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Summer Sons

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2021 novel by Lee Mandelo
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Summer Sons
First edition cover
AuthorLee Mandelo
Audio read byWill Damron
Cover artistChristine Foltzer
Sasha Vinogradova
LanguageEnglish
GenreSouthern Gothic
PublisherTordotcom
Publication dateSeptember 28, 2021
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover), e-book, audio
Pages384
ISBN9781250790286
Dewey Decimal813/.6
LC ClassPS3613.A5354 S86 2021

Summer Sons is a 2021 Southern Gothic novel by Lee Mandelo.

Synopsis

The book's protagonist, Andrew, investigates the suicide of his friend Eddie just six months after Eddie left to begin a master's degree.

Themes

The book has been described as fitting into the Southern Gothic genre, as well as the dark academia aesthetic. Jake Casella Brookins of the Chicago Review of Books noted that Andrew demonstrates hyper-awareness of bodies and car culture, and that the book deals with issues such as homophobia, rural poverty, and exploitation in academia.

Publishing history

The cover was designed and created by Christine Foltzer and Sasha Vinogradova, and was revealed in January 2021. The book was then published on September 28, 2021.

Reception

The book received generally good reviews, with commentators noting the atmosphere and queer themes in particular, but received some criticism for its pacing. Sarah Campsall of The Nerd Daily described it as "a haunting, slow burn of a novel that explores grief, loss, denial, and a hunt for truth set against an atmospheric backdrop of the humid heat of the south," comparing it to Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Cycle. Publishers Weekly described the book as "like Tennessee molasses—dense, dark, slow-moving, and with a distinct Southern flavor," stating that the book shines most in its love triangle. Sadie Hartmann of Cemetery Dance found that "it’s powerful that Mandelo crushes queer stereotypes," but that "heading into the middle of the book, the story gets bogged down some." Writing for Jezebel, Alix E. Harrow compared it to the Fast & Furious franchise, describing it as "hot, haunted boys with fast cars making bad choices."

References

  1. "Review: Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo". Grimdark Magazine. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  2. "Cold Ghosts, Fast Cars, Hot Mess: Summer Sons". Chicago Review of Books. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  3. "Revealing Summer Sons, the Southern Gothic Debut From Lee Mandelo". Tor.com. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  4. "Night Worms Book Party: SUMMER SONS by Lee Mandelo". nightworms.com. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  5. "Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo". The Fantasy Inn. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  6. "Review: Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo". The Nerd Daily. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  7. "Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Book Review: Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo. Tordotcom, $26.99 (384p) ISBN 978-1-250-79028-6". publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  8. "Review: Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo - Cemetery Dance Online". cemeterydance.com. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
  9. "8 Best Fantasy Books for Summer: Alix E. Harrow's Recommendations". jezebel.com. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
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