
The Summer Boy
The essential literary beach read from the author of Lie With Me
Philippe Besson(Author)
Scribner UK (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 18. June 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-3985-5605-8 (ISBN)
Description
The New Novel from the author of Lie With Me
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.
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.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-3985-5605-8 (9781398556058)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 06/2027
Scribner UK
€13.00
Not yet published

E-Book
approx. 06/2026
Simon + Schuster LLC
€12.89
Not yet available
Person
Philippe Besson is a prizewinning author, screenwriter, and playwright. His first novel, In the Absence of Men, was awarded the Emmanuel-Robles 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.