How to Read the Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair Series
Navigating the turbulent waters of early adolescence is never easy, but Laurie Friedman makes it incredibly entertaining in the Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair series. Written in an intimate, diary-style format, the series follows the titular April Sinclair as she grows from a drama-magnet thirteen-year-old middle schooler into a wiser fifteen-year-old high school freshman. Because the series operates on a strict, continuous chronological timeline, readers should follow the publication order. Skipping books will cause you to miss key developments in April's family dynamics, shifting friendships, and unfolding teenage romances.
Mostly Miserable Life of April Sinclair Books in Order
Here is the complete list of all eight books in the series in their recommended reading and publication order:
1. Can You Say Catastrophe? (2013)
The series begins with April Sinclair at thirteen years old, facing a summer that is shaping up to be a total disaster. She hopes to spend her break at summer camp with her best friends Billy and Brynn, but a chaotic birthday party and a forced family road trip in an RV throw her plans into disarray. This book introduces April’s diary format, her quirky family in Faraway, Alabama, and the beginning of her teenage angst.
2. Too Good to Be True (2014)
As April prepares to start eighth grade, she is initially filled with optimism. However, things quickly get complicated when she successfully makes the high school dance team, but her best friend Brynn does not. The resulting jealousy and social tension test their bond, teaching April hard lessons about navigating middle school hierarchies and maintaining friendships.
3. Truth and Kisses (2014)
Love is in the air, or at least April hopes it is. As the new year begins, she makes a resolution to win the heart of her long-time friend Billy. But romance is rarely simple. April finds herself confused by Billy's interactions with Brynn, all while keeping her new friendship with her attractive neighbor, Matt Parker, a secret from those closest to her.
4. Love or Something Like It (2015)
April’s romantic life takes center stage as her relationship with her neighbor Matt Parker begins to develop. However, Matt’s hot-and-cold behavior leaves April reeling and questioning what true romance is supposed to feel like. Set against the backdrop of school events and family antics, this volume explores first crushes and self-respect.
5. Not What I Expected (2015)
High school begins, and April is excited. She and Brynn are both on the dance team, her cousin Sophie has moved to town, and her relationship with Matt is going well. She even makes a new, quirky friend named Leo. But things quickly unravel: Brynn refuses to get along with Sophie, and April's parents begin fighting frequently while her mother focuses on opening a new boutique.
6. Too Much Drama (2016)
April's freshman year of high school continues with escalating social challenges. Brynn blames April for her breakup with Billy, causing a rift that turns other members of the dance team against April. To make matters worse, April is stuck in the middle of a love triangle when she discovers that her cousin Sophie and Billy might have feelings for each other.
7. A Twist of Fate (2016)
The series takes a more emotional turn when April's beloved grandmother, whom she calls "Gaga," is diagnosed with cancer. Refusing aggressive medical treatments, Gaga decides to take the family on a bucket-list ski trip to Utah. Amidst the snowy mountains, April tries to cherish her time with Gaga while dealing with Sophie shutting her out and her brother Harry's new crush.
8. Life, Loss, and Lemonade (2017)
The final book in the series wraps up April's freshman year. She faces the devastating loss of her grandmother, the departure of Sophie moving away, and ongoing silence from Brynn. However, with the wisdom left behind by Gaga, April learns to navigate grief, gets closer to her quirky almost-boyfriend Leo, and discovers how to make lemonade out of life's sourest moments.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into April's diary, there are a few useful elements to keep in mind:
- Target Audience: Published by Darby Creek (an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group), the series serves as a perfect transition for readers moving from middle-grade fiction to young adult novels. It deals with early teen issues without crossing into highly mature themes.
- The Diary Format: Much like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dork Diaries, the story is told entirely through April's personal journal entries, complete with list-making, text messages, and candid, humorous reflections.
- Autobiographical Roots: Author Laurie Friedman has shared that the series was heavily inspired by her own teen years, particularly the dreaded family RV trips and the challenges of growing up in a small Southern town.
- Connection to Mallory McDonald: While April Sinclair is an independent series, fans of Friedman's highly popular Mallory McDonald middle-grade series will recognize the same warm, relatable, and humorous tone, scaled up for slightly older readers.