Audiobooks by Philippe Besson

The Summer Boy: The essential literary beach read from the author of Lie With Me

"The New Novel from the author of Lie With Me ‘Doomed youth, simmering desire and 100-proof nostalgia is what Besson does - and he does it very well . . . perfect reading for a heatwave . . . this novel made me nostalgic for the sultry summers I never had’ The Times ‘This is a poignant, haunting beach read about loss of innocence, the precariousness of existence, and that painful period of adolescence when the only language available is totally inadequate to the circumstances.’ Daily Mail On an island off the coast of France, six teenagers come together for a summer of desire and discovery until one of them vanishes forever, leaving the rest with an enduring mystery Tell me, do you know why the most beautiful love stories must always end badly? 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."

Philippe Besson (Author), Jacques Roy (Narrator)

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[Portuguese] - Uma noite de verão

"Às vezes, basta uma noite para romper o fio da inocência e inaugurar a trama da memória. Verão de 1985. Cinco rapazes e uma garota passam as férias na ilha de Ré, na costa francesa. Entre paixões à flor da pele, o despertar da homossexualidade, tardes de sol e noites sem hora para acabar, o grupo de amigos vive em um tempo suspenso entre a despreocupação da adolescência e o desconhecido da vida adulta. O que começa como uma celebração da liberdade acaba marcado por uma perda irreparável. Quando um dos amigos desaparece durante uma festa, a tragédia lança os sobreviventes diretamente no mundo adulto, onde o peso das ausências passa a fazer parte da vida. Inspirado por um evento marcante de seu próprio passado, Philippe Besson, autor de Mentiras que contamos, recria suas memórias e oferece um romance delicado e cortante sobre juventude, amizade, luto e identidade. Um retrato sensível da transição para a vida adulta, que ecoa as obras de Édouard Louis, André Aciman e Annie Ernaux. Para leitores que buscam autoficção literária, romances de formação, narrativas de memória, literatura francesa contemporânea e enredos sobre amizade, perda e descoberta do desejo, este livro dialoga com todos que já se perguntaram onde termina a juventude — e o que dela permanece. 'Philippe Besson escreve como o sol tocando um caco de vidro, devolvendo à luz aquilo que estava quebrado.' Le Point 'Inspirado em uma história real, Philippe Besson constrói um relato delicado, repleto de emoção, ternura e lágrimas.' Madame Figaro 'Um romance luminoso sobre o fim da inocência.' La Tribune 'Uma obra literária de grande qualidade.' La Dépêche du Midi 'Com uma escrita depurada, Besson emociona.' La Voix du Nord"

Philippe Besson (Author), Julian Torres (Narrator)

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Lie With Me: 'Stunning and heart-gripping' André Aciman

"Brought to you by Penguin. Just outside a hotel in Bordeaux, Philippe, a famous writer, chances upon a young man who bears a striking resemblance to his first love. What follows is a look back to Philippe's teenage years, to a winter morning in 1984, a small French high school, and a carefully timed encounter between two seventeen-year-olds. It's the start of a secret, intensely passionate, world-altering love affair between Philippe and his classmate, Thomas. Dazzlingly rendered by Molly Ringwald, the acclaimed actor and writer, in her first-ever translation, Besson's exquisitely moving coming-of-age story captures the tenderness of first love - and the heart-breaking passage of time. THE NO.1 FRENCH BESTSELLER AND WINNER OF THE MAISON DE LA PRESSE PRIZE 'Stunning and heart-gripping' André Aciman, author of Call Me by Your Name 'A beautiful, shattering novel about desire and shame, about passionate youth and the regrets of age' Olivia Laing, bestselling author of Crudo 'It has been years since anything moved me as much as Lie With Me. It will become a classic.' Jonathan Coe, bestselling author of Middle England 'An intense, unforgettable novel, alive with the ache of longing and loss.' Sarah Waters, bestselling, award-winning author of The Little Stranger and Fingersmith 'Devastating and tender; this is the book I wish I'd read when I was 15, and a book I'm glad to have as a companion now' Andrew McMillan, award-winning author of Physical 'A deeply moving depiction of first love, both tender and elegiac.' John Boyne, bestselling author of A Ladder to the Sky and The Heart's Invisible Furies 'A slender, sad, acute novel... absolutely excellent' Sarah Perry, bestselling author of The Essex Serpent and Melmoth 'A tender, sensuous novel' New York Times Book Review 'A clear-sighted and passionate coming-of-age narrative. Detailing in elegant and plain prose the anxious and intense first falling-in-love between two schoolboys, Lie With Me has a tenderness and insight that is reminiscent of the writings of Garth Greenwell. This novel can be read in a matter of hours, but its impact, like the love affair it details, will echo in the mind' Irish Times"

Philippe Besson (Author), Jacques Roy (Narrator)

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