Summer Sons

Summer Sons didn't fully click for me—I didn't love it or connect deeply with the characters—but many others did, so I'm still recommending this late-summer Nashville tale of a boy starting Vanderbilt after his best friend's suspicious suicide. He investigates in their shared house with weird roommates, blending southern sticky nights, weed-fueled talks, folklore, and academic mystery lurking in the woods. The slow, heavy atmosphere felt authentic to humid evenings, but it dragged with too much hanging out. The ingredients like local legends and grief are solid, and Ellias (whom I usually agree with) raves about it, so maybe I read it at the wrong time. Give it a try if you want a moody, southern supernatural mystery with dirty, smelly vibes.