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lizreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
I tore through this sequel. It was delightful to be back with Darius and to watch him explore his identity back in the United States as a gay Iranian-American teen. At times, it feels like the book has taken on a bit too much to address fully (queerness, mental health, family dynamics, bullying, racism, refugees), but I still found myself rooting for Darius and his friends and family. If the ending wraps up a little too quickly and tidily, it’s forgivable. Khorram’s writing is relatable and compelling, and I look forward to reading more from him.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Homophobia
Minor: Mental illness
anxiousnachos's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Trust Adib Khorram to write a book that makes me look like a fool - I was literally talking to someone just yesterday about how I felt like I had completely outgrown YA contemporary as a genre and then BAM, I decide to finally pick up the Darius sequel and of course it is amazing. There’s something about Khorram’s writing style and voice that I find so special and emotive, and the way he so accurately portrays what it’s like to live with depression, even when not in the midst of a depressive episode, is fantastic. Add in one of the best father/son relationships in YA, some soccer gays, and I am completely sold.
Content warnings: depression, bullying, homophobia, Islamophobia, sexual content (including being pressured into sexual activity), terminal illness, death of a grandparent, grief
Content warnings: depression, bullying, homophobia, Islamophobia, sexual content (including being pressured into sexual activity), terminal illness, death of a grandparent, grief
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Grief
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
i actually liked this better than the first book! darius the great deserves better is a book i wish i had read when i was younger: it was comforting in its assurance of continually discovering oneself; relatable in its depiction of grief; and affirming in its portrait of living w/ depression but still being ok.
darius's growth and his changing relationships w/ those around him were sth i enjoyed seeing, particularly his family dynamics and his new, supportive friendships. the characters--even the bully loser--were surprisingly multidimensional. this book was also refreshingly--almost effortlessly--diverse, and i rly like how the author tackled racism, microaggressions, homophobia, sexuality, consent, and mental illness w/ tact, somehow managing to interweave them all into the plot w/o ever sounding preachy.
similar to the first book, however, i was often annoyed by the writing, specifically the unncessary single sentences + line breaks and repetition that sounded more dramatic than they needed to be. i also wish the ending was less rushed, and that more time were spent on certain ideas and scenes, exploring them a lil further to fully grasp them. nevertheless, i still enjoyed this book, and it's def one of my top mental illness-related books for sure.
darius's growth and his changing relationships w/ those around him were sth i enjoyed seeing, particularly his family dynamics and his new, supportive friendships. the characters--even the bully loser--were surprisingly multidimensional. this book was also refreshingly--almost effortlessly--diverse, and i rly like how the author tackled racism, microaggressions, homophobia, sexuality, consent, and mental illness w/ tact, somehow managing to interweave them all into the plot w/o ever sounding preachy.
similar to the first book, however, i was often annoyed by the writing, specifically the unncessary single sentences + line breaks and repetition that sounded more dramatic than they needed to be. i also wish the ending was less rushed, and that more time were spent on certain ideas and scenes, exploring them a lil further to fully grasp them. nevertheless, i still enjoyed this book, and it's def one of my top mental illness-related books for sure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, and Racism
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death
1quillb's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is so much better than the first book. Darius is such a relatable character, as is what he goes through in this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Mental illness
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Transphobia, and Grief
callmeluh's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was both excited and scared to read Darius the Great Deserves Better. Excited because I absolutely loved the first book, and scared because to me a sequel wasn't necessary. And unfortunately, I didn't feel the same things I did with Darius the Great Is Not Okay.
I found this book too predictable, I knew from the start how it was going to end (and the synopsis doesn't really help either). I did really appreciate how the conversation on depression was brought here. It's a little different than in the first book, especially as it essentially focuses on Darius' dad, but I think it was just as important.
Although I didn't like this book as much as the first one, I would still recommend it. Also, I hope there will be a third book. Even though I didn't feel like there needed to be a second book, with everything that happened here I feel like there could be a book 3.
I found this book too predictable, I knew from the start how it was going to end (and the synopsis doesn't really help either). I did really appreciate how the conversation on depression was brought here. It's a little different than in the first book, especially as it essentially focuses on Darius' dad, but I think it was just as important.
Although I didn't like this book as much as the first one, I would still recommend it. Also, I hope there will be a third book. Even though I didn't feel like there needed to be a second book, with everything that happened here I feel like there could be a book 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism and Grief
decklededgess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trigger warnings: depression, suicide mention, homophobia, racism, bullying, transphobia mention, body dysmorphia, fat shaming, sexual content mention, refugee mention, death of family member, cancer mention, grief
I didnt expect the second book to hit has hard as the first one did but here I am driving to work crying over the last few chapters.
Such an incredible duology and a strong follow up to a stunning first book.
I didnt expect the second book to hit has hard as the first one did but here I am driving to work crying over the last few chapters.
Such an incredible duology and a strong follow up to a stunning first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Islamophobia, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual content and Transphobia
tyyne's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A nice YA story. The nerdy references were fun but got repetitive. Somehow got more boring as it went on, which was a bummer.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Grief
addyson_raelynn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Mental illness
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Death and Grief
taelights's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First of all I need a third book so badly. If we do not get book three I will be deeply disappointed. Also I need Darius x Sohrab to be endgame because they are the couple I want and need.
This series is so beautiful. The themes of family and friends are so wonderful and make me so emotional. I loved seeing Darius' relationship with his father strengthen as a result of the events of last book. I loved seeing all the themes explored in this sequel - family, Darius being gay and exploring his feelings for boys, body image, boundaries in romance and with sex, and mental health.
I honestly hated both of the possible love interests in this story and think neither of them should be with Darius. Landon was a selfish asshole who kept trying to guilt trip and pressure darius into sex every other chapter. Darius would keep saying no and that he wanted to take things slow and that he wasn't ready to lose his virginity yet. So it was just really annoying that he kept bringing up sex and trying to pressure Darius in pretty much every interaction they had. Including once in his grandmothers' car right after a memorial service for Darius' grandfather which was really icky to me.
Then Chip is also a horrible option. Bully to lovers is literally the worst trope ever to me. So, ex-bully and current friend with a crush on Darius was just not it. Especially seeing as Chip is still best friends throughout the book with Darius' other bully who is still actively bullying him and calling him homophobic and racist things. Even if Chip is no longer the one bullying Darius and being prejudice against him it doesn't change the fact that 1) he did it in the past and 2) that he is still best friends with a racist homophobic bully. He never defends Darius despite seeing the way his friend treats this boy he claims to like and he's always making excuses for the bully as well. So in my opinion he didn't actually change and is still just as bad. And no, him finally defending Darius in literally the last chapter doesn't make up for it especially because it was only after Darius had an argument with him about it.
Anyways please give me book 3 and also make Darius and Sohrab get together in it thanks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
e_flah's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's always very nerve-wracking to pick up an unexpected companion novel to a book I really loved. There's a fear that it won't be as good as I hope it will be or will somehow tarnish my view of the first book. It definitely helped that Darius the Great Deserves Better picks up a few months after book 1 left off. There's a good blend of new and old characters as well as the continuation of some threads from Darius the Great is Not Okay. I loved getting to see a more confident Darius who is able to put himself out there to connect with others.
Darius the Great Deserves Better didn't quite have the magic of book 1 for me but was still a highly enjoyable companion novel that gave me the chance to spend some more time with characters I really care about.
Darius the Great Deserves Better didn't quite have the magic of book 1 for me but was still a highly enjoyable companion novel that gave me the chance to spend some more time with characters I really care about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, and Racism