The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks

What do our readers think of The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks? (Generated from the text of reviews of the book)

Children find the story very funny, relatable and hard to put down, especially enjoying Lottie's dramatic adventures, memorable characters and doodle-style illustrations. They particularly like how the book explores friendship problems and growing up in a way that feels honest and entertaining.

What does the Pageticker team say about The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks?

We love the lively diary format, cartoon illustrations and Lottie's wonderfully awkward sense of humour. This is a warm, relatable story about friendship changes, self-confidence, crushes and growing up, with plenty of laugh-out-loud mishaps along the way. It is well suited to readers aged 10–13, though parents and carers may wish to note its frank jokes about puberty, bodily functions and embarrassing moments.

Genres

What is The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks about?

Lottie Brooks returns for the spring term at Kingswood High, determined to leave behind her 'Cucumber Girl' nickname and impress her crush, Daniel, in the school musical. However, balancing her rekindled friendship with Molly and her bond with Jess proves challenging. As tensions rise, Lottie wonders if she's heading for another friendship disaster.

About the author

Katie Kirby is a writer and illustrator best known for her funny and relatable stories about family life. She created the popular ‘Hurrah for Gin’ books, which many people enjoy for their humour and honesty. Katie uses her creativity to make people smile and enjoys sharing everyday adventures through her words and drawings.

Discussion ideas around The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks

Friendship changes: Lottie wants Molly and Jess to become a perfect trio. What makes friendships complicated when people change, and what could Lottie do to help everyone feel included?

Being yourself: Lottie worries about her nickname, her appearance and what Daniel thinks of her. Which moments show her trying to impress other people, and when does she seem most comfortable being herself?

Crushes and confidence: How does Lottie's crush affect the choices she makes in the school musical and with her friends? What advice would you give her about confidence?

Embarrassment and humour: Why can embarrassing experiences feel awful at the time but funny later? How does Lottie's diary help her cope with awkward moments?

Growing up: The book explores changes in friendships, family life and bodies. Which kind of change seems hardest for Lottie to handle, and why?