The Girls of Summer

A Novel

By: Katie Bishop

Narrated by: Annabel Scholey

"That place has been my whole life. Everything I thought I knew about myself was constructed in those few months I spent within touching distance of the sea. Everything I am is because Alistair loved me."

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.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2023 Katie Bishop (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Atmospheric and powerful, The Girls of Summer is a propulsive examination of the line blurring trauma and love in a relationship, a distinction which—in a post #MeToo world—is more important than ever. Bishop has crafted a haunting, tense, psychological debut, and a final reckoning that will stick with me." —Carola Lovering, author of Tell Me Lies

Revisiting Trauma

Resonant, relevant, and thought-provoking. The Girls of Summer is a beautifully written exploration of memory, trauma, and identity—how they define you and of how they shape one another. Bishop explores the complexities of finding oneself, sexual violence, and human trafficking with empathy. I highly recommend this book, but please take care if this subject matter is not healthy for you.

WOW, So good!

I really loved this book! it was not a typical book on this subject. it really drew a raw story about how lines really were blurred, and how this trauma can follow into adulthood, with a victim not trusting their instincts.

Not an easy read

This was a difficult book to read and I often disliked Rachel, but I did come to understand her a little. I desperately wanted more of Rachel’s healing perspectives, but it was cut very short in the end. The performance was lovely.

Difficult read, but necessary

I enjoyed this book, as much as you can enjoy this type of book that is. It left me sad and angry and frustrated at times, but captures well the power of manipulation in SA’s.

4 stars

The Girls of Summer by Katie Bishop delves into the manipulation and aftereffects of an inappropriate relationship between a 17-year-old and a man "in his 30s", both then and now. Some reviews note an unabashed "dumbness" of Rachel for not seeing how inappropriate the relationship was when she was in her 30s, but that's an oversimplification. Unless you've received help to unpack the trauma of that, it's entirely reasonable for her to not recognize the wrongness, especially if they're back in contact and he's continuing to manipulate her. Just because someone isn't able to relate doesn't make someone else dumb.

I deducted a star because certain things were accepted as fact regarding the person that died. I wish we could have heard from them directly for their side of the story when it happened. It would have added more depth, even if it was just to confirm how they died and why.

Annabel Scholey is a good narrator. I have to say, I understand why southerners from the USA get so annoyed at someone else doing their accent. When I heard Annabel's accent for "the American" I cringed, lol!