A review by annescorner
Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta

2.5

After the Black Flamingo was one of the best books I read last year and is definitely one of my overall favourites, I really looked forward to Dean Atta’s new work. Atta’s writing style and verse-formatting are just great and the way the stories are told in that framework just give a different kind of emphasis on some things. But let me tell you: if you want to read either of Atta’s books, read Black Flamingo, not this one. This will continue mild spoilers, so be warned. 

To be quite honest, I’m disappointed. The premise sounded intriguing, it was supposed to be another great queer YA book by the author, but all I can think about is a whiney, immature, insecure and cheating (!!!) protagonist. That sounds harsh, but those are the facts. 

I get that Mack is only 15/16 for the majority of the novel. Everyone has their up and downs at that age and makes dumb decisions. But dude, you got the boyfriend you wanted and then after one week in Glasgow you can only think about a new acquaintance and want to kiss him? You even gaslight your boyfriend even though you are the one doing the cheating? I was so furious with Mack after he went to Glasgow, you cannot imagine. Until then, everything was fine. Mack was a bit whiny and insecure at points even though he really shouldn’t have been, but nothing I couldn’t let a 15-year-old get away with. But Glasgow… nah. 

The one thing that really made this not a total flop were Mack’s friends. And even K and Fin, though those two also had their infuriating moments. The friends however, Maz, Chloe and Sim in particular, were great. Supportive, passionate and inclusive. Femi was an a** at first, but he did redeem himself. 

I liked the portrayal of diversity in this story - be it queerness but also culture. 90% of the characters were not white and many of them were also queer. This is something Atta does really well as I think the portrayal is not toxic or harmful. Other, non-queer characters, made some remarks, yes, but it was also shown that that is not okay. 

I unfortunately, sadly, have to give the rating as it is because I just couldn’t stand Mack’s behaviour (you don’t want to know how many raging sticky notes I have in my copy) but the book really isn’t all bad. If the cheating wouldn’t have been in it, I would have definitely given it a higher rating. Nonetheless I will definitely give Atta’s next work a go, as the writing just is beautiful and I LOVE books in verse.