Sign in with Facebook
20 Diaries You Won’t Get In Trouble for Reading
There's something special about diaries. They record our memories, hold our confessions, and pass no judgment. It's a function that's become a bit of an anomaly in an age where sharing, tweeting, and posting nearly every passing thought has become the norm.
Perhaps that's why novels written as diaries are so gripping. You can watch a character's mind unfold and become privy to their inner fears, hopes, dreams, and motivations. From the classic horror of Dracula, to the haphazard romance of Bridget Jones' Diary, to children's favorite Diary of a Wimpy Kid, these narratives are as intimate as they are immersive.
So if you can keep a secret, here are 20 fictional diaries where you can play the role of confidante. Funny, heartbreaking, and chilling—these diaries come in all shapes and sizes. Let us know which ones you recommend in the comments below!
Perhaps that's why novels written as diaries are so gripping. You can watch a character's mind unfold and become privy to their inner fears, hopes, dreams, and motivations. From the classic horror of Dracula, to the haphazard romance of Bridget Jones' Diary, to children's favorite Diary of a Wimpy Kid, these narratives are as intimate as they are immersive.
So if you can keep a secret, here are 20 fictional diaries where you can play the role of confidante. Funny, heartbreaking, and chilling—these diaries come in all shapes and sizes. Let us know which ones you recommend in the comments below!
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
![What Was She Thinking? [Notes on a Scandal]](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386922976l/13258.jpg) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Comments Showing 1-32 of 32 (32 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
bree
(new)
Oct 09, 2017 09:03AM
The Basic Eight is a thriller!! I loved that book
flag
I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list.
Tone wrote: "I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list."Agreed! How could that be?
Tone wrote: "I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list."In the article, it says novels written as diaries. These are all fictional
There's also a novel called THE ESCAPE DIARY by Leon Thomas. A story of sexual abuse.
Ha, you will get into trouble reading The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer if you ever sneak it to school in Junior High like I did. Some detailed sexual stuff in there!
Tone wrote: "I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list."This is a list of fictional diaries.
Don't forget about all of the Dear America/Royal America/My Name is America books! Those were my favorite growing up. I loved reading about different historical events and eras and people.
Arah-Lynda wrote: "Tone wrote: "I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list."Agreed! How could that be?"
The Diary of Anne Frank is not fictional. This is a list of fictional diaries.
This is one of my most favorite writing styles! Something about it just seems so....personal.
Tone wrote: "I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list."You missed the word "fictional" as well.
Fiction = not real.
Non-fiction = real.
Out of all these books, all I read are Go Ask Alice and Dracula on this list
Tone wrote: "I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list."I had this thought too, but this is a list of fictional diaries, Anne Frank's was real!
I've read five of those listed, but my favorite is the unlisted Touchstone series by Andrea K. Höst. The first four volumes are all in diary format, and book 1 Stray is currently a Kindle freebie.
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue TownsendI Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper
Diary of a Provincial Lady by EM Delafield
Mrs Tim Of The Regiment by DE Stevenson
What about Anne Frank's "Diary of A Young Girl?"
What about Amanda Grange. She wrote 4 books in diary form, all based on characters from Jane Austen novels.
In the three "Emily" books by L. M. Montgomery diary entries are plentifully interspersed with narrative fiction. Very well done and effective, I thought.I'll admit I was disappointed that this was a list of fictional diaries. Goodreads, how about coming up with a list of 20 must-read real diaries?
Karen Floyd wrote: "In the three "Emily" books by L. M. Montgomery diary entries are plentifully interspersed with narrative fiction. Very well done and effective, I thought.I'll admit I was disappointed that this wa..."
Are there enough actual, real published diaries for that?
I think so. Marcus Aurelius, Anais Nin, and Anne Frank as mentioned above. Multi-volumes of Virginia Woolf, L. M. Montgomery, Henry David Thoreau, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams. Some of them are probably hard to find, I 'll admit. I shall have to explore this. What fun!
Alright, my childhood called - I thought 'Catherine, called Birdy, ' would be on this list.
The Bridget Jones diary, The Princess diaries and the secret dairy of Anne Boleyn.
Is there any special reason to exclude 'The Golden Notebook' from the list?
Abu Saleh Musa wrote: "Is there any special reason to exclude 'The Golden Notebook' from the list?"If I remember correctly, that book isn't written completely in diary form.
Karen Floyd wrote: "I think so. Marcus Aurelius, Anais Nin, and Anne Frank as mentioned above. Multi-volumes of Virginia Woolf, L. M. Montgomery, Henry David Thoreau, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams. Some of them ar..."
Don't forget about The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon, and the Warhol Diaries by, well, by Warhol.
Cooper wrote: "What about Anne Frank's "Diary of A Young Girl?""
That one's real. This is a list of fictional notebooks.
Wow, I read a lot of these books:1. The color purple
2. Flowers for Algenon
3. Bridget Jones's Diary
4. Gentlemen prefer blondes
5. Dracula
6. The princess diaries
7. The secret diary of Anne Boleyn
Arah-Lynda wrote: "Tone wrote: "I miss The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank on this list."Agreed! How could that be?"
I thought the same thing, but read the last paragraph again and realized it isn't there because this list is for fictional diaries only.
Jen wrote: "Alright, my childhood called - I thought 'Catherine, called Birdy, ' would be on this list."I loved that book!
