Friday I’m in Love follows sixteen-year old Mahalia, who rarely gets what she wants. A big sweet sixteen bash like her best friend Naomi celebrated? Not in the cards with the money troubles Mahalia and her single parent mom are dealing with. Getting the cute new girl at school to fall for her? Doesn’t look good since Siobhan has a boyfriend. Telling her mother she’s queer? Way too scary. All Mahalia wants is a break—a break from worrying about money, white classmates and their ignorance and having to hide her queerness.
But then inspiration strikes: what if, instead of having a Sweet Sixteen, Mahalia threw a coming-out party? A celebration of all the things that Mahalia loves about being queer?
Excited about the idea, Mahalia starts saving money, taking on extra shifts at her afterschool job and awkwardly flirting with Siobhan, all so she can live her dream. But before she knows it, Mahalia is faced with unfinished homework, unpaid bills piling up and enough drama in her blossoming friend/relationship with Siobhan to fill a Shakespeare novel. With the universe interfering in the worst of ways, can Mahalia make her party dreams still come true?
My Super Sweet Sixteen but make it gay? Sign me up! What makes Friday I’m in Love stand out is the way Garrett manages to connect so many plot threads into a cohesive, enjoyable story. From including lighthearted moments such as trying to figure out the perfect songs for a mixtape or planning the perfect queer coming out party to more complex topics such as financial struggles and friendship dynamics, this book delivered a well-rounded story.
Mahalia is a flawed character you can’t help but love. There are some choices made that bring unexpected consequences but nevertheless, Mahalia perseveres and learns from her mistakes. There’s of course also a romance that adds its own hurdles to the narrative but there are also incredibly sweet and fluffy moments between Siobhan and Mahalia that readers will love to swoon over. While reading the back and forth between Siobhan and Mahalia can at times get frustrating, I think that’s the intention behind it—to feel as torn as Mahalia does when it comes to whether Siobhan actually has feelings for her or is just dragging her along. Garrett aptly shows how difficult it can be to never quite know whether you’re being friendzoned or whether there’s more. Siobhan also goes through her own journey of accepting her sexual orientation and learning to be true to her heart which I know readers will connect with.
A personal favourite of Friday I’m in Love is Mahalia and her relationship with money. I appreciate realistic depictions of money issues in novels, especially geared toward teens, and Garrett completely delivered. The anxieties Mahalia feels whenever money becomes a topic in her low-income household, yet still wanting to treat herself to a bash celebrating her queerness was a gripping narrative and left me rooting for everything working out. While I won’t spoil the outcome, I will say that I loved the focus on how money isn’t necessarily what makes or breaks a party and that support often comes from unexpected sources.
Another highlight I need to address is the way music is weaved into the narrative. Beyond giving this stunning novel its title (if you haven’t heard of the song Friday I’m in Love, listen to it right now, please), Mahalia often refers older songs and bands that made my little music-loving heart dance. Now, I can’t say whether Gen Z is actually as invested in *gulps* retro music, but I (a millennial) adored the way Mahalia connected to iconic bands such as The Cure, The Beatles and so many more. Also, can we please bring back the act of making someone a mixtape as a gift? It’s the most romantic gesture, like, ever. Anyway, if you’re a fellow music fanatic, you’ll love the little nods and mentions!
A queer homage to Sweet Sixteens, celebrating your awesomeness and finding yourself, Friday I’m in Love is a cheerful romcom perfect for fans of Lyla Lee and Ciara Smyth!
Friday I’m in Love is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore,
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Synopsis | Goodreads
It’s too late for a Sweet Sixteen but what if Mahalia had a Coming Out Party? A love letter to romantic comedies, sweet sixteen blowouts, black joy and queer pride.
Mahalia Harris wants.
She wants a big Sweet Sixteen like her best friend Naomi.
She wants the super cute new girl Siobhan to like her back.
She wants a break from worrying–about money, snide remarks from white classmates, pitying looks from church ladies . . . all of it.
Then inspiration strikes: It’s too late for a Sweet Sixteen, but what if she had a Coming Out Party? A singing, dancing, rainbow-cake-eating celebration of queerness on her own terms.
The idea lights a fire in her, and soon Mahalia is scrimping and saving, taking on extra hours at her afterschool job, trying on dresses, and awkwardly flirting with Siobhan, all in preparation for the Coming Out of her dreams. But it’s not long before she’s buried in a mountain of bills, unfinished schoolwork, and enough drama to make her English Lit teacher blush. With all the responsibility on her shoulders, will Mahalia’s party be over before it’s even begun?
A novel about finding yourself, falling in love, and celebrating what makes you you.
