Adib Khorram’s Darius The Great Duology was incredible; how could he create the same energy with his third book: Kiss&Tell?

Hunter isn’t able to speak out to the public, but more importantly, to his bandmates. He wears whatever “gay” clothes The Label puts him in, but when his private texts are leaked online, he’s pushed too far. There is a huge disconnect between Hunter and his bandmates, even if they are all such good friends. Between his ex-boyfriend, his new boyfriend, and all the pressure of being gay in the spotlight, he doesn’t have time to talk to even his best of friends, and their friendships suffer.

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After being forced to quit hockey due to an injury, Hunter finds himself founding Canada and America’s new favorite boy band. As the only queer member, he’s forced into the role of society thinks he should look like; but Hunter isn’t floral shirts and pretending to be the perfect model for teenagers; He doesn’t even know what the perfect model would look like. In the public eye, Hunter’s queer relationship is supposed to only be harmless and cute. When his fans find out more than Hunter hoped for, the public is relentless with their negativity against Hunter, and he is still technically a kid.

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Hunter previously dated his bandmate Ashton’s twin brother, Aidan. After leaking some of his personal life into his public life, Hunter has a reason to not speak to Aidan. The Label suggests that Hunter and Kaivan, a member from Kiss&Tell’s opener band while on tour, should date. At first it’s fake, but Kaivan likes Hunter. Hunter says he likes Kaivan too, although I couldn’t see why. Even after all that was done, I found Aidan more lovable than Kaivan. Kaivan came off as dismissive and invalidating, and their relationship was built on a crumbly foundation.

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Ashton has a complicated place in Hunter’s life. They’re best friends, but this becomes complex when Aidan betrays Hunter. Hunter and Ashton have a lot of healing to do, as Ashton was the one who destroyed Hunter’s hockey career, and who wouldn’t feel guilty about that? Supporting him through it all, Hunter really doesn’t show as much appreciation to Ashton as he should.

Ashton is able to ground Hunter, and understand without blame how Hunter’s intersectionality, and the intersectionality of the other member’s interact. I see this happening because Ashton is the only white, cis, and straight guy in the band. He doesn’t have personal reason to blame Hunter. The other members, as well as Kaivan, feel that Hunter doesn’t realize the similarities between the discrimination they all individually face. Hunter isn’t alone when he receives hate. His friends also get hate, but for being brown. While he still gets discriminated against, Hunter holds a lot of privilege because he’s white. His friends don’t feel that Hunter is acknowledging this privilege. Overall, the whole group could work on their communication skills.

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Darius The Great was so spectacular; Kiss&Tell did not capture that perfection. Darius seemed to be more true to the author himself, and Hunter seemed completely made up. Of course, he was completely made up, but Hunter didn’t have much depth. I found Kiss&Tell to bring up a lot of important points that I hadn’t seen in other novels, and for that reason I still appreciate Adib Khorram very much for writing it.

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I hope Adib Khorram is able to bring us another great read, even if it doesn’t reach Darius The Great status!