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The Offline Diaries
'A fresh, lively story about friendship – Ade and Shanice are such real girls' Jacqueline Wilson
The major new middle-grade series from the authors of Slay in Your Lane is here! A universal story of friendship, falling out and unforgettable characters that will resonate with all readers of 9 and up.
Ade is about to start at a new school. She is NOT happy with her stepdad for making them move here. Shanice has been at the school for a year already. Since her mum died, she’s been living with her dad and annoying older brother, spending most of her time outside school in her dad’s hair salon. When Ade and Shanice meet in the salon, and spot each other’s diaries, an instant friendship is formed, and they start to chat online… but offline is a whole other story!
The Offline Diaries is a fresh, funny and contemporary story of friendship, told in the captivating voices of Ade and Shanice – two utterly unforgettable Year 8 girls who will seize the hearts and imaginations of readers everywhere.
The major new middle-grade series from the authors of Slay in Your Lane is here! A universal story of friendship, falling out and unforgettable characters that will resonate with all readers of 9 and up.
Ade is about to start at a new school. She is NOT happy with her stepdad for making them move here. Shanice has been at the school for a year already. Since her mum died, she’s been living with her dad and annoying older brother, spending most of her time outside school in her dad’s hair salon. When Ade and Shanice meet in the salon, and spot each other’s diaries, an instant friendship is formed, and they start to chat online… but offline is a whole other story!
The Offline Diaries is a fresh, funny and contemporary story of friendship, told in the captivating voices of Ade and Shanice – two utterly unforgettable Year 8 girls who will seize the hearts and imaginations of readers everywhere.
- GenresMiddle Grade
256 pages, Hardcover
Published April 28, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 13, 2022
The Offline Diaries by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinenè
I love that this book was told by 2 different Characters. I really got a sense of their personalities and feelings. This was hard for me to read as it bought back so many awful memories of what we are capable of doing to each other even at a young age. While I could feel all the memories coming back, it was also great to read it in the POV of today's time. To include variables like social media, texting, letters, phone and most excitedly a physical diary. It gave me a good sense of what kids go through compared me at that age.
A refreshing take on a tough age group. Thanks @harpercollinsaustralia for the gifted copy.
✨️✨️✨️
I love that this book was told by 2 different Characters. I really got a sense of their personalities and feelings. This was hard for me to read as it bought back so many awful memories of what we are capable of doing to each other even at a young age. While I could feel all the memories coming back, it was also great to read it in the POV of today's time. To include variables like social media, texting, letters, phone and most excitedly a physical diary. It gave me a good sense of what kids go through compared me at that age.
A refreshing take on a tough age group. Thanks @harpercollinsaustralia for the gifted copy.
✨️✨️✨️
March 15, 2024
I enjoyed this. I think it’s a great one for Year 6 to read. That transition of finding your place in secondary school is a difficult one for all. I think this is a great one for the kids to relate to. A mix of friendship, social media and being true to yourself.
March 24, 2025
Sometimes, you need to know kids and their problems, however dumb it might be, to get away from your wretched life.
March 2, 2022
I read this book in one sitting and I adored it. It was well written with a gripping narrative and well developed characrters that I loved, I have literally fallen for Ade and Shanece, I wanted to go back to school and be best friends with them. It is definitely a book that will appeal to children and I loved the front cover, so eye catching and stunning.
July 4, 2022
Argh, I hate giving a star rating to middle grade because I’m so far away from the target audience! However, I did enjoy this book because the characters were cute and the writing style / format (utilising diary entries and online messages) really allowed their voices to sing. I found the plot a little slow and basic, but IDK if that’s just a genre thing. If pushed, I’d give three and a half stars from the perspective of an adult reader. But I’ll round up to four stars on Goodreads because I’m sure I would have loved this when I was ten years old.
Written by the authors of ‘Slay in Your Lane’, it’s definitely worth picking up for the precocious ten-year-old in your life and we love to see the representation. Also, if you’re an adult who is writing middle grade, I think you could learn a lot from analysing this novel.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s (@harpercollinsch) and We Are Media Hive (@wearemediahive) for my #gifted copy.
Written by the authors of ‘Slay in Your Lane’, it’s definitely worth picking up for the precocious ten-year-old in your life and we love to see the representation. Also, if you’re an adult who is writing middle grade, I think you could learn a lot from analysing this novel.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s (@harpercollinsch) and We Are Media Hive (@wearemediahive) for my #gifted copy.
March 8, 2023
The Offline Diaries is an adorable, little book written from the perspective of two tweens, Ade and Shanice and the entire story is narrated in the form of diary entries and text conversations! I have never read a book narrated in this format and it had my interest piqued!
Extrovert Ade has moved to a new town(much to her dismay) with her siblings, mom and stepdad(whom she doesn’t like one bit) and is not excited to start at a new school whatsoever.
Introvert Shanice is not happy about having to return to school for the new year and loves pouring her heart out into her pink journal, while spending a chunk of time at her dad Mathew’s hair salon.
When Ade visits Mathew’s salon with her mother and spots a girl in the corner with a journal similar to hers, there is an instant spark of friendship between the two girls and what follows is a star-crossed friendship that is so real and tender you would want to give these girls a warm, bear hug!
It makes my heart swell with joy to say that friendships are an integral part of every Middle Grade book and this book has spades and spades of it! This is an account of the start of a new friendship, with its own share of laughter, conflict, joy and sorrow, a sour fallout and how it all falls back together again.
In the current generation, where social media occupies a major part of everyone’s daily routine, this book focuses on the pros and cons of social media not just in everyday life, but also in friendships and how it has the dangerous potential to make or break them.
Personally, if a book deals with dense topics and addresses them in a perfect manner, it’s an immediate extra star from me! This book highlights themes of broken families and how they tend to have an impact on the development of children. Shanice warming up to her brother while also dealing with the loss of her mother and Ade warming up to her stepdad had me smiling from ear to ear!
If you’re a fan of friendships in books and want to read one that radiates #blackgirlmagic in all ways possible, then this is the one to pick up next!
Extrovert Ade has moved to a new town(much to her dismay) with her siblings, mom and stepdad(whom she doesn’t like one bit) and is not excited to start at a new school whatsoever.
Introvert Shanice is not happy about having to return to school for the new year and loves pouring her heart out into her pink journal, while spending a chunk of time at her dad Mathew’s hair salon.
When Ade visits Mathew’s salon with her mother and spots a girl in the corner with a journal similar to hers, there is an instant spark of friendship between the two girls and what follows is a star-crossed friendship that is so real and tender you would want to give these girls a warm, bear hug!
It makes my heart swell with joy to say that friendships are an integral part of every Middle Grade book and this book has spades and spades of it! This is an account of the start of a new friendship, with its own share of laughter, conflict, joy and sorrow, a sour fallout and how it all falls back together again.
In the current generation, where social media occupies a major part of everyone’s daily routine, this book focuses on the pros and cons of social media not just in everyday life, but also in friendships and how it has the dangerous potential to make or break them.
Personally, if a book deals with dense topics and addresses them in a perfect manner, it’s an immediate extra star from me! This book highlights themes of broken families and how they tend to have an impact on the development of children. Shanice warming up to her brother while also dealing with the loss of her mother and Ade warming up to her stepdad had me smiling from ear to ear!
If you’re a fan of friendships in books and want to read one that radiates #blackgirlmagic in all ways possible, then this is the one to pick up next!
December 1, 2024
A playful and clever story addressing tweenage angst, emotions, relationships and friends.
Ade is one of three children who, along with Mum and stepdad, have moved for his job. Ade is not happy. It’s all his fault. She has left what and who she knows behind. Anxiety about being the new girl with no friends is winding Ade up. At a local hair salon, Ade meets Shanice, who is friendly and has a diary/journal like Adde. The girls hit it off and became best friends.
All does not go well when school bullies and influencers befriend Ade but convince her to distance herself from Shanice. The girls have made Shanice’s life hell previously, and she is disappointed. Her warning to Ade to be careful with those girls falls on deaf ears, and she is the butt of their poison again. How does Ade sort it?
An essential inclusion for school libraries. Both girls are girls of colour, and in our diverse society, it is essential that girls see themselves portrayed in the stories they read. Recommended for readers aged eight years and older. It is a great read for young people to share with an adult to discuss the issues addressed.
Ade is one of three children who, along with Mum and stepdad, have moved for his job. Ade is not happy. It’s all his fault. She has left what and who she knows behind. Anxiety about being the new girl with no friends is winding Ade up. At a local hair salon, Ade meets Shanice, who is friendly and has a diary/journal like Adde. The girls hit it off and became best friends.
All does not go well when school bullies and influencers befriend Ade but convince her to distance herself from Shanice. The girls have made Shanice’s life hell previously, and she is disappointed. Her warning to Ade to be careful with those girls falls on deaf ears, and she is the butt of their poison again. How does Ade sort it?
An essential inclusion for school libraries. Both girls are girls of colour, and in our diverse society, it is essential that girls see themselves portrayed in the stories they read. Recommended for readers aged eight years and older. It is a great read for young people to share with an adult to discuss the issues addressed.
April 18, 2022
This is a brilliant story of new friendships, popularity and the importance of kindness. Being the new girl around town is never fun, especially when you’re having to battle with a family situation you’re not the most pleased with. Making friends and keeping them is hard! There’s loads of stories about social media and young girls and I think my Y6s are gonna really love this! We’ve all been there - making mistakes and having to fix them!
April 14, 2022
This was a great middle grade read that was based on friendship! I loved the themes and the friendship between Ade and Shanice! They were very well rounded and fun to read about. The writing was engaging and made this reading experience quite fun! Overall this was a great read and I would recommend it!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!
October 29, 2022
When Ade moves to a new area, she's nervous about starting her new school and making friends. She meets loner Shanice and they hit it off immediately, but before long Ade has to work out what's more important: popularity or being yourself.
The authors of the fantastic Slay In Your Lane make an enjoyable first foray into fiction.
The authors of the fantastic Slay In Your Lane make an enjoyable first foray into fiction.
October 5, 2026
I think this is a really nice middlegrade book about friendship and the desire to be liked. I enjoyed the way the story was told through messages and diary entries and how in their diaries you could really get to see how each character was feeling. I think this is a nice middlegrade book.
June 16, 2022
Throughly enjoyed reading about Shanice and Ade. Reminded me of my 13 year old self.
December 15, 2022
relatable, 😥sad. Honestly it was fantastic
June 19, 2023
Really good book about the importance of friendship ❤️
September 3, 2023
Love it/!!
January 19, 2024
Two girls are friends have conflict and so forth told through their diaries and chat from some social media site.
All pretty standard fare for this type of book.
All pretty standard fare for this type of book.
September 23, 2024
Ade was a very annoying character if I was Shanice I would not have forgiven her.
This book is perfect for people in year 5 to year 8
This book is perfect for people in year 5 to year 8
January 22, 2025
I relate to this book in almost each way I definitely recommend as a coming of age book especially if your in UK Secondary School and your African!
December 20, 2025
good read
December 27, 2022
Such a cute book, I love their friendship and how they stick together throughout the book🫶🏽
February 13, 2023
Representation: Black characters
Trigger warnings: Death of a mother, bullying
Note that I bought this book and own it.
Might be a good book...
Update: 7/10, I picked this up from store since they were selling it for cheap and I never even heard of the author and this book, it's also a series as well so I'm excited to see what's in store for these characters but that being said I did enjoy this however some choices in the story were less than great to say the least. Did I mention this is just a modernised Real Friends? Where do I begin? It starts with the two main characters Ade whose last name and full name I forgot and Shanice Powers or Shanice for short and they live separate lives from each other at first until they meet in a hairdresser's store and at school and their lives begin to intertwine. I liked both characters since they both had struggles to overcome and develop themselves however I just couldn't get over two main flaws, one the slang is bound to get outdated like G2G rather than got to go, unreal and the emojis are cheesy but second off is the fact that everything there feels kind of localised and cements that it is a British novel due to the language choices. I can forgive the use of words like jumpers and Year Seven, Year Eight etcetera since they are commonplace and the word crisps but the British addresses and emails? They took me out of the story a bit if you know what I mean. That being said Ade decides to befriend some people called the Double As and they are just popular mean girl caricatures and they excluded Shanice, I don't get why Ade would be friends with them since their mannerisms gave me a dubious feeling. Only a few pages later, fast paced I know, it looked like the damage had already been done as there had been a massive fallout with Shanice calling Ade a coward and ceasing all connections with her except one, and that is a letter; Ade uses that to apologise to her in not much time at all but on the positive side that ended the book on a high note. Wow. ChatBack was interesting as well.
Trigger warnings: Death of a mother, bullying
Note that I bought this book and own it.
Might be a good book...
Update: 7/10, I picked this up from store since they were selling it for cheap and I never even heard of the author and this book, it's also a series as well so I'm excited to see what's in store for these characters but that being said I did enjoy this however some choices in the story were less than great to say the least. Did I mention this is just a modernised Real Friends? Where do I begin? It starts with the two main characters Ade whose last name and full name I forgot and Shanice Powers or Shanice for short and they live separate lives from each other at first until they meet in a hairdresser's store and at school and their lives begin to intertwine. I liked both characters since they both had struggles to overcome and develop themselves however I just couldn't get over two main flaws, one the slang is bound to get outdated like G2G rather than got to go, unreal and the emojis are cheesy but second off is the fact that everything there feels kind of localised and cements that it is a British novel due to the language choices. I can forgive the use of words like jumpers and Year Seven, Year Eight etcetera since they are commonplace and the word crisps but the British addresses and emails? They took me out of the story a bit if you know what I mean. That being said Ade decides to befriend some people called the Double As and they are just popular mean girl caricatures and they excluded Shanice, I don't get why Ade would be friends with them since their mannerisms gave me a dubious feeling. Only a few pages later, fast paced I know, it looked like the damage had already been done as there had been a massive fallout with Shanice calling Ade a coward and ceasing all connections with her except one, and that is a letter; Ade uses that to apologise to her in not much time at all but on the positive side that ended the book on a high note. Wow. ChatBack was interesting as well.
June 8, 2023
Authors Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené have come together for a new series of books, The Offline Diaries as told by Ade and Shanice. This is their second title following their success with Stay In Your Lane. The title clues us into the style the book will take, diaries and it stands out because it is not just one diary for one character (featuring the lives of friends and family of course) but two. The diaries of two friends who are not only very different characters but who have also been given different fonts for their entries and the most wonderful chapter heading designs by Tequita Andrews and Ruthine Burton.
The dairies are fresh, funny, and contemporary. Readers will relate immediately to Ade and Shanice as we follow them whilst they negotiate the ups and downs of life in Year 8. For Ade Year 8 is going to begin in a new school but she is not happy with her stepdad whose decision to move has created this situation. Shanice has already been at the school for a year. When the pair meet theirs is an instant friendship bond formed by diaries. They start with an online chat but get them offline and the story is a wholly different one and we get to share in both, to enjoy the chat and the honesty and be inspired to perhaps turn to or own diaries!
The dairies are fresh, funny, and contemporary. Readers will relate immediately to Ade and Shanice as we follow them whilst they negotiate the ups and downs of life in Year 8. For Ade Year 8 is going to begin in a new school but she is not happy with her stepdad whose decision to move has created this situation. Shanice has already been at the school for a year. When the pair meet theirs is an instant friendship bond formed by diaries. They start with an online chat but get them offline and the story is a wholly different one and we get to share in both, to enjoy the chat and the honesty and be inspired to perhaps turn to or own diaries!
May 22, 2022
This is a book about two young Black girls, who meet in a hair salon and strike up an instant friendship, and the complications they face in staying friends due to events at their school. Now, I’m going to level with you, I definitely had a preference over our dual narrators, I was very much on tea, Shanice because some of Ade’s behaviour was unacceptable, but I did appreciate that she eventually makes efforts to make amends and be a better friend. The discussions around social media and both the positive and negative sides of that will definitely be beneficial to the target audience, and I think this is definitely a book that will help people struggling with making friends when they start secondary school, but also to recognise when a friendship isn’t right and is bringing more sadness to your life than joy. Overall, a really good read!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews