Hello, I’m Chloe Michelle. I’m an Irish author living in Brighton, UK. I have been writing since my teens, and my debut novel, Sunburn, will be published by VERVE in June 2023. It focuses on best friends Lucy and Susannah as they navigate their teen years and their changing relationship. I seek out Irish voices in both fiction and non-fiction, and I love queer storytelling. Here are a few of the books I am getting excited for this year.
Shy by Max Porter – 6th April 2023, Faber & Faber
Max Porter’s writing is so distinctive, and if Lanny and Grief Is the Thing with Feathers are anything to go by, this is going to be excellent. I love the darker themes he explores in his writing. Filled with liminal spaces and troublesome questions, I am really looking forward to this haunting novel.
Rosewater by Liv Little – 20th April 2023, Little, Brown
I have been seeing so much buzz around this book, and it just sounds perfect. A story of doubt, hope and love as a woman navigates her late twenties. The fantastic cover is so atmospheric and sets such a beautiful tone. Sapphic stories are something I always seek out, and I will be counting down to April to get my hands on this.
The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams – 16th May 2023, GP Putnam’s Sons
The story of a woman whose husband and best friend hate each other. I love difficult relationship dynamics and the way that characters justify them. As the novel is told in three parts, I am hoping that each character will provide a different perspective on their situation. Described as having ‘a healthy dose of wealth and snobbery’, this novel sounds both juicy and sophisticated at once.
Bellies by Nicola Dinan – 6th July 2023, Transworld Publishers
A story which examines the progression of a relationship as its characters graduate university, begin their lives as adults and experience transition. I love stories surrounding gender, its complexities and the many identities that can come along with it. There has been great praise for this debut, which sounds heart-warming and heart-breaking at once.
Kala by Colin Walsh – 25th July 2023, Atlantic
This mystery novel is top of my list for 2023. Having grown up in an Irish tourist town myself, I can’t wait to read a novel that unfolds in Kinlough. The story deals with Kala Lannan’s disappearance, and the effects that it has on her friends’ lives. The lifelong impact of a small-town it-girl is so intriguing to me. I can’t wait to get stuck into this story.
Sunburn is publishing in June, and you can pre-order your copy here.