Sunstruck

by William Rayfet Hunter

It’s summer and a young man walks through the gates of a luxurious mansion in the south of France. At the dinner table, the Blakes are waiting for Annie, the family matriarch and world-famous singer, her inscrutable husband David and their children, Dot, aloof and rebellious, Lily, the man’s carefree university friend, and their enigmatic older brother Felix.

Between sun-drenched days spent lounging by the pool and nights blurring into endless, opulent parties far from the reality of life in London, a restless attraction grows between Felix and the man. The possibility to be part of a family – and an entire world – in which he doesn’t belong is suddenly within reach.

But the idyllic haze of the summer slowly fades as they return to the city. While the man struggles with his troubled past and the challenges of navigating Felix’s world as a black, working-class person, Felix is tormented by demons of his own. As their lives spiral out of control, the couple’s bond will not only be tested but pulled apart at the seams, altering the course of their lives and the future of those around them.

Sunstruck is a dazzling and poignant exploration of race, status and the parts of ourselves we risk losing when we fall in love.

Genres: Fiction, LGBT, Literary Fiction, Summer, Queer, Contemporary, Gay

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 2025

Reviews

[enzoreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’ETAIT BIIIIEN OMG

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunstruck kicks off fast, dropping us straight into a classic fish-out-of-water setup: our narrator – a mixed race, working class student – is invited to spend summer in the south of France with his wealthy white friend Lily’s family. Cue an infatuation with Lily’s golden-boy brother Felix and a growing sense of enmeshment with the luminous Blake family. I found it refreshing that Hunter doesn’t waste time establishing the background, instead placing the narrator straight into this milieu. He is, seemingly, immediately embraced by the Blakes; the reader doesn’t get hit over the head with his outsider status. It starts as a slow burn, with a sense of unease playing out through small details.

But the protagonist, despite narrating in first person, is a bit of an empty vessel, and the trouble deepens when summer ends and the characters return to London. These chapters feel weirdly placeless, especially compared to how vividly the French countryside is drawn early on. Plot-wise, everything gets a bit tangled: the narrator is simultaneously marginalised and massively elevated by his proximity to the Blakes, and the book can’t quite decide what it wants to do with that. His entanglement with Felix adds another layer of thwarted desire, but it’s never quite given the emotional weight it needs.

Like Hazel Barkworth’s The Drownings, Sunstruck is effective in parts but flounders when it tries to tackle chewier themes; in attempting to be profound and a page-turner at the same time, it comes off as shallow. I think it’s aiming for something like Paul Mendez’ Rainbow Milk, but the characterisation isn’t strong enough to hold the whole thing up. Would’ve been better as a fun summer thriller; there’s some great, evocative scene-setting in the first half.

[Isobel Macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like a more fleshed out version of Saltburn with a strong focus on race, I loved it. It's a really loaded read with a lot to talk about, it tackles classism and racism head on and involves a large variation of characters. The whole point is summed up tremendously in the final line. I think (and hope) that Sunstruck is going to do very well when it publishes this summer.

Big thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy!

[Sabrina Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heart-wrenching but necessary book. I am NOT OKAY

[Jamie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The debut of the year, simply put divas. I’m having a hard time summarising my feelings, it’s just perfect.

[Zoe Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does not deserve the rave reviews. While I hate this adjective, it was 'amateur'. It was derivative, lacked nuance, and while it was readable, lacked depth and maturity. The writing was clunky, and the characters were all caricatures.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my favourite books of 2024! This had me laughing, gasping, and feeling so much for the main character. I can certainly see why the novel would attract fans of CMBYN but the integration of racism and classism takes this to a completely different level for me.

From start to finish, this book is perfection.

[Brigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read (listen). I enjoyed the first part a lot more; second half felt like it wanted to be too many things. 3.5 stars

[Sophie Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible, one of the best books I’ve ever read. I don’t even know how to write a review for this but it just articulates so many things so well. Racism and classism tackled incredibly well and loved the exploration of power within queer relationships.

Think this will stay with me for a long time and really does make u think

[Aleena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read and really satisfied the Saltburn fan in me!!! Enjoyed the exploration of privilege vs race and how the narrator slowly became more aware of his outsider status. Couldn’t stop picturing Felix as Jacob Elordi, what an evil man! The end felt a true reflection of society, dark and disturbingly unjust.

[Beyza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a Love Story. Wollte erst 4 Sterne geben, weil ich mir etwas mehr Tiefe bei den Charakteren gewünscht hätte. Aber wenn ich länger drüber nachdenke: vielleicht war das auch ganz gut, um den Punkt zu machen. Die Geschichte hat mich definitiv zerstört. Der letzte Satz hat es auf die Spitze getrieben.

Das Buch kann aber einige Content Warnings vertragen. Hab keine gesehen, aber vielleicht auch nicht richtig geschaut. Habe auf jeden Fall nicht mit so viel gerechnet: Rassismus, Klassismus, Homophobie, Transphobie, Häusliche Gewalt, sexualisierte Gewalt, Polizei Gewalt, Suizid(Versuch)

[Rachel Gaffney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very torn between 4 and 5 🌟- may well yet move this up!

[suzannah ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

some of the most gorgeous writing i have ever read

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunstruck is a novel about class, race, and power, as a young man enters the world of a privileged family. Our unnamed narrator, of mixed White British and Black Caribbean heritage, goes to stay in France with his White friend from university, Lily, and her family, including her enticing brother Felix. Whilst there, he grows closer to Felix, and his desire seems to be reciprocated, as the family gears up for a big party. And then, months later in London, he tries to navigate his new relationship with Felix and with others in his life, pulled in different directions and by different allegiances.

This debut novel takes the 'outsider enters the world of a privileged family' novel and explores some of the power dynamics within it, particularly around race and sexuality as well as money and connections. The first half of the novel is set in a big French house where the unnamed narrator visits the family, and contains a lot of what you'd expect: simmering desire, secrets, and the narrator not necessarily understanding everything going on. Then, the book suddenly moves to part two, which is set in London and follows him as he and Felix navigate having a half-secret relationship with increasing arguments and tension. Alongside this, there's his increasingly ill grandmother back in Bury and feeling torn between one White posh family and his Black friends and their activism and art.

There's a lot packed in—there's also a Black Conservative MP who keeps popping up, the narrator's childhood with a mentally ill mother, and the side characters all have plotlines as well—making it feel rich and varied, though a few elements don't necessarily get enough space (for example, there's multiple examples of the narrator not being able to support people after sexual assault and not knowing what to do, which could've been explored a bit more). Overall, this is a gripping novel perfect if you enjoy this kind of 'outsider in a privileged world' story.

[Harriet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💬 “Heartbreak is a kind of drowning. My whole body aches for release and my chest screams with the need for oxygen but there is no air.”

💭 SUNSTRUCK follows a young aspiring musician who is drawn into the intoxicating world of the Blake siblings, having been invited to the South of France by university friend, Lily. As he becomes entangled in their lives - particularly with the enigmatic and guarded Felix - what starts as a dreamy summer of indulgence - think poolside afternoons and extravagant parties - slowly unravels into something far more complex. Beneath the glamour, the novel becomes a tense and introspective exploration of race, class, desire and self-worth.

Wow wow wow. I was totally blown away by this one. Hunter’s prose is stunning - vivid and immersive, filling every page with sun-drenched longing and building tension. And the characters! Aside from the central pair, we get Lily, Dot, Jaz, and so many others, each crafted with such depth, making the novel feel even richer.

I’ve seen a lot of SALTBURN comparisons, and while the first half definitely has that vibe - big house, rich family, obsession - the second half veers somewhere a bit different with Hunter’s exploration of class and race, and how power structures shape relationships.

If you’re looking for a sharp, absorbing read this summer, SUNSTRUCK is definetly one to pick up. I couldn’t recommend it more and I’m excited to see what Hunter writes next.

[Rocelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐️ I felt like the first part and the second part of this book were two totally different books. The first one reminded me of Saltburn and the second one (that I enjoyed the most) was more about racism and classism. The ending was one of the best endings I’ve ever read.

‘Homes are always haunted by past versions of the selves we tried to leave behind.’

[Holly Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost dnf, this was absolutely predictable and just boring, did not like any of the characters and overall it just felt like a repetition of tropes and “plot twists” we’ve all seen many times before.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eeeeek another five star read in the bag! I adored this book. It's the perfect summer read for a lit fic girl like myself. It felt sexy and summer hazy but was also such a poignant and impactful comment on all the forms of bigotry the narrator is subjected to - racism, homophobia and classism were all explored beautifully. I laughed and I was close to tears - it was just gorgeous.

Also, I have shared my strong feelings on the overdone trope of the unnamed female narrator previously and I still strongly stand by those, however having an unnamed MALE narrator changed the game in this book. The ending and the way it all clicked and was just so damn clever left me with goosebumps.

William Rayfet Hunter is 100% one to watch.

[Sarah P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely raced through this. Very very good, compelling, important, and great writing. Only thing is I found the two halves of the book a bit jarring - felt like two different books to me

[Y.N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank to Netgalley and Random House UK for the eARC

This is a good story. Unfortunately, like I should have expected, it wasn't the right book for me, wrong timing. Too depressing for me at the moment, in a way that I find hard to shake. Look, I like miserable characters and stories (with a bit of a laugh too), but I need a sense of wonder. Books like this one doesn't give you that, so it's my fault, really.

'Sunstruck' is a skillfully written novel, accomplishing what it promised. Exactly so, in fact. If you know a little bit about the structure and beats of such novels, you can eaasily see where the story is going. If I had moments where my attention started to wander away, making me jump ahead a little, the book still held a sliver of my attention, which is already a feat for a book set in a contemporary era and no plot going on beside the main character's journey. The disgression into his past that pop ups in the middle of the present narrative where a lot at times, but I see how they added to the whole story. In the end, I couldn't get invested in the characters and their struggle, there was too much distance for me to care, but it is more to do with me than with the story.

Still, the commentary on wealth, privilege and love was interesting, despite not being done in a way that convinced me.

[Simon Brodding · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent beach read for my trip to Nice, being in a similar environment as the book you’re reading always adds something to the experience.

Immersing into the heavily Saltburn-inspired setting was pleasurable, but the story struggled to find a clear focus.

It’s an ambitious debut that wants to do more than what it’s able to achieve, unfortunately. It’s a little bit all over the place and lacks a sense of direction. I’m surprised there wasn’t an editor here who could have woven the narrative threads into a more coherent whole.

The writing is a little too on your nose for my taste, and a little “show, don’t tell” would have worked wonders.

Again, this was a fairly enjoyable read, and I wouldn’t be opposed to reading something from the author in the future!

[Hannah Fogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just reread for the summer vibes and loved it again! It’s so good🙂‍↕️

don't actually have the words for this book yet.

What I can say is that it's rare that I recommend a book when I'm less than half way through (and rare for me to recommend books unsolicited at all), and this one got sent to approximately eight of my friends before I hit the 40% mark


also thanks to netgalley and cornerstone for sending me a copy of this! to any curious pals, it comes out in may and i can only imagine how good a read this would be in the summer

[Alex Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a debut into fiction. However all the characters just felt a bit like stereotypes and 2 dimensional. Even the narrator just seemed like an empty vessel with no character. I liked the themes of the book but it just felt like there was too many in one book, and none had much substance given to it.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Katrina Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compulsive, twisting, sexy, brilliant.
Felt like watching Saltburn and Get Out in one.

[Amy McEwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful, emotional, with twists and turns. The ending is impeccable.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a solid 4-stars book until that final page. Amazing.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

vivid prose, complex subjects, immersive storytelling - i lapped this one up

[DAISY DAWSON · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars