Books to read on stifling, lazy summer days

[IceIceBabyBump]

I'm after some recommendations for literary fiction books for hot, lazy summer days. I don't mean fluffy holiday reads at all.
I mean books that ooze thick, humid, oppressive heat and, in doing so, create an unsettling atmosphere.

I'm after recreating the seasonal pairing of dark, atmospheric, spooky books for autumn nights but for hot summer days.

I've got Claire Fuller's "Bitter Orange" on my list already.

What else?

The Girls - Emma Cline
The Guest - Emma Cline

The Gentleman from Peru

My recommendation is Ken Follett - The Evening and the Morning.

100 years of solitude

Poisonwood bible

Chocolat

I’ve just realised you said something set during summer. There are some summer moments and it’s a great read, in my opinion but probably not what you’re looking for in particular.

The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder

Oh, The Magus by John Fowles. Made a trip to a Greek Island into something special.

I always associate Possession by AS Byatt with summer.

Anything by Sarah Waters. Or have you read the Secret History by Donna Tartt? It’s the most unsettling book I’ve ever read and is just superb!

The Little Friend by Donna Tartt

Also came on here to suggest The Poisonwood Bible. Great book.

I'm fair enjoying A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute. Set in sweltering Malaya and outback Australia.

The Virgin Suicides is a perfect recommendation

Just read Ripeness by Sarah Moss, which i think fits the bill.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

Elena Ferrante's "My Brilliant Friend" series. The stifling heat of Naples where the series is set, is often used to build the tension and sense of unease. It's a fantastic quartet of four books about a complicated, sometimes disturbing, female friendship.

‘Amy and Isabelle’ by Elizabeth Strout

The Beach by Alex Garland. Much better than the film
The Little stranger by Sarah Waters it’s just brilliant and unsettling

One of the greatest novels of all time.

LOVED The Thirteenth Tale!

Most of these actually fit me "atmospheric books for cosy autumn evenings as the nights draw in" 😂

Some incredible suggestions here, thank you so much! I'll be on WOB most of today.

Yes, I've read everything by Donna Tartt. Love her!

I read the first of these books but I didn't get into it at all.

You're right that the dry heat of summer absolutely pulsated from the pages.

But I didn't enjoy the book at all. I then tried her "The Days of Abandonment" to see whether it was just the "Brilliant Friend" series I couldn't get on with. But that one also wasn't very good IMHO.

Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee but if u want a more modern contemporary book then Tangerine by Christine Mangen.