Only on the Weekends

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.

What happens when the boy you’ve always wanted is hundreds of miles away, and a new one is right in front of you?

• Forced Proximity: On a film set in Scotland, Mack meets the confident and charming actor Finlay, and suddenly everything he thought he knew about love is thrown into question.
• A Complicated First Love: Mack’s relationship with the gorgeous but hard-to-read Karim is tested by hundreds of miles, leaving him to wonder if what they have is real.
• Moving to a New City: Forced to leave London behind for his father’s career, Mack must navigate a new school, new friends, and a new life far from everything he’s ever known.
• Black British Voices: Written entirely in verse, this poignant story explores identity, friendship, and the journey to finding yourself with an authentic, lyrical voice.