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tinytrashqueen'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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
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: Mental illness, Bullying, Homophobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Terminal illness, Grief, and Sexual content
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: Racism, Bullying, and Mental illness
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, 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: Mental illness, Homophobia, and Bullying
Minor: Transphobia, Body shaming, Death, and Grief
callmeluh's review against another edition
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, Mental illness, and Homophobia
Moderate: Grief and Racism
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
annabeavo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Mental illness
n_asyikin_'s review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
Darius' unique voice once again stood out, with his brilliant analogies as he tried to navigate family, platonic, & romantic relationships.
The complexities to a person was explored; the emphasis rested upon how most people cannot be easily categorised as purely good or poorly bad.
The story also tapped upon the confusion that can derived from determining what you want in life. This uncertainty, I believe, is commonly experienced regardless of age. And I guess, that's the beauty of the book: it brought into the forefront that sentiment, we are all just trying to figure things out. And compassion may be a way we can connect, bridging the gap between each other.
I'm hoping that Khorram will re-visit Darius again; the way the book ended seemed to imply so - though that might just be my wishful thinking.
Darius the Great Deserves Better is full of pockets of wisdom & kindness. Reading it will leave you tingling with warmth for this coming-of-age story.
The complexities to a person was explored; the emphasis rested upon how most people cannot be easily categorised as purely good or poorly bad.
The story also tapped upon the confusion that can derived from determining what you want in life. This uncertainty, I believe, is commonly experienced regardless of age. And I guess, that's the beauty of the book: it brought into the forefront that sentiment, we are all just trying to figure things out. And compassion may be a way we can connect, bridging the gap between each other.
I'm hoping that Khorram will re-visit Darius again; the way the book ended seemed to imply so - though that might just be my wishful thinking.
Darius the Great Deserves Better is full of pockets of wisdom & kindness. Reading it will leave you tingling with warmth for this coming-of-age story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, and Sexual content
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