Waterstones has revealed its shortlist for its Book of the Year 2024, with 15 tomes in the running.
The annual award calls on Waterstones booksellers to nominate the books they enjoyed recommending to readers over the last year.
Winners of the prestigious honour in the past include authors like Philip Pullman and Maggie O’Farrell among others.
Among the books on the shortlist for the award, which will be announced on November 28 are Sally Rooney ’s Intermezzo (Faber) and James by Percival Everett (Mantle).
Ferdia Lennon’s Glorious Exploits (Penguin General), Alice Loxton’s Eighteen (Macmillan), and Holly Jackson’s The Reappearance of Rachel Price (Farshore) are also among the contenders.
The Siege by Ben Macintyre (Viking) and Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors (4th Estate) are two more of the names on the shortlist, alongside I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery (Walker Books).
Also in the running are Cloudspotting For Beginners by Gavin Pretor-Pinney and illustrated by William Grill (Particular Books), Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the Plays – A Children’s Edition, illustrated by Emily Sutton (Walker Books).
Last, but not least, Long Island by Colm Tóibín (Picador) and Butter by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton (4th Estate) are among the 15 shortlisted titles.
WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024: SHORTLIST OF 15
Sally Rooney – Intermezzo (Faber)
Ferdia Lennon – Glorious Exploits (Penguin General)
Alice Loxton – Eighteen (Macmillan)
Holly Jackson – The Reappearance of Rachel Price (Farshore)
Chloe Dalton – Raising Hare (Canongate Books)
Percival Everett – James (Mantle)
Olivia Laing – The Garden Against Time (Picador)
Ben Macintyre – The Siege (Viking)
Coco Mellors – Blue Sisters (4th Estate)
Ross Montgomery – I Am Rebel (Walker Books)
Gavin Pretor-Pinney and illustrated by William Grill – Cloudspotting For Beginners (Particular Books)
Shakespeare’s First Folio: All the Plays – A Children’s Edition, illustrated by Emily Sutton (Walker Books)
Colm Tóibín – Long Island (Picador)
Asako Yuzuki (translated by Polly Barton) – Butter (4th Estate)
Anna Jones – Easy Wins (4th Estate)
Waterstones head of books, Bea Carvalho, said the organisation is ‘delighted’ to unveil the shortlist for Waterstones Book of the Year 2024, as voted for by booksellers.
She added: ‘These 15 books showcase a stellar year for publishing across genres, with new books from some of the biggest and most beloved authors at work today alongside dazzling new discoveries and word-of-mouth bestsellers.
‘Here, booksellers champion books which shift perspectives on well-known histories and classic works of literature as well as insightful novels which skewer the glorious messiness of contemporary real life.
‘We also celebrate mysteries which grip with pure page-turning brilliance, and stunning odes to the natural world which honour the joy to be found in nature, or in our bonds with animals.’
Bea added that the shortlist offers a selection that caters to readers of all tastes and ages.
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