The Summer Boy
A Novel
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- $17.99
Publisher Description
"Perfect reading for a heatwave . . . Doomed youth, simmering desire and 100-proof nostalgia is what Besson does—and he does it very well." —The Times (UK)
From the author of the international bestseller Lie with Me, a “prismatic…moving” (Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review) novel set on an island off the coast of France, following a group of teenagers and the sudden disappearance of one of their number, leaving the rest with an enduring mystery
Tell me, do you know why the most beautiful love stories must always end badly?
In the summer of 1985, on a scruffy resort island off the coast of France, six teenagers— five boys and one girl—band together for a final golden season before adulthood. Their days are drenched in sun, and their nights simmer with secrets, jealousy, and longing. Philippe is drawn to Nicolas, the quiet new boy who sees him in a way that no one else does. As their bond deepens, part of Nicolas remains unreachable—and then a sudden tragedy brings everything to a brutal end.
The Summer Boy is a lush and unforgettable autobiographical tale, capturing the ineffable summers of youth in amber. Celebrated novelist Philippe Besson has shaped his memories into “a haunting and wistful work” (Publishers Weekly, STARRED review) about how one night—and one fierce connection—can echo across a lifetime.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Besson (Lie with Me) offers a haunting and wistful work of autofiction about a fateful summer. "I have never managed to rid myself of that story. It has never left me," Philippe narrates on the first page, before jumping back to 1985 when he was 18 years old and spending the summer with family friends on an island off the northern coast of France. He shares a room with his hosts' son, François, whom he's grown up with, and looks forward to lazy, carefree days. He quickly befriends Nicolas, who recently moved to the area, as well as Alice and Marc, Parisians visiting for the summer. A messy tangle of friendship and romance ensues, with Philippe intrigued platonically by Nicolas while Alice desires Philippe, much to the despair of François, who wants Alice. Meanwhile, Marc and Philippe dance around their unspoken mutual attraction before going on a date. After a night of drinking at nightclubs, Nicolas goes missing, and Philippe is flooded with guilt over not making sure Nicolas found his way home after they were separated. Reflecting back on the incident and gradually shading in the details, he reflects on how the event marked his "loss of innocence." Besson eloquently portrays the characters' youthful fickleness and yearning. This one leaves a mark.
