In this follow-up to Darius the Great Is Not Okay, teenage Darius, now back in Portland, is happily involved with his boyfriend, Landon, whom Darius met at the tea shop where he's been interning. Biracial Darius is also enjoying the new closeness he and his dad forged on their family trip to Iran, but is less sure about how his dad's two emotionally reserved white moms (one of who is transgender) feel about him. What he does know is that their visit has triggered a depressive episode in his dad. When Landon begins initiating greater physical intimacy, eventually making clear he wants to have sex, Darius isn't sure he's ready, or even wants to. His growing feelings for Chip, one of his soccer teammates, who seems to be sending romantic signals, further confuse him, as does the fact Chip is best friends with Trent, a blatantly homophobic bully. Worry about his ailing maternal grandfather in Iran, and about his best friend, Sohrab, who lives there too but hasn't replied to recent emails, including one in which Darius came out, add to Darius's concerns. Darius's relationships-romantic, platonic, family--are at the heart of a story that explores these connections and their complications with warmth and refreshing honesty. Darius's uncertainty about having sex is particularly welcome as he realizes that wanting different things and asserting boundaries is perfectly okay, even if it means the ends of a romance. (Age 13 and older)

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.