Summer Heat

Having enjoyed ‘At the breakfast table’ I was looking forward to this new book by Defne Syman. It did not disappoint. Once again I learnt an awful lot about the history of Cyprus and its relationship with Turkey. The novel was really evocative and I could almost smell the air and taste the fruit and food described. The only let down for me was Melike. I really disliked her and found her very needy and a bit selfish. All in all though an excellent book.

Summer Heat is a complex, realistic, engaging, and occasionally heartbreaking narrative. It is a summery novel with a wonderful and bitter taste of Turkish and Greek culture and history. The author's storytelling glides through time with outstanding ability in conveying the characters' life stories and struggles. It's been a long time since a book I read captured my thoughts and won me over, like this one. The language was stunning, and it flowed seamlessly. While reading it, there were moments where I was so shocked by what I'd read that I wanted to take a break to process it all, but the story wouldn't let me go, so I kept reading and reading and getting engrossed. All the characters, from our main character, Melike, to Petro, Safinaz, Orhan, Gulbahar, and Eleni, are genuine, realistic, and loyal to the narrative. It was a valuable novel that, through family history, brought together many places, such as Turkey’s Istanbul, its Buyukada, Greece’s capital Athens, at a certain point even Germany, and eventually the island of Cyprus, weaving together entangled lives and family secrets, as well as the unique perspectives of each character and their place in the plot. The author described sorrow, grief, love, abandonment, and reunion wonderfully. Engaging, honest, and heartfelt; very emotional yet still realistic. The author treated this story meticulously, which is beautifully translated into the strong psychological component of the characters and the historically significant importance of the plot. It's a novel with good literary taste and a compelling tale. Once begun, it is impossible to put down! 

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing me with an ARC of this beautiful translation!

As someone who adores the summer heat this book in one to sit and feel all the heat of a far away place.
A story of then and now, a look back at what was and what is, surrounded by a history steeped in turmoil, I loved this book.

I particularly enjoyed the setting of this novel, the multiple beautiful locations and the historical context affecting the present timeline.
Suman’s writing is easy-to-read and fitting.
A great read for those who love father and daughter stories, stories with historical shadows and/or how the family secrets and societal circumstances can shape a person’s psyche.
Though, some aspects of inner thoughts of MC (when she comes to some important realisation) and the subplot with Safinaz were at times did not make sense to me.