I still have yet to read Sunburn, but this book has sold me on the author's writing. Biography of X and Rebecca are two of my favorite novels ever. It was great to be able to feel the same emotions that I felt whenever reading those two books years ago. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone I know, friends and customers!

Heap Earth Upon It is slice of life novel that explores the relationships between siblings in Ballycrea, Ireland, 1965. Anna, Peggy, Tom and Jack have moved to the villiage to start anew, and the three eldest siblings narrate their experiences and opinions over the course of the year. There is a mystery imbedded in the text; we are patiently awaiting answers as to why they moved away, the relationship to their parents, why they feel in ways different to everyone else. I loved the gothic-esque setting of the Irish countryside woven with the themes of shame and responsibility. Howarth writes an exceptional novel about siblings and secrecy, and of course, love. Five stars!!

Heap Earth Upon It is one of those rare novels that completely immerses you from the very first page. Chloe Michelle Howarth’s writing is both lyrical and raw, balancing atmosphere with emotion in a way that feels utterly unforgettable. The story is beautifully layered, haunting, heartfelt, and unflinching in its exploration of grief, identity, and resilience.
The characters felt alive to me, flawed and deeply human, and their relationships pulsed with such authenticity that I carried them with me long after I closed the book. I was struck by how skillfully Howarth wove together intimate moments with broader, universal themes, making the story both personal and resonant.
This is the kind of book that lingers, that makes you pause and reflect, and that you want to press into someone else’s hands just so you can talk about it together. Gorgeous, devastating, and full of heart, an absolute 5-star read.

This book was absolutely incredible. Set in 1965 Ireland, Heap Earth Upon follows 4 siblings trying to escape a mysterious past that haunts each of them in different ways. It is character driven, intense in a slow, claustrophobic kind of way, and you don't know who or what to trust. I absolutely agree with the comparison to Rebecca - the mystery element almost works as a dual timeline story as we slowly learn about the past while we follow our characters struggle with their identities.

I have been looking for a book with genuinely messy lesbian obsession that does not shy away from the physicality of desire and acknowledgment of the body. No cutesy sapphic love here. This is all about raw, claustrophobic repression.

The chapters are short and even though I wanted to race to the end to find out what happened, I wanted to savour it. The prose was sharp and beautiful and had me hooked on every single word.

This was very different from Sunburn, but I think Howarth's sophomore novel is my favourite of hers.

And then the ending! Fantastic. Immediately pre-ordering.

Chloe Michelle Howarth's lyrical prose is gorgeous in this tale of sapphic obsession. Absolutely masterful.

Heap Earth Upon It by Chloe Michelle Howarth was not what I was expecting but I loved it even more than I could express. I love how this story unwinds and how it pulls at you. It's beautifully told and the writing is just so fantastically good and delicious. I will read anything and everything that Chloe Michelle Howarth writes.

Chloe Michelle Howarth solidifies herself as powerhouse of sapphic literature with her sophomore novel. Where Sunburn was sickly sweet teenage yearning, this is something developed. A maturation of heady, dizzying attraction, a push and pull. I would encourage as little preparation as possible going into this book. The novel unwinds itself slowly to you, stringing along breadcrumbs until you're in the woods alongside our characters. I devoured it, restless that I didn't have the physical copy to mark the hell out of! Ultimately, Heap Earth Upon It is a sprawling narrative exploring the complexities of human connection, grief, love, and the consequences of the stories we tell ourselves.

Howarth is a master of suspense; for one handful of scenes in particular, I had to physically stand up and pace while reading. She has knocked it out of the park, her first two novels 5 stars each from me. I can't wait to pick this one up and bother everyone I know to read it upon release. She is certainly a big name to watch, and one I'm proud to support!