Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter.

This gave Saltburn vibes in the best way possible, with more of an underlying depth to it that had me hooked.

A vivid story exploring the ways in which we can lose ourselves to love, with devastating consequences.

I've been thinking about this book a lot since I finished it. The first half of the book gave such strong saltburn vibes that I kept expecting something awful to happen to the characters - the story starts with our main character (only ever referred to as "white boy") spending a dreamlike, toasty summer with his unbelievably rich, old-money friend Lily and her family. He quickly falls for her brother, Felix (saltburn again, see?), and the two flirt and dance around each other for the first half of the book. The stay in the Chateau is tainted with microaggressions against white boy, and subtle jokes and stabs, and really weird family traditions that always keep him "othered" from the family and their rich friends. I enjoyed the first half of the book, and the flashbacks to whiteboys childhood were a good contrast and explained some of his behavior in the present timeline. His grandma is the best.

Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that explores complex themes of identity, privilege, and societal expectations. Hunter's prose is poetic and evocative, drawing readers into a richly atmospheric world. The novel's introspective style invites deep reflection on the human condition, making it both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating.

The narrative is layered with subtle observations about power dynamics and social hierarchies, offering a nuanced commentary on contemporary society. Hunter masterfully balances lyrical language with raw emotional honesty, creating a compelling and immersive reading experience.

Really interesting study of power, race and love. Or is it love.

2 people from different backgrounds, meet and begin a tempestuous relationship. Not a happy love story and quite typical on these current times who comes off worse.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young black man joins a wealthy family at their luxurious mansion during the Summer, invited there by his University friend - Lily, the daughter. However, it is Felix that the man is drawn to - the older, mysterious brother. But the reality of living in their world soon begins to take a toll and their bond is harshly tested.

I really responded to the way this was written - the style was evocative and I felt carried along with each word. A love story at its heart, however the book is so much more than that - exploring social status, race and being vulnerable when we fall in love. I wanted to give it more stars but the ending really annoyed me!

I struggled with this book for many reasons. The nature of what it talks about feels deeply uncomfortable. A young man enters the luxurious world of class, privilege, and wealth, which is controlled by the mother Annie. The young man falls for her son, Felix, his life is then connected with the family—his job and chances for a musical scholarship. Felix, in turn, is becoming a well-known actor and seems ashamed to show the world about his relationship.

Without providing a spoiler, and this is perhaps where I struggled, this shows the power that class, wealth and privilege can have over people and how people can be used as toys to be discarded when finished.

It's hard to read what it explores, but I recommend it.

Starting during a gorgeous summer in France, 'Sunstruck' invites us into a life of luxury. But, when taking off the rose tinted glasses, it reveals a story much more nuanced, tackling race, manipulation and power. Oozing toxicity and drama, we follow our unnamed main character as he sinks deeper into a family so far removed from his own and pretty much the rest of society.

Wasn't so keen on this initially, thought it was leaning to close to 'Saltburn' which I honestly still think. The opening paragraph is gearing you up for something sinister which yes, it was, but not in the way it leads you to think. It pushes for a murderous undertone which doesn't really go along with the rest of the book and sets some false impressions in my eyes.

The relationships within this book are so toxic on so many levels. The amount of power the whole family holds - not just Felix - over the main character is scary and I wish this was emphasised slightly more from the start instead of going for the 'something bad is going to happen / whodunnit' vibes. I have never felt more sorry for a character in my life. Even with the unreliable narrations of someone so enraptured by Felix, I found it very hard to like him or forgive him for any of his actions though out this book.

The struggle with race within this book was really prominent and I love how diverse it was especially in the second half. I loved the main characters' Grandma and how her lines were written within her dialect - it made her feel so real. There was a lot of conflict for the main character and how he identified which made it harder to watch him do everything to appease this rich white family, an inner circle that no matter how hard he tried, he would never be truly good enough for. Jazz was a perfect character in this situation, always steering him to making the right choices and not letting him forget his identity.

This book has probably my favourite ever closing line and reading those final pages was so exhilarating - perfect ending lines no faults at all. So satisfyingly infuriating.

This is a bit long and ramble-y but I have so many thoughts and there is sooo much to discuss about this book !!!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc !!

**All opinions are my own !!**

I am afraid that I struggled with this story. I found the characters hard to relate to and I found my mind wandering a lot. Maybe I was reading it at a time that I needed something a bit more upbeat but I am afraid that it just did not resonate with me.

This is a good story. Unfortunately, like I should have expected, it wasn't the right book for me, wrong timing. Too depressing for me at the moment, in a way that I find hard to shake. Look, I like miserable characters and stories (with a bit of a laugh too), but I need a sense of wonder. Books like this one doesn't give you that, so it's my fault, really.

'Sunstruck' is a skillfully written novel, accomplishing what it promised. Exactly so, in fact. If you know a little bit about the structure and beats of such novels, you can eaasily see where the story is going. If I had moments where my attention started to wander away, making me jump ahead a little, the book still held a sliver of my attention, which is already a feat for a book set in a contemporary era and no plot going on beside the main character's journey. The disgression into his past that pop ups in the middle of the present narrative where a lot at times, but I see how they added to the whole story. In the end, I couldn't get invested in the characters and their struggle, there was too much distance for me to care, but it is more to do with me than with the story.

Still, the commentary on wealth, privilege and love was interesting, despite not being done in a way that convinced me.

I don't think many words can actually describe how I felt about this book, but in short - I absolutely loved it. The character development and relationship narration is beyond anything I've read in a long time. I can certainly see why fans of CMBYN would love this, but the incorporation of racism and classism took this novel to a new level.

Each chapter had me engrossed and many times throughout the book I was laughing, gasping, and feeling so much for the main character.

I would 100% recommend this book and want to say thank you to William Rayfet Hunter for writing such a masterpiece.

Initially this felt too closely reminiscent to Saltburn but the plot is excellent, gripping and I really enjoyed it

An unnamed young, handsome, mixed race man joins the wealthy family of his university friend Lily on their summer holiday and becomes part of their circle, but not quite of it. The Blakes are privileged, artistic, eccentric, charismatic and challenging.
The narrator's home life and social circle are completely different, and find his friendship with the Blake family difficult to understand, and his black friend Jazz calls him White Boy.
It felt like there was more focus on the Blakes, who become more unattractive and unpleasant as the book progesses. I preferred the narrator's other friends who are more caring and supportive.
The book is beautifully written, the characters are interesting, there is a constant tension that feels like bad things are going to happen to the narrator who seems quite passive and naive.
Excellent book, Recommended.

This had a very hard sell, being described as “Call me by your name meets I may destroy you”.
I mean, wow what a combo! This sounded like such a. Wheelhouse for me!

There’s a lot I liked about it - I love an obsessive friendship, family drama. There was a lot of intrigue and i liked the commentary on race and class.

I just think it left me wanting a bit, particularly in light of the things it was compared to.

3.5 stars

Sunstruck is a captivating exploration of race, class, privilege, and the complexities of love set against the stunning backdrop of the French Riviera. The story follows a young man who enters the luxurious world of the Blakes, a wealthy family that includes the matriarch Annie, a world-renowned singer, her reserved husband David, and their children – the aloof and rebellious Dot, carefree Lily, and the enigmatic Felix. The summer, with its sun-soaked days and extravagant nights, becomes a stage for a budding, yet fraught, relationship between Felix and the man. What begins as a flirtation soon evolves into a deeper connection, presenting the man with the tantalising possibility of being part of a world where he doesn’t belong.

Hunter paints a world of privilege and excess, where the distance between the reality of life in London and the fantasy of the Blakes’ summer villa in the south of France is palpable. But as the season wanes and the characters return to their lives in the city, the allure of this gilded existence begins to crumble. The man, a black working-class individual, is faced with the realities of navigating Felix’s world, a world that has been built on status and power. Meanwhile, Felix, despite his wealth and position, is wrestling with his own inner turmoil, creating a tension that threatens to pull their relationship apart.

What makes Sunstruck particularly compelling is its nuanced examination of the moral grey areas each character inhabits. Hunter masterfully delves into the selfish yet understandable choices made by the characters, especially as they navigate complex emotions and their evolving dynamics. The characters are rich with layers, and their struggles feel real, grounded in both personal and societal challenges. The relationship between the man and Felix is fraught with tension, not just due to their different backgrounds, but because of the emotional and psychological burdens each carries.

The book is a striking commentary on race, status, and the ways people are shaped by the systems they inhabit. Hunter’s portrayal of power dynamics, especially within the context of privilege and oppression, is both thought-provoking and timely. The representation of people of colour (POC) and queer characters is not only diverse but also deeply layered, adding richness to the narrative and ensuring the characters are both real and relatable.

Sunstruck is a dazzling and poignant story that deftly handles difficult topics such as identity, love, and self-worth. It is a book that invites reflection on the parts of ourselves we risk losing when we fall in love or strive to belong to worlds that aren’t our own. The novel’s exploration of emotional complexity and moral ambiguity makes it an unforgettable read, and Hunter’s sharp observations about societal structures ensure it stays with you long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

(3.5, deservedly rounded up)
Honestly, I've been tying myself in knots trying to decide what to say about this book, or even just what sort of rating to give it. This is a good novel. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of picking it up at a time where I was already really anxious and kind of miserable (end of the academic semester, baybee) which meant that it stressed me out so much that I had to put it down several times and I now mostly associate it with a feeling of dread.
But then again, this book is certainly not one that's trying to make you happy and comfortable, and that just proves it's well executed, with the emotional beats hitting the way they should. That also made it a little predictable for me - I know how this kind of story goes, so I kind of expected how the majority of the plot ended up developing - which stressed me out more, because I knew that our unnamed protagonist would continue to have a miserable time for quite a while. So, yeah, if I had a bone to pick with this novel is that it goes kind of exactly the way you'd expect it to go if you are somewhat familiar with this format and themes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing - the author was clearly aiming for something and achieved it successfully.
So overall, this is a skillfully executed novel, and I'm sad I picked it up at the time I did, because I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I wasn't already really stressed out. I can see that the release date is set for May, which I think is gonna be ideal - if you want something to set you on edge and make you laugh and mostly cry in bright summer days, this is absolutely it.

I received an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, Cornerstone, and the author William Rayfet Hunter.
Unfortunately this book really wasn't for me. I found it frustrating and stressful at times, especially with the writing style and the character development of Felix who was totally unrecognisable by the end from the charismatic man we were initially introduced to. For that reason, the subsequent actions and reactions just didn't quite add up. I also found the unnecessary hyperbole grating. Not for me! 2 stars.

Nicely written book for a debut novel. I did feel that the book lost its way part of the way through and really needs a good edit. The possibility of making it into two books is there.

The innocence of youth and all that entails is written very well with lots of atmospheric detail. Summer reading for the first part of the book. London stage really seems to be a lot darker in places and this is where it needs editing.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Stunning book, I read it in one sitting and stayed up late to finish it. It’s an amazing read that felt like a punch in the stomach throughout. It felt like 2 different books with such complex and intricate interweaving stories, which was ambitious and could have gone so wrong but the author pulled it off flawlessly. It depicted class, race, toxic relationships, family, sexuality seamlessly. I highly recommend this book.

Oh this was insanely good.
Starting off in the rush of a pseudo-bacchanalia during the height of a french summer, where our narrator is staying with a university friends family, followed by the starkly sobering conclusion set back in the UK.
I couldn’t put it down, clinging to the pages in the same gripped, disgusted way I watched Saltburn, which Sunstruck is definitely reminiscent of. Take Saltburn, Brideshead and the atmosphere of CMBYN and this is it. The only difference is Sunstruck takes on it’s topics unflinchingly, regardless of the severity. Our narrator is unnamed, of fairly ambiguous race and lower class, finding himself in a world of rich, powerful white people. But the author does not shy away from the moments of microaggressions, and full on aggressions, letting them flow naturally and horrifyingly between the intoxicating romance (if you can really call it that), never once underwriting the serious aspects of the novel.
A truly stunning, aching read and I look forward to reading anything else William Rayfet Hunter publishes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cornerstone for the ARC!

This is a first novel from a clearly talented writer, but it’s also a sprawling story and it would have benefited from a more determined edit. It might even have made two novels!

It opens with the unnamed mixed-race narrator, straight from university, encountering the rich and amazingly talented Blake family at one of their homes in France. He has been invited there by Lily, his university friend, but struggles socially even as he falls for her brother.

In fact, struggling socially is a major theme of the novel as apart from his experience with the arty toffs, he does not really seem to fit in with black London, carnival, demonstrations and police violence later in the novel. Also, these different contexts and his sexuality overlap in uncomfortable ways and new relationships. It’s obvious that the narrator will not fit in with the Saltburn lifestyle of the Blakes but less obvious that he also has problems in being nicknamed ‘white boy’ in the black community.

It makes for a challenging read! It also makes for a powerful novel as it explores aspects of a mixed-race heritage and the confused business of trying to fit in.

Perhaps, the Blakes are slightly overcooked in their pretensions and extravagances, even as they overlook the nastier sides of some of their natures and it’s a shame that the narrator often seems to pass out (from alcohol, drugs, sex and whatever) when it would have been good to know what happened next! However, it is still an excellent read from a writer to watch out for.