Reviews - Darius the Great Is Not Okay

4.35k reviews for:

Darius the Great Is Not Okay

Adib Khorram

4.28 AVERAGE

nyssaofpaws's review against another edition

3.75

emotional 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

projectshalfdone's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

zaggirl7's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

martereadsalot's review against another edition

4.0

“How could I be a tourist in my own past?”
This was such a nice surprise!

Darius the Great is Not Okay is one of those few YA contemporaries that are deceptively quiet. There is no grandeur; no exhilarating plot. Instead it’s just a few snapshots from a specific period of time in someone’s life.
The story only spans a few months, focusing on the life-changing trip Darius and his family take to Iran. It’s about family and friendship; and how the two can work as a compass on your path of self-discovery.

It’s repetitious, in the same way that everyone’s day-to-day is. That might turn off some readers, but personally I felt it created a very real and grounded atmosphere. You get a true sense of what Darius actual life and mental state are like.
Speaking of which; this is one of the best representations I’ve seen of clinical depression. And one of the few instances where the diagnosis is already part of the characters’ daily lives. This is how you normalise mental illness without romanticising, glamourizing or ostracizing.

There’s so much to love about Darius the Great is Not Okay . Much more than needs to be covered in a simple review.
It’s stripped-down and direct, yet subtle when needs be. The latter being especially effective when handling Darius’ sexuality.
Moreover, it’s the type of contemporary I love. The type that captures the essence of life, in all its’ messy and dull beauty.

keybooker's review against another edition

4.0

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

ladyofstardustandstories's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sestra's review against another edition

4.0

c’etait trop mignon [hurle dans un coussin]

thegalaxypanda96's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 24%

Only reason I didn't finish or get very far was because I got very very sick and was sick for several weeks and I haven't picked it back up I hope to one day I just want to represent that I didn't finish it at the time