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jacobandthefrogs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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
4.75
I truly can’t believe it took me this long to get back around to reading about Darius. I absolutely fell in love with his story in the first book Darius The Great Is Not Okay, and then in this book I rekindled that flame with this cast of characters. In the first book there were obvious correlations between Darius thoughts, feelings, and actions that for me at least correlated with a queer experience. So I was more than delighted to see that this book relievers on that front and gives us an out and proud Darius as our narrator. He has some bumps in the road with his relationship with his boyfriend, Landon, and some outlier feelings and hat he has to deal with returning character, Chip. I’m also glad this book does not shy away from the mental health representation and advocacy that was established in the first book. Depression is a delicate and serious topic that this book handles carefully and gracefully with Darius and his Dad.
There are so many things that I want to say about his book, so much praise, and so much love but I’ll leave this review at that because I don’t want to risk telling every single detail of this book.
(The only reason I have given 4.75 stars is a mainly selfish reason because I wish there was an epilogue or just another chapter to the ending of the book.)
There are so many things that I want to say about his book, so much praise, and so much love but I’ll leave this review at that because I don’t want to risk telling every single detail of this book.
(The only reason I have given 4.75 stars is a mainly selfish reason because I wish there was an epilogue or just another chapter to the ending of the book.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death
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: Mental illness, Bullying, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Death, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Transphobia and Sexual content
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, Xenophobia, Racism, Mental illness, Islamophobia, Homophobia, Grief, and Death
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: Mental illness and Bullying
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, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
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: Death, Bullying, Racism, and Homophobia
gardenofroses's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, Homophobia, Cancer, and Death
redbookpanda's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Bullying
Minor: Death
caidyn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.25
This was such a sweet follow up and I'm glad that Adib wrote it. It, again, explores the complexities of growing up, complete with talking about family changes, parental mental health, grief and death, and relationship strains. Was this sequel needed? Not necessarily. But I'm so glad it was published.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, Sexual harassment, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death and Grief
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content