Book description
Winner of The Guardian's Not the Booker Prize
Fielding Bliss has never forgotten the summer of 1984: the year a heatwave scorched the small town of Breathed, Ohio. The year he became friends with the devil.
When local prosecutor Autopsy Bliss publishes an invitation to the devil to…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Summer That Melted Everything as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I absolutely devoured this book. I found it profoundly upsetting and uncomfortable. It tackled a lot of powerful issues and fear of the ‘other,’ such as homophobia, racism, religion, and AIDS.
Set in the small town of Breathed, the story is about the deeply flawed Bliss family, narrated by an older version of the main protagonist, Fielding Bliss. I loved learning about all their idiosyncrasies, personal troubles, and the impending doom that lingered over them and the entire town. This book stayed with me well after reading it. It’s so shocking, so raw, and so unexpectedly heartbreaking.
From Claire's list on horror gems for a perfect late-night read.
If you love The Summer That Melted Everything...
These Blue Mountains
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
Want books like The Summer That Melted Everything?
Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Summer That Melted Everything.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,395
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Summer That Melted Everything, you might also like...
In Bad Faith
Nelson West, a former Chicago homicide detective, is hired by wealthy heir Lionel Bing to discreetly help “fix” scandals and legal problems for his father’s wealthy friends.
Bing, a brilliant but troubled investigator, suffers from PTSD symptoms as a result of being kidnapped and witnessing the murder of his mother…
Your Sun Will Rise Again
Your Sun Will Rise Again is a powerful collection of poetic reflections on hope, resilience, and the human spirit. Written with sincerity and depth, these poems speak directly to those navigating life’s challenges, offering comfort, clarity, and quiet strength in difficult moments.
Through simple yet profound language, the book reminds…
