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.
This is a coming-of-age story that’s been translated from French and focuses on relationships rather than being plot-driven. If you haven’t read this author’s books before, this is a great place to start to get a sense of his straightforward, immersive writing style. I picked up this one as I loved his most popular, Lie With Me, which was adapted into a great French film in 2022. In this book, the protagonist looks back on a defining summer of his youth, and the story includes a lot of meaningful themes—friendship, first love, loss of innocence, nostalgia, jealousy, longing, and sudden loss. It’s the perfect summer read, especially when you’re on a summer holiday and want something that’s easy but memorable!
The story is told entirely from Philippe’s retrospective POV, beginning in the present day when he thinks he’s spotted someone from a summer he’s never forgotten. From there, the story jumps back to 1985 as Philippe returns to an island off the coast of France with his parents to spend the summer with family friends, including his friend François. I immediately felt the nostalgic vibes through the author’s descriptions of the clothing, cars, music, and the way the characters interact with each other. Philippe and his friends spend their days together without phones or social media, and their conversations are much more in the moment—if you grew up during that era, you may even get emotional while reading. Philippe is a character ahead of his time—he’s openly gay and quite outspoken—and quickly befriends Nicolas, an awkward, mysterious boy who is a recent addition to François’s friend group. As the summer unfolds, there are crushes, jealousy, unspoken feelings, and even a love triangle involving François, Nicolas, and a wealthy Parisian who arrives with her brother. Even though the story starts as a nostalgic coming-of-age, it shifts gears when tragedy strikes. The teens’ friendships are tested, and there are some very compelling dialogue sequences.
At just 208 pages and with very short chapters, you can easily finish this in a single sitting. Philippe’s narration is also very immersive and reflective, reminiscent of Fred Savage’s narration in The Wonder Years, which helps keep you engaged. The mystery that develops in the second half isn’t fully fleshed out, and you may be left a bit unsatisfied or wanting more answers. But this was likely intentional, much like the author’s other novels, and you’ll be thinking about these characters and what happened afterward. If you enjoy this one, you’ll definitely want to go back and read the author’s backlist, as his books are all similar in length and feel!
Narrator Performance
The Summer Boy is read by actor and narrator Jacques Roy. He portrays teenage Philippe with a thoughtful, observant voice that perfectly captures his curious and introspective nature. For Philippe’s friend François, Roy uses a more confident and outgoing tone layered with defiance that reflects his role as a leader within the friend group. For the mysterious boy Nicolas that Philippe befriends, Roy uses a quieter, more reserved voice that nicely captures the character’s awkward, introverted nature, making him instantly intriguing.
Throughout the novel, Roy also does a good job of bringing the nostalgic atmosphere of the summer of 1985 to life, making it easy for listeners to picture the beaches, holiday homes, and landmarks mentioned on the island.
He also gives distinct enough voices to the characters that you can easily follow along. There could have been more expression in his delivery in the dialogue, as it sometimes sounded a bit monotone, and the more tense scenes later on could have used a bit more emotion. Even so, Roy is very effective at shifting his tone between the younger Philippe and the older Philippe to make them both sound authentic, which helps keep the audiobook engaging!
Narrator Performance
The Summer Boy is read by actor and narrator Jacques Roy. He portrays teenage Philippe with a thoughtful, observant voice that perfectly captures his curious and introspective nature. For Philippe’s friend François, Roy uses a more confident and outgoing tone layered with defiance that reflects his role as a leader within the friend group. For the mysterious boy Nicolas that Philippe befriends, Roy uses a quieter, more reserved voice that nicely captures the character’s awkward, introverted nature, making him instantly intriguing.
Throughout the novel, Roy also does a good job of bringing the nostalgic atmosphere of the summer of 1985 to life, making it easy for listeners to picture the beaches, holiday homes, and landmarks mentioned on the island.
He also gives distinct enough voices to the characters that you can easily follow along. There could have been more expression in his delivery in the dialogue, as it sometimes sounded a bit monotone, and the more tense scenes later on could have used a bit more emotion. Even so, Roy is very effective at shifting his tone between the younger Philippe and the older Philippe to make them both sound authentic, which helps keep the audiobook engaging!
The Summer Boy is read by actor and narrator Jacques Roy. He portrays teenage Philippe with a thoughtful, observant voice that perfectly captures his curious and introspective nature. For Philippe’s friend François, Roy uses a more confident and outgoing tone layered with defiance that reflects his role as a leader within the friend group. For the mysterious boy Nicolas that Philippe befriends, Roy uses a quieter, more reserved voice that nicely captures the character’s awkward, introverted nature, making him instantly intriguing.
Throughout the novel, Roy also does a good job of bringing the nostalgic atmosphere of the summer of 1985 to life, making it easy for listeners to picture the beaches, holiday homes, and landmarks mentioned on the island.
He also gives distinct enough voices to the characters that you can easily follow along. There could have been more expression in his delivery in the dialogue, as it sometimes sounded a bit monotone, and the more tense scenes later on could have used a bit more emotion. Even so, Roy is very effective at shifting his tone between the younger Philippe and the older Philippe to make them both sound authentic, which helps keep the audiobook engaging!
