The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy Brewster: The Frenemies

by Jenny Valentine

A new series of middle grade diaries in the vein of Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries, with a celebrity hook

Daisy Brewster is a girl with resolutions. She is determined to be her best self and get a good part in the school play. Everyone knows Daisy is a talented actor. But not everyone knows about her super celebrity cousin, who is already breaking hearts and winning contracts on the world stage.

Maxxy Bloom is a child star in Hollywood, with A-List friends, a million followers and a glamorous, lavish lifestyle. Things are about to change in all sorts of ways when she comes to stay at Daisy’s house.

Daisy fears the worst, for her routine, her personal space, her popularity, and her own dramatic ambitions. But the real Maxxy Bloom turns out to be a big surprise, and Daisy’s very unfamous life has an unexpected effect on her guest.

Told through Daisy’s private diary, this is a story about family, ambition, and how nice it is NOT to be famous…

Audible Audio

Published July 3, 2025

About the author

Jenny Valentine moved house every two years when she was growing up. She has just moved house again, probably not for the last time. She worked in a wholefood shop in Primrose Hill for fifteen years where she met many extraordinary people and sold more organic loaves than there are words in her first novel. She has also worked as a teaching assistant and a jewellery maker. She studied English Literature at Goldsmiths College, which almost put her off reading but not quite.
Jenny is married to a singer/songwriter and has two children.

In 2007, Jenny won the Guardian Prize for Children's Fiction with her debut novel FINDING VIOLET PARK.

Reviews

[Freda]

This book is the perfect choice coming into the summer holidays. Daisy Brewster is looking forward to one of the best summers of her life when a surprise visit from her movie star cousin puts all her plans on pause.

I loved Daisy as a character, she is driven, smart but also shy and lets us see her vulnerable side. The plot is exciting and I loved the diary style chapters which meant I raced through it, I couldn’t put it down.

I have already ordered the next book in the series and cannot wait to see what happens next in the adventures of Daisy Brewster and Maxy Bloom! Fantastic names 😊

[Steph]

Daisy has a super-famous cousin who she is TOTALLY NOT jealous of. Summer comes about and Daisy is really excited for Drama Club auditions for Bugsy Malone….. but will her cousin ruin it for her? This will go perfectly with the Lottie Brooks books in my classroom! Illustrated, fun and great messages!

[Isabelle reads]

this book was a really good mix of Lottie brooks , dork diary and diary of a wimpy kid. I love how they began hating each other, until Maxxy finally gave some complements to Daisy this teaches younger children that anyone can be friends and you always need to get to know someone more before judging them

[Brigid Whoriskey]

What a great read. Young readers will want Daisy as a friend. Funny, warm, relatable and those lists! Fab illustrations too. Another Jenny Valentine triumph.

[Kaia Garvan]

Great story for people who want to be actors but a little boring at the end

[Merle]

näputäis huumorit, lõpus on point, aga ülejäänu on 11aastase kadedusest halamine :D