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A review by reads_eats_explores
Summer Heat by Defne Suman
4.0
As the title suggests, Summer Heat is a sultry, sun-soaked novel set in Turkey, just made for dipping between dips in the sea. It features all the typical elements of a beach read: scorched flagstones, salty skin, drowsy sunset dinners, an illicit affair (salacious references aplenty), and drama.
Our story follows Melike, a Turkish woman in her forties who seemingly has it all: a beautiful home in Istanbul, a career as an art historian, and an attentive husband. However, this just can’t satiate her craving for acknowledgement and acceptance, a craving rooted in childhood abandonment, of which we gain glimpses through her memories.
Having already had several affairs, Melike is about to embark on another, unaware that this will unearth revelations that will force her into confronting her turbulent family history and the tragic influence the 1970s Aegean dispute played in it.
As Melike delves into her past, there are flashbacks to 1974, the year of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which serves as a catalyst for the disintegration of Melike’s family.
Melike’s journey of truth takes her from Istanbul to Buyukada, Athens, and eventually Cyprus. The descriptions and vivid sense of place are a wonderful distraction from the cooler months we are headed for.
I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of the Turkish/Cypriot socio-political backdrop and the fabulous yet flawed female characters throughout.
Melike’s wandering eye may be a symptom of a deeply embedded insecurity, but it also reflects her willingness to defy societal expectations and pursue her desires.
Summer Heat is another highly atmospheric and compelling read from Defne Suman. 4⭐
Thank you to the publishers for kindly providing me with a digital review copy via NetGalley in return for an, as always, honest review.
Our story follows Melike, a Turkish woman in her forties who seemingly has it all: a beautiful home in Istanbul, a career as an art historian, and an attentive husband. However, this just can’t satiate her craving for acknowledgement and acceptance, a craving rooted in childhood abandonment, of which we gain glimpses through her memories.
Having already had several affairs, Melike is about to embark on another, unaware that this will unearth revelations that will force her into confronting her turbulent family history and the tragic influence the 1970s Aegean dispute played in it.
As Melike delves into her past, there are flashbacks to 1974, the year of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, which serves as a catalyst for the disintegration of Melike’s family.
Melike’s journey of truth takes her from Istanbul to Buyukada, Athens, and eventually Cyprus. The descriptions and vivid sense of place are a wonderful distraction from the cooler months we are headed for.
I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of the Turkish/Cypriot socio-political backdrop and the fabulous yet flawed female characters throughout.
Melike’s wandering eye may be a symptom of a deeply embedded insecurity, but it also reflects her willingness to defy societal expectations and pursue her desires.
Summer Heat is another highly atmospheric and compelling read from Defne Suman. 4⭐
Thank you to the publishers for kindly providing me with a digital review copy via NetGalley in return for an, as always, honest review.