Hello, I’m Chloe Michelle. I’m an Irish author living in Brighton. I absolutely love queer literature, especially with richly imagined, interesting settings and characters. My debut novel, Sunburn, is a sapphic story which details protagonist Lucy’s coming of age as she navigates family, sexuality and her intense friendship with her best friend, Susannah. It is set in rural Ireland in the 1990s and is publishing at the end of June – just in time to be your hottest summer read! And if you’re looking for a warm-up read in the meantime, here are a few of my favourite sapphic novels which I think you should check out…
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
If you haven’t read this yet, get it to the top of your TBR list! Armfield’s writing is such a treat, and this book is so enjoyable to read. It offers a very interesting perspective on the changes of a romantic relationship over time. When a woman returns from a disastrous deep-sea mission, her wife must deal with the aftermath and come to terms with the loss of a wife who has not died. One of my favourite books of 2022, and so different from anything I’ve read recently.
The Mercies by Karen Millwood Hargraves
This is one of my go-to recommendations when somebody asks me what they should read next. Based on real witch trials that occurred on the Norwegian island of Vardo in 1621, and a storm which wiped out the island’s male population. Originally I thought I was assigning my own queer meaning to this book, what with the witches and the lack of men, but this is definitely a sapphic story!
The Inseparables by Simone de Beauvoir
In this instance, I certainly did apply my own queer meaning to the book. However, I think picking up on queer vibes even when they aren’t explicit is part of the sapphic experience. This book is a treasure, published posthumously by de Beauvoir’s daughter. It is based on the real-life intense friendship between de Beauvoir and her best friend, and deals with themes of religion, female fascination and longing.
The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
Or more recently known as Carol after the film adaptation. I couldn’t talk about sapphic novels without mentioning this book. Celebrated for being one of the first queer stories with a happy ending, The Price of Salt features romantic, honest writing. Based on a real story from the author’s life, this book depicts the realities of being queer in 1950s America without the harrowing ending that we might expect.
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Gender swapping, lesbian affairs, oysters, Victorian showbiz. I can’t imagine you need any further convincing that you need to read this book. It is so enjoyable and pulls you along all the way to the end. Water’s writing is very immersive, and she really brings the 19th century to life. Essential sapphic reading!