life'' features a comic strip story where Nikki's dad disturbs a wasp nest while trying to barbecue. After spraying it with Raid, he gets chased while the barbecue overheats. The final panel is him looking angry, covered in burn and sting marks, while holding takeaway bags from UsefulNotes/McDonalds.
137	* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Done several times in ''How To Dork Your Diary''.
138	-->"I know this might sound really crazy...! But what if Chloe actually turned my very private, dorky tales of WOE into a bestselling book series?!"\
139	"Unfortunately, parents, bratty kid sisters and brothers, friends, enemies, and even total strangers LOVE to read diaries that do NOT belong to them."
140	* LockedInTheBathroom:
141	** Nikki locks herself there when she's upset and/or very embarrassed. Which happens often.
142	** [[spoiler:[=MacKenzie=] ends up doing it too when the popular kids at her new school come across the bug video that ''[[HoistByHisOwnPetard she]]'' [[HoistByHisOwnPetard posted online in an attempt to frame Nikki for cyberbullying.]]]]
143	* LoveTriangle: Nikki and [=MacKenzie=] both like Brandon. Brandon pretty obviously likes Nikki back, but she remains [[ObliviousToLove clueless]].
144	* MakeWayForTheNewVillains: Book 11 introduces Tiffany Blaine Davenport, an AlphaBitch who, in Nikki's words, out-[=MacKenzies MacKenzie=]. The two girls quickly become enemies.
145	* MakeWayForThePrincess: After Nikki nearly gets killed trying to get through the hallway and to her locker, [[EstablishingCharacterMoment a path immediately clears for [=MacKenzie=].]]
146	%% * MasqueradeBall: The Halloween dance in book 2.
147	* MeaningfulName: Nikki is Japanese for diary. The art style is {{Animesque}}. (It might not even have been done on purpose though, as Nikki also shares a name with the author's daughter and might have been named after her.)
148	* MichaelJacksonsThrillerParody: In "Tales from a Not-So Fabulous Life", Nikki discovers that her PE teacher's CD of ''Theatre/SwanLake'' is actually a CD of Music/MichaelJackson's ''Thriller'' album. She ends up doing the zombie dance from the music video with her ballet group, leading to them flunking the class.
149	* NerdsAreSexy: Chloe and Zoey are both huge nerds and both are very cute.
150	* NeverMyFault: Whenever Brianna does something bad, she has a tendency to blame it on her hand puppet, Miss Penelope.
151	* NiceGuy: This is Brandon's character as he's really nice to most people he runs into and one of Nikki's reasons for being into him.
152	** In ''Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life'', Nikki trips during lunch and gets food all over her. Many people start laughing at her but despite that, Brandon helps her up.
153	** In ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'', after all the trouble Nikki had during the school Halloween dance, Brandon still forgives her and even cheers her up when she starts crying.
154	* NightmareSequence: Nikki has one in ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'' [[ItMakesSenseInContext where she imagines herself being chocolate and people are eating her]]
155	* OldTimeyBathingSuit: In ''Tales from a Not-So Happy Heartbreaker'', Nikki wears her grandma's old swimsuit to swimming class. Her classmates are shocked by this and [=MacKenzie=] looks up and down, signaling that she had never seen a swimsuit with legs before.
156	* OnlySaneMan: Nikki is the most normal of her trio, but Brandon is by far the most normal character of them all.
157	* OutGambitted: The plot of ''Pop Star'' is basically [=MacKenzie=] playing mind games with Nikki. [[spoiler:[=MacKenzie=] sends Nikki a fake tuition bill, expecting her to horribly messed up herself, her friends, and her family, so she's forced to take up a talent contest to fix the problems, just then [=MacKenzie=] can ultimately humiliate her at the most crucial moment.]]
158	* ParentalAbandonment: Brandon lives with his grandparents. [[spoiler:His parents died.]]
159	* PhoneaholicTeenager: Tiffany is completely obsessed with selfies and cell phones, [[spoiler:and uses them to bully people]].
160	* PopularIsDumb: [=MacKenzie=] is smart enough, but Jessica (a popular girl who is a best friend to the school's AlphaBitch) isn't all that bright.
161	* PottyDance: The accompanying illustration for the below-mentioned Potty Emergency features Brianna performing a frantic one.
162	* PottyEmergency: The first book features a scene where Nikki and Brianna are forced to accompany their father out on a job. While they are waiting in the truck, Brianna suddenly needs to pee, and so they get down and ask the owner of the house being worked on if she can use their bathroom. The downstairs bathroom is in use, so Brianna is forced to use an upstairs bathroom connected to a bedroom, leading to a startling discovery by Nikki: [[spoiler:This is ''[=MacKenzie=]'s'' house, and they are in [=MacKenzie=]'s bedroom, where she can walk in at any moment.]] Nikki begins banging at the door to get Brianna to hurry up so they can make a quick getaway.
163	* PottyFailure: [[RuleOfThree Once again]], Brianna in the first book. Nikki states her annoyance at having to manage Brianna's Tooth Fairy related NighttimeBathroomPhobia, where Brianna will come into her room in the middle of the night to ask Nikki to come with her to the bathroom. If Nikki isn't fast enough, Brianna will leave "accident" puddles on her bedroom carpet, [[{{Squick}} as depicted in Nikki's first drawing of Brianna.]] This is implied to be a regular occurrence...
164	* PrankCall: Nikki, Chloe and Zoey like to make them during their free time in the library in ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'',
165	* PuppyDogEyes: Chloe and Zoey make a few in ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl''
166	* ReactiveContinuousScream: This happens in "Tales From a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-it-All", when Mackenzie discovers Nikki, Chloe, and Zoey hiding in the bushes, preparing to toilet paper her house.
167	* RecycledInSpace: ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'' [[AC:for girls!]]
168	* TheReveal
169	** ''Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life'': The house where Nikki's dad is working at and where Brianna has to make a PottyEmergency is [[spoiler:where Mackenzie lives]]
170	** ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'': Mrs. Hargrove, the woman who hired Nikki for Brianna's Halloween party, is [[spoiler:Mackenzie’s aunt]]
171	* RunningGag:
172	** [=MacKenzie=] "sashaying" away, and Nikki then commenting on how much she hates that.
173	** Nikki getting mad and telling people what she thinks of them... only to reveal that she just said it all inside her head. This gets [[CharacterDevelopment less frequent as the story goes on.]]
174	** Chloe and Zoey spying on Nikki and Brandon, especially when they have a moment in the library.
175	* SchoolNewspaperNewshound: Brandon, who is the photographer for the school newspaper.
176	* SheCleansUpNicely: Nikki mentions that she feels beautiful when she wears the [[Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet Juliet]] costume for the Halloween dance.
177	** Nikki almost says this word for word about... her dad in a suit. She says that she barely recognized him.
178	* ShipperOnDeck: Chloe and Zoey are all for Nikki and Brandon becoming a couple.
179	* ShoutOut: Oh so many references from the Price is Right to CSI to Michael Jackson to Punk'd to Twilight to Spongebob to Terminator to Peanuts and so much more.
180	** In the third book, Nikki says she often sings ''Don't Stop Believin''' because her dad loves it, and she finds it funny how everyone loves it again "because it's on [[Series/{{Glee}} a TV show.]]"
181	* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: Nikki falls for Brandon because he is sweet and kind.
182	* SnarkToSnarkCombat: A longer exchange between Nikki and [=MacKenzie=] is likely to play out this way, with both of them throwing [[VolleyingInsults increasingly creative insults]] at each other as the fight goes on.
183	* SpoofsRUs:
184	** ''Tales From a Not-So-Fabulous Life'' has Nikki imagine herself disguised the next time she goes to a clothing store, carrying a bag from Cheap Fashions "R" Us.
185	** In one book, Nikki imagines her whole family as [[NonIronicClown clowns]], and the illustration is topped with the caption "Clowns R Us".
186	* {{Squee}}: Nikki, Chloe, and Zoey do this a lot when they're excited about something.
187	* StageMom: In ''Tales From a Not-So-Popular Party Girl'' Nikki and Brianna's mom makes Brianna do ballet despite Brianna not wanting to because their mom wanted to do ballet when she was young. Prior to Brianna, Nikki was made to do ballet but was let go due to not fitting in.
188	* StraightManAndWiseGuy: Zoey and Chloe respectively, especially in later books.
189	* ThingsThatGoBumpInTheNight: Nikki mentions in ''Tales From a Not So Talented Pop Star'' that she used to believe there is a clown living underneath her bed and he'd pull her underneath for all eternity when she was very little.
190	* TokenTrio: Nikki (who is white), Chloe (who is Hispanic), and Zoey (who is black).
191	* TrueCompanions: Nikki, Chloe, and Zoey. No matter what happens, they remain friends.
192	* TwiceShy: Nikki and Brandon. They clearly like each other, but they just can't muster the courage to ''tell'' each other. [[spoiler:Brandon did finally muster the courage to kiss NIkki in ''Not-So-Glam TV Star'' though. Which doesn't mean that they're dating now.]]
193	* TwoTimerDate: {{Downplayed\|Trope}} as it's actually involves just one date and are three things going on but at the climax of the second book, Nikki tries to: hang out with Chloe and Zoey at the Halloween dance ([[ItMakesSenseInContext dressed as trash bags]]); be Brandon's date at the Halloween dance (dressed as Juliet); and help out at Brianna's ballet class Halloween party (dressed as a giant rat). [[EpicFail It doesn't work out very well]].
194	* UnspokenRetort: A RunningGag throughout the series is Nikki imagining herself saying something smart-alecky towards someone, followed by her CharacterCatchPhrase of "But I just said that in my head, so no one heard it but me."
195	%% * UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Nikki can fall into this at times.
196	* ValleyGirl: [=MacKenzie=]. She's rich, gets the most expensive clothing and makeup available and is just an all around {{Jerkass}} to most people.
197	** Mackenzie's best friend Jessica too as she contains everything Mackenzie has but unlike Mackenzie, Jessica [[PopularIsDumb isn't that bright]]
198	* VirtualYouTuber: Nikki and Zoey were given their own [=VTuber=] models [[https://dorkdiaries.com/2023/01/secret-update-on-dork-diaries-book-15/ to announce updates on]] [[https://dorkdiaries.com/2023/01/the-best-field-trip-ever/ the upcoming fifteenth book]]. Chloe also got one for [[https://dorkdiaries.com/2023/02/how-do-you-tell-if-your-crush-likes-you/ videos where she gives viewers advice on romantic relationships.]] Zoey's model was used again [[https://dorkdiaries.com/2023/09/teentv-interview-on-dork-diaries-book-1/ during an interview with a TV reporter on the series' first book]], and Nikki's model was used again [[https://dorkdiaries.com/2023/09/get-your-autographed-books-online/ to announce that her books would be autographed online at the indie bookstore Bookpeople]]. In December of 2023, her model was once again [[https://dorkdiaries.com/2023/12/the-perfect-christmas-gift/ to announce that autographed and personalized Dork Diaries and The Misadventures of Max Crumbly books were available for purchase online at Bookpeople]].
199	* WhiteGloves: Certain illustrations give the characters extremely stylized hands that resemble white gloves (or even [[FingerlessHands mittens]]).
200	* WomenAreWiser: Inverted; Brandon is the most sane character in the book.
201	* ZanyScheme: Usually on behalf of Chloe and Zoey. The most insane of all has to be the "run away and live in the NYC library" plan from ''Not So Fabulous Life''.
202
203	!!Tropes found in ''The Misadventures of Max Crumbly''
204	* TheBully: Thug.
205	* ContentWarning: PlayedForLaughs example placed on first page of every entry:
206	-->'''WARNING:'''\
207	This journal contains\
208	wacky humor,\
209	thrilling action,\
210	nail-biting suspense,\
211	a cool rap,\
212	and a mind-blowing {{cliffhanger}}!
213	* HomeschooledKids: Max has been one up until 8th grade.
214	* MisplacedKindergartenTeacher: Max has been homeschooled by his grandma, who is a retired kindergarten teacher. He does not like how she treats him.
215	* SpearCounterpart: To ''Dork Diaries''.
216	* StuffedIntoALocker: In ''Locker Hero'', Max is repeatedly stuffed into a locker by Thug. At first, this is PlayedForLaughs. However, it gets serious when he is trapped into a locker at the end of the school day and start of a three-day weekend.

Context Literature / DorkDiaries