Sunburn

Synopsis

In the early 1990s, Lucy is growing up in the small Irish village of Crossmore, where her future seems already decided: marry the boy next door, have children, and never question the life expected of her. But Lucy has long known that the life she wants is different, a truth she keeps hidden even from herself. Only her closest friend, Susannah, makes her imagine another future.

As their friendship deepens into first love during one unforgettable summer before graduation, the two girls struggle to protect their relationship from the expectations of family, faith, and their tightly knit community. When Susannah refuses to keep living in secret, Lucy is forced to choose between the safety of conformity and the possibility of a life that feels true to herself.

Tender, atmospheric, and deeply affecting, Sunburn is a poignant coming-of-age novel about first love, identity, and the courage it takes to imagine a different future. With warmth and emotional precision, Chloe Michelle Howarth captures the beauty and heartbreak of growing up in a place where everyone knows your name but no one knows your heart.

About the Author

Chloe Michelle Howarth is an Irish writer from County Kildare. Sunburn is her debut novel, praised for its evocative portrayal of rural Ireland, queer first love, and the emotional complexities of adolescence.

Publisher
Melville House

Publication Date
October 14, 2025

Format
Hardcover

Pages
320

Subjects
Literary Fiction · Coming-of-Age · LGBTQ+ Fiction · Irish Literature

ISBN
9781685892111