Lanny grows up with his twin brother in Paramaribo. The boys are talented: they draw, and even become known as a singing duo. But as Lanny gets older, he increasingly withdraws into the moon side of life. He does not see himself as a sun. And as it becomes increasingly clear what the feelings he has for his best friend truly mean, a period begins in which everything seems to lose its meaning: the music, the freedom he was still able to experience so fully as a child, and even his bond with his twin brother.

A vivid, poetic novel that explores in a deeply sensory way what it means to grow up as a Black queer boy in Suriname, and shows how notions of masculinity can shape an individual life.

• Winner of the Hebban • Winq Rainbow Award 2026

• Shortlisted for the Hebban Debut Prize.

• Longlisted for the Amarte Literature Prize.

• Very few books have yet appeared in Surinamese-Dutch literature that openly bear witness to queer identity.

• This book is part of a three-part project, together with the theatre performance A Coming Of (R)age Ritual and the music album Son.

Press reactions:

NRC (Thomas de Veen, ****)
‘The urge to tell stories spills across the pages of People as Suns and People as Moons, and Xillan Macrooy immediately conjures up so much: scents, colours, sensations. And how generous he is with his talent.’
‘At its core, People as Suns and People as Moons is “simply” a coming-of-age story about a gay boy, but the soaring, uncompromising and assured way in which Xillan Macrooy tells it makes it cracklingly new.’
[...] this is not a coming-of-age story that discreetly looks away, but one that hits you with Grindr right in the face.’
and
‘[...] what a beginning.’

Boekenpanel Eva Jinek (Paul de Leeuw, Roxane van Iperen, Nynke de Jong)
‘Absolutely fantastic.’
‘Innovative in several respects.’
‘A very sensory book, very physical.’
‘You just keep reading.’
‘A gem.’
‘This book opens everything up. It is young. It is different.’
‘Perfect for your reading list.’

Boekenkrant (Demi Stein)
‘People as Suns and People as Moons is an impressive and poetic debut that lingers long after you have finished reading. Xillan Macrooy writes with warmth, nuance and a beautiful cadence that perfectly suits the story he tells. His novel is colourful, moving and steeped in culture, offering a valuable perspective on queer identity within the Surinamese context.’*

Winq
‘Macrooy immediately demonstrates in his debut that he is a versatile writer: raw, direct passages about Grindr dates alternate with poetic, almost fairy-tale-like scenes from the protagonist’s childhood.’

Podcast Adriaan Van Dis: Van Dis ongefilterd
‘A beautiful novel.’

Cornald Maas
‘This debut novel overwhelmed me and moved me deeply. (...) an exceptionally sensory, stimulating style, a novel that breathes a love of language on every page, and the connective power of language—so colourful, so varied, so innovative. If, that is, you possess Xillan Macrooy’s mastery. This leaves you wanting so much more. This is a courageous novel in which something is genuinely at stake.’

Podcast Paul de Leeuw: De Leeuw Brult Verder
‘A fantastic book. I can recommend it to everyone. I hope it finds its way into many homes.’

Jörgen Raymann
‘With beautifully innovative prose, Xillan gives a voice to the stories of many queer Surinamese people—honestly, recognisably, and in a way that resonates with and can be understood by everyone.’

Tzum (Martijn Nicolaas)
‘a particularly rich, sparkling book, layered too, sad, funny’ (...) ‘a treasure trove of colourful stories that can no longer be ignored’

Werkgroep Caraibische Letteren (Peter Sanches)
‘People as Suns and People as Moons is a powerful, innovative novel that enriches Dutch literature with a perspective expressed with openness and artistry. The book contributes to a much-needed broadening of the literary landscape, in which stories about queer identity in postcolonial, religiously shaped societies also have a place. Macrooy proves that he is not only a gifted musician, but also a literary voice of considerable stature. His debut is an ode to vulnerability, to being different, and to the beauty of searching—in a language that feels familiar to many, and is a discovery to others.’*