quippe | Entries tagged with dean atta

The Blurb On The Back:

Fifteen-year-old Mack is a hopeless romantic. He’s had a crush on Karim for what feels like forever, so he can’t believe it when gorgeous, popular Karin seems into him too.

But when Mack’s dad gets a film directing job in Scotland, Mack moves with him, and soon discovers how painful long distance love is. Love shouldn’t only be on the weekends. It’s made worse by the fact that Karim can be so hard to read.

Then Mack meets actor Finlay on set and experiences something electric.

Mack never thought he’d find love, but now two boys want him. How long until his old and new life collide?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Dean Atta’s LGBTQ+ YA novel frames a coming-of-age story within a romance to interesting effect. The economy of Atta’s verse format works really well to highlight the emotional state of the characters and the gulf between them and Atta sensitively handles the difficulties of being gay within some communities. That said, Mack’s economic privilege and the disparity between him and K never gets called on and the ending does one boy a disservice.

ONLY ON THE WEEKENDS was released in the United Kingdom on 24th May 2022. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

This is Michael’s story.

Join him as he enters the world with tiny feather eyelashes. Travel from school to college, where he discovers his flock, and comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen. At university, take a seat in the audience and watch him find his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo.

A bold story about discovering that only YOU get the privilege of choosing who you are. There is power in embracing your uniqueness. What’s your story?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Dean Atta’s contemporary LGBTQ+ YA novel (sensitively illustrated by Anshika Khullar) is a sympathetic coming of age tale that’s beautifully told in verse and which is a moving reflection of the intersectionality issues of being bi-racial and gay in modern Britain and trying to find your own place and identity. It’s a beautifully written book that I found very touching and I can well understand why it’s on so many YA prize shortlists.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.