With achingly beautiful, almost lyrical, prose this was both sweet and heart-breaking in turns - I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt so raw and real, so honest to what it's like growing up queer and the setting was really vividly evoked. I felt completely immersed in Lucy’s world and feelings. An absolutely gorgeous coming of age story, and a strong debut from Howarth, who I will be following with interest from now on!

Definitely not my cup of tea; although the plot intrigued me, its execution left a lot to be desired.

"Remember that, without the sweat on her sternum and the Autumn colour of her, in her most basic and fleshy form, she is only another piece of the earth, the same as me. We are all just pieces of the earth. I must take a breath."

Sunburn is a scorching coming of age, coming out story that captures a transcendental moment in time of a young girl questioning everything. It tenderly explores first loves, sexuality, tradition and growing up in a provocative and thoughtful way that was so undeniably compelling.

The setting was suffocating — a searing summer heat combined with building pressure creating a truly stifling and visceral picture. Everything was truly dazzling and descriptive in a massively engaging way.

Our narrator Lucy was something special to read— as we watch her fall desperately in love, we can see the infatuation and obsession form, that unreasonable and intense feelings of first love that is all consuming and leads to terrible choices. But even as see her become consumed by her love and be naive, I couldn’t help but feel for her intensely.

Aside from this love, we also see her try to navigate finding her place in a family that doesn’t quite fit anymore, and facing the realisation that being a woman isn’t that easy — while she searches for the answers. She sits in that confusing limbo between child and adult, perfectly encapsulating the lust for independence and identity we feel as young people, that undeniable need for rebellion and definition and this created such a real, melancholic nostalgia.

Every character has their own distinct personality, and the relationships between people are carefully crafted and complex. Between tense family relationships, beautiful friendships and real displays of sisterhood and solidarity.

Her narration is slow, pacing itself out leisurely like a hot summer afternoon, with not a lot happening but so much to hear and think about as the months and then years fall by — it was descriptive and lyrical at times, moving fluidly between scenes of family life and teenage confusion but always with so much more happening under the surface.

This is an absolutely beautiful story about belonging and beginnings that needs to be on your reading list.

Engrossing, infuriating, and at times heart-breaking, this was a truly great read and I look forward to reading more from Chloe Michelle Howarth.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

I really enjoyed this one. I was hooked from the beginning and totally absorbed in Lucy’s story.

Set in the 90’s, a rural village in Ireland - Lucy felt like her life plan was written for her. She just never felt comfortable in the idea that, that’s all there was for her.

I loved how well the story explored Lucy’s feelings and the dynamics surrounding her relationships with other women. The development between her and Susannah’s relationship was so well done. It was tender, intense and at times, heartbreaking.

I loved seeing the growth in Lucy, how she develops and grows in herself and her ideas. As much as I felt for Martin, I’m glad she got there in the end.

A beautiful, nostalgic, coming of age story that’ll have you hooked from the first sentence.

A coming of age story with two girls who find themselves falling in love in small town and somewhat small minded ireland. It felt a bit YA at times but it was still very emotional and raw.

set in crossmore, ireland, in the early 1990s, 'sunburn' follows lucy, a teenage girl who is relatively content with her rural life and its lack of complexities, but has always felt out of place. unlike her friends and the women in her family, lucy couldn't be less interested in following the traditional path of marriage and motherhood, and although she tries her best to let him, even her adoring childhood best friend, martin, can't change her mind.

susannah, a girl in lucy's friend group, is the one who has her heart. when the two develop an unlikely secret relationship, lucy discovers a happiness she didn't know was possible, and spends all of her final year at school crumbling under the looming presence of societal and familial expectations.

this book is so beautifully written, and perfectly captures the whirlwind of all-consuming teenage infatuation, which quickly becomes gut-wrenching love. i fell completely in love with lucy and susannah's stolen moments - lying on the grass in the summer sun, subtly flirting in public, writing tender letters back and forth.

howarth expertly captures the devastating realities of growing up as a lesbian in a conservative small town, particularly in lucy's frustration at having to choose between two versions of herself when she knows only one will fulfil her. i also loved her explorations of catholic guilt, mother-daughter relationships, feeling isolated in female friendships, and small-town politics. the narrative is well paced, the characters are well developed, and honestly, the whole book is just a work of art.

an absolutely stellar debut.

thanks so much to verve books for the arc!

🌅 REVIEW 🌅

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
Publishes 22nd June 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Lucy and her close knit group of friends are coming to the end of their school lives, and all they can talk about is boys. But, for Lucy, it’s all for show - while her friends are convinced that her and her neighbour are soulmates, she’s still waiting to get that giddy feeling for anyone. That is, until she starts to see Susannah, one of her best friends, in a different light. Howarth takes us through all the seasons of small-town Ireland in the 90s as Lucy figures out what this means, and how these feelings might devastate her life.

I had seen rave reviews for this one before starting, and was worried it might not live up to the hype - turns out I had nothing to be worried about because this was a brilliant read. Howarth managed to portray the feelings of a naive adolescent figuring out her life so naturally, and the emotions are so raw and vivid it could spark a few tears. I loved the almost stream of consciousness style, allowing us to really feel absorbed into Lucy’s thoughts, and watch her make decisions, whether they’re what we would want or not. As I was reading this, I felt like I was almost watching a movie play out, the scenery and the atmosphere was just so vivid and realistic.
One I would recommend to everyone.

One of my favourite tropes in books is the trappings of friendship. This probably stems from constantly struggling with friendship groups throughout my life but enough about me. Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth is the story of Lucy, a young girl on the verge of womanhood who is struggling to find her place among her friends. The things that she knows she should be interested in don't seem to hold her attention and the things that she knows should be forbidden are all she can think about. Especially her best friend Susannah.

Essentially Sunburn is a coming of age story about two friends exploring their sexuality, first love, small town mentality versus the modern world. It is a sumptuous tale that reads like a warm summer day. Hazy and introspective in all the right parts and I really enjoyed the story.

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth is available now.

For more information regarding Chloe Michelle Howarth (@ChloeMHowarth) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Verve Books (@VERVE_Books) please visit their Twitter page.

BRILLIANT AMAZING FANTASTIC I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN

I don’t even know where to begin. This novel surpassed all my expectation. I knew a sapphic coming of age set in 1990’s Ireland was going to be right up my street but I did not expect the prose to be so good.

The novel was heartbreaking, romantic, poetic, full of complicated friendships, strained mother/daughter relationships, the summer heat of Ireland and the mundane days we spend in small towns.

Lucy was such a superb character. Inwardly feeling as though she doesn’t belong but portraying herself to those around her as though she fits in. We are given clear insight into the complicated feelings and world of Lucy, her relationships with Susannah and Martin and feeling torn between who she wants to be and who she is expected to me.

I want to cherish this novel forever.

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done a fantastic job of creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. The language is clear, concise, and evocative, with descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. Dialogue is natural and authentic, and the pacing is well-balanced, with enough tension and release to keep the reader engaged.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

🧡Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth🧡

It’s the early 1990s, and in the Irish village of Crossmore, teenage Lucy feels a sense of nonbelonging; sure, outwardly, she does what she thinks she should - having fierce good friendships, making the right noises about boys, parties, helping her mam mind her siblings, but she is disquieted.

Until that is, Lucy begins to make sense of herself during a long hot summer, when a spark with her school friend Susannah escalates to an all-consuming infatuation and soon escalates and sends her into an emotional tailspin.

Lucy is torn - she is wildly in love with Susannah, but she’s been reared to think this class of carry on is sinful and a fit cause for banishment either beyond the convent walls or just away from the family home as that’s what happened to the last lesbian she knew. This is a shame she doesn’t understand; how can something that feels so good be wrong? Her guilt and fear is palpable. Don’t be forgetting homosexuality was only decriminalised in Ireland in 1993.

Despite Susannah’s assurances that everything will be grand, Lucy is determined to keep the whole thing a secret. But as her school years come to a close, she’s also confronted with the possibility of moving out of her small town and facing a new kind of future she’d never considered before. Two futures, two loves, and two places - each option is as terrifying as the other. How will she choose?

Being immersed in Lucy’s life offers a peek into blistering adolescent angst, which, regardless of your sexual orientation, will resonate deeply with most. That’s not to say Lucy is a particularly nice person though.

If I have one small bit of a criticism, it’s the language the teenagers use. They don’t, on the whole, speak like you’d expect. They reflect on each other, sounding like the adults, so maybe it’s intentional. Anyhow, it’s lyrical and evocative and perfectly gripping all the same.

Sunburn is a sapphic coming-of-age novel of epic proportions. Add it to your summer reading schedule now! 5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Verve Books for this advance review copy in return for an as always honest review.

‘I would drape my own soul over her body to protect her from eyes like mine’

Set in a small town in rural Ireland, Lucy knows she’s not supposed to feel the way she does about her best friend Susannah. What she doesn’t expect is for Susannah to feel the same way back.

Told in absolutely gorgeous prose, Sunburn tells the story of young love, first love, that confusing moment when the lines between friendship and romance blur. I adored how I felt right in the middle of Lucy’s house or Susannah’s garden. I could feel the heat, the tension, the atmosphere of worry and lust and disapproval. This is a very special book, and has hit very close to my heart. It’s a perfect summer book and I can see myself rereading it many times to come.

The only Sunburn you want this Summer. Beaut prose, contemporary writing set in the 9os, unputdownable queer slow burn love epic. A coming of age story with the maturity of adult writing that will have you rooting for two well developed characters with unique views and feelings.

One of my must reads for summer. Look forward to seeing what Chloe Michelle Howarth does next.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC for this book.

I felt so many emotions reading this that it’s hard to put a review together. This book perfectly displayed the arduous journey that is growing up and finding yourself. Howarth’s writing is beautiful, and perfectly captures the aching, longing, narrative. The characters are complex and feel like real people living in these pages, it feels personal and intimate, like you’re there experiencing this.

The novel confronts what growing up is like for so many queer people. The guilt felt for just existing, and the sacrifices people are forced to make to be theirselves was handled so deftly, giving the narrative such power and meaningful weight. Tragedy permeates every word, knowing how hopeless growing up like this can feel.

It’s difficult to say anymore other than I highly recommend this book. It surprised me with how much it made me feel, and how much it made me think about how love changes us irreparably.

This is such a suffocating book in the best possible way. It's so raw and all encompassing and I can't stop thinking about it. One of the best books I've read in a long time. Lucy is an inherently flawed character but it's so easy to root for her when you think of how the odds are stacked against her - how the smalltown lifestyle hindered her from being her true self and loving Susannah. It's devastating to watch it unfold. Usually when characters use people and cheat the way Lucy did I dislike them immediately but I could feel her suffocation and unhappiness through the page. Absolutely stellar.

Every now and again I come across a book that has the potential to become huge because it captures the essence and struggles of a time so well. Sunburn is one of those books. It is a queer coming of age story set in rural Ireland spanning across the 80's and 90's that beautifully captures the struggle of taking the leap to be yourself in a country that has a rigid set of views as to what a life well lived looks like. (Remember it was a criminal offence to be gay in Ireland up until the early 90's, and many of the church scandals had not come to light yet, anything that was outside of the norm had the potential to be extremely alienating.)
This is a heart-breaking story of what it is to want to belong in the traditional sense and what it means to come to the realisation that at some point you have to step away from that situation for the sake of your own well-being. The books focuses on the story of Lucy, who is slowly having to come to terms with her feelings for her friend Susannah and what happens as their relationship blossoms and crumbles. It is a story that shows the conservative voice of Ireland at the time perfectly, from Lucy's interactions with her mother and her friends, to how their attitude changes when she does what they feel is the "normal" thing. It also captures the fear that queer youth can have when it comes to acceptance by their own.
"Sunburn" is the story that I wish I had had during my own teenage years, coming to terms with my sexuality in Ireland in the 2000's. It was an enthralling, bittersweet read that I cannot recommend enough (particularly if you're story is not simple, which for so many of us is the truth).

Sunburn is the debut novel by Irish writer Chloe Michelle Howarth. Set in 1990s Cork, it focuses on the love affair between introspective Lucy and fiery Susannah, and the impact this secret has on their small village of Crossmore. Set 7 years before being gay was decriminalised in Ireland, it’s a gorgeous book; a slow-burn full of longing, angst and the very specific pain of being a teenage girl.

So, in short: hook it directly to my veins.
Sunburn is narrated by Lucy in an inner monologue style: we are immediately invited into Lucy’s world, where she acknowledges that she is “at a very tricky age. She is 15 and has not yet developed crushes on boys – but she’s hoping to. Yet Susannah, her close friend, catches Lucy’s eye more intensely than any boy – Lucy’s unrequited, feverish crush on Susannah becomes intense and all-consuming very quickly.

The earlier parts of the novel are less preoccupied with Susannah; Howarth takes us through the motions of an Irish teenage summer, perfectly capturing the heady joys and anxieties experienced by Lucy and her girls. I think a little suspension of disbelief is required around Lucy’s language – evocative, lyrical and flowery, it’s nonetheless nothing close to how a teenager would think or talk. But once I got past this, I was riveted by Lucy and Susannah – Lucy’s infatuation, Susannah’s charisma, all set against the backdrop of long, hot summers.
This is a gorgeously written book; it’s hard to believe that Howarth isn’t a published poet or novelist, and also that she’s only in her mid-fecking-twenties. Maybe youth is on her side in how perfectly she captures teenage angst, as well as teenage love, though. The love story in this novel is blistering, all consuming: despite sensing how it would all end, I was hooked and desperately believing for another outcome.

But Howarth is a realist, and does a great job evoking the social and political difficulties of the times Lucy and Susannah find themselves in. Sunburn doesn’t shy away from how homophobic this Ireland was, and how resistant it was to anyone different. Lucy is infatuated with Susannah but also desperate to be normal –as teen girls are – and it’s this central tension that propels the narrative. Lucy makes a series of terrible decisions in order to try and have her cake, and eat it: the consequences of this are plainly laid out, and painful to read. The story doesn’t shy away from Lucy’s faults, both real and imagined.
Sunburn is an addictive, honey-dipped queer love story that manages to capture the specific feeling of a long, hot Irish summer, too. Absolutely one of my reads of the year so far.

Teenage love in the Irish countryside. Set in the 1990, it's a great portrayal of queer love, family tension and the desire to escape from the boundaries of a small village and its people. Excellent debut novel!

a brilliant debut novel that beautifully and lyrically encapsulates the moments of girlhood, first love, longing, and finding your place in the world. it was so romantic and heartbreaking at the same time.