From celebrated novelist Philippe Besson, author of Lie With Me, comes The Summer Boy, a lush and unforgettable autobiographical tale capturing the ineffable summers of youth. This poignant novel explores desire, loss of innocence, and the enduring mystery left behind when one of six teenagers vanishes during a golden season off the coast of France.

• A story of doomed youth, simmering desire, and 100-proof nostalgia, perfect for a heatwave read.
• Set in the summer of 1985 on a resort island off the coast of France.
• Follows six teenagers—five boys and one girl—as their summer of freedom, secrets, jealousy, and longing comes to a brutal end with a sudden tragedy.
• Features the deepening bond between Philippe and Nicolas, the quiet new boy.
• An aching meditation on how one fierce connection can echo across a lifetime.

This paperback edition is written in English and contains 240 pages.

• Author: Philippe Besson
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Publication Date: June 18, 2026
• ISBN-10: 139855605X
• ISBN-13: 978-1398556058
• Dimensions: 135 x 14 x 216mm
• Weight: 200 g

Discover the novel praised for its haunting portrayal of adolescence and the precariousness of existence. The Summer Boy is an essential piece of contemporary literary fiction from Scribner UK.