Maggie is 30, pregnant and broke. Her boyfriend, Ed, is struggling with his job as a courier as well as trying to keep a lid on his past - a past which features Phil, Maggie's best friend. Phil is gay and falling for his housemate - who has a boyfriend; Phil is also struggling with a traumatic event in his past, and keeping tabs on his wayward brother, Callum. Set over the course of a brutally hot weekend in central London, Evenings and Weekends is a truly incredible story of love, loss, friendship and millennial ennui. There's also a whale, but more on that later.
I've been aware of McKenna's work as a poet/playwright for years and was eagerly awaiting this debut - to say I am not disappointed is an understatement as it's one of the best debuts I've ever read.
It’s a very character driven novel; we drift between perspectives across chapters - sometimes even hearing from smaller characters, like Joan, Ed’s mum, or the Marine Biologist working on saving the beached whale that opens the story. All of the characters are complicated, richly drawn and compelling - I got so invested in their stories and their lives, and when they made mistakes, I felt as bereft as though I’d made them myself. McKenna does a great job of creating strong, vibrant characters that hop off the page, which makes the (fairly juicy) plot all the more compelling.
As you’d expect from a poet, the prose is beautifully crafted; I found something to underline on almost every page, and often I’d just mark up huge chunks of incredibly gorgeous, profound writing. McKenna uses his characters as a lens to explore queer identity, class, Irishness and so much more, though it never feels preachy as the perspectives are so varied and nuanced.
In general, I don’t think I’ve done this book justice with this review - it’s hard to articulate why I loved it so much. I just think it’s a perfect example of a slice-of-life novel; greater than the sum of its parts.This is a book that will make you feel so many things: it will challenge you, make your heart race, and break it a little bit too. It’s a simply stunning achievement.

I saw a review after finishing this that said that the pacing of 'Evenings and Weekends' was 'like a kettle, you don't notice all the pressure building until it's screaming in your ears', and it certainly resonates with how I felt reading this - and also how I felt as someone in their twenties living in London. The lives of McKenna's characters are complex and inextricably linked, woven together much like the portrait of London we get. I loved the multi-generational aspect, the subtle nods to inherited shame and bad communication, of repression and creativity. I thought the explorations of class and wealth were nuanced and done so well (something I wish other authors could grasp as skilfully). I read this book in two single sittings across a boiling day in London, so to say I devoured it is an understatement. The writing and prose were beautiful and smooth. I really felt for the characters and the various heartbreaks they were experiencing. There wasn't a chance to dislike or villainize any one of them for their mistakes when you are forced to feel compassion through the writing. Ultimately, LOVED this and I can't wait to read what comes next.

Ad-pr: Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read this early!

If you want complex characters struggling to navigate their thirties in London, messy relationships, heartwarming family connections and loving friendships, then this is a book you need to read.

I love a character-driven novel, and Evenings and Weekends is exactly that, with a huge group of interconnected characters who each feel very real and help drive the narrative forward. Sometimes getting to know lots of characters can be challenging, but this was done so naturally, with each new addition helping to develop existing personalities and build a wider picture of their lives. Even if there hadn’t been a plot holding this together, I still could’ve read about these characters for hours!

The plot is mainly focused on things that have been left unsaid, whether for a few days, weeks or years, and how these truths impact relationships. It’s also a book about queer identity and self discovery, and realising that where you end up in your thirties, forties and beyond doesn’t have to be your life forever. It brings up so many questions around when you should settle down, whether you even need to, and the pressure from other people to live life a certain way. There was so much to think about and I’ll definitely be reading it again at some point.

Also, don’t let the Sally Rooney comparison sway you - there are some similar elements, but this felt a lot warmer to me.

Emotional, relatable, vibrant and captivating. An easy five stars for me!

BOOK! OF! THE! SUMMER! Oh I loved this so much. And a debut! Wow.

Evenings and Weekends follows a group of people over a very hot and sweaty weekend in London. Everyone has a secret or is about to find out something that will change their life. Maggie is 30 and pregnant and feeling wistful about her days of spontaneity. Her partner Ed is mildly haunted by his past, which almost pushes him to something he might regret in the present.

Phil is Maggie’s best friend and in love with his housemate Keith. But Keith has a boyfriend so their relationship can never be all that serous. Then Phil’s mum Rosaleen has just received a cancer diagnosis that she does plan to tell Phil about. Although would that ruin this nice weekend?

There is also this absurd thing happening in the background that is weaving in and out of all their stories, linking them together in this strange kind of way.

I enjoyed the multi POV aspect here, it is so brilliantly done. The way you get a glimpse of how they each feel about one another which is sometimes in real contrast of their own perception. Wonderful. It is so funny but also mournful and tragic. The balance is perfect. I hope this is the absolute smash it deserves to be.

Evenings and Weekends has SO many things I love in a book: multiple perspectives, complex and rich characters (plus points for most being left-leaning and queer!), emotional reflections on life and commentary on working class issues like the housing crisis. Each character was complex and brought something different to the book which is incredibly refreshing; I’ve seen comparisons to Sally Rooney books and while I can see why the comparisons are made, I genuinely think the characters had more depth in Evenings and Weekend. I really bloody loved it and can’t wait to read more from Oisín McKenna in the future. This one was a 4.5 for me ONLY because there were some characters I would have liked to see slightly more of (like Joan!)

Thank you to 4th Estate and NetGalley for the ARC of this one.

this book perfectly captures the feeling of being in your twenties/thirties in london during a heatwave. sticky and hot and messy, the characters and relationships in this book felt so raw and real.

it was also really fucking funny sometimes. i literally read the first two pages to multiple friends because i was like this! is exactly how insane it is to be living in this world right now!

the underpinning of the whale story was so bizarre and out there and yet so believably written and worked incredibly well with the characters’ arcs.

the queer stories were gorgeous and honest, interwoven with everyone else’s experiences of love and the struggles with class and purpose all the characters experience.

my only gripe is that sometimes with the amount of povs and characters it’s hard to follow but I finished this book pretty fast and didn’t get too lost along the way!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

This novel followed a range of main characters whose lives were all interlinked over a weekend in London. They are all at major points in their lives, with pregnancy, relationships, and illness. I loved the way this novel was written, it had a very "Sally Rooney" feel to it, and it perfectly described life in London in a heatwave. I also enjoyed seeing each of the characters lives from their own points of view, hearing of events that happened decades ago but were still impacting their lives now, and seeing the development through the book. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and perfect for the summer when we get a heatwave!

Set across one swelteringly hot weekend in London, Evenings and Weekends centres around a cast of intricately linked characters, most of whom are harbouring secrets. Everything comes to a head over the course of this weekend as tensions arise and relationships are put to the test. Literally struggling to believe this is a debut novel as it all felt so polished and perfectly constructed. I really felt for the majority of the characters and was very emotionally invested in their lives. Also the humour and references to pop culture were a delight!! And it goes without saying that I love discovering a new Irish author to fawn over. One to look out for!! 4.5 stars

This captivating narrative is a stunning exploration of character dynamics against the backdrop of a sweltering weekend in London during 2019. The urgency and intensity of the setting pour out of every page, drawing you deeper into the story's unfolding drama. For me, what made the novel is its richly drawn characters, who leap off the page with remarkable authenticity and depth. Each protagonist is intricately crafted, their motivations and inner conflicts adding layers of complexity to the narrative.

The prose is beautifully crafted, weaving a tapestry of emotions and experiences that really resonated with me. Through its exploration of various topical themes, the novel invites readers to reflect on issues ranging from identity and belonging to societal pressures and personal growth. What sets this work apart is its ability to tackle these themes with a nuanced and original perspective, challenging readers to confront preconceptions and delve deeper into the complexities of the human experience.

In short, this novel is a triumph of storytelling, offering a rich tapestry of characters and themes that linger in the mind long after the book is finished.

Really loved this. Fast paced, engrossing and read like poetry in places. I got so caught up in all the characters that once I started this I couldn’t stop. It’s a little bit heartbreaking, a little bit funny and a lot compelling.

Evenings & Weekends takes place over one scorchingly hot weekend in London in 2019. We meet a group of young millennials attending the same party: Maggie, 30-years-old and pregnant; Ed, a former bike courier eagerly anticipating the day he can settle down with Maggie, but who's hiding a secret about his relationship with; Phil, who is falling deeper in love with his housemate; Keith, who is already in a solid relationship. We also meet Rosaleen, Phil’s mother, ecently diagnosed with cancer and travelling to London so she can tell her son the life-changing news. Over the course of the weekend, the characters will confront their pasts, and their presents, in order to determine the future of their relationships.

A gorgeously written novel, this reminded me so much of Cleopatra and Frankenstein - which is exactly the book I've been waiting to find! The characters feel so genuinely, truly real, and that is a very difficult thing to pull off. A real contender for book of the year for me!

during a heatwave in london we follow the lives of a pregnant maggie and her boyfriend ed.

this book is a slice of life storyline, as we live through both the characters adventures of the scorching summer.

the characters feel super realistic and well developed and you cant help but relate to them. they show both their flaws and strong points in really well written ways.

this is a really powerful story. for people who enjoy stories that follow character development and growth.

I have mixed feelings on this book. I raced through it, there is no doubt the author is talented, and there were some really important themes touched upon. There was something that didn’t gel with me, though. I think I was more intrigued by the side-characters (eg. Maggie’s aunt and uncle) than by Maggie and Ed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fourth Estate for this arc.

A friend recommended this book on his blog and, the way he spoke about it gave me mega FOMO. Luckily I managed to snaffle me a copy and, as per usual, discovered that once again, his thoughts and feelings were spot on.
We start in 2019, with a whale beached on the banks of the River Thames in London. Also in London, we follow a bunch of connected people as they all reach crossroads in their lives.
Maggie, pregnant, about to leave her job to go to live back where she was brought up with Ed, her boyfriend. Ed, eager to start his new life with Maggie and their child but also hiding a past that threatens to become his present once again. And then there's Phil, Maggie's friend who squats in illegal warehouse HMO and has a tricky relationship with roommate Keith who has his own open relationship with another guy.
We are also introduced to various other family members. Phil's mother who has yet to tell him the devastating health news she has just received being just one who made a big impression on me. She has her own past to contend with... We also follow Callum, Phil's brother as he is about to get married...
It's hard to say any more about the goings on as you really do need to meet and get to know each and every wonderfully created character as the author intended. They are so well crafted and so easy to connect to / emote with that, by the end of the book, I was really not looking forward to having to say goodbye to them. They filled me with all sorts of emotions along the way, sharing the most intimate details of their lives... It showed me that there are many facets of people which are not as black and white as you'd expect. Mostly, in this case, to do with queer identity. Oh and how messy life can be...
It's hard for me to say much more about the whys and wherefores of exactly why I loved this book. I think that over-analysing it could well spoil it. There's no discernible overall plot per se, which usually puts me off a book, but instead follows the lives of several people, each, in turn, contributing a little something to the whole, which eventually ends up way greater than the sum of its collective parts. If that makes sense... For me, it's more a case of how I felt at the end of the book. Again hard to put into words, but a definite feeling of my life having got just a bit richer from having read this book.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Set in Summer 2019, Evenings and Weekends follows four characters, exploring their interconnected lives and relationships.

I often find in novels like these, some characters feel flat and boring, but McKenna's rich narrative develops four fleshed-out, complex characters, and I was fascinated with the discussions of relationships, identity, and aspirations.

A perfect Summer read for fans of Sally Rooney!

With thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Was fast paced, relatable characters and the perfect bit of escapism. It really stuck with me even after I finished it. Would recommend to anyone!

Sometimes there comes a novel in your life that will make you feel every rivulet of sweat, every tear cried, the scorching sensation of the sun on your body heating up on the asphalt, and this is one of those novels. In this case, the melting heat comes with a whale stuck in the Thames and an array of characters whose lives will all take a turn on one hot summer day.
The novel has a fresh and delicate narrative that intertwines multiple perspectives, nonetheless connecting them to each other in overlapping narratives. McKenna's writing and use of prose allow us to see a bigger, kaleidoscopic view of everybody's lives both in the present and in the past. Decisions that were made consciously or unconsciously still riverb through the years, actively shaping the protagonists' lives and their actions.
The book covers a lot of fragile themes that McKenna handles beautifully: a mother's cancer diagnosis and the way it triggers her to reexamine her life, a sexual assault whose pain is still felt years later, a coming out in precarious financial conditions and an unexpected pregnancy. There is a whole lot that is presented so naturally, as these lives complicate as lives do.
"Evenings & Weekends" is a great debut work that weaves the hardships of life with the little joys of it, the breakthrough moments when things fall into place and you can finally breathe again, just as rain cracks open the sky after a drought.

A wonderful character driven story. The setting, over one hot weekend in London in 2019, was engaging and gave the novel a sense of urgency and intensity. Characterisation was really impressive, with the protagonists truly feeling like they were leaping off the page. It is beautifully written and tackles a variety of topical themes in a nuanced and original way. I loved this novel.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

When I requested this book I wasn't sure it would be for me am not a fan of self indulgent whiney characters( Sally Rooney style) with no real suffering but somehow mange to find even going to buy a pint of milk traumatic. So it was with so caution I started this....

I was captured instantly by the well formed stylish style of writing, the rich characters and the London setting.

The characters are whiney but they have things to whine about, proper issues there is no self pitying self indulgent spoilt brats in this book, they do so in way that's not only humorous but feel true to life. I liked the inner monologues from the characters and they way they all interlinked with each other. I always like hearing a different POV on the same situation it always makes for interesting reading.

There is a load of themes going on here, but I found the coping with loss and illness of a parent to be the most insightful and I felt connected to it.

I enjoyed the fact the events all take place over one weekend it made for a proper plot among what is very much a character lead novel.

This is book full of human emotions all of them, it's well written, examines society, and has a pace that flows well along side a cast of flawed but perfect characters.

It took me one weekend to read

It had the same style of writing as Caroline O'Donoghue which I really enjoyed any comparison to the dreaded Sally Rooney is unfair to this book as it is far more interesting and real written with far better style.

A very solid 4 stars

I thought this one was really good: it's set mostly over one hot summer weekend in London in 2019, and follows a cast of interconnected characters. It felt very assured and polished in a way that I liked, and the setting was probably the best bit – London felt soooo real and recognisable. I didn't love this book cause I'm super picky and I never vibed particularly with any of the characters – but I would definitely recommend it and Oisin McKenna's writing in general!