The Secrets and Scandals of Melody Moss

By Helen Dallimore

Penguin 2026

Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd

Helen Dallimore is a NIDA-trained actress, singer, director and writer from Sydney. Amongst her many claims to fame are that she starred opposite Idina Menzel as Wicked’s original Glinda in London’s West End, and she is the voice of Married at First Sight Australia. Her debut novel, The Hits and Misses of Melody Moss, was released in November 2025.

The Secrets and Scandals of Melody Moss is the second book in this series. It opens with main character Melody, a musicals-obsessed and endearingly melodramatic almost-13-year-old, about to start her second term of Year 7. The story is told in diary format and includes a quick overview early on of what happened in the first book, ensuring any readers meeting Melody for the first time are not at a disadvantage. (I, however, had already read and enjoyed book 1!) Melody’s diary entries are voicey, funny and believably tween-like. The text is interspersed with occasional simple illustrations, bullet point lists, text message conversations, words or sentences enlarged or tilted for emphasis, and humorous footnotes presented as scraps of paper sticky-taped into the diary.

In this book, Melody joins a musicals appreciation club (willingly), joins a basketball club (unwillingly – albeit in pursuit of a cute boy), plans a birthday party rife with who-is-or-isn’t-invited drama (yikes), is ‘cancelled’ at school for several days for being a ‘boyfriend stealer’ (gasp), has a falling out with her ex-best friend (former girlfriend of the supposedly stolen boyfriend), has a falling out with her real best friend (a boy – but not the aforementioned boyfriend), has a falling out with the supposedly stolen boyfriend (#notstolen), and gets an actual boyfriend (one of the aforementioned boys, but no spoilers here…). In other words, it’s full of the delicious tween friendship/ crush/ school drama that fans of Lottie Brooks, Dork Diaries and The Babysitters Club will absolutely gobble up!

This series will be a hit with readers aged 9+ who enjoy diary-style stories, musicals and/or middle grade melodrama. And in great news for this voracious readership, there’s a third book on the way! The Epic Mess of Melody Moss is scheduled for release in November 2026.

Annaleise Byrd is the author of middle grade portal fantasies Losing the Plot and Down the Plot Hole, and the picture book You Are Not a Pup!