In Oisín McKenna’s firecracker of a debut, past lives and present realities collide over two sweltering days in London. As the oppressive June heat bears down, relationships are tested to their limits and his protagonists come to life-altering conclusions. Maggie, pregnant and being priced out of the city she loves, faces the prospect of returning to her Essex hometown with partner Ed. He loves Maggie but struggles to make a living in London. Ed also has a hidden history with Maggie’s best mate Phil, who is about to be evicted from his commune home. Phil, meanwhile, has fallen for his enigmatic housemate Keith who inconveniently already has a boyfriend. Finally, Phil’s mum Rosaleen has been diagnosed with cancer and needs to break the news to her son while simultaneously trying to reconcile with ghosts from her own past. 

McKenna mixes up an addictive brew of social history, politics and family drama, fizzing with sex and sexuality, all fused together by seamless storytelling. His characters are fully formed, none of them short-changed, and he captures heartbreak and regret so beautifully, as well as the ache of eras coming to a close. Evenings And Weekends distils the essence of life in the capital at a moment in time in all its gritty, sweaty glory, from party-loving highs to soul-shattering lows. As secrets and lies gradually reveal themselves to us, McKenna’s captivating tale makes you hunger to know what life holds next for Maggie, Ed, Phil and co.

Evenings And Weekends is published by 4th Estate on Thursday 9 May.