Name: Darius the Great Deserves Better
ISBN: 9780593108253

Adib Khorram

"Darius Kellner has everything he thought he wanted--a new boyfriend, a new internship, and a spot on the soccer team--but growing up makes him question everything"--

Darius the Great Deserves Better

In this companion to the award-winning Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Darius suddenly has it all: a boyfriend, an internship, a spot on the soccer team. It's everything he's ever wanted--but what if he deserves better? Darius Kellner is having a bit of a year. Since his trip to Iran this past spring, a lot has changed. He's getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, his varsity soccer practices, and his internship at his favorite tea shop, Darius is feeling pretty okay. Like he finally knows what it means to be Darius Kellner. Then, of course, everything changes. Darius's grandmothers are in town for a long visit while his dad is gone on business, and Darius isn't sure whether they even like him. The internship isn't what Darius thought it would be, and now he doesn't know about turning tea into his career. He was sure he liked Landon, but when he starts hanging out with Chip--soccer teammate and best friend of Trent Bolger, epic bully--well, he's just not so sure about Landon anymore, either. Darius thought he knew exactly who he was and what he wanted, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe he deserves better.

Wes Michaud

great sequel to one of my favorite books loved the things explored first relationships, new friendships, new job not being what you thought it would be. loved seeing Darius and fam again

Bria

** spoiler alert **
           Darius and his dad are going to get through their depressive episodes together and they're going to be okay 😭

honestly loved the first book more but i also live for sequels just because we get to live in the world for a little longer. darius the great, you deserve everything good. 

karina

В целом приятная книга, но нет вот этой арабской магии из первой части. Уже и герою не так сопереживаешь, и людям вокруг него. Сухраба (читать как лучшего персонажа мира) очень мало. При этом из новых героев нравится только Чип. Хотя некоторые вопросы (например готовность/не готовность к сексу) раскрыты довольно хорошо

Asya

Sebastián

I loved this sequel, I was afraid of it but now I need a third book!

Many more references to foreskin than I’m used to.  

Kaia Mann

Flavia Louise

What a beautiful and deeply human sequel.

KADY BURNS

I was way too hyped up to read this book. It holds up pretty well to the first book, and I only really have one complaint but there was SO MUCH talk about tea.

Maria Luiza

Another masterpiece from Adib. This book is so good, so well written, the characters so complex. I love it.

Qaisarah Kamal Fariz

Gabriela Gutierrez 

Maria Sales

3.5
Books about family hit way too close to home.

Kate

I just really, really don't want to say goodbye to Darius or any of these characters. 

Darius the Great is truly the perfect example of a quiet, slice of life YA story. It's gentle in pace, warm in characters and honest in narrative. The characters, with their relationships, trials and tribulations are wonderfully messy, relatable and real and Khorram's approach to exploring mental health, sexuality and culture is truly a delight to read. 

Adib Khorram has such a talent for writing raw and real relationships. Whether it be romantic, platonic or familial, each of Darius's relationships is nuanced and so well developed. Whilst I didn't love this book quite as much as the first (which has ingrained itself into my heart forever) I nevertheless less couldn't put it down. I just wanted Darius to be okay, give him the biggest hug and watch him receive all the love, happiness, tea and appreciation he deserves. 

I hope this isn't goodbye and I very much hope we get to meet Darius again in the future but I can't wait to read whatever Adib Khorram writes next.

TW: racism, homophobia, depression, negative body image

ash (smokedshelves)

peanut butter

In this companion to the award-winning Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Darius suddenly has it all: a boyfriend, an internship, a spot on the soccer team. It's everything he's ever wanted--but what if he deserves better? Darius Kellner is having a bit of a year. Since his trip to Iran, a lot has changed. He's getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, varsity soccer practices, and an internship at his favorite tea shop, things are falling into place. Then, of course, everything changes. Darius's grandmothers are in town for a long visit, and Darius can't tell whether they even like him. The internship is not going according to plan, Sohrab isn't answering Darius's calls, and Dad is far away on business. And Darius is sure he really likes Landon . . . but he's also been hanging out with Chip Cusumano, former bully and current soccer teammate--and well, maybe he's not so sure about anything after all. Darius was just starting to feel okay, like he finally knew what it meant to be Darius Kellner. But maybe okay isn't good enough. Maybe Darius deserves better.

Darius the Great Deserves Better

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