The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks
Lottie lands the lead in the spring musical, but her friendships start to unravel despite her efforts.
The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks is a comic diary fiction title by Katie Kirby. In the children’s bestseller list we checked on 7 November 2026, it was number 16. This guide explains what the book is about, who it suits, how to talk about it and what to read next.
What is The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks about?
Lottie starts the spring term at secondary school determined to stop trying to win over a mean girl and to leave an old embarrassing nickname behind. She lands a lead role in the spring musical, which gives her a chance to impress her crush, but her friendship with her two best friends begins to unravel despite her efforts to hold them together.
The main cast includes Lottie, Amber, Daniel, and Lottie’s best friends Molly and Jess. It is the second book in the series, after The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks.
The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks: book details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Author | Katie Kirby |
| Series | Lottie Brooks (book 2) |
| Format | Paperback |
| Publisher | Puffin |
| Published | 3 March 2022 |
| Genre | Comic diary fiction |
| Age guide | 9 to 12 (suggested) |
| ISBN (edition listed) | 9780241460900 |
Ages marked as “suggested” are our own guidance, not the publisher’s. Editions and dates can differ between shops, so check the listing for the copy you want.
Why children enjoy The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks
- A focus on friendship, a very relatable worry for tweens.
- Comic diary style with doodles.
- A good place for readers to start the series, since it builds on the first book.
Reading and talking tips
Use these prompts to make reading time a conversation:
- Ask: “What would you do if two friends were arguing?”
- Talk about why friendship groups sometimes shift.
- Write a letter to a friend about something that matters.
About Katie Kirby
Katie Kirby writes the Lottie Brooks series of comic diaries.
Read more on our Katie Kirby author page.
If your child likes this, try…
- The Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby, number 11 in the list.
- Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas by Katie Kirby, number 4 in the list.
- Nina Peanut: Major Drama Alert by Sarah Bowie, number 15 in the list.
Browse the whole list in our Top 20 children’s books, or use our books by age guides to find your next read.
Frequently asked questions about The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks
What age is The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks for?
The series is aimed at tweens, and we suggest 9 to 12.
Which book in the series is this?
It is book 2, first published in 2022.
Should I read the first book first?
It helps, because the second book follows on from the first.
Where to find it: your local library, an independent bookshop or an online retailer. Library membership is free in Ireland; see our guide to using your library.