Chapter summaries Summer Sons Lee Mandelo

Chapter 26 Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 26 opens with Andrew alone in Eddie’s bedroom, remembering a past birthday in Columbus when he and Eddie were kicked out of four bars and woke up in a stranger’s yard. The memory is warm and tactile—Eddie’s leg over his, a hand in his hair—and it contrasts sharply with the present, where Andrew waits for Sam’s text. Sam tells him to stay home, then arrives with a woman named Irene, who explains that Sam mentioned Andrew’s birthday and that she is open to a threesome. The three begin kissing and touching on the couch, but Andrew panics, pushes Irene off, and flees upstairs.

Sam follows, and they end up in the stairwell, where Andrew initiates a rough, urgent encounter. They move to Riley’s bedroom—Andrew’s first sexual experience with a man. The next morning, Riley returns home and discovers them together, reacting with comic horror. After Sam leaves, Andrew does laundry, drives around, and texts his mother about settling into Eddie’s house. He returns home, enters Eddie’s room, and summons the revenant. He puts on Eddie’s ring, which triggers a violent supernatural reaction: the revenant seizes control of his body, nearly stopping his heart. Andrew fights back by shoving the power into the ground, then recovers in a hot bath.

Key Events

  • Andrew recalls a birthday with Eddie in Columbus, establishing a baseline of intimacy and loss.
  • Sam and Irene arrive for Andrew’s birthday; they attempt a threesome, but Andrew stops it and flees upstairs.
  • Sam follows; they have sex in the stairwell and then in Riley’s bed—Andrew’s first time with a man.
  • Riley returns and discovers them, leading to a comedic confrontation.
  • Andrew and Sam agree to investigate who else Eddie told about the Fultons.
  • Andrew does laundry, drives, and texts his mother, who responds with a distant, brief message.
  • Andrew summons the revenant in Eddie’s room and puts on Eddie’s ring.
  • The ring triggers a violent possession attempt; Andrew nearly dies but forces the power into the ground.
  • Andrew recovers in a hot bath, asking the dead space if Eddie is trying to kill him.

Character Development

Andrew undergoes a significant shift in this chapter. His sexual encounter with Sam is framed as a natural, almost inevitable release—he reflects that desire came as easily as breathing once he let go. This is a marked departure from his earlier guilt and repression. He explicitly rejects the idea that this is a replacement for Eddie, noting that the release is a consummation of a long-held urge, not a substitute. His internal monologue shows him moving from static grief toward a sense of forward motion, even as he remains tethered to the supernatural.

Sam is revealed as more vulnerable than his usual provocative persona. After the encounter, he waits for Andrew to “flip out,” and his voice carries expectation and vulnerability. He also shows practical care, texting Irene to smooth over the awkwardness and reminding Andrew that he has a job. Riley’s reaction—shouting at Sam to get out—adds a note of domestic comedy, but also underscores that Andrew is now part of a household with its own rhythms.

Andrew’s relationship with his mother is briefly but tellingly sketched: he texts her about the house, and she replies with a distant “No thanks, hon, be safe.” The chapter notes that Andrew had been close with his parents before the cavern, then close with Eddie, and that the patterns of distance and dismissal from his adolescence persist. This reinforces his isolation and his reliance on the dead.

The revenant’s behavior deepens its characterization. It is not merely a passive ghost; it is hungry, jealous, and capable of violent possession. When Andrew puts on the ring, the revenant seizes control, nearly stopping his heart. This suggests that the ring is a conduit for the eldritch power, and that Andrew’s connection to Eddie’s ghost is not purely voluntary—it is a dangerous inheritance that can turn against him.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Sexual awakening and letting go: Andrew’s first sexual experience with a man is portrayed as a natural, freeing act. He reflects that desire came as naturally as breathing, and that he had no trouble letting go. This contrasts with his earlier guilt and repression, and it ties to the broader theme of moving forward.
  • The ring as supernatural conduit: The ring, which Eddie wore, becomes a physical anchor for the revenant’s power. When Andrew puts it on, it triggers a violent reaction, suggesting that the ring is not just a keepsake but a channel for the eldritch inheritance.
  • Revenant jealousy and possession: The ghost is not passive; it is hungry and jealous, and it attempts to take over Andrew’s body. This reinforces the idea that Eddie’s lingering presence is not benign—it is a force that can consume the living.
  • Grief and moving forward: Andrew’s sexual encounter and his subsequent decision to continue investigating the Fultons show him actively choosing to live, even as he remains haunted. The chapter contrasts the static nature of the revenant with Andrew’s ability to change.
  • Domestic intimacy: The morning after, with Sam washing dishes and Riley’s comedic interruption, creates a sense of ordinary life that Andrew has been missing. This domesticity is a counterpoint to the supernatural horror.
  • First times and lost chances: Andrew’s reflection on “first times and lost chances” during the encounter ties his personal history to the larger theme of missed opportunities with Eddie.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 26 is a turning point for Andrew’s character. It marks his first sexual experience with a man, which he embraces without shame, and it solidifies his relationship with Sam as something more than a casual hookup. The chapter also escalates the supernatural stakes: the ring’s power nearly kills Andrew, revealing that his connection to Eddie’s ghost is not something he can control easily. This sets up the central conflict of the novel—Andrew must navigate his grief and his inheritance while also trying to solve the mystery of Eddie’s death. The chapter also deepens the theme of letting go versus holding on, as Andrew both moves forward sexually and clings to Eddie’s ring, which nearly destroys him.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Andrew panic during the threesome with Irene and Sam, and what does this reveal about his state of mind?

Andrew panics because the situation feels overwhelming and not what he truly wants. He is not ready for a group encounter, and the pressure of Sam’s and Irene’s expectations triggers a flight response. This reveals that Andrew is still processing his grief and his sexuality; he needs intimacy on his own terms, not a performance. The panic also shows that he is not yet comfortable with being desired in a public or performative way.

2. How does the ring function as a symbol of Andrew’s connection to Eddie, and what does its violent reaction suggest about that connection?

The ring is a physical object that Eddie wore, and when Andrew puts it on, it acts as a conduit for the revenant’s power. The violent reaction—the revenant seizing control of Andrew’s body and nearly stopping his heart—suggests that the connection is not benign. It is a dangerous, possessive bond that can turn against Andrew. The ring symbolizes Andrew’s inability to let go of Eddie, but it also shows that holding on too tightly can be destructive.

3. What does Andrew’s decision to continue investigating the Fultons after his night with Sam indicate about his priorities?

Andrew’s decision to continue the investigation shows that his grief and his sense of responsibility to Eddie remain central, even as he begins to move forward in other areas of his life. He explicitly rejects the idea of taking a break to wallow, fearing that would be a betrayal of Eddie. This indicates that Andrew’s identity is still tied to Eddie’s death and the mystery surrounding it, and that he cannot fully embrace his new life until he resolves that unfinished business.

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