Scarlet Sun
A bucket list with an approaching deadline, a road trip across the country, and a massive crush on her best friend... April Reed's summer is turning into quite a mess. Nineteen-year-old April has just gotten home from college when she finds a list she wrote years ago of things she wanted to do before she turns twenty. With her birthday coming up later that summer, the clock is ticking on finishing everything on the list. Skinny dipping? Camp in Algonquin? Fall in love? How can she manage all that in time? When April's best friends suggest they go on a road trip to complete all the tasks on the list, it seems like the perfect solution. There's only one problem: one of those friends is Bree, a girl that April is quickly developing a hopeless crush on. Not wanting to ruin their friendship, April vows to keep her feelings to herself - but that isn't so easy when she's around Bree so much. As the trip goes on, and the two girls get pushed together more and more, April can't help but wonder if going from friends to lovers would be as bad as she once thought. Filled with hilarious banter and hijinks, this sapphic romance is sure to put a smile on your face.
About This Book
Scarlet Sun is a novel by Isabel Hansen, first published in 2021. It runs 226 pages. Readers can expect friends to lovers, forced proximity; mild heat; a slow burn and comfort tone.
At a glance
- Trope
- Friends to Lovers
- Heat
- Mild
- Ending
- HEA
- Mood
- Slow Burn
- Published
- 2021
- Length
- 226 pages
Where to read or listen
Get Scarlet Sun by Isabel Hansen
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- Nineteen-year-old April embarks on a cross-country road trip to complete a childhood bucket list, all while navigating a secret, growing crush on her best friend Bree.
- Fans of sweet sapphic romance
- Readers who enjoy road trip adventures
- feel-good
- Features friends to lovers
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers looking for high steam or erotica
- Readers seeking dark or high-angst themes
- Low stakes outside of the relationship dynamic
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: contemporary
Pairing: F/F
Power balance: equal
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High comfort, moderate tension, high humor, and a strong emotional payoff.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Mild
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: New Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
With her twentieth birthday looming, April Reed discovers an old list of goals—from skinny dipping to falling in love—that she vowed to complete as a teenager. To help her finish the list in time, her best friends organize a cross-country road trip. Among them is Bree, the girl April has a massive, secret crush on. Trapped in close quarters and facing hilarious hijinks, April must decide if she’s willing to risk their friendship for a chance at the love story she's always wanted.
Central Conflict
April's internal struggle between her desire to pursue a romantic relationship with Bree and her fear of destroying their long-standing friendship, set against the external ticking clock of her twentieth birthday.
Setting
A road trip across the country, including stops like Algonquin Park.
Themes
Strengths
- High relatability for the 'before I turn 20' milestone
- Strong use of the road trip setting to force character development
- Lighthearted and humorous tone
Consider before reading
- Low stakes outside of the relationship dynamic
- Predictable plot structure typical of the genre
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — summer romance — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?
- 5
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 6
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 7
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 8
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- August 30, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Published
- 2021
- Length
- 226 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781777422158
- ISBN-10
- 1777422159
Scarlet Sun: quick answers
- Who wrote Scarlet Sun?
- Scarlet Sun was written by Isabel Hansen.
- When was Scarlet Sun published?
- Scarlet Sun was first published in 2021.
- How many pages is Scarlet Sun?
- Scarlet Sun is 226 pages long.
- How spicy is Scarlet Sun?
- EIKNA rates Scarlet Sun as mild heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Scarlet Sun by Isabel Hansen
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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