Book description
Shortlisted for the 2023 Nero Book Award for Debut Fiction An Evening Standard 'One to Watch in 2023 An Independent 'Best Romantic Summer Reads' A Book of the Month pick for Diva, Irish Examiner, Novellic & Sainsbury's Magazine A Most Anticipated pick for PinkNews & Queer on the Street It's the early 1990s, and in the Irish village of Crossmore, Lucy feels out of place. Despite her fierce friendships, she's always felt this way, and the conventional path of marriage and motherhood doesn't appeal to her at all. Not even with handsome and doting Martin, her closest childhood friend. 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, very quickly, to a desperate and devastating love. Fearful of rejection from her small and conservative community, Lucy begins living a double life, hiding the most honest parts of herself in stolen moments with Susannah. But with the end of school and the opportunity to leave Crossmore looming, Lucy must choose between two places, two people and two futures, each as terrifying as the other. Neither will be easy, but only one will offer her happiness. Sunburn is an astute and tender portrayal of first love, adolescent anxiety and the realities of growing up in a small town where tradition holds people tightly in its grasp. An atmospheric sapphic love story and coming-of-age novel with the intensity of Megan Nolan's Acts of Desperation, the long hot summer of AndrΓ© Aciman's Call Me By Your Name and the female friendships of Anna Hope's Expectation. 'A tender and heartfelt coming-of-age tale' - Heat 'A compassionate take on the push and pull between what's expected and what is felt' - Herald 'A deeply moving, heartfelt love story' - Daily Mail 'Lucy tells her story in a true, compelling voice, with an eye for minutiae, quaint apercus, and confidences that make her account moving and convincing' - SAGA Magazine 'Tender and poignant... Ideal reading for the last month of summer' - Diva 'Intense and all-consuming - like the first love it describes - Sunburn transported me to the heart of summer and the heady days of late adolescence. I won't soon forget Chloe Michelle Howarth's addictive, lushly written debut' - Laura Sims 'Capturing all the intensity of first love, blended with the claustrophobia of small-town life, this debut, inspired by real experience, is tender and raw' - The Bookseller 'A beautiful coming of age love novel written with an insightful poetical prose, rich with religious allegory and texture which underscores the transformative, spiritual power of first love explored' - Scene Magazine
About the Author
Chloe Michelle Howarth was born in July 1996. She grew up in the West Cork countryside, which has served as an inspiration for her writing. She attended university at IADT in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, where she studied English, Media and Cultural Studies. Chloe currently lives in Brighton. Sunburn is her debut novel.
Jetta Talent
This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. πββοΈπ Combining exercise and exploration β this app keeps me motivated on my daily jogs! πββοΈπ Navigating audiobooks seamlessly β this app's design is a true winner. ListenBook has changed my audiobook game forever. No more format woes!
1st Degree
With this app, I'm discovering the joy of reading during my commutes. Quick access to chapters is so handy. Navigating through content is a breeze. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Acid Queen
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my audiobooks with enhanced sound quality and personalized settings. Audiobooks have never been this immersive β this app transports me to different worlds. This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. π Rekindling my love for stories β this app's accessibility has reignited my passion! ππ
Proper
The offline mode is a lifesaver on flights β I'm never without a good story. Audiobooks have made my long commutes enjoyable, and I'm always eager to see what's next. Audiobook pleasure at its finest! This app's sleek design and efficient organization ensure that every story is accessible and delightful. ππ This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark featureβit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend! A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Vortex
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my life so much easier. This app has become my ultimate travel companion, ensuring that I'm always entertained and inspired. The app's versatility in downloading audio is impressive. It streamlines the process and saves time. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
Bugger
ListenBook's library organization and book groups have made managing my audiobooks a breeze. Iβm so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Reno Monarch
ListenBook has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again β it's a must-have app. This app's compatibility with different formats ensures that I never miss out on a great audiobook. π Rekindling my love for reading β this app makes each day a new adventure! ππ
Spit Turanga
I never knew my daily walks could be so fulfilling β all thanks to this app. With ListenBook, I've unlocked a world of educational and entertaining content right at my fingertips. I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. Audiobooks on this app have expanded my horizons and introduced me to new ideas. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive offerings, from statistics tracking to immersive audio processing, have breathed new life into my reading. πβ¨
Whistler
ListenBook's clean interface and organized layout make it a pleasure to browse through my audiobooks. This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy β it's eye-opening. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
Spunky Sphinx
I'm impressed by ListenBook's commitment to providing a silky-smooth playback experience. ListenBook's sleek layout and quick chapter access have made my audiobook journey incredibly enjoyable. Auto-rewind is incredibly helpful. Excellent functionality.
Bit Sentinel
I'm amazed at how this app seamlessly integrates with my daily routine. πΆββοΈπ Discovering new worlds on my daily walks β this app is my travel companion! ππ§ Audiobooks have never been this accessible and enjoyable. This app's compatibility with various formats and its emphasis on user experience have made it an essential tool for me. π±π Sharing audiobooks with friends is a blast. AirDrop makes it seamless. Adjusting the tone of the voice is a unique feature that adds a personalized touch to the listening experience.
Troubled Pie
ListenBook's integration of artwork and metadata adds a visually appealing touch to my library. Finally, an app that lets me enjoy my personal audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortlessly. π This app has turned my errands into exciting quests β I can conquer the grocery store while enjoying a book! ππ The playback speed control is a game-changer. ListenBook lets me listen at my own pace.
BloodEater
This app has brought the magic of books back into my life. Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift.
MysticMingle
I'm amazed by the variety of genres available β there's something for everyone. The sleek and user-friendly interface makes navigating the app a breeze. It's a pleasure to use. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
Fire Queen
I'm rediscovering my love for literature through this app β it's revitalizing. Thanks to ListenBook's automatic extraction of artwork and metadata, my library looks organized and appealing. π± Turning my phone into a portal of endless stories β this app is pure magic! πβ¨ πββοΈπ Experiencing stories while staying active β this app's functionality enhances my walks and runs like never before. π§ποΈ
Noh Noh
With ListenBook, I can enjoy my own audio content with unparalleled ease and comfort. π Making every moment count β this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! ππ« Managing my audiobook collection is a pleasure thanks to this app's usability. Binaural audio processing is a godsend. My ears don't fatigue even during extended listening. The compatibility with Apple Watch is a huge plus. I can control my audiobooks from my wrist!
Day Hawk
π Transforming laundry time into a journey through fantastic stories β thank you, this app! ππ πββοΈπ I'm conquering literary marathons with ease, all thanks to this app's intuitive controls and smooth functionality. π±π Efficiency meets audiobooks β this app's functionality is a perfect match. Great app! ListenBook supports so many formats, and the playback is always smooth.
Lucky Martian
ListenBook's sleek design and easy chapter access make navigation a breeze. Audiobooks made easy β this app's functionality is truly a gift. I love the car mode. Itβs so convenient for listening while driving. Iβve been using ListenBook for months, and itβs been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesnβt drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend!
EchoExplorer
Background play feature lets me multitask while enjoying a book β brilliant! I'm hooked on this app's ability to make reading fit into every nook and cranny of my day. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's elegant design and robust functionality make it a must-have for anyone who loves to listen on the go. π§π±
DeathDancer
π§ Making housework more enjoyable β audiobooks turn mundane chores into moments of discovery. π§Ήπ ListenBookβs playback speed control is very useful. I can listen at my own pace.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience