Reviews tagging 'Body shaming'

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

13 reviews

annakh16's review

emotional 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? No

4.0

Protect. Darius. at. all. costs! The title of this book is spot on. He does deserve better. 

I’m glad this sequel was good. There is a wide range of (often tough) themes handled beautifully - grief, depression, family, first relationships, sexuality etc etc. It is lovely seeing such a complex and nuanced young character. 

I also found the accountability refreshing - it wasn’t all “forgive and forget” (which I feel like happens sometimes in YA), but the characters had all the necessary conversations, which were also written very well. There were some great life lessons in there. 

I would’ve liked to see more of some characters - Sohrab and Steven especially - but I think putting them aside was needed to make space for the new plot lines, so I get it. We still got some sweet moments with both. I also found Darius’ feelings about his relationship with Landon  very relatable personally. 

This series will stay with me, I’ll miss it. The sequel definitely cemented this as a new favourite YA contemporary. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Grief, Body shaming, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Racism

adalinemccormick's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Body shaming, Grief, Racism, Death, and Fatphobia

aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Didn't like this one as much as the first one but still thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the openness of mental illness/health, the struggles of being lgbt+, the struggles of being non-white, the struggles of having family/friends in another country, and how all of it connects to an individual like Darius. As a Fractional myself, I understand so much of his struggles. I also liked seeing all the positives in his life like making new friends and connecting with his family. Sohrab is still a great bestie even if he wasn't so present in this one, and I liked seeing Chip step up as a friend as well even though he def had moments that pissed me off.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Xenophobia, Grief, Mental illness, and Bullying

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Racism

Minor: Racial slurs

queerloras's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Mental illness, Body shaming, Religious bigotry, Death, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, and Terminal illness

ladygetslit's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

Such a great follow-up that can truly stand on its own! I absolutely love Darius: he’s kind, and dorky, and thoughtful, and strangely insightful. I appreciate the nuanced perspective on depression, and how it’s not something that necessarily goes away, and having it also doesn’t mean you can’t be happy in your own way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Bullying, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Body shaming, and Injury/Injury detail

mswarning's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I preferred the first book with Darius exploring Iran and his Iranian heritage. This sequel lagged for me with a lot of tea and tea tasting.

Read for Whateverathon 2022 for host fave (first book in the series), continue a series, and borrow a book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying, Grief, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Sexual content, Body shaming, Death, and Dysphoria

Minor: Islamophobia, Suicide, and Transphobia

hazelsnoot's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Bullying, Body shaming, Grief, Homophobia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Racism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Transphobia, and Toxic relationship

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. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Homophobia, and Bullying

Minor: Transphobia, Body shaming, Death, 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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, and Grief

Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Transphobia and Sexual content

q17's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

3.75

While some the best gay representation I've seen, I found the pace of the book a bit slow and the plot difficult to summarise.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Homophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

Minor: Mental illness and Racial slurs