Addressing themes of queer identity, adolescent turmoil, and religious shame, this romantic novel radiates with the fervor and longing of first love.
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“Sunburn” by Chloe Michelle Howarth
$20 at Amazon
Rosa Sanchez (senior news editor)
Hello @here, welcome to another month of Bazaar Book Chat! This July we explored “Sunburn” by Chloe Michelle Howarth. The story centers on Lucy, a teenager brought up by Christian parents in the quaint town of Crossmore, Ireland, as she experiences first love with her friend Susannah and navigates intricate feelings of queer identity, longing, guilt, heartbreak, and obligation.
Initial impressions?
Sarah Olivieri (senior designer)
I genuinely found this enjoyable. It resonated with me emotionally. It took a moment to adjust to the internal dialogue, which felt a bit meandering, but once I did, the narrative really held my interest.
❤️2
Kristina Ang (social video coordinator)
This was the ideal book for this season! I read most of it on the beach during my vacation, and it perfectly matched the atmosphere.
❤️2
Ariana Marsh (senior features editor)
I adored this book! The richness of the prose was stunning, and it truly felt like you were inside a teenager’s mind. Like you pointed out, Sarah, her internal monologue was somewhat unwieldy, but I think that’s what made her feel so authentic.
❤️4
Olivia Alchek (senior designer)
I was just checking out the Good Reads reviews (I enjoy seeing others’ reactions after I read or watch something), and my favorite comment was, “Goddamn, the Irish can WRITE.”
😂3
It made me nostalgic for that Sally Rooney Irish yearning.
Rosa Sanchez
Honestly, it brought me so much joy! I loved that the writing was light and easygoing, while the themes discussed were quite profound. Christian guilt, queer shame, the intricacies of love.
❤️3
At times, Lucy’s inner thoughts did feel somewhat repetitive, but then again, that reflects how the subconscious operates, especially when grappling with an obsession or a crush, particularly at that age.
👆2
OMG, but yes, I also appreciated how they conveyed the accent in writing. It really transported me to that setting. lol.
Ariana Marsh
Yes, I kept thinking, “Wow, I remember feeling that way.” Her thought patterns reflected her age and the ways in which she was still forming her identity and emotional understanding.