In December of 1888, Vincent Van Gogh slices off part of his earlobe with a razor blade, wraps it in newspaper, and presents it to a prostitute named Rachel. Little is known about Rachel, but Sunflowers recreates their relationship, which the artist's madness will ultimately destroy.

If you enjoyed Tracy Chevalier's Girl With a Pearl Earring or any of Susan Vreeland's books depicting artists' lives, you'll want to read this debut novel by art historian Sheramy Bundrick.