Our Last Days of Summer

Radiating urgency and emotional truth, a charged eco-dystopian romance unpacks a dark dream of one possible future for humanity—and enters the running for YA debut of the season.

Devotees of beautifully crafted, original, heart-led speculative fiction like How I Live Now and The Quiet at the End of the World have a new champion in Nicola Penfold, whose spare, compulsively readable first novel for teens imagines a world ravaged by climate change, politics, and propaganda, where survival has everything to do with who you are . . . in spite of who you love. School’s out and Molly and her friends, as part of the last generation in the sun, are making the most of summer: swimming in the salt pools, roaming the parched hills, flirting, living every day like it’s their last. And it may as well be because, for the good of the planet, the whole of humanity is about to enter a vast subterranean bunker for a century of retreat. But when that day comes, nothing they’ve been told about their new underground lives turns out to be true. At least not for everyone. Emotionally rich and frighteningly plausible, Our Last Days of Summer will resonate at high volume for a post-Covid generation grappling with the weighty questions of our time—why now? why us?—while recalling all there is to fight for and to cherish.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs