Consider this my review of all three books. I read this series as a teen, back when they were first published, and reread the third for funzies recently (only one I still have on my shelf). I initially picked up the first one because the doodles inside and the “evidence” (physical stuff that comes with the book if you buy physical+new) are how I keep my own diaries IRL, doodles + mementos jammed in. The story is overall very Disney-teen-movie, interesting enough concepts and events, but extremely campy and teen angsty. Decent humor all the way through. 

The series would be better as a screenplay, with how quickly things pass by. The momentum of action is interspersed with protagonist’s lamentations of life sux. Cathy Vickers is very self-absorbed and dumb as bricks, a set of character flaws that very much adds to the humor, and the dirge-like monologues about how much everything is sad and terrible, complete the “unwise teen angst” cliche. Her artsiness was rather douche when it came up, but that goes along with said teen cliche haha. It was funny when every character in the book and myself the reader understood what was going on before Cathy did. XDD

Overall good, funny, interesting series for a teenager who wants SOME intrigue, but kept within the PG range. :) I wish it were longer and more detailed.