The Summer Boy
A Novel
-
- Pre-Order
-
- Expected May 26, 2026
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
On an island off the coast of France, six teenagers come together for a summer of desire and discovery until one of them vanishes forever, 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 freedom, 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—until a sudden tragedy brings their summer 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 an aching meditation on how one summer 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.
