Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The books and the original films were such a comfort to me growing up. They were easy to read, genuinely funny, and felt very real at the time. I hadn’t picked one up in years, so I decided to reread the first eight books as an adult to see if they still hold up.

Story

Written by Jeff Kinney, the series follows the life of Greg Heffley as he attempts to survive middle school. He navigates friendships, family drama, embarrassing moments, and his never-ending quest to become popular. Alongside his best friend Rowley, Greg constantly finds himself in sticky situations. Somehow (usually by pure luck), things turn out okay… even if he hasn’t quite learned his lesson.

The simple diary format still works so well. It’s easy to fly through a book in one sitting, and the little drawings add so much personality to Greg’s voice.

Humour

Honestly, my sense of humour hasn’t changed that much since I was a kid. I still found myself laughing at moments that a 21-year-old probably shouldn’t find that funny. A lot of the jokes are based on awkward school experiences, sibling rivalries, and social misunderstandings — things most of us have been through in some form.

The humour is light, sometimes a bit ridiculous, but always entertaining. Even reading it now, I can see why these books were so popular.

Nostalgia

The nostalgia was definitely still there. Rereading these books felt comforting and familiar, like revisiting an old friend. At the same time, I noticed more about Greg’s personality as an adult reader. Lets say…. he’s not always the hero of the story! That actually made the reread more interesting.

Overall, I genuinely think this series still holds up. It’s funny, easy to read, and perfect if you want something light between heavier books.

Thanks for reading! Do you feel the same about Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Or did you have another childhood favourite?