The Summer Boy: The essential literary beach read from the author of Lie With Me
Philippe Besson
Jun 2026 · Simon and Schuster · Narrated by Jacques Roy
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4 hr 5 min
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The New Novel from the author of Lie With Me
‘Doomed youth, simmering desire and 100-proof nostalgia is what Besson does - and he does it very well . . . perfect reading for a heatwave . . . this novel made me nostalgic for the sultry summers I never had’ The Times
‘This is a poignant, haunting beach read about loss of innocence, the precariousness of existence, and that painful period of adolescence when the only language available is totally inadequate to the circumstances.’ Daily Mail
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.
‘Doomed youth, simmering desire and 100-proof nostalgia is what Besson does - and he does it very well . . . perfect reading for a heatwave . . . this novel made me nostalgic for the sultry summers I never had’ The Times
‘This is a poignant, haunting beach read about loss of innocence, the precariousness of existence, and that painful period of adolescence when the only language available is totally inadequate to the circumstances.’ Daily Mail
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.
The New Novel from the author of Lie With Me
‘Doomed youth, simmering desire and 100-proof nostalgia is what Besson does - and he does it very well . . . perfect reading for a heatwave . . . this novel made me nostalgic for the sultry summers I never had’ The Times
‘This is a poignant, haunting...
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About the author
Philippe Besson is a prizewinning author, screenwriter, and playwright. His first novel, In the Absence of Men, was awarded the Emmanuel-Roblès prize in 2001, and he is also the author of Lie with Me, a #1 French bestseller. His novels have been translated into twenty different languages.
Philippe Besson is a prizewinning author, screenwriter, and playwright. His first novel, In the Absence of Men, was awarded the Emmanuel-Roblès prize in 2001, and he is also the author of Lie with Me, a #1 French bestseller. His novels have been translated into twenty different languages.
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