Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram

55 reviews

20sidedbi's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

This book got me in ALL THE FEELS. I'm so glad we got to return to Darius for more of his story.
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jennikreads's review

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

4.0

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menomica's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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? It's complicated

4.5

“When you’re young and full of feelings, sometimes they come out in the wrong way.”

DARIUS KELLNER I LOVE YOU YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS!!!!

I loved this even more then the last one. Which is saying something because I loved the first one.

My love for these books isn’t in big moments like Darius and Fatima’s discussion on racism in the U.S, though I also very much loved those scenes. The reason I love these books is because of the little things: The way Darius is with Laleh, the way he loves his whole family so deeply. It’s just so incredibly heartwarming to see someone with so much love for the world get love back.

I also loved needed the conversations about race that happened in this book.
The discussion of how Laleh was being in class and how her teacher wasn’t doing anything about it— how she said «not all of us» when Darius told her how white ppl can be racist.
I haven’t seen anything that so well encapsulates that feeling and that frustration of being a child of color in school. 

Honestly, this book in it’s entirety is so beautiful and great. I love it so much.
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mswarning's review against another edition

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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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yoursupremereads's review

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emotional funny 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? It's complicated

3.5

The follow up to Darius The Great Is Not Okay is a great sequel. Khorram has continued to flesh out Darius's trademark nerd/weeb tea loving charm through this new installment. But has given him a new boyfriend and a potential future love interest in the form of an old childhood bully. This story explores not only residual trauma from bullies, but from the passersby who stood around and let the bullying happen. This story also did a good job of investigating personal growth and understanding one's boundaries when entering a new relationship. And how sometimes your first "love" might not even be that, and that's okay. Khorram also fills Darius's world with characters that are multi-faceted just like him, making his new crush for a previous bully all the more interesting. Also, fully appreciate Khorram giving Darius queer grandmothers, while adding to that one of them being a transwoman. Chef's kiss. 
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ok7a's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-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

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katiescott's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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imstephtacular's review against another edition

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emotional 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

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tinytrashqueen's review against another edition

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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

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lizreadsbooks's review

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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.
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