Anyone who hasn't figured out that life is ephemeral, with its daffodils and sunsets, will get an elegant reality check from The Summer Boy. Philippe Besson's moving work of autofiction, translated from the French by Sam Taylor, describes a period of his life that wasn't as halcyon as it should have been. In the novel's present day, Philippe sees a man who resembles someone he knew long ago during "that fateful summer that he would be greatly changed." The action then shifts to 1985, when Philippe was 18. He and his parents take a ferry to an island off the coast of France. Their host is Philippe's father's best friend and his wife. Philippe is to share a bedroom with François, the couple's son, who is Philippe's age. What follows will be a carefree holiday of sun, parties, and relaxation, right?
Wrong. The vacation has its pleasures, as Besson (Lie with Me) stylishly dramatizes, including good times with new friends Nicolas, a seemingly contented teen, and siblings Alice and Marc; Alice becomes a not-so-obscure object of desire for François and Nicolas. In a refreshing touch, no one seems to mind that Philippe is queer. That bodes well for his designs on Marc, with his "swimmer's body: healthy and reassuringly well-balanced." An unexpected tragedy mars everyone's idyll, however, and leads to thoughtful introspection about the nature of existence. It's all intelligently rendered in this gentle work. --Michael Magras, freelance book reviewer