Reviews with content warning for Racism - Darius the Great Deserves Better

I didn't know how this was going to live up to the first book but......WOW. This book has definitely added Adib Khorram to my list of favourite authors. Also, this book has given me a very strong urge to start watching Star Trek.

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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.

Content Warnings

_forestofpages's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.25

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yoursupremereads's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

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

Content Warnings

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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