It’s a hot summer Down Under and everyone’s got sex on the mind.
Eighteen year-old James has had a tough year. Having lost his mom to cancer and fought through grief to finish high school, he’s now got secret desires to contend with.
It’s Christmas in Sydney, and he’s ready to cast his worries aside for the summer holidays, a time of poolside parties, bush walks and ocean swims. But who is the seductive young man who’s moved into the spare room?
In this steamy coming-of-age novel, James and the men around him discover transformative new desires with the power to up-end lives or, possibly, unlock a brighter future.
Assessment:
Plot: Erotic and honest, readers will be wrapped under the spell of the main character, who has all of the others in his grasp. The ending may or may not be a surprise, but the reader will feel the emptiness just as the characters do. The author has avoided the feeling of repetition with thorough character development and growth. Every sexual encounter in the novel feels candid but genuine.
Prose/Style: The author is a poignant and thoughtful storyteller. Details throughout are carefully managed and allow the reader feel intimately connected to the characters.
Originality: Each section of the book has three or four chapters which focus on different characters and their experience with the protagonist. The author capably creates emotional depth, making the conclusion especially impactful.
Character Development/Execution: Authentic characterizations remind readers that life is frequently about letting go and embarking upon new adventures. Even the reader will be awestruck by the main character and miss him by the end.
Blurb: Candidly written, the author reminds readers that there is more than one way to lose someone.
Date Submitted: May 02, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Lush, one of my top reads of 2021. This book is not for the faint of heart. Its raw clarity is probably my favorite part."
"This book is not a romance and it is not intended to be one. It is, however, many other things. It is a highly charged erotic tale, a coming out story, a coming-of-age story, and a sexual awakening, but it also drives deeper to target and expose those hidden parts of a man’s soul. It is great to have found a new voice in author Levi Huxton with this debut book. His candor creates not only a melancholy spirit to parts of the story, but also an atmosphere that is tinged with tension, anticipation, and hope."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The Lodger, That Summer is a captivating, sexy, gritty, complex coming-of-age story. A perfect blend of fantasy and reality, Huxton's characters are flawed and intriguing, and his writing is smooth and addictive. I can't wait to see what he writes next."
"The Lodger, That Summer is Mr. Huxton’s first published work. While brief in length, it is intellectually challenging and shows great promise for the future."
"Refreshing and beautifully written, while gritty and erotic at the same time."
