I really enjoyed "Only on the Weekends". I loved the way Atta does to shy away from the messiness and often inadvertent unkindness in teen relationships. No one is perfect in this book, least of all Mack, the protagonist, but every character goes through their own journey within the story and grows a little as a result. Mack and Karim's relationship was particularly interesting, in all its imbalance and the "not quite getting each other". I really enjoyed the exploration of family, whether biological or chosen, and how this affects us but also roots us. Loss is explored very tactfully and again here we see the flaws in human connections brought on by loss. The verse format is particularly apt when it comes to highlighting human emotions and "Only on the Weekends" certainly does not disappoint.

Dean Atta has proved once more why he is a force to be reckoned with.

With The Black Flamingo, Atta portrayed such a searing exploration of masculinity, sexuality and race. His verse just has such an innate emotional complexity and ability to connect with the audience seamlessly. Once more, that power and intensity shines through in Only on the Weekends. This is another book that found a notch in my heart and just placed itself there. Mack is such a compelling character as he struggles with accepting his own ability to love and be loved. He is protective, lovable and endlessly generous. Reading his voice was like a ray of sunshine, though I also loved the exploration of his privilege and his acknowledgement of it.

Atta also threads in a poignant depiction of grief and loss, with that desire to connect back to your wider family and mourn what could have been. Mack is torn between two places and two people, embodied in his relationship entanglements. Both Finlay and Karim are such interesting people and their respective chemistry with Mack is wonderful to watch. Seeing queer joy on the page is still such a thrill to see and a refreshing change of narrative. However, the story is not without drama. Atta deals with the ethical dilemmas of these burgeoning loves in such a fascinating way. It becomes an impossible choice for Mack and I appreciated how emotional cheating was really explored. There are no simple answers here, because it is life and life is inherently messy. Atta leaves those little details and nuances completely open here, choosing to prioritise Mack himself above all else. On top of this, I really loved the familial exploration of both biological and found family and the entangled relationships of that as well. Mack’s journey with his dad throughout the book was one of the highlights for me.

Only on the Weekends is a book that lit up my heart and brought a smile to my face.

The Black Flamingo is one of my all time favourite books, so you can imagine how much I was anticipating this. Again I was immediately pulled in by Dean Atta's beautiful writing, which feels soft and full of heart without shying away from complicated topics. I really admire poets who are able to flesh out characters and an entire story so well while writing in verse.

I loved how flawed and complex all the characters here are. Mack is certainly not a perfect person, but also I'm convinced you can't come away from this book without loving him.

I’m settling on giving this a 4 because it was great writing. I was only planning on doing a little bit today and then ended up whizzing through the whole thing!

This touches on so many important topics: race, sexuality, gender, friendship, young love and the dynamics of first relationships. I was captivated; loved the writing style and the poems interspersed through the novel.

However, I was torn on how to rate this because I kept changing my mind about the characters and the story line. The end of the story made me feel a little uncomfortable, I didn’t really like that the MC got his happy ending while other key characters were still so hurt by his actions (mainly Maz, cos’ honestly she was treated like rubbish, after only ever being supportive). That being said, it did feel very real and does capture the mess that is life and relationships. All of the characters reflected what real people are like, a mistake making, messy mix of good and bad.

Sometimes I adored the writing,
and sometimes I didn’t fancy the lyricism.
Sometimes I had all the emotions,
and sometimes I didn’t feel a thing.
Sometimes I wanted to rate this five gorgeous stars, and sometimes my rating was spiraling down.

How can I be so conflicted about a book?

Mack has mixed feelings too.
Being in love with K.,
wanting to be with him,
but always kept at a distance.

Then meeting Fin, so vibrant and alive,
a boy who immediately catches his eyes.
One boy still in the closet,
the other one so out and proud.

I adore stories written in verse. Besides, I love messy characters and relationships. And I had high hopes for Only on the Weekends because I treasured The Black Flamingo. Only on the Weekend has so much to love. The supporting cast, the messiness, Karim, Fin, and Mack’s relationship with his dad. But somehow, I also felt let down.

Writing reviews usually comes easy to me but for this story? I just can’t find the words to express my feelings. I’m not even sure how I feel. Like I feel stuck in between? So, do I rate Only on the Weekends three stars because of my confusion and because I didn’t like everything? Or do I rate it four stars because I loved parts so much, was in awe of the poems, and cherished the ending?

I’m still not sure, my rating could change. But if you like books written in verse and love messy characters and relationships, please check out this book and other reviews! This could be a real gem for you!