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bettielovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful book, I love how Adib writes his characters, so real, so full of heart. You definitely feel for them, which is a great thing as this book is real character driven not plot driven, it is really about a boy trying to navigate life, with all the insecurities that come with been a teenager, trying to be all these things that we think at that age we are supposed to be. Trying to be like, wanting to be love.
And Darius is such a sweet boy, always there for his family, his sister, trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but maybe doing it anyway because he is human after all.
I did not cry as much with one as with the first one but still a lot of strings were pulled and feeling were had and laughter was done out loud.
I really loved the narration too, as I finally could hear how every name was correctly said.
And Darius is such a sweet boy, always there for his family, his sister, trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but maybe doing it anyway because he is human after all.
I did not cry as much with one as with the first one but still a lot of strings were pulled and feeling were had and laughter was done out loud.
I really loved the narration too, as I finally could hear how every name was correctly said.
clementineecho's review against another edition
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual content, Mental illness, Bullying, Homophobia, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism and Panic attacks/disorders
solangelicag's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.25
anikaisreading's review against another edition
5.0
I could honestly read a million books about darius and his family!! I adore this boy so much
mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
2.0
I was let down by Darius the Great Deserves Better. In a cruel twist of fate, the great mental health discourse I felt the first book engaged in was blown to pieces in the sequel. It’s almost like I’m not allowed to have nice things.
My chief complaint is that Darius' mental health problems are not addressed as they should be. Consequently, the whole book is reading about a person who is given a free pass to mistreat others under the guise of mental illness. And a lot of people can tell you how exhausting it is to deal with someone who is not getting help for their problems.
There were warning signs for this in the first book when looking at Darius' relationship to Sohrab - his first, only and best friend.
I took issue with how Sohrab seemed to exist purely as a receptacle for Darius’ struggles. While it was understandable that Darius would become overly reliant on Sohrab as he has such little social experience, it was upsetting that Darius was never called out on it. He was not the greatest friend to Sohrab in the first book. I know a huge part of Darius' character is social ineptitude, but that doesn't mean he can't get better at it.
Their dynamic is always heavily skewed in Darius' favor. He unloads all his fears and feelings and thoughts onto Sohrab and Darius only ever reciprocates a quarter of that same energy. It makes Sohrab feel like a device rather than an essential part of the story. You can argue that Sohrab is merely more reserved compared to Darius. I’d counter that him being reserved is still a poor writing choice as regardless of its purpose the outcome of not allowing Sohrab to properly engage is Darius looking self-involved which is clearly not supposed to be the intent or else Khorram would, presumably, have had Darius work on it. It honestly feels like Khorram sees nothing wrong with Darius effectively using Sohrab as little more than an emotional support animal.
Sohrab has a serious decision to make about his future in Iran. He can’t share much about this because Darius takes up the majority of their conversations. Then suddenly he’s unreachable. He doesn’t answer any of Darius’ emails or video calls. Darius is obviously distraught. What friend wouldn’t be? Except his concern is motivated primarily by his own self interest crushing any kind of sympathy I could have had for him.
When he calls his grandmother in an attempt to track down Sohrab he freely admits “I needed him. I don't care how selfish that sounded.” Sohrab hinted early on that he's not mentally well due to the big changes potentially coming for him and the stress from making a decision. He even goes so far as to inquire how Darius knew he had depression. Yet all Darius cares about is having someone to unburden himself to. Never mind the fact that to do so when he has Sohrab’s own admission Sohrab has got a lot weighing on him at the moment is beyond selfish. Darius has many other people to turn to. It may not be ideal for Darius depending on what he wants to talk about, but he still has the option. In fact, once Sohrab isn’t available that’s exactly what Darius ends up doing. So he’s been taking advantage of Sohrab all this time for no reason. Darius the Great Deserves Better? Try Sohrab Deserves Better.
It is ridiculously unhealthy to promote the idea that it's fine for one person to shoulder the entirety of anothers' emotional state. I am not saying that friends cannot be a great resource for emotional support. Access to therapy is a luxury and a privilege. And there is an expectation in a strong relationship that you can talk to one another about anything. There will definitely be times when one person has to take on more for the other. Maybe the scope of their problems aren’t as bad currently or they do not have a lot going on comparatively. The point is that it happens sometimes. There is a tacit assumption that in the future it will be paid forward. Darius is not fulfilling his part of the bargain.
I’d feel this way even if Sohrab wasn’t going through something because Darius’ monopolization of their exchanges is so all encompassing. The disparity is already too wide to ignore. It’s much worse when you take Sohrab’s documented distress into account.
Returning to what I said before about therapy: Darius is in a lucky enough position to be able to receive therapy. It’s mentioned in passing he has a regular therapist because he takes meds that have to be adjusted every so often. I’m confused why he does not still see the therapist in general? Therapy can be for the rough times, but if you have the opportunity of going in the interim it can still be overall helpful to your mental health. It also can relieve some of that pressure from those in your immediate circle who may not be equipped to handle it.
Darius not taking proper care of his mental health is perfectly acceptable narratively speaking. Depression and anxiety are life long afflictions. Where it becomes exasperation is when the story does not acknowledge or seem to recognize how problematic his behavior is.
The conflict in the synopsis about his love life is another example of how he goes unchecked to the detriment of the story.
Landon is Darius’ first boyfriend. He’s a nice enough guy. He’s understanding and kind. He works at the tea shop with Darius. He’s solid first boyfriend material. He messes up, but nothing I’d say is unforgivable. It’s more the kind of stuff that crops up naturally when you’re a teenager learning the ropes. The most important aspect of Landon’s character is that he’s dated more than Darius as that is a major stressor for him.
Landon has been sexually active in the past. Darius has never dated anyone before, boy or girl. Darius is understandably nervous about this mismatch in experience. Darius wants to have sexual contact with Landon, but his fear keeps getting in the way.
I really liked the honest dialogue the two had about the clash in viewpoints. People who say that sex doesn’t matter in a relationship are misguided. If someone cares they'll wait for you to be ready is true, but someone needing sex to feel fulfilled can be simultaneously true. Sex is not the only way to achieve intimacy. There are people who don’t feel sexual attraction. There are people who don’t want to have sex of any kind. There are people who can’t have sex. There are people who consider having sex an essential part of a relationship. No matter how you feel it is crucial you reach a compromise with your significant other(s) and/or sexual partner(s) that works for all parties to sustain a mutually advantageous relationship.
Landon wants a sexual romantic relationship. He has every right to bring that up to Darius and explain his needs. He also has every right to break up with him if Darius can’t or won’t be sexual if sex is that signifcant to Landon. As long as he’s not coercive, he is merely stating his needs in the relationship same as any other boundary. How Darius chooses to act after acquiring this knowledge is up to him, but he knows exactly where Landon stands and can react accordingly. On the other side Darius was able to communicate the headspace he was in so Landon didn’t jump to conclusions about Darius’ attraction to him. It was all very mature and best of all it was fair. Neither side was ‘right’ - it was a matter of perspective. Two people against an obstacle, not each other.
As time goes on this issue begins to balloon up on Darius’ side. He has severe body issues and because he feels like he’s gross he assumes Landon will also think that. As such he shies away from any touch that he perceives as sexual, but since he's terrified of physical intimacy he has a tendency to view all touch as sexual or a gateway to sexual touching when it's not.
Though this is a huge issue on Darius' part, the narrative shifts from the measured, balanced take it had before to make Landon out to be the bad guy.
Darius has a lot of hang-ups around sex. That’s a lot for anyone to deal with at any age let alone a teenager. Does Landon always say the right thing? No. But, I don’t expect him, or Darius for that matter, to. They’re young and at the end of the day they do have good intentions. Nevertheless, it is impossible for the relationship to progress when Darius is a lockbox.
After that first conversation, any issue Darius has he keeps completely to himself. He never brings anything up to Landon. He never gives Landon the opportunity to explain his reasoning. He clams up and makes assumptions. He outright lies to Landon about being okay and doesn’t articulate his fears. He becomes almost totally closed off emotionally. And he’s implicitly supported by the narrative for doing so.
Darius has horrible communication skills. It’s not like Landon is perfect, however, at least he is willing to actually talk.
They have a huge fight towards the end of the book centered around Darius' emotional unavailability. Landon is a tactile person therefore Darius pulling away from him all the time feels like a rejection of him as a person not just the contact. Left to stew in his discontent for too long Landon finally explodes. Is it the right way to discuss his distress? Absolutely not. Is he right in his assessment of Darius? Definitely.
Unfortunately, since Darius does not like the way it was conveyed he feels justified in disregarding it entirely despite the truth Landon is speaking. In fact, now Landon is the bad guy for yelling when Darius has contributed to the situation by ignoring the impact of his actions. Despite allowing his anxieties to run roughshod over this relationship, somehow Darius is the victim in the end. How will he ever get better about communication when he’s not forced to take accountability? Darius has no motivation to change when Khorram has manipulated the story around him to portray his ignorance to his own misdeeds as inconsequential. It doesn’t matter that Darius has messed up if someone has done something worse is not the takeaway I should be left with.
In regards to the love triangle, it’s not really a love triangle. Chip has started being nice to Darius. Darius has mixed feelings. Darius is not a cheater, thus, it ultimately goes nowhere.
To me there was no chemistry. Though to be fair, I was incapable of seeing Chip as a viable love interest. I never was able to look past how he enabled Trent; Darius’ racist, homophobic bully from the first book. Any attempt to humanize him was wasted on me as a result. In fact, it annoyed me to have this guy presented as a legitimate rival for Darius’ affections when he consistently proved why he was not up for the task. If you are not ready to call people out for your partner if they are part of a marginalized group, do not date people from marginalized groups. It’s that simple.
I understand Chip is in a difficult position. I understand why he lets Trent off the hook. I understand he’s a teenager finding his way. All the same, his persistence at forcing Darius to be the one to meet Trent in the middle made him insufferable. He literally was asking the victim to kowtow to unreasonable demands to make it easier on himself. I was super anxious that the two would end up together.
When Chip does finally stand up to Trent it’s a hollow victory as he doesn’t do it until practically the final page. Unless there is another book he completely escaped the consequences by waiting so long. It feels like that meme of Tuxedo Mask where he says his job is done and when Sailor Moon says he didn’t do anything he just swans off obliviously.
I will give credit where credit is due. Darius does not let Chip off easy when it comes to his mistreatment. A lot of romance in young adult books involves letting one half act like trash, but it’s okay because they’re hot. Darius explicitly lays out why Chip screwed up. I appreciated Khorram outlining the importance of being actively treated well when considering a romantic partner. It’s not enough to have love or attraction. You should receive respect too.
Unfortunately for me, Chip is given hope for the future. Aside from my disappointment Chip will be sticking around if ever there are future installments, I was further annoyed at the possibility of rehashing all the same arguments. As I said before Darius was not encouraged to reflect on his own involvement in his relationship failing; the blame falls on Landon. In my eyes if there was blame to be had Darius was the source.
Now the groundwork is being laid to move onto Chip. Darius’ current hesitation stems from wanting time to mourn and Chip needing time to prove himself. It has nothing to do with Darius needing to process his mistakes before jumping into another relationship. I have seen no growth to indicate it won't unravel exactly the same with Chip as it did with Landon.
I also don't like the way that it is low-key implied Darius' problems are person specific - if Landon were the right guy then Darius would have felt more comfortable is the underlying message. That's not how it works. Sure, some insecurities or dysphoria can be exacerbated by the wrong partner or environment. Those issues are 9 times out of 10 going to be transferable regardless of the quality of the partner because they're hardwired into your brain. While the right partner can be extremely beneficial the work still has to come from within. It cannot be rooted in external validation. Unless Darius seeks improvement independently he will simply carry his difficulties onto the next relationship ad nauseum.
To be fair, this is not absolute.. You do not always have to be single to work on yourself. Some people manage to do both with great success and are successful in part due to their partners’ influence. That said, I think Darius' specific issues would be better off settled without that additional pressure.
Like the first book the plot regarding the grandparents is weak. I think the point is to show how these relationships cannot be fixed immediately. It takes effort doled out over time for a relationship to blossom. This sentiment is one I can wholeheartedly get behind. It cannot be ignored that this makes for a rather convenient story progression. Darius and his father have taken great strides to connect better. We bear witness to the fruits of their labor - the two have grown abundantly closer. In comparison, Darius barely has to talk to the grandparents, learns very little about them and he still gets to feel accomplished at the end. It’s an odd contrast.
One of Darius’ grandmothers is trans amab and this is not confirmed until 56% into the book. Up until that point their background is not explained so I figured they were just both cisgender lesbians. Darius’ father calls one of them Linda so I assumed his biological mother was a late in life lesbian or he just always had lesbian moms. I am unsure why Khorram did not make this clear at their introduction as it was a confusing, sudden revelation. This also explains a lot of their responses to certain events in the book so it was weird it was left off so long. And let me be clear this was not a secret or a twist at all. The entire family was aware.
If there is another book I will read it no question. The first book was good enough for me to tentatively ignore this detour. Hopefully, it will be a return to form.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay Review
My chief complaint is that Darius' mental health problems are not addressed as they should be. Consequently, the whole book is reading about a person who is given a free pass to mistreat others under the guise of mental illness. And a lot of people can tell you how exhausting it is to deal with someone who is not getting help for their problems.
There were warning signs for this in the first book when looking at Darius' relationship to Sohrab - his first, only and best friend.
I took issue with how Sohrab seemed to exist purely as a receptacle for Darius’ struggles. While it was understandable that Darius would become overly reliant on Sohrab as he has such little social experience, it was upsetting that Darius was never called out on it. He was not the greatest friend to Sohrab in the first book. I know a huge part of Darius' character is social ineptitude, but that doesn't mean he can't get better at it.
Their dynamic is always heavily skewed in Darius' favor. He unloads all his fears and feelings and thoughts onto Sohrab and Darius only ever reciprocates a quarter of that same energy. It makes Sohrab feel like a device rather than an essential part of the story. You can argue that Sohrab is merely more reserved compared to Darius. I’d counter that him being reserved is still a poor writing choice as regardless of its purpose the outcome of not allowing Sohrab to properly engage is Darius looking self-involved which is clearly not supposed to be the intent or else Khorram would, presumably, have had Darius work on it. It honestly feels like Khorram sees nothing wrong with Darius effectively using Sohrab as little more than an emotional support animal.
Sohrab has a serious decision to make about his future in Iran. He can’t share much about this because Darius takes up the majority of their conversations. Then suddenly he’s unreachable. He doesn’t answer any of Darius’ emails or video calls. Darius is obviously distraught. What friend wouldn’t be? Except his concern is motivated primarily by his own self interest crushing any kind of sympathy I could have had for him.
When he calls his grandmother in an attempt to track down Sohrab he freely admits “I needed him. I don't care how selfish that sounded.” Sohrab hinted early on that he's not mentally well due to the big changes potentially coming for him and the stress from making a decision. He even goes so far as to inquire how Darius knew he had depression. Yet all Darius cares about is having someone to unburden himself to. Never mind the fact that to do so when he has Sohrab’s own admission Sohrab has got a lot weighing on him at the moment is beyond selfish. Darius has many other people to turn to. It may not be ideal for Darius depending on what he wants to talk about, but he still has the option. In fact, once Sohrab isn’t available that’s exactly what Darius ends up doing. So he’s been taking advantage of Sohrab all this time for no reason. Darius the Great Deserves Better? Try Sohrab Deserves Better.
It is ridiculously unhealthy to promote the idea that it's fine for one person to shoulder the entirety of anothers' emotional state. I am not saying that friends cannot be a great resource for emotional support. Access to therapy is a luxury and a privilege. And there is an expectation in a strong relationship that you can talk to one another about anything. There will definitely be times when one person has to take on more for the other. Maybe the scope of their problems aren’t as bad currently or they do not have a lot going on comparatively. The point is that it happens sometimes. There is a tacit assumption that in the future it will be paid forward. Darius is not fulfilling his part of the bargain.
I’d feel this way even if Sohrab wasn’t going through something because Darius’ monopolization of their exchanges is so all encompassing. The disparity is already too wide to ignore. It’s much worse when you take Sohrab’s documented distress into account.
Returning to what I said before about therapy: Darius is in a lucky enough position to be able to receive therapy. It’s mentioned in passing he has a regular therapist because he takes meds that have to be adjusted every so often. I’m confused why he does not still see the therapist in general? Therapy can be for the rough times, but if you have the opportunity of going in the interim it can still be overall helpful to your mental health. It also can relieve some of that pressure from those in your immediate circle who may not be equipped to handle it.
Darius not taking proper care of his mental health is perfectly acceptable narratively speaking. Depression and anxiety are life long afflictions. Where it becomes exasperation is when the story does not acknowledge or seem to recognize how problematic his behavior is.
The conflict in the synopsis about his love life is another example of how he goes unchecked to the detriment of the story.
Landon is Darius’ first boyfriend. He’s a nice enough guy. He’s understanding and kind. He works at the tea shop with Darius. He’s solid first boyfriend material. He messes up, but nothing I’d say is unforgivable. It’s more the kind of stuff that crops up naturally when you’re a teenager learning the ropes. The most important aspect of Landon’s character is that he’s dated more than Darius as that is a major stressor for him.
Landon has been sexually active in the past. Darius has never dated anyone before, boy or girl. Darius is understandably nervous about this mismatch in experience. Darius wants to have sexual contact with Landon, but his fear keeps getting in the way.
I really liked the honest dialogue the two had about the clash in viewpoints. People who say that sex doesn’t matter in a relationship are misguided. If someone cares they'll wait for you to be ready is true, but someone needing sex to feel fulfilled can be simultaneously true. Sex is not the only way to achieve intimacy. There are people who don’t feel sexual attraction. There are people who don’t want to have sex of any kind. There are people who can’t have sex. There are people who consider having sex an essential part of a relationship. No matter how you feel it is crucial you reach a compromise with your significant other(s) and/or sexual partner(s) that works for all parties to sustain a mutually advantageous relationship.
Landon wants a sexual romantic relationship. He has every right to bring that up to Darius and explain his needs. He also has every right to break up with him if Darius can’t or won’t be sexual if sex is that signifcant to Landon. As long as he’s not coercive, he is merely stating his needs in the relationship same as any other boundary. How Darius chooses to act after acquiring this knowledge is up to him, but he knows exactly where Landon stands and can react accordingly. On the other side Darius was able to communicate the headspace he was in so Landon didn’t jump to conclusions about Darius’ attraction to him. It was all very mature and best of all it was fair. Neither side was ‘right’ - it was a matter of perspective. Two people against an obstacle, not each other.
As time goes on this issue begins to balloon up on Darius’ side. He has severe body issues and because he feels like he’s gross he assumes Landon will also think that. As such he shies away from any touch that he perceives as sexual, but since he's terrified of physical intimacy he has a tendency to view all touch as sexual or a gateway to sexual touching when it's not.
Though this is a huge issue on Darius' part, the narrative shifts from the measured, balanced take it had before to make Landon out to be the bad guy.
Darius has a lot of hang-ups around sex. That’s a lot for anyone to deal with at any age let alone a teenager. Does Landon always say the right thing? No. But, I don’t expect him, or Darius for that matter, to. They’re young and at the end of the day they do have good intentions. Nevertheless, it is impossible for the relationship to progress when Darius is a lockbox.
After that first conversation, any issue Darius has he keeps completely to himself. He never brings anything up to Landon. He never gives Landon the opportunity to explain his reasoning. He clams up and makes assumptions. He outright lies to Landon about being okay and doesn’t articulate his fears. He becomes almost totally closed off emotionally. And he’s implicitly supported by the narrative for doing so.
Darius has horrible communication skills. It’s not like Landon is perfect, however, at least he is willing to actually talk.
They have a huge fight towards the end of the book centered around Darius' emotional unavailability. Landon is a tactile person therefore Darius pulling away from him all the time feels like a rejection of him as a person not just the contact. Left to stew in his discontent for too long Landon finally explodes. Is it the right way to discuss his distress? Absolutely not. Is he right in his assessment of Darius? Definitely.
Unfortunately, since Darius does not like the way it was conveyed he feels justified in disregarding it entirely despite the truth Landon is speaking. In fact, now Landon is the bad guy for yelling when Darius has contributed to the situation by ignoring the impact of his actions. Despite allowing his anxieties to run roughshod over this relationship, somehow Darius is the victim in the end. How will he ever get better about communication when he’s not forced to take accountability? Darius has no motivation to change when Khorram has manipulated the story around him to portray his ignorance to his own misdeeds as inconsequential. It doesn’t matter that Darius has messed up if someone has done something worse is not the takeaway I should be left with.
In regards to the love triangle, it’s not really a love triangle. Chip has started being nice to Darius. Darius has mixed feelings. Darius is not a cheater, thus, it ultimately goes nowhere.
To me there was no chemistry. Though to be fair, I was incapable of seeing Chip as a viable love interest. I never was able to look past how he enabled Trent; Darius’ racist, homophobic bully from the first book. Any attempt to humanize him was wasted on me as a result. In fact, it annoyed me to have this guy presented as a legitimate rival for Darius’ affections when he consistently proved why he was not up for the task. If you are not ready to call people out for your partner if they are part of a marginalized group, do not date people from marginalized groups. It’s that simple.
I understand Chip is in a difficult position. I understand why he lets Trent off the hook. I understand he’s a teenager finding his way. All the same, his persistence at forcing Darius to be the one to meet Trent in the middle made him insufferable. He literally was asking the victim to kowtow to unreasonable demands to make it easier on himself. I was super anxious that the two would end up together.
When Chip does finally stand up to Trent it’s a hollow victory as he doesn’t do it until practically the final page. Unless there is another book he completely escaped the consequences by waiting so long. It feels like that meme of Tuxedo Mask where he says his job is done and when Sailor Moon says he didn’t do anything he just swans off obliviously.
I will give credit where credit is due. Darius does not let Chip off easy when it comes to his mistreatment. A lot of romance in young adult books involves letting one half act like trash, but it’s okay because they’re hot. Darius explicitly lays out why Chip screwed up. I appreciated Khorram outlining the importance of being actively treated well when considering a romantic partner. It’s not enough to have love or attraction. You should receive respect too.
Unfortunately for me, Chip is given hope for the future. Aside from my disappointment Chip will be sticking around if ever there are future installments, I was further annoyed at the possibility of rehashing all the same arguments. As I said before Darius was not encouraged to reflect on his own involvement in his relationship failing; the blame falls on Landon. In my eyes if there was blame to be had Darius was the source.
Now the groundwork is being laid to move onto Chip. Darius’ current hesitation stems from wanting time to mourn and Chip needing time to prove himself. It has nothing to do with Darius needing to process his mistakes before jumping into another relationship. I have seen no growth to indicate it won't unravel exactly the same with Chip as it did with Landon.
I also don't like the way that it is low-key implied Darius' problems are person specific - if Landon were the right guy then Darius would have felt more comfortable is the underlying message. That's not how it works. Sure, some insecurities or dysphoria can be exacerbated by the wrong partner or environment. Those issues are 9 times out of 10 going to be transferable regardless of the quality of the partner because they're hardwired into your brain. While the right partner can be extremely beneficial the work still has to come from within. It cannot be rooted in external validation. Unless Darius seeks improvement independently he will simply carry his difficulties onto the next relationship ad nauseum.
To be fair, this is not absolute.. You do not always have to be single to work on yourself. Some people manage to do both with great success and are successful in part due to their partners’ influence. That said, I think Darius' specific issues would be better off settled without that additional pressure.
Like the first book the plot regarding the grandparents is weak. I think the point is to show how these relationships cannot be fixed immediately. It takes effort doled out over time for a relationship to blossom. This sentiment is one I can wholeheartedly get behind. It cannot be ignored that this makes for a rather convenient story progression. Darius and his father have taken great strides to connect better. We bear witness to the fruits of their labor - the two have grown abundantly closer. In comparison, Darius barely has to talk to the grandparents, learns very little about them and he still gets to feel accomplished at the end. It’s an odd contrast.
One of Darius’ grandmothers is trans amab and this is not confirmed until 56% into the book. Up until that point their background is not explained so I figured they were just both cisgender lesbians. Darius’ father calls one of them Linda so I assumed his biological mother was a late in life lesbian or he just always had lesbian moms. I am unsure why Khorram did not make this clear at their introduction as it was a confusing, sudden revelation. This also explains a lot of their responses to certain events in the book so it was weird it was left off so long. And let me be clear this was not a secret or a twist at all. The entire family was aware.
If there is another book I will read it no question. The first book was good enough for me to tentatively ignore this detour. Hopefully, it will be a return to form.
Darius the Great Is Not Okay Review
marlephant's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
nikolinaza's review against another edition
5.0
This is soooooooo good and wholesome, I have no idea what to say.
lara16's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
julieannholland's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
misskodiereads's review against another edition
5.0
I read the first book a while back and am glad i held off on reading the second for a while because i really feel like i read this at the right time. I really enjoyed that not everything was neatly resolved because that doesn’t happen in real life, and the book wouldn’t have felt as real if it had.