Riley Wright is Always Wrong: A hilarious illustrated series about school, mean girls and BFFs for 7+ readers from the best-selling author of THE CHRISTMAS CARROLLS, new for 2026!

by Mel Taylor-Bessent

Riley Wright is starting at Heverton Junior School with one awkward her MAJORLY embarrassing dad is the new head teacher …🦄 🌈 📓🦄 🌈 📓🦄 🌈 📓🦄 🌈 📓New school, new friends (hopefully!). Riley Wright has to figure out how to fit in, pin down a talent for the talent show, look out for her unpredictable new BFF Emmie and face down super mean girl Harper … As someone who gets a lot of stuff wrong, when will Riley finally get something RIGHT?

KIDS LOVE RILEY!‘Mel is a great writer. Can’t she just publish like three of these at the same time?’ – Anaya, 9

‘I definitely recommend Riley Wright!’ – Lily, 8

AUTHORS LOVE RILEY TOO!'A lively fun-filled story that children will love’ — Dame Jacqueline Wilson

‘As funny as Lottie Brooks, with the madcap energy of Pamela Butchart, Riley Wright is smart, sharp and totally relatable. I loved it!’ – Abie Longstaff, author of The Magic Potions Shop and The Fairytale Hairdresser series

‘I love Riley! A fun and charming book bursting with energy.’ – Laura Dockrill, author of Darcy Burdock

‘Instantly engaging, hugely appealing and full of laughs. Riley Wright is a wonderfully bright and bubbly new voice in the diary style format – like a younger female Wimpy Kid.’ – Andy Shepherd, author of The Boy Who Grew Dragons

‘It is impossible not to smile at every page and cheer out loud for the new girl in school, Riley Wright. With a big personality and heart to match, Riley is just the BFF that readers have been waiting for. A fresh, funny and utterly charming book, from start to finish.’ – Clara Vulliamy, author of Dottie Detective

‘Riley and her BFF are a laugh-out-loud unstoppable duo, taking readers on a giggly, squirmy tour through the ups and downs of junior school. Packed with laughs, oops moments and best friend fun.’ – Vashti Hardy, author of Harley Hitch

‘An adorable, fun and feel-good story. Readers will love Riley with her electrocuted chicken hair, her relatable worries and her sparky attitude. A new series that’s sure to become a favourite.’ – Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar

‘I loved it! Funny, heartwarming and very engaging.’ – Harriet Muncaster, author of Isadora Moon

‘Hilarious, heartfelt and filled with so many memorable moments. Get ready for Riley Wright to be the best friend you never knew you needed. Why be right when you can have so much fun being wrong!’ – Jo Clarke, author of Libby and the Parisian Puzzle

‘Riley Wright is ADORABLE! Funny, zippy and relatable – these books will become fast favourites.’ – Perdita Cargill, author of Diary of an Accidental Witch

‘Riley Wright thinks she is Awkward, Accident-prone, and Annoyingly Average. I think she's AMAZING and AWESOME! A hilarious, endearing and uplifting read which made me laugh and cringe on Riley's behalf in equal measures.

Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2026

About the author

Founder of the hugely successful Authorfy and Little Star Writing, Mel Taylor-Bessent has made her career connecting readers to their favourite authors and encouraging children to write for pleasure. After gaining a Creative Writing degree, Mel launched her first business at the age of 22 and ran creative writing workshops for thousands of children aged 6-12. As a result, she also arranged hundreds of author events and witnessed first-hand the positive impact these interactions had on her students.

In 2017, she decided to replicate this via online ‘Author Masterclasses’ on a website she created called Authorfy.com. Since then, Authorfy has gone on to win numerous awards, partner with the likes of World Book Day and BookTrust, and is used in classrooms all over the world. Now Mel is bringing her own writing to readers with The Christmas Carrolls, her debut fiction series.

Reviews

[Helen]

https://sarahreads4.wordpress.com/202...

[Chris Benetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riley Wright is Always Wrong is a hilarious, heartfelt, and wonderfully relatable middle grade adventure that perfectly captures the chaos of starting over at a new school.
Riley has enough to worry about already making friends, finding her place, surviving the talent show, and dealing with school drama. But things become even more complicated when her embarrassingly enthusiastic dad turns out to be the new head teacher. From awkward moments to unexpected challenges, Riley’s journey is packed with humor, heart, and plenty of memorable mishaps.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its protagonist. Riley feels authentic, funny, and easy to root for. Her insecurities, mistakes, and determination make her feel like a real child navigating real challenges, while her humor keeps the story light and entertaining throughout.
The friendships are equally engaging. Riley and Emmie’s adventures bring warmth and laughter to the story, while school rivalries and social struggles add just enough tension to keep readers invested. Beneath the comedy lies an uplifting message about confidence, self-acceptance, and embracing who you are even when things don't go according to plan.
The diary-style format and illustrations make the story especially accessible and engaging, creating a reading experience that feels energetic, personal, and fun.
Overall, Riley Wright is Always Wrong is a delightful middle grade read filled with laughter, friendship, and heart. Fans of humorous school stories and diary-format adventures will quickly find themselves cheering Riley on and eagerly awaiting her next adventure.

[Vonprice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, journal-style story, filled with doodles and illustrations, perfect for 7-9 year olds.
My full review is here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny story for early readers with lots of giggles and great messages about friendship, families and standing up for what you think is right.