The Girls of Summer

Named a Best Book of Summer 2023 by New York Post and KatieCouric.com

＂A lyrical, emotional novel...Reminiscent of HBO’s hit The White Lotus, Bishop’s tale will draw readers in with its realistic descriptions of the island. The obvious read-alike is My Dark Vanessa, and the plot-driven tension will appeal to fans of psychological suspense.＂ --Booklist (starred review)

Rachel has been in love with Alistair for fifteen years. Even though she’s now married to someone else. Even though she was a teenager when they met. Even though he is twenty years older than her.

Rachel and Alistair’s summer love affair on a remote, sun-trapped Greek island has consumed her since she was seventeen, obliterating everything in its wake. But as Rachel becomes increasingly obsessed with reliving the events of so long ago, she reconnects with the other girls who were similarly drawn to life on the island, where the nights were long, the alcohol was free-flowing and everyone acted in ways they never would at home. And as she does so, dark and deeply suppressed secrets about her first love affair begin to rise to the surface, as well as the truth about her time working for an enigmatic and wealthy man, who controlled so much more than she could have ever realized.

Joining a post #MeToo discourse, The Girls of Summer grapples with themes of power, sex, and consent, as it explores the complicated nature of memory and trauma--and what it takes to reframe, and reclaim, your own story.

KATIE BISHOP is a writer and journalist based in Birmingham, UK. She has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, The Independent, and other publications. The Girls of Summer is her first novel.