Atta beautifully captures the messy ups and downs of first love in Only on the Weekends. From intense explorations of body image, difficult familial relationships, what it means to be a friend and the fine line between joking and ridiculing all the way to pursuing the love you want and deserve, this novel packs an emotional punch.

What struck me in this novel was the realness of the characters—neither Mack nor Karim or Finlay are perfect, they are deeply flawed, complex individuals who sometimes make choices that hurt others and even more so themselves. Bad actions aren’t swept away or excused, instead they come with consequences that are at times utterly heartbreaking. Mack, especially, felt so relatable in his struggles—his anxieties about not fitting in, being ridiculed “all in good fun” by his friends or even hidden away by his boyfriend made my heart break for him. While you obviously can’t help but feel for him, you’re also left emotionally scarred by what he has to endure to feel like he belongs. Really, while all of the characters have different motivations for how they’re acting, you can tell they often just make stuff up as it comes along and that definitely felt very true to the teenage experience.  There were so many moments where I absolutely hated some actions by the characters and felt frustrated with how they seemed to be going round in circles only to, a few pages later, feel gutted when small gestures or unanswered text messages made them feel irrelevant. This back and forth really captured what it means to be young and in love and most of all, wanting and needing things you can’t put into words yet and feel almost callous to ask for when you do find them.

I also loved how Atta subtly discussed expectations in romantic relationships—not just the milestones you yourself might feel desperate to tick off but the ways in which trying to live up to your partner’s expectations (even when they’re not explicitly stated) can sometimes feel like slipping off a cliff—if you give more public affection, you’re immediately expected to do the same time and again. On top of that, familial relationships and what it means to be a true friend and ally are also discussed and intersections of body image, gender identity and race also play a huge role in how Mack, Finlay and Karim see themselves and others.

While this story might not be for everyone because of the love triangle and the messy relationships (which are supposed to be unlikable at times, it feels like), I think those elements are what made Only on the Weekends so riveting—it truly showcased that making mistakes is a part of growing up (and even life in general) and that even when everything seems like it’s falling apart, it’s never too late to pick up the pieces and try to do better this time around. I think that alone will make readers fall a little bit in love with Mack.

Full of heart, messy, real characters and complicated relationships, Only on the Weekends is a nuanced exploration of first love and growing up and into your own. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Kacen Callender.

Only on the Weekends is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 24th 2022.

Will you be picking up Only on the Weekends? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From the Stonewall Award-winning author of The Black Flamingo comes a romantic coming-of-age novel in verse about the beautiful–and sometimes painful–fallout of pursuing the love we deserve. The ideal next read for fans of Kacen Callender, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Becky Albertalli.

Fifteen-year-old Mack is a hopeless romantic–likely a hazard of growing up on film sets thanks to his father’s job. Mack 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 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.

The post #ReadWithPride: Only On The Weekends by Dean Atta appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Queer Eye is the type of feel-good show that makes even our darkest days brighter – and I think we all wish the Fab 5 were our close friends/confidants! I am also 100% sure that you have a favourite of the five, so here’s a little list of YA book recommendations based on your favourite member of the Fab 5!

JONATHAN VAN NESS

Jonathan Van Ness aka the nonbinary hair and makeup artist of the show is a literal ball of sunshine that makes everyone feel better about themselves with just a few words! Jonathan never sugarcoats, but tells people what is what in the sweetest, most awe-inspiring way. Jonathan had a pretty difficult life (and you can read more about it in their stunning memoir Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love, which I highly recommend) and all of their experiences coalesce into this gorgeous, strong, and confident hype-ball!

So the books we picked for Jonathan had to include all of the above – self-love, honesty, confidence, and just a pinch of extra!

I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver | Goodreads
A sorrowful yet hopeful coming-of-age love story that will make your heart weep with love! We are 100% sure that Jonathan would fall head over heels for this important story of Ben De Backer who comes out to their parents as non-binary and is consequently thrown out of their house. Forced to move in with their estranged sister and finish their senior year at a new school, the situation is less than ideal for Ben. But when they meet an always-smiling student Nathan and learn how to ask for help, things start looking up and there might still be a chance at happiness.

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy | Goodreads
This celebration of our bodies and all that is beautiful of a novel centres around Willowdean, a self-proclaimed fat girl that decides to take back her confidence by entering a beauty pageant! In doing so, she also inspires some other unlikely candidates to do the same and with that changes the way people see these girls, but mostly she changes the way she sees herself! This gorgeous tale set in Texas and enriched with Dolly Parton songs is perfect for any Jonathan fans out there – confident and full of self-love!

Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by Lev A.C. Rosen | Goodreads
Jack Rothman is a seventeen-year-old boy who is very open about the things he loves: boys, makeup, and parties! He is a popular guy who even has a secret admirer, but when Jack starts writing an online sex advice column, those letters become threatening and Jack has to uncover the truth about who is behind them. This fun and quirky read with a chilling twist is perfect for anyone who is unsure of who they are. Jack will teach you what it means to be confident in your skin and inspire you to keep your head held high, similar to what Jonathan does in every single Queer Eye episode.

ANTONI POROWSKI

Antoni Porowski is the food expert on Queer Eye and he also serves just the right amount of sass, side-eye, and cuteness on the show! Antoni is a chef and last year he published Antoni in the Kitchen, a cookbook filled with recipes of different levels, so it’s a must-have for both newbies in the kitchen and seasoned chefs!

The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews | Goodreads
This own-voices novel is a story of two boys who’ve been abandoned by their relatives and have to find a new life for themselves. Everything turns upside down for Sam and Avery when they somehow find their place with De Laineys, a chaotic and big family! This beautiful and heartwrenching story of found families, secrets, and love also deals with some very important topics such as mental health, anxiety, autism, and feminism. And of course, we can’t forget about all the delicious talk about food! 

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord | Goodreads
Now I have to start this rec by telling you that yes, I mostly decided on it because there is a lot of baking! Pepper is a food blogger and overachiever extraordinaire, juggling her senior year and running a Twitter account for her family’s successful fast food restaurant chain. On the other side we have Jack, class clown and Pepper’s complete opposite in many ways, who works in his family’s small deli. While their lives get intertwined in a viral Twitter war, they also start falling for each other in real life. This cute story of the importance of family legacy chock-full of sassy remarks, cute shenanigans, and falling in love will warm your heart – and inexplicably make you super hungry! Snacks are a must while reading this beauty!

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Goodreads
Okay, so I am cheating a bit since this is technically not a YA novel (due to its themes it falls into New Adult category), but I just had to include this masterpiece about America’s First Son and the Prince of Wales falling in love! Okay so it’s a sort of an enemies (or at least rivals) to lovers story, which makes it even more endearing and important. This modern classic is perfect for any fans of Antoni because of its sincere story-telling and heart-aching quotes.

TAN FRANCE

The fabulous Tan France is Queer Eye‘s fashion expert and there is just something about this hard-working and cheeky fashion guru that demands attention! In his memoir Naturally Tan, he tells his origin story and highlights how important it is to work on acceptance and understanding of each other!

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo | Goodreads
There are two reasons I decided that this Bardugo masterpiece should be on Tan’s list of recs! The first is of course the gorgeous cover that still makes us gasp with awe to this day! The second are its narrators! King of Scars follows the journeys of the beloved charming king Nikolai and our queens (figuratively speaking – at least for now ^*wink*), the formidable Squaller and commander of the Second Army, Zoya, and Nina, the heartbroken yet still deadly in both her wits and abilities,as they try to piece together their country after its bloody civil wars and defy their enemies! We therefore follow three confident and strong protagonists that steal your heart from the get-go – and what is more Tan if not his trademark wit and poise!

The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee | Goodreads
This feminist historical fiction novel follows our fierce heroine Felicity Montague as she does everything in her power to fulfil her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. As this is a less desirable path a woman should take in the 1700’s, Felicity has to fight for some room in the man-ruled world which leads to epic trips and unforgettable quests that show the reader the true struggles of women and the power they possess! Tan would undoubtedly adore Felicity, this judgy little queen that learns so much about herself and all women along the way, and becomes the most enlightened and accepting version of herself. 

The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare | Goodreads
Whenever you think of a YA character with impeccable style, the infamous warlock Magnus Bane must be one of the first to cross your mind! In this beautiful short stories collection, we get to know more about the beloved Magnus – from his life spanning through centuries, to epic shenanigans, and all the heartbreaking love stories he lived through before meeting the other half of Malec, Alec Lightwood! Now I don’t know about you, but if you ask me, Magnus and Tan would be fast friends, talking fashion and exchanging witty remarks.

KARAMO BROWN

Karamo Brown is the Queer Eye‘s culture expert who helps the candidates with their problems and different obstacles in life by finding ways to start dealing with them. Karamo’s television career started on reality show The Real World: Philadelphia in 2004, when he also became the first openly gay black man on reality TV. Our resident culture expert is the motivational life coach that every one of us could probably use in our lives, making people believe in themselves and inspiring them with every action and nice word!

If Karamo is your favourite, you should also check out his 2019 memoir titled Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz | Goodreads
The lyrical and atmospheric tale of two boys that meet one fateful summer day and their developing friendship that shapes them both. This coming-of-age story about discovering the deepest parts of yourself and letting them shine is the perfect tale of heartbreak and love that will lift you up and fill your heart with hope! 

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas | Goodreads
Now I think this modern-day classic doesn’t need any special introductions or explanations as to why it would be a perfect rec for any Karamo fans! As we follow Starr Carter on her journey of finding justice for her childhood friend who was a victim of a fatal shooting, we delve deep into important and very relevant issues of our world today, from racism and police brutality, to activism and weaponizing of stereotypes. This is one of the books that will stay with you long after you’re done reading it and keep you thinking – similar to what Karamo does in basically every Queer Eye episode!

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta | Goodreads
This fierce coming-of-age story of a young gay black man told in verse is a beautiful tale of self-discovery and self-love! We follow Michael as he tries to find his place under the sun, dealing with questions of his identity as a mixed-raced gay teen! His path leads him to university where he finds himself in the group of drag artists and finally unlocks his bold and bright colours! Now this novel just screams about self-acceptance and love and I am 100% sure this is something Karamo would urge all of us to read!

BOBBY BERK

Bobby Berk is the interior design expert on Queer Eye and he left home when he was only fifteen and made his way up in the world by working hard and never giving up, even when the situation seemed hopeless! He is an independent, no-nonsense guy that always has hard-hitting but important life advice at the ready! So it seemed only logical to pick books that really reflect that!

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren | Goodreads
If you’ve watched at least a few episodes of Queer Eye, you probably noticed that Bobby mentions a few times that religion had a big role in his life growing up! So, this heart-wrenching story of two boys falling in love and trying to balance their love and the beliefs they were brought up with seems like a perfect read for Bobby fans. This beautiful exploration of religion, sexuality, and young love will both break and mend your heart, and you will be rooting for Tanner and Sebastian in no time!

Ziggy, Stardust and Me by James Brandon | Goodreads
This book takes us back in time to the 70s when David Bowie was at the top of his game and when homosexuality was still treated as a mental illness. We meet Jonathan, a sixteen-year-old boy who is going through treatments for liking other boys. Life seems pretty drab until Web walks into Jonathan’s life and makes him question how something as pure as what he feels for him could be considered ‘bad’. This coming-of-age story about learning how to accept yourself even in the face of adversity will bring a smile to your lips!

I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman | Goodreads
For the last Bobby rec I had to go with an Alice Oseman book! She just really knows how to write uplifting stories while also weaving in important topics such as mental health and going after what you believe in! In this book all about the celebration of fandoms, we follow two perspectives – Angel, the fangirl, and Jimmy, the singer! As Angel and Jimmy’s worlds collide, they both learn a lot about themselves and the fandom culture they are a part of.

So, there you have all the epic YA book recommendations for our favourite Fab 5 members! And last but not least, if you adore Queer Eye as much as I do, you simply have to pick up Queer Eye: Love Yourself. Love Your Life, which includes everything you need to know about our beloved Fab 5, some behind-the-scenes things from the show, and practical advice about how to live your best life!

Which Fab 5 member is your favourite and why? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Queer Eye: YA Book Recommendations Based On The Fab 5 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Dean! Thanks for chatting with us! Why don’t you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m a debut novelist from London, England. I currently live in Glasgow, Scotland, with my boyfriend Tom. I’m super excited to have my first novel published in North America. From my perspective, living my whole life in the U.K., it feels like we get a lot of cultural imports from North America but I’m not sure it happens as much the other way round. I grew up listening to lots of Hip Hop and R&B music from The States, and when I started getting into spoken word poetry what I first found on YouTube was Def Poetry Jam. Poetry was my route into becoming a writer, which is why I’ve written this novel in verse.

The Black Flamingo is all about Michael finding his wings – can you tell us a bit more about your inspiration and process of writing Michael’s story?

I was inspired by the sighting of a real black flamingo in Cyprus in 2015, I felt a deep affinity with the bird and what I felt it represented: standing out from the crowd. My mum’s family is from Cyprus and my dad’s family is from Jamaica. Michael also has this same dual-heritage identity, which helped me write authentically about his struggles to find his place within his two families but also within British culture and society. My process was to write a series of poems, in which Michael learns different lessons about himself and society. I wrote most of the book out of sequence, then tied them together. I took inspiration from other recent verse novels by Elizabeth Acevedo and Jason Reynolds. Claudia Rankine’s lyric essay Citizen was also a major influence. Michael experiences a number of racial microaggressions, although he never names them as such. Throughout the writing process I had to be careful to keep my adult voice and knowledge out of the book, and stay true to Michael as a child and teenager.

The Black Flamingo is filled with deep truths and doesn’t shy away from the hard topics of growing up and accepting your beautiful self – what do you hope readers take away from Michael’s story?

I didn’t want this story to look away from difficult topics, such as race and sexuality. But there are times in the story when Michael doesn’t fully understand what he’s seeing or experiencing. At these points, it’s up to the reader to bring their own experience and understanding to the story and form their own opinions. Michael and other characters make mistakes and have misunderstandings, get hurt, and hurt others. I guess I want the reader to take away that it’s okay to make mistakes, so long as you learn from them.

You’ve been writing and performing for a long time. What draws you to poetry? And how did you get started?

I think poetry is my first language. I’ve always loved music, and as a child I would write out the lyrics of my favourite songs into a notebook. After that I started writing my own lyrics, which over time I began to think of as poetry. For me, poetry is a direct line to my heart. I’m pretty articulate in a conversation but I can best tell you how I feel about anything if I write a poem about it.

You also lead workshops for younger audiences to help them get started – do you have any tips for our readers who might feel anxious about starting with poetry?

One of my favourite ways to begin is a simple process called free-writing. You set an alarm for 5 or 10 minutes and then write non-stop without lifting your pen from the page. It works best if you do it with pen and paper because if you do it on your phone or computer there is a greater temptation to edit. The point of a free-write is not to stop and think about what you’re writing, just to keep writing until the alarm sounds. Some fun starting lines for a free write are “I remember…” and “I come from…” When you’ve completed your 5 or 10 minute free-write, look at what you’ve got and pick out any lines that you find interesting, and use them to carry on crafting.

And I know that this may be a really hard question, but is there a line of a poem that stuck with you throughout the years or maybe even inspired you to pursue being a poet?

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Maya Angelou’s poetry spoke to me when I was younger, and still does. Her poem “Still I Rise” is so powerful, and those opening lines set a tone of defiance and strength. I feel proud with The Black Flamingo to have written a story so close to my heart, and provide positive representation of black queer characters, who are often left out of history and mostly have tragedies written about us. I hope my writing has some of the strength and defiance of Maya Angelou’s.

The world has been in an uproar these past few months. Do you have any tips on distraction techniques or how to channel that inner storm into your writing?

I’m using poetry as a way to write about how I’m feeling right now, and I think others could benefit from doing so too, even if they don’t consider themselves to be poets. For me, there’s no point trying to distract myself from this global pandemic, I’m leaning into it and writing about fear, death, love and loss. We experience these things all the time, it’s just that we have a shared sense of them right now. I can’t escape thinking about Coronavirus because my boyfriend Tom is a doctor working in a hospital, so he is on the front line. Politicians around the world talk about beating Coronavirus in similar ways that they would talk about fighting a war. And if we look at the two world wars of the 20th Century, poetry is so important for us to understand how people felt at that time.

Beyond The Black Flamingo, what’s next for you?

I’m working on new books but I’m not allowed to talk about any of them. I’m mostly looking forward to hearing from readers in North America, I really want to know how this book translates for them, what readers find familiar in Michael’s story and what they learn from it?

Last but not least, do you have any bookish recommendations for our readers?

I’d wholeheartedly recommend Almost American Girl by Robin Ha. I was so blown away with this beautiful graphic novel. I felt there were some similarities to The Black Flamingo, with the main characters both having single mothers, and both experiencing language as a barrier to fitting in, but ultimately both finding people with whom they have shared interests, and with whom they feel like they belong.

Will you be picking up The Black Flamingo? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Dean Atta, Author of ‘The Black Flamingo’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The quote that will convince you to pick this book up:

I call myself black.
I call myself queer.
I call myself beautiful.
I call myself eternal.
I call myself iconic.
I call myself futuristic.

Review:

He is me, who I have been,
who I am, who I hope to become.
Someone fabulous, wild and strong.
With or without a costume on.

I know that we have been blessed with covers this year but can we just take a moment to thank the stars for this one? It is beyond beautiful!

We follow Michael, a half Jamaican, half Greek-Cyprian growing up in the UK. Preferring to play with barbies than roughing around with the guys, Michael knows from a young age that he isn’t like everybody else. As the poems progress, we learn how Michael tries to find his place but feels like his two identities – gay and black – work against each other. Only at university does he finally meet his tribe when he discovers the Drag Society. As Michael finds his voice, he goes through heartbreak and epiphanies, first loves and changing family dynamics, and he only becomes more evocative and empowered and I wanted to cheer him on all the way.

The Black Flamingo captures so many themes, spanning from learning what intersectionality is and how you fit into the world to the force of the patriarchy in shaping who you have to perform as and to. The poems oscillate between light-hearted stories about Michael’s love for his sister to others that feature deeper emotions and truths that hurt because they feel so final, like your first time being tainted by the one you trusted. Nevertheless, Michael shines and encapsulates the black flamingo on stage in drag as well as off it when he confronts his first heartbreak. Touching and authentic, Michael’s story is one that needs to be heard by everyone who ever felt like the black sheep…or black flamingo and now wants to claim that title proudly.

A love letter to understanding and owning your identity, The Black Flamingo will remind readers that they are in charge of who they are – no matter the voices who tell them to fit into boxes.

The Black Flamingo is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of May 26th 2020.

Will you be picking up The Black Flamingo? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Stonewall Book Award Winner!

A fierce coming-of-age verse novel about identity and the power of drag, from acclaimed UK poet and performer Dean Atta. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Jason Reynolds, and Kacen Callender.

Michael is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London. All his life, he’s navigated what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican—but never quite feeling Greek or Black enough.

As he gets older, Michael’s coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs—and the Black Flamingo is born.

Told with raw honesty, insight, and lyricism, this debut explores the layers of identity that make us who we are—and allow us to shine.

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