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stachmou's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I generally don’t like a messy MC but it works for this one. It would have been a 5 without the emotional cheating.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Xenophobia
abi2xoxo's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
This book was enjoyable. I haven't read any of Dean Atta's books before so I went in with new eyes! This book didn't disappoint. I love how the book was written and it is so obviously different from any other style of story telling! I love the poems that aren't included in the normal stories and I love the drawings! The characters are so beautiful and I fell in love with all of them! Fin's accent made it very difficult to read sometimes but it is fine haha! Got used to it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Sexism, Racism, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Police brutality
obscurepages's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well this was certainly entertaining at best. But unlike The Black Flamingo, I did not got invested unfortunately 🤧
I loved the themes of gender and identity in this story, as well as friendship. But as for the romance, it's a no for me 😅 I can also appreciate that Mack is a messy character (YA characters are allowed to be messy and learn from it ofc). But this whole thing overall just did not work for me.
I loved the themes of gender and identity in this story, as well as friendship. But as for the romance, it's a no for me 😅 I can also appreciate that Mack is a messy character (YA characters are allowed to be messy and learn from it ofc). But this whole thing overall just did not work for me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia and Transphobia
Internal homophobia, cheating/infidelityalyxinthestars's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, and Homophobia
Minor: Cancer and Transphobia
deadgirlwalking23's review
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Infidelity
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, and Cancer
Minor: Death, Transphobia, and Sexual content
luananki's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i don’t know how to rate only on the weekends. i enjoyed most of the story but it hurt and made me angry in so many ways to see mack causing so much pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Racism, Cancer, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Drug use, and Infidelity
Minor: Transphobia, Death, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
bookish_afrolatina's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta is about gay Black teen boy named Mack going through some of the typical feelings one might in high school. He has crushes and acts silly with his crew. Mack befriends a classmate named Maz who happens to be the cousin of Mack’s crush, “K” (Karim). Mack and K grow closer and admit their feelings for one another but their bond is put to the test when Mack’s dad insists that his son join him in Scotland as he directs his latest film. On top of these usual challenges, Mack is immediately attracted to the star of the project, an actor named Fin (Finlay). Fin is generous and open with his affection towards Mack, unlike K. Mack is unsure of how to handle this new development after he thought he was happy with K.
Review:
I gave this book 3 stars because I can see how the representation on the page may positively impact queer teens today. Unfortunately, the plot dragged quite a bit and couldn’t keep my attention. It took me quite some time to finish this book despite it being in verse. While I can remember making dumb mistakes like Mack as a teen, reading about it was a bit annoying because I couldn’t connect with Mack. It seemed like his entire personality was focused on crushes, his dad/parents, and his friends. He didn’t have anything he really liked aside from wearing make up from time to time. It would have been nice to see him have something he’s passionate about. If that was make-up, maybe writing about Mack watching tutorials online a lot or doing his own. It just seemed like everyone else had a hobby or passion aside from him.
This book was just okay.
Review:
I gave this book 3 stars because I can see how the representation on the page may positively impact queer teens today. Unfortunately, the plot dragged quite a bit and couldn’t keep my attention. It took me quite some time to finish this book despite it being in verse. While I can remember making dumb mistakes like Mack as a teen, reading about it was a bit annoying because I couldn’t connect with Mack. It seemed like his entire personality was focused on crushes, his dad/parents, and his friends. He didn’t have anything he really liked aside from wearing make up from time to time. It would have been nice to see him have something he’s passionate about. If that was make-up, maybe writing about Mack watching tutorials online a lot or doing his own. It just seemed like everyone else had a hobby or passion aside from him.
This book was just okay.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Infidelity, and Homophobia
leonormsousa's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, Infidelity, Dysphoria, Homophobia, Racism, and Terminal illness
cwatson1234's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Only on the Weekends is a story where I just allowed myself to be swept away. So many times I wasn't sure where it was going, but Atta always lead us in the right direction. It's one of those books where the messiness of life, mistakes, and love are on display. For Mack, he has these expectations of what love will be like. What it will feel like for his crush to notice him. That when it happens, things don't feel real or like he expected. And that's the thing with expectations. They never happen like what we suspect.
In this world, for a black gay teen it is dangerous for them to exist. To have the racism of people following their movements in stores, or the homophobia which haunts their decisions. And everyone is at different stages of their own journey. Of life altering decisions we make and things about us we didn't want to see. We can think we are being honest, and we can be trying to, but when we hide things also from ourselves, transparency becomes clouded.
Only on the Weekends is a story where I just allowed myself to be swept away. So many times I wasn't sure where it was going, but Atta always lead us in the right direction. It's one of those books where the messiness of life, mistakes, and love are on display. For Mack, he has these expectations of what love will be like. What it will feel like for his crush to notice him. That when it happens, things don't feel real or like he expected. And that's the thing with expectations. They never happen like what we suspect.
In this world, for a black gay teen it is dangerous for them to exist. To have the racism of people following their movements in stores, or the homophobia which haunts their decisions. And everyone is at different stages of their own journey. Of life altering decisions we make and things about us we didn't want to see. We can think we are being honest, and we can be trying to, but when we hide things also from ourselves, transparency becomes clouded.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Homophobia