190,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿 

Come visit us in-store this weekend! 📚 Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

Riley Wright is Always Wrong

Brief Description
Riley Wright is Always Wrong by Mel Taylor-Bessent introduces us to Riley Wright, who is starting at Heverton Junior School with one awkward disadvantage: her MAJORLY embarrassing dad is the new head teacher! New school, new friends (hopefully!). Riley Wright must figure out how to fit... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Riley Wright is Always Wrong. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Riley Wright is starting at Heverton Junior School with one awkward disadvantage: her MAJORLY embarrassing dad is the new head teacher …!! 🦄 🌈 📓🦄 🌈 'A lively fun-filled story’ — Dame Jacqueline Wilson

A hilarious illustrated series about school, mean girls and BFFs for 7+ readers from the best-selling author of THE CHRISTMAS CARROLLS, new for 2026!

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Riley Wright is Always Wrong by Mel Taylor-Bessent introduces us to Riley Wright, who is starting at Heverton Junior School with one awkward disadvantage: her MAJORLY embarrassing dad is the new head teacher!

New school, new friends (hopefully!). Riley Wright must figure out how to fit in, find a talent for the talent show, look out for her unpredictable new BFF Emmie, and face down super mean girl Harper. As someone who gets a lot of things wrong, when will Riley finally get something RIGHT?

KIDS LOVE RILEY!

‘Mel is a great writer. Can’t she just publish like three of these at the same time?’ – Anaya, 9

‘I definitely recommend Riley Wright!’ – Lily, 8

‘A must-read book if you like fun and secrets’ — Joseph, 8

AUTHORS LOVE RILEY TOO!

'A lively fun-filled story that children will love’ — Dame Jacqueline Wilson

‘As funny as Lottie Brooks, with the madcap energy of Pamela Butchart, Riley Wright is smart, sharp and totally relatable. I loved it!’ – Abie Longstaff, author of The Magic Potions Shop and The Fairytale Hairdresser series

‘I love Riley! A fun and charming book bursting with energy.’ – Laura Dockrill, author of Darcy Burdock

‘Instantly engaging, hugely appealing and full of laughs. Riley Wright is a wonderfully bright and bubbly new voice in the diary style format – like a younger female Wimpy Kid.’ – Andy Shepherd, author of The Boy Who Grew Dragons

‘It is impossible not to smile at every page and cheer out loud for the new girl in school, Riley Wright. With a big personality and heart to match, Riley is just the BFF that readers have been waiting for. A fresh, funny and utterly charming book, from start to finish.’ – Clara Vulliamy, author of Dottie Detective

‘Riley and her BFF are a laugh-out-loud unstoppable duo, taking readers on a giggly, squirmy tour through the ups and downs of junior school. Packed with laughs, oops moments and best friend fun.’ – Vashti Hardy, author of Harley Hitch

‘An adorable, fun and feel-good story. Readers will love Riley with her electrocuted chicken hair, her relatable worries and her sparky attitude. A new series that’s sure to become a favourite.’ – Rashmi Sirdeshpande, author of Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar

‘I loved it! Funny, heartwarming and very engaging.’ – Harriet Muncaster, author of Isadora Moon

‘Hilarious, heartfelt and filled with so many memorable moments. Get ready for Riley Wright to be the best friend you never knew you needed. Why be right when you can have so much fun being wrong!’ – Jo Clarke, author of Libby and the Parisian Puzzle

‘Riley Wright is ADORABLE! Funny, zippy and relatable – these books will become fast favourites.’ – Perdita Cargill, author of Diary of an Accidental Witch

‘Riley Wright thinks she is Awkward, Accident-prone, and Annoyingly Average. I think she's AMAZING and AWESOME! A hilarious, endearing and uplifting read which made me laugh and cringe on Riley's behalf in equal measures. I can't wait to see what Riley does next!’ – Serena Patel, author of Anisha Accidental Detective

‘As a parent, Dad is absolute parent-goals but as a reader, who was once a child with major hair frizz issues, Riley is a character I think every young person can relate to. I was giggling away from the first page and desperately wishing I had a Secret Understairs Library too! Mel Taylor-Bessent has created a perfect read for those who love a funny book – it’s feel-good Louise Rennison for junior school readers.’ – Swapna Haddow, author of Dave Pigeon

‘Massively fun and laugh out loud. I loved this book. Riley Wright is going to become your new BFF!’ – Jenny McLachlan, author of Fairy vs Wizard

‘Riley Wright ticks ALL the WRIGHT boxes with all the scented rainbow pens, a tonne of hilarity and oodles of heart. This is the kind of book I’d have devoured as a kid! And I’m pretty sure it will never be in the school library because there will be an infinite waiting list to borrow it! It’s the kind of book kids in class would fight over to read next.’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008801670

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 May 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Farshore

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 14.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 150g

Pages: 160

About the Author

Founder of the hugely successful Authorfy and Little Star Writing, Mel Taylor-Bessent has made her career connecting readers to their favourite authors and encouraging children to write for pleasure. After gaining a Creative Writing degree, Mel launched her first business at the age of 22 and ran creative writing workshops for thousands of children aged 6-12. As a result, she also arranged hundreds of author events and witnessed first-hand the positive impact these interactions had on her students. In 2017, she decided to replicate this via online 'Author Masterclasses' on a website she created called Authorfy.com. Since then, Authorfy has gone on to win numerous awards, partner with the likes of World Book Day and BookTrust, and is used in classrooms all over the world. Now Mel is bringing her own writing to readers with The Christmas Carrolls, her debut fiction series.

Also by Mel Taylor-Bessent

View all
  • The Christmas Club
    ‘A Christmas book about kindness and cheer to make even Scrooge’s heart melt’ — Dame Jacqueline Wilson on The Christmas Carrolls The Christmariffic Carrolls hit NEW YORK! Funny festive middle-grade from the founder of Authorfy, perfect for 8+ fans of Matt Haig, Ben Miller, Sibeal Pounder’s Tinsel, and the Nativity! films. The Christmas-crazy Carrolls are back – and this time,...
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Race to Imagination Island
    Do YOU have what it takes to win the Race? 🌈🏁🌈🏁🌈🏁 ‘You’ll LOVE racing to Imagination Island!’ MAZ EVANS ‘Joyful!’ JENNY MCLACHLAN ‘Riotously fun!’ HANNAH GOLD Observers! Dreamers! Inventors! Explorers! The time has come to crown four new Protectors of Imagination Island. Do YOU have what it takes to win the Race? Mario Kart meets The 13 Storey Treehouse in...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Battle Master: Caveman Wizards vs Robot Dragons
    Pre-order
    Battle Master: Caveman Wizards vs Robot Dragons
    Introducing the funniest series in the galaxy! Two teams are snatched from their planets and pitted against each other in an intergalactic game show full of MAXIMUM MAYHEM that's guaranteed to get even the most reluctant reader laughing out loud and screaming for more! It's perfect for 7+ kids who love gaming, Loki, Grimwood and Gladiators. Fast-paced action Loads of...
    Paperback
    $2099
    Pre-order
    Out 2 Feb 2027
  • Race to Echoes Edge
    Do YOU have what it takes to win the Race? ‘You’ll LOVE racing to Imagination Island!’ — MAZ EVANS ‘Joyful!’ — JENNY MCLACHLAN ‘Riotously fun!’ — HANNAH GOLD Our hero Luca is back for the second leg of the Race to Echoes Edge! This time, our plucky Racers create team mascots to help them with the three challenges they must...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Christmas Competition
    ‘A Christmas book about kindness and cheer to make even Scrooge’s heart melt’ Dame Jacqueline Wilson on The Christmas Carrolls Funny festive middle grade about the world's most Christmassy family from the founder of Authorfy, perfect for 8+ fans of Matt Haig, Ben Miller, Sibeal Pounder’s Tinsel, and the Nativity! films. The Christmas-crazy Carrolls are back – and this time,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Children's Books

View all
  • New Release
    Gruffalo Granny
    The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...
    Hardback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
    New Release
    A Sprinkle in Time: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #15)
    In the newest saga, our anti-hero, Grandpa, alters the fabric of time and space. Is his evil the necessary soil for Dog Man and friends to grow and bloom? Can we all step up to be the change? It's the saga of the century—Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time!
    Hardback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Fight or Flight: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (21)
    When the going gets tough, what’s a wimpy kid to do? In Fight or Flight, Greg Heffley faces his biggest challenge yet as he becomes a target for the school bully. Luckily for Greg, his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, takes karate, so at least Greg’s got someone in his corner. But an unexpected twist makes Greg realize he’s facing an uphill...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Detective Beans Colouring Club
    New Release
    Detective Beans Colouring Club
    Help Detective Beans solve the case of the missing colours! Join the Colouring Club now! Join the Detective Beans Colouring Club! Inside you'll find 40 removable colouring pages featuring scenes from all over Cat Town. Filled with all the characters you know and love from the Detective Beans graphic novels like Biscuits, Beans' mum, Mr Brickle, Bear, Detective Baby Bird...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    The Sixth Faction
    Beatrice Prior stands on the brink of a decision every person in her world must make: five factions, five futures, five lives. She has a plan: she's going to make the bravest choice, and leave Abnegation behind to join Dauntless, even though it means leaving her family behind. But when tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, everything changes—her world, her...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    The Naturals: Dangerous Impulses Book 5
    The Naturals are BACK! No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Lynn Barnes delivers the highly anticipated new installment in her beloved Naturals Series. Cassie Hobbes joined the FBI's Naturals program at seventeen because she had an incredible ability to read people. Since then, Cassie, fellow profiler Dean, emotion‐reader Michael, lie‐detector Lia, and statistical genius Sloane have caught serial...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    All of Us
    A new heart-wrenching, well-researched historical novel for middle-grade readers. 'The weirdest thing,' continues Tove, 'is that I don't feel any different to the rest of you.' 'That's because you're not!' snaps Birgitte. 'You're Danish.' 'So why do the Nazis hate me and not you?' When twelve-year-old Viggo and his friends Finn, Tove, Birgitte and Konrad start writing rude letters to...
    Hardback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Star Path
    New Release
    The Star Path
    A young whale searches for the whale rider's heir and a teenager takes an epic voyage to Antarctica with a fleet of waka hourua to claim his lost inheritance, in this breathtaking return to the world of global hit The Whale Rider, over thirty years on. From the internationally acclaimed author of The Whale Rider comes a novel about the...
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Wahine
    New Release
    Wahine
    From a majestic mermaid to a clay woman, the creator of glaciers to the mother of gardening, discover powerful wahine and how their stories shaped the world around us. Wahine introduces readers to twelve purakau of brave, bold, and inspiring women of Aotearoa. A beautifully illustrated collection that will delight the whole whanau, from award-winning illustrator Isobel Joy Te Aho-White....
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
    From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! But this time... it's not about Lottie! From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a new story collection from the world of Lottie Brooks! And it's CHRISTMAS! In The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks we spent the holiday season with...
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Matihe! Achoo! Matihe! Achoo!
    New Release
    Matihe! Achoo!
    What happens when a grumpy tupua has to sneeze? Matihe! Achoo! is a bilingual story about the tupua Mataoho and his connection to the volcanoes of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. It comes with an action song to engage young readers! He pūrākau e pā ana ki a Mataoho me ngā puia o Takamaki Makaurau. He tupua pukukino a Mataoho e noho...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Sweet As Looky Book
    New Release
    The Sweet As Looky Book
    Can you find all the chocolate fish? Is it possible for kiwi to fly? Can you spot the difference? See Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of award-winning artist Donovan Bixley in The Sweet As Looky Book. Use your finest skills to seek out pirates in the Bay of Islands and birds in Rakiura Stewart Island. Get in a car...
    Hardback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 190,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.