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.
FlyGuardX
CUE playlist support is a fantastic organizational feature. It keeps my audiobooks neatly arranged. ListenBook has become my trusted companion. It's my go-to app for expanding my knowledge and enjoyment.
Trash
π§ Navigating through narratives has never been simpler β this app's functionality enhances my audiobook journey. ππ« ListenBook's audio filters have given me the power to tailor my listening experience to my preferences. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to connect with fellow book lovers. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a fantastic bonus. It keeps me entertained during long drives. ListenBook is the best audiobook player Iβve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
Mad Kid
ListenBook's support for binaural audio processing is a thoughtful touch that reduces listening fatigue. I can't get enough of this app's easy navigation and quick access to chapters and playback controls. I can't imagine my life without this app β it's my passport to countless stories. Automatic artwork and metadata extraction keep my audiobook library organized and visually appealing. A reasonable choice for casual listening. The audiobook was well-produced, but the pacing felt uneven in places. I didnβt dislike it, but I also didnβt feel strongly about it one way or another.
CZR
Audiobooks on this app have expanded my horizons and introduced me to new ideas. Quick access to chapters and controls makes ListenBook a joy to use. It's a seamless experience. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction makes sure that background distractions don't interfere with my listening. I can't get enough of the smooth playback experience. It's like a symphony for my ears.
Upper D3ckR
This app is my travel companion β making long journeys enjoyable and insightful. ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that I can access my content without any limitations. ποΈ Basking in the sun while indulging in literary adventures β this app makes outdoor relaxation even better. βοΈπ
Wild Tesla
I've discovered authors I'd never heard of before, and now they're among my favorites. Bookmarking on ListenBook makes it easy to pick up where I left off β no more searching for my spot! Audiobooks made simple β this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air. ListenBook's dedication to user convenience is evident in the drag-and-drop download feature from web browsers. Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality.
Diamond Gamer
π Rekindling my love for stories β this app's accessibility has reignited my passion! ππ Adjustable playback speed and volume controls are excellent.
Fire Queen
The app's layout is clean and intuitive, making it a pleasure to navigate. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is such a fun way to spread joy. Not bad, but not amazing either. The narratorβs voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldnβt necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Nightmare King
I'm rediscovering my favorite classics in a whole new way β through audiobooks! This app is my secret weapon for staying entertained during mundane tasks. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer for immersive listening in any environment. Good for background listening. I didnβt get fully immersed, but it was pleasant enough to have on while doing chores. The narratorβs voice was easy to listen to, even if the delivery lacked some energy.
Chew Chew
πΆββοΈπ§ Walking has never been this productive β exploring new worlds while I exercise! ποΈπ« Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time. This audiobook made my workouts fly by! The engaging narration kept me motivated to keep listening, which meant longer gym sessions. The narrator's energy matched the material perfectly - upbeat when needed, somber when appropriate. A great example of how narration can enhance text.
Twisty Freesia
This app has brought the magic of books back into my life. Effortless and enriching β that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its smooth interface and thoughtful features have set the bar high for audiobook enjoyment. π±π ListenBook Pro's tone adjustment feature is an innovative touch that adds a layer of personalization.
Nickname Master
My child has also fallen in love with audiobooks, all thanks to the app's kid-friendly collection. Looping playback helps me immerse myself in the content. It's my secret study weapon. With ListenBook Pro, I can enjoy super long audiobooks. It's fantastic! ListenBookβs CarPlay support makes listening in the car a seamless experience.
Demolition Queen
πΆββοΈπ§ Walking and listening has never been this smooth β this app's user-friendly interface makes it a breeze to enjoy my favorite stories. ποΈπ Kudos to the developers for crafting an app that understands readers' needs. The smooth playback and sleek design are pure perfection. ππ The audio filters in ListenBook allow me to customize my listening experience. Speed up or slow down playbackβit's all up to me! The interface is sleek and user-friendly. Makes navigating through chapters a breeze. Looping playback is an invaluable study tool. It helps me absorb complex information effortlessly.
Sloth
ListenBook's powerful audio downloading features are a game-changer β I can have my audiobooks ready in no time. πΆββοΈπ Strolling through captivating narratives has never been easier β this app's intuitive controls make audiobook listening a delight. π§ποΈ πββοΈπ Experiencing stories while staying active β this app's functionality enhances my walks and runs like never before. π§ποΈ ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver! ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made a significant difference in the clarity of recordings.
Easy Street
The app's design is sleek and modern β it's a pleasure to navigate. Listening to books while doing chores? This app makes it possible! The tone adjustment feature in ListenBook Pro is a novel addition that allows me to personalize my audiobook experience.
RedFeet
This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. πΆ Music? Nah, I prefer immersing myself in captivating stories with this app! πΆπ πΌ Elevating my work-from-home routine with this app's delightful audiobook selection! π»π Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience.
FireBrang
ListenBook's features are a bookworm's dream come true β from chapters to bookmarks, it's got everything. Audiobooks on demand β this app's functionality is a true technological gem. The intuitive chapter navigation and quick access to controls make my audiobook experience seamless. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to share the joy of storytelling with friends and family. It fosters connections and conversations.
HOV
This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. π‘ This app is a brilliant way to squeeze in reading time amidst my busy schedule! π±π©βπ³ Absolutely love this app! It's made my daily commute so much more enjoyable. Adjusting the narrator's voice tone is a creative feature that adds a personal touch to the experience. ListenBookβs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Nightmare King
This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. Enhancing my daily routines β this app's design makes listening a joy.
Joker's Grin
I can't imagine my life without this app β it's my passport to countless stories. This app's convenience has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again. πͺ Crushing workouts while devouring books β this app makes fitness fun and educational! ποΈββοΈπ ListenBook's extensive format support makes it the ultimate audiobook app for any audiobook lover. Playback speed and volume controls are top-notch. Highly recommend.
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