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A review by alphabetseeds
Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sad boys, fast cars, and hauntings that'll drip cold and went from your bones even through summer heat.
The first half is slow and simmering, as Andrew, the protagonist, finds that the inheritance left to him by his dead best friend Eddie in Nashville is not the inheritance he expected and certainly not one that he wanted to receive alone. His whole life has been tangled up as an "and", and the first half of the book is spent with Andrew grabbling with 3 emotional gut punches: 1) Eddie lied to him, 2) Eddie didn't kill himself, and 3) the people who Eddie called friends might have something to do with his death. He's also grappling with a secret fourth thing - that maybe he and Eddie were more than just best friends.
Andrew's resistance to his new life is like digging heels into the ground, but while I found his lack of forward momentum a little frustrating, it was entirely justified and necessary to set up the events of the second half. Andrew's former life confronts him in Nashville, then everything shifts.
The academia portion of the book takes somewhat of a backseat to the car races and summer-soaked partying but it's nonetheless equally important. Mandelo points out the inherent racism prevalent in academic institutions and doesn't need to beat it to death - it's obvious and plain to see, both in the novel and in real life. A certain character finally getting on the road to justice was a satisfying cherry on top for the ending.
One other thing that I liked is that as Andrew and friends became more involved in the murder mystery plot, I was still unsure who could've been responsible up until a major piece of information is revealed, and then I still wondered if maybe everyone was in on it together. However, I don't read much horror or mystery, so take that with a grain of salt! The ultimate conclusion does veer towards full-on cartoon villainy, but I really didn't mind. Mandelo's eloquent writing still kept me hooked even through these more trope-y scenes.
Finally...I sure hope that Andrew and Sam can work it out, at least for a little while. Their relationship was explosive in a variety of ways and I was totally captivated. Ugh. My heart.
The first half is slow and simmering, as Andrew, the protagonist, finds that the inheritance left to him by his dead best friend Eddie in Nashville is not the inheritance he expected and certainly not one that he wanted to receive alone. His whole life has been tangled up as an "and", and the first half of the book is spent with Andrew grabbling with 3 emotional gut punches: 1) Eddie lied to him, 2) Eddie didn't kill himself, and 3) the people who Eddie called friends might have something to do with his death. He's also grappling with a secret fourth thing - that maybe he and Eddie were more than just best friends.
Andrew's resistance to his new life is like digging heels into the ground, but while I found his lack of forward momentum a little frustrating, it was entirely justified and necessary to set up the events of the second half. Andrew's former life confronts him in Nashville, then everything shifts.
The academia portion of the book takes somewhat of a backseat to the car races and summer-soaked partying but it's nonetheless equally important. Mandelo points out the inherent racism prevalent in academic institutions and doesn't need to beat it to death - it's obvious and plain to see, both in the novel and in real life. A certain character finally getting on the road to justice was a satisfying cherry on top for the ending.
One other thing that I liked is that as Andrew and friends became more involved in the murder mystery plot, I was still unsure who could've been responsible up until a major piece of information is revealed, and then I still wondered if maybe everyone was in on it together. However, I don't read much horror or mystery, so take that with a grain of salt! The ultimate conclusion does veer towards full-on cartoon villainy, but I really didn't mind. Mandelo's eloquent writing still kept me hooked even through these more trope-y scenes.
Finally...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Blood
Moderate: Animal death and Drug use
Minor: Homophobia and Racism