"Only on the Weekends" by Dean Atta follows fifteen-year-old Mack as he navigates his first relationship with his crush, K, who is not out. Mack's dad's work moves them to Scotland, leading to a long-distance relationship with K. While in Scotland, Mack befriends Fin, the lead actor in his dad's movie, and starts developing feelings for him as well. The story delves into Mack's personal journey, his struggles with his relationships, and his exploration of love and identity in the LGBTQ+ community, all told through poetry format.

Mack's character is portrayed as relatable and endearing, with readers easily identifying with his insecurities and personal struggles. explores themes of queer coming of age, complicated relationships, intersectionality, and the dynamics of friendship and family, offering a fresh take on LGBTQ+ representation and storytelling. The narrative provides insights into Mack's experiences as a Black teenager in the UK, dealing with issues of race, privilege, and self-discovery amidst romantic entanglements and personal growth.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed and reflect diverse experiences, particularly centered around identity, relationships, and personal growth.

Writing/Prose:

The book employs a verse format that blends poetic expression with accessible storytelling, leading to a distinctive reading experience.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers around a young man's emotional journey through complex relationships and identity struggles, particularly within a love triangle.

Setting:

The setting shifts between urban London and rural Scotland, enhancing the narrative's exploration of identity and belonging.

Pacing:

The story has a slow pace focusing on character development and emotional buildup before the main plot elements unfold.

Notes:

The book is written in verse, providing a unique reading experience.

The main character, Mack, is a 15-year-old navigating first love and identity.

Mack's relationship is complicated by his crush K being not publicly out.

The story explores themes of privilege and intersectionality, particularly in a racially diverse context.

Mack's dad is a film director, which affects their relationship and Mack's experiences.

There's a love triangle involving Mack, K, and Fin, which some readers found tough due to the emotional stakes.

Readers appreciated the exploration of queerness and various relationships to identity.

The setting includes urban London and rural Scotland, offering diverse cultural perspectives.

The book tackles the complexities of teenage relationships and emotional growth.

Many readers found the representation of queer characters refreshing and relevant.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of emotional complexity, identity struggles, and relationships involving secrecy.

Has Romance?

Yes, romance is a significant element of the story, particularly focusing on the complexities of first love.

From The Publisher:

From the Stonewall Award-winning author of The Black Flamingo comes a romantic coming-of-age novel in verse about pursuing the love we know we deserve. The ideal next read for fans of Kacen Callender, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Becky Albertalli.

Mack is a hopeless romantic-likely a hazard of growing up on film sets thanks to his father's job. He has had a crush on Karim for as long as he can remember, and he can't believe it when gorgeous, popular Karim seems into him too.

But when Mack's father takes on a new directing project in Scotland, Mack has to move away, and he soon discovers how painful long-distance relationships can be. It's awful to be so far away from Karim, and it's made worse by the fact that Karim can be so hard to read.

Then Mack meets actor Finlay on set, and the world turns upside down again. Fin seems fearless, and his confidence could just be infectious.

Award-winning author Dean Atta crafts a beautifully nuanced and revelatory story in verse about the exquisite highs and lows of first love and self-discovery.

Ratings (2)

Liked It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (2):

Read It (2)

1 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

It Was OK

2 months

I Don't know what to rate this book. I loved black flamingo and there where parts of this I really enjoyed too. But others felt either not explored enough or that I had hoped wasn't included. I get that the main character was fifteen and people learn from their mistakes and experience. But I didn't enjoy that a lot of this book was about having a relationship with someone and falling in love with another. Not my cup of tea. But I would definitely pick up something else by Dean Atta I'm the future

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Only on the Weekends

Dean Atta