Summer Sons

By: Lee Mandelo

Narrated by: Will Damron

Lee Mandelo's debut Summer Sons is a sweltering queer Southern Gothic that crosses Appalachian street racing with academic intrigue, all haunted by a hungry ghost.

Andrew and Eddie did everything together, best friends bonded more deeply than brothers, until Eddie left Andrew behind to start his graduate program at Vanderbilt. Six months later, only days before Andrew was to join him in Nashville, Eddie dies of an apparent suicide. He leaves Andrew a horrible inheritance: a roommate he doesn’t know, friends he never asked for, and a gruesome phantom that hungers for him.

As Andrew searches for the truth of Eddie’s death, he uncovers the lies and secrets left behind by the person he trusted most, discovering a family history soaked in blood and death. Whirling between the backstabbing academic world where Eddie spent his days and the circle of hot boys, fast cars, and hard drugs that ruled Eddie’s nights, the walls Andrew has built against the world begin to crumble, letting in the phantom that hungers to possess him.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tordotcom

©2021 Lee Mandelo (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Summer Sons is a southern summer in book form: hot and hungry and haunting. I couldn't put it down." —Alix E. Harrow

"Truly intense: you can smell the blood, the sweat, and the petrol. It absolutely rips." —Tamsyn Muir

"At once a raw, beautifully written gothic and an adrenaline-fueled debut, Summer Sons heralds a rich new voice in speculative fiction. Lee Mandelo is for real." —Andy Davidson

Spooky + Realistic/non-toxic Queer Rep. = Great📖

While I sometimes wanted to strangle Andrew, I thought the narrative was quite enjoyable. A good mix of realistic characters, spookiness, & queer themes/representation. It was exactly what I was looking for. Will's narration was also perfection. There was 2 or 3 chapters along the way I thought could've been omitted, but they only add to the intricate detail and imagery that Lee creates.

fantastic and immersive story and narration

the narration was NOT weird, it was just properly southern. fantastic story that is quickly becoming top 5 of all time. i literally have no notes!!!!!

Quite enjoyable book.

The story grabbed my attention right from the start. I think the narration was a good portion of my enjoyment.

excellently creepy

I was very pleased to find some paranormal fun reading in the LGBT category that is actual fiction. It's not a romance novel, even if there are people who are romantically involved. I listened to it while camping and nearly gave myself about 8 heart attacks. The relationships are interesting and the plot is very creative. The university campus shenanigans feel so real. The end is satisfying, which I require because real life isn't always that way. Awesome book!

Should have read the reviews first

I’m not into the lifestyle or spooky stories. Wanted to listen to the narrator. Should have read reviews first