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series Reading Order

Geek Girl Books in Order

8 Books
2013 – 2017 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read the Geek Girl series in chronological order. This integrates the holiday and special-event novellas naturally into Harriet Manners' high-school and modeling journey, rather than backtracking later. Because the novellas were published out of chronological sequence, following the timeline of events keeps Harriet's character development, friendships, and romantic arcs consistent.

Here is the recommended chronological reading order for the series:

  1. Geek Girl (Book 1) – Published in 2013. The novel that starts it all, introducing fifteen-year-old Harriet Manners as she is scouted by a modeling agency.
  2. All Wrapped Up (Novella #1.5) – Published in 2015. A Christmas-themed special set between the first and second novels.
  3. Model Misfit (Book 2) – Published in 2013. Harriet travels to Japan for a modeling shoot while trying to maintain her sanity.
  4. Geek Drama (Novella #2.5) – Published in 2015. A World Book Day special focusing on a school play, set between the second and third books.
  5. Picture Perfect (Book 3) – Published in 2014. Harriet takes on New York City, where she must balance a high-profile romance and school.
  6. All That Glitters (Book 4) – Published in 2015. Harriet struggles to redefine herself as she starts a new school term and faces shifting friendships.
  7. Sunny Side Up (Novella #4.5) – Published in 2016. A summer holiday special set between the fourth and fifth books.
  8. Head Over Heels (Book 5) – Published in 2016. Harriet tries to manage modeling assignments in glamour locations while keeping her personal life from falling apart.
  9. Forever Geek (Book 6) – Published in 2017. The final main novel, taking Harriet to Australia for a bittersweet and satisfying conclusion to her story.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

If you prefer to read the books exactly in the order they hit store shelves, you will notice that the novellas were written and released later in the franchise's run. While the core novels (Books 1 through 3) were published consecutively, Holly Smale wrote the holiday specials All Wrapped Up and Geek Drama around the release of the fourth novel. Reading in publication order provides a fun retrospective look at Harriet's younger days, but it can disrupt the narrative flow of the main six-book series.

For comparison, the publication order is: Geek Girl (2013), Model Misfit (2013), Picture Perfect (2014), All That Glitters (2015), All Wrapped Up (2015), Geek Drama (2015), Head Over Heels (2016), Sunny Side Up (2016), and Forever Geek (2017).

The Main Novels: A Summary of Harriet’s Arc

The core of the series revolves around Harriet Manners, a brilliant, socially awkward teen who knows an endless array of trivia but struggles to understand the social hierarchies of her peers. In the debut novel, Geek Girl, Harriet attempts to escape her reputation as a school misfit by accepting a modeling contract with the Baylee agency, which quickly leads to a series of hilarious catwalk disasters and a trip to Moscow. In Model Misfit, Harriet takes a gig in Tokyo, Japan, to distance herself from family changes and school drama, only to realize the modeling world is just as complicated as school.

By Picture Perfect, Harriet's modeling career goes global as she travels to New York, navigating her first real relationship with fellow model Nick Park. The subsequent novels, All That Glitters, Head Over Heels, and the finale, Forever Geek, track Harriet's transition from a naive teenager into a confident young woman who realizes that she does not need to change her quirks to fit into the world.

The Companion Novellas: Are They Essential?

The three Geek Girl novellas are lighter, shorter stories designed as companion pieces. While they are not mandatory to understand the main plot, they add delightful context to Harriet's life:

  • All Wrapped Up (Novella #1.5): A festive story centered around Christmas. It details Harriet's attempts to navigate the holiday season, write the perfect cards, and survive family gatherings. It is a sweet bridge between her first runway experiences and her trip to Japan.
  • Geek Drama (Novella #2.5): Originally written for World Book Day, this short story focuses on Harriet's school life. When she is cast in the school play, she must survive backstage rivalries, stage fright, and her nemesis, Alexa.
  • Sunny Side Up (Novella #4.5): A summer holiday special where Harriet is dragged along on a family vacation. It highlights her awkward interactions with beach culture and provides a fun, sunny interlude before the emotional stakes rise in the fifth novel.

What to Know Before You Start: Autism and Representation

One of the most praised aspects of Geek Girl is Harriet Manners' neurodivergence. While the term "autism" is not explicitly used in the early novels, Harriet exhibits many classic autistic traits, including a deep passion for facts, sensory sensitivities, and difficulties navigating neurotypical social cues. Author Holly Smale was diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia later in life at age 39, and has openly discussed how Harriet was written directly from her own lived experience as an undiagnosed autistic teen. This makes the books a remarkably authentic and comforting representation of neurodivergent youth.

The 2024 Netflix Series Adaptation

In May 2024, Netflix released a 10-episode live-action adaptation of Geek Girl. Starring Emily Carey (known for House of the Dragon) as Harriet Manners and Liam Woodrum as Nick Park, the show successfully captures the lighthearted humor and emotional depth of the books. Unlike the early novels, the television adaptation explicitly addresses Harriet's autism, bringing neurodivergent representation to the forefront. The first season primarily adapts the events of the first book while streamlining characters and modernizing the setting for a contemporary audience.

Related Series: The Valentines Trilogy

After wrapping up Harriet Manners' story, Holly Smale wrote a companion trilogy called The Valentines, which consists of Happy Girl Lucky (2019), Far From Perfect (2020), and Love Me Not (2021). The Valentines is described as a thematic "flip" of Geek Girl. Instead of an ordinary girl entering a glamorous world, the series follows the Valentine sisters—Hope, Faith, and Mercy—who are born into a famous dynasty and desperately want to live ordinary lives. While there is no direct story crossover, the trilogy shares the same witty, warm tone as Geek Girl.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best order to read the Geek Girl books?

The best way to read the series is in chronological order: Geek Girl, All Wrapped Up (Novella), Model Misfit, Geek Drama (Novella), Picture Perfect, All That Glitters, Sunny Side Up (Novella), Head Over Heels, and Forever Geek.

QAre the Geek Girl novellas necessary to understand the plot?

No, the three novellas (All Wrapped Up, Geek Drama, and Sunny Side Up) are optional, fun side stories. You can read the main six novels on their own without losing track of the core plot.

QIs Harriet Manners autistic in the Geek Girl series?

Yes. While not explicitly labeled in the early books, Harriet is written as autistic. Author Holly Smale, who was diagnosed with autism at age 39, based Harriet on her own experiences as a neurodivergent teenager.

QHow does the Netflix series compare to the Geek Girl books?

The 2024 Netflix series adapts the first book but updates the timeline to the modern day. Crucially, the TV show explicitly labels Harriet as autistic, which the first book did not do.

QWhat is the Valentines series and is it connected to Geek Girl?

The Valentines is a separate trilogy by Holly Smale about three famous sisters who want ordinary lives. It serves as a thematic "flip" of Geek Girl but does not feature Harriet Manners.