A review by bookish_afrolatina
Only on the Weekends by Dean Atta

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. 
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