Only on the Weekends
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
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.
Is first love worth holding on to at any cost, or is true love waiting where you least expect it?
Love Triangle: When Mack meets confident, charming actor Finlay on set, he’s torn between the boy he’s always wanted and the one who makes him feel seen for the first time.London to Scotland Romance: Mack and Karim try to make it work across the miles, but distance and doubt begin to test their relationship.Lyrical YA Novel: Experience every heartbeat and heartbreak through unforgettable poetry that captures the intensity of being a teen in love.Coming-of-Age Story: A powerful journey of self-discovery and learning to demand the love you deserve, set against the backdrop of film sets and new beginnings.Gay Romance: An authentic and heartfelt story perfect for fans of Kacen Callender, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Becky Albertalli.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In an emotional free verse novel, Atta (The Black Flamingo) follows the tumultuous love life of a gay Londoner of Nigerian Yoruba descent. Nearly 16 and self-conscious about the fatphobia he experiences, narrator Mackintosh "Mack" Fadayomi is shocked when his schoolmate, Black British basketball star Karim, of Egyptian descent, expresses romantic interest in Mack. Karim is closeted, preferring "to do things quietly," and his inconsistent attention confuses Mack. Just as they start finding a balance, Mack's film director father announces a temporary move for the family, to Glasgow. There, Mack meets the white Scottish star of his dad's project, transmasculine teen Finlay, whose flirting (in a voice conveyed in Scottish dialect) excites him. While Mack and Karim struggle to make their way forward, Mack justifies a growing emotional affair with Fin, until forced to make a decision. Prose-like verse traces a slow-burn love triangle that avoids excusing Mack's actions, centering a protagonist whose emotional arc unpacks themes of young love and self-acceptance alongside intersections of body image, gender identity, race, and sexuality. Ages 14–up.
