The Lodger, That Summer

It’s a hot summer Down Under and everyone’s got sex on the mind.

Eighteen year-old James has had a tough year. Having lost his mum to cancer and fought through grief to finish high school, he’s now got secret desires to contend with.

It’s Christmas in Sydney, and he’s ready to cast his worries aside for the summer holidays, a time of poolside parties, bush walks and ocean swims. But who is the seductive young man who’s moved into the spare room?

In this steamy coming-of-age novel, James and the men around him discover transformative new desires with the power to up-end lives or, possibly, unlock a brighter future.

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Nominee, 2022 Lambda Literary Awards

"Levi Huxton offers a rare reading experience: erotic, sexy and intellectually engaging." - DNA Magazine, April 2022

9.5 out of 10 - "Erotic and honest, readers will be wrapped under the spell... The author capably creates emotional depth, making the conclusion especially impactful. A poignant and thoughtful storyteller." - The 2021 BookLife Prize

"The Lodger, That Summer is a captivating, sexy, gritty, complex coming-of-age story. A perfect blend of fantasy and reality, Huxton's characters are flawed and intriguing, and his writing is smooth and addictive. I can't wait to see what he writes next." - Marley Valentine, author of Without You

"This book is not a romance and it is not intended to be one. It is, however, many other things. It is a highly charged erotic tale, a coming out story, a coming-of-age story, and a sexual awakening, but it also drives deeper to target and expose those hidden parts of a man’s soul. It is great to have found a new voice in author Levi Huxton with this debut book. His candor created not only a melancholy spirit to parts of the story, but also an atmosphere that is tinged with tension, anticipation, and hope." - Joyfully Jay

"The Lodger, That Summer is Mr. Huxton’s first published work. While brief in length, it is intellectually challenging and shows great promise for the future." - Rainbow Book Reviews

"Refreshing and beautifully written, while gritty and erotic at the same time." - Reviews by Amos Lassen

"Lush, one of my top reads of 2021. This book is not for the faint of heart. Its raw clarity is probably my favorite part." - A.M. Johnson, author of Love Always, Wild

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Genre: Gay fiction, Australian fiction, coming-of-age, YA LGBT (16+), New adult, erotica, ownvoices.