Summerhouse

Though it takes the form of a crime novel, Laraahmet’s melancholy English debut is, at its core, a story about the contours of long-haul monogamy and the difficulties of being gay in a conservative community. Obsessive pianist Şener and his translator husband, Fehmi, have planned a quiet summer in Büyükada, an island retreat outside Istanbul, for their 40th anniversary. Their vacation is shaken up by the arrival of Deniz, a beautiful, troubled teen who moves in with his parents next door. At first, Fehmi tries to deny his intense crush on Deniz, but Şener is quick to notice changes in Fehmi’s behavior, and wonder what it may mean for their relationship. Eventually, passions boil over. Though Deniz sets the plot in motion, Karaahmet is far more interested in the balance of intimacy and autonomy that Şener and Fehmi have had to strike across their decades as a semi-closeted couple in repressive Turkish society. Equally impressive are Karaahmet’s evocative descriptions of Büyükada, which is as physically large as it is socially insular. With three-dimensional characters, poignant social observations, and simmering sexual tension, this queer thriller is perfect for poolside reading. (May)