Sunburn: Exclusive American Edition with Additional Material

"Tackling topics of queer identity, teenage angst, and religious guilt, this romantic novel burns with the intensity and yearning of first love." -- Harper's Bazaar

THE INDIE BESTSELLER, with additional exclusive content inside.

For fans of Normal People, a queer, coming-of-age debut of impossible first love, first loss, and first heartbreak...

It's the early 1990's in the small town of Crossmore, Ireland, and Lucy knows what she's expected to do. Fall in love with the son of the farmer next door, marry him, pray for children, and never, under any circumstances reveal the truth-that she doesn't think marriage or motherhood or staying in Crossmore is for her. That the reason she knows this, is because of her close friend, Susannah.

For years, Lucy buries her obsession, until one summer, right before graduation, when her friendship with Susannah escalates. Now, Lucy will do anything to keep their secret safe. Their relationship is both the best and worst thing that's ever happened to her-Lucy loves Susannah, but every day, it feels like Crossmore, Lucy's mother, and their social mores are closing in. And when Susannah decides she no longer wants to hide, Lucy must make a devastating choice.

Tender and heartbreaking, Sunburn portrays the realities of growing up in a small rural town-from the long, hot summers, to the pressures of a conservative, traditional community where everyone knows each other's business. It'll leave you aching for your own first love.

Author: Chloe Michelle Howarth
Publisher: Melville House Publishing
Published: 07/08/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.50w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9781685892111


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/05/2025
Kirkus Reviews 06/01/2025
Library Journal 06/01/2025 pg. 81
Foreword 06/22/2025
Shelf Awareness 07/27/2025

About the Author
Chloe Michelle Howarth is an Irish writer who grew up in the West Cork countryside. The landscapes, culture, and people of rural Ireland have served as an inspiration for her writing. She first became interested in literature as a teenager, and in 2015, she moved to Dublin to study English, Media, and Cultural Studies in IADT Dun Laoghaire. Chloe currently lives in Brighton. This is her first novel.