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thereaderfriend's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, and Racism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
Didn't like it at first bc i thought the character was cringy with all the Star Trek references he mentioned but it lessened as the story went on. I’m glad to see depression rep the way it was shown in this story—how it didn’t take up his whole life. The character development was really great. I loved the bonds between his family and his best friend too. Seemed realistic and likeable. Can’t wait for the sequel!callmeluh's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
So. I expected this book to hurt, and it did. However, I didn't think it would hurt this much. I've rarely cried this much while reading a book, even more so if it's the first book in the series (which is the case here, I just found out).
The different conversations on depression turned me into a sobbing mess (well, not just these conversations tbh lol). As someone who struggles with depression, it's so nice to feel seen and understood.
Yes, this book hurt, but it also brought me a lot of comfort in a sense, as it made me feel less alone.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay is about depression, but also about belonging and finding your place in the world. It's about reconnecting with your roots and learning about where you come from. It's also about friendship and family. It's the kind of book you wish more people would read, and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
The different conversations on depression turned me into a sobbing mess (well, not just these conversations tbh lol). As someone who struggles with depression, it's so nice to feel seen and understood.
Yes, this book hurt, but it also brought me a lot of comfort in a sense, as it made me feel less alone.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay is about depression, but also about belonging and finding your place in the world. It's about reconnecting with your roots and learning about where you come from. It's also about friendship and family. It's the kind of book you wish more people would read, and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Mental illness
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Cancer, and Racism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
nerdysread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
WoW. I’ve read it in french. And it was amazing. Honestly I love Darius, such a great character (no puns intended). Finding your place. But what really touched me is how the book talks about depression, I cried when he talks to his dad. It’s such a great book. And now I don’t know if I can read another book before a while.
It’s really a great book
It’s really a great book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Bullying, and Cancer
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death of parent and Murder
n_asyikin_'s review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
A moving coming-of-age story that depicted one's attempt at finding their place in a world that didn't seem welcoming. Darius the Great is Not Okay also showed what it was like to live with a chronic mental illness while facing the stigma associated with it.
Both raw & gentle, Darius' story tugged at my heart-string. What stood out for me was the insight into how depression influenced one's life, and how that in turn, shaped everyone's interactions with you. Khorram wrote it in a way that felt like Darius was only expressing his inner most private thoughts - and that rawness spoke volume. But more than that, Darius stood out through his narration. In his melancholy & quietude was a boy with a strong voice & unique insights. Truly, one of my favourite narrators in recent times.
You'd the joy of knowing a boy with his love for tea & Star Trek, whose gentle heart meant he adored being a caretaker - especially to his much younger sister, who has so much love that you'd wish he realized how much love the world has waiting for him in return.
It was also about finding your own people, be it your flesh & blood or the platonic (or more) kinds. I loved how many scenes reminded me the permanent impact fleeting moments can have. And more importantly, when your emotions gripped you, it can feel like they would be constant when they were, like everything else in life, were just passing by. As Darius might say, life has a way to bend the space-time continuum (A perfect analogy for the themes explored!), and sometimes, we'd struggle under its weights - trying to live through it, and that's okay.
Also, I think it's important to look at how Darius' father responded to his condition as well; a perfect example of good intent gone awry, highlighting the necessity for self-awareness (which may be gained from psychoeducation, providing critical insights experience alone couldn't provide). Coming from a family that have history in various forms of mental illnesses, this was significant to contemplate upon.
Compassionate in its exploration of mental illness (MI), Darius the Great is Not Okay was honest with its depictions. It didn't try to romanticize the difficulties that came with living with MI, didn't try to dramatize anything either. But most importantly, it was hopeful in its message. Such a decadent read!
Both raw & gentle, Darius' story tugged at my heart-string. What stood out for me was the insight into how depression influenced one's life, and how that in turn, shaped everyone's interactions with you. Khorram wrote it in a way that felt like Darius was only expressing his inner most private thoughts - and that rawness spoke volume. But more than that, Darius stood out through his narration. In his melancholy & quietude was a boy with a strong voice & unique insights. Truly, one of my favourite narrators in recent times.
You'd the joy of knowing a boy with his love for tea & Star Trek, whose gentle heart meant he adored being a caretaker - especially to his much younger sister, who has so much love that you'd wish he realized how much love the world has waiting for him in return.
It was also about finding your own people, be it your flesh & blood or the platonic (or more) kinds. I loved how many scenes reminded me the permanent impact fleeting moments can have. And more importantly, when your emotions gripped you, it can feel like they would be constant when they were, like everything else in life, were just passing by. As Darius might say,
Also, I think it's important to look at how Darius' father responded to his condition as well; a perfect example of good intent gone awry, highlighting the necessity for self-awareness (which may be gained from psychoeducation, providing critical insights experience alone couldn't provide). Coming from a family that have history in various forms of mental illnesses, this was significant to contemplate upon.
Compassionate in its exploration of mental illness (MI), Darius the Great is Not Okay was honest with its depictions. It didn't try to romanticize the difficulties that came with living with MI, didn't try to dramatize anything either. But most importantly, it was hopeful in its message. Such a decadent read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism and Racism
Minor: Fatphobia, Suicide, and Xenophobia
fortunaisland's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Fatphobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Racism and Terminal illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
decklededgess's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
trigger warnings: clinical depression, bullying, racist harassment, suicide ideation mention, cancer
This book...is the first one in a long ass time that got me to cry without warning. I was enjoying this quite blandly over audiobook, ya kno, something to do while driving to and from work and BAM I get to the end and WATERFALL. No warning.
It's an incredibly written book about identity in multiple senses of the word, and struggling to grow up while dealing with clinical depression. I loved the handling of clinical depression, family and ethnic identity struggles as a biracial person in America, and a strained father son relationship.
Darius's struggles were so earnest and painful and the slow build of stress really hits hard at the end.
Looking forward to sobbing more in book two.
This book...is the first one in a long ass time that got me to cry without warning. I was enjoying this quite blandly over audiobook, ya kno, something to do while driving to and from work and BAM I get to the end and WATERFALL. No warning.
It's an incredibly written book about identity in multiple senses of the word, and struggling to grow up while dealing with clinical depression. I loved the handling of clinical depression, family and ethnic identity struggles as a biracial person in America, and a strained father son relationship.
Darius's struggles were so earnest and painful and the slow build of stress really hits hard at the end.
Looking forward to sobbing more in book two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Bullying
Moderate: Cancer, Racial slurs, Racism, and Body shaming
malloryfitz's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Grief, Islamophobia, Mental illness, and Racism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
cecireads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Bullying
Moderate: Fatphobia, Death of parent, Racism, and Cancer
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
krn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts