SUNSTRUCK
Sunstruck is William Rayfet Hunter’s debut novel, published by Merky Books in 2025 after winning the #Merky Books New Writers’ Prize 2022. Set between the South of France and London, it follows a young mixed-race musician who becomes drawn into the world of a wealthy family and falls in love with their charismatic, guarded son. It is a novel about desire, race, class, privilege, power and belonging. Sunstruck asks what we risk losing when we try to become part of someone else’s world.
The novel was shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and named one of Waterstones Paperbacks of the Year 2026. Hunter was chosen as one of the Observer’s Best New Novelists in 2025.
“Electric, sensual and funny.”
— The Observer
“A seductive, funny and sharply observed novel about desire, class and the complicated ways we try to remake ourselves.”
— British Vogue
“Hunter writes beautifully about the intoxicating power of wanting to be wanted.”
— Jack Parlett
“Sunstruck is a novel about the strange, exhilarating violence of falling in love.”
— Soula Emmanuel
Order the paperback from Penguin.
For UK book and publicity enquiries, please contact Merky Books.
SHORT FICTION
Stained Glass
VERVE Voices: Queerphoria
Just Ask, Jeeves