Last night book-lovers across the UK watched this year’s edition of The British Book Awards unfold at Grosvenor House in London. These awards, which first began in 1990 and are known colloquially as The Nibbies, after the golden pen nib that crowns the trophies given to winners, are presented every year by The Bookseller, one of Britain’s most popular publishing magazines.
The British Book Awards reward the successes of all those involved in the process of bringing books to the public, from writers to publishers, and from books to bookshops. Not only is it an honour to receive a British Book Award for all the recognition of your hard work, it can also be a wonderful opportunity to give an even greater boost to your book, brand or business.
Previous winners include the books Babel by R. F. Kuang (Fiction Book of the Year) and Normal People by Sally Rooney (Fiction and Overall Book of the Year), the writer and illustrator of beloved graphic novel series Heartstopper Alice Oseman (Illustrator of the Year) and authors such as Richard Osman, Phillip Pullman and Bernadine Evaristo.
Without further ado, let’s get to this year’s winners!
- Overall Winner – Murdle by G. T. Karber
- Author of the Year – Katherine Rundell
- Fiction Book of the Year – Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
- Fiction Book of the Year Shortlist – Iron Flame by Rebecca Yaros; So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan; Yellowface by R. F. Kuang; Atlas by Lucinda Riley; The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse; and Tackle! By Jilly Cooper
- Debut Book of the Year – In Memoriam by Alice Winn
- Debut Book of the Year Shortlist – Talking at Night by Claire Daverley; The List by Yomi Adegoke; In Memoriam by Alice Winn; Godkiller by Hannah Kaner; Really Good. Actually by Monica Heisey; and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
- Crime & Thriller Book of the Year – None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
- Crime & Thriller Book of the Year Shortlist – The Woman Who Lied by Claire Douglas; None of This is True by Lisa Jewell; Damascus Station by David McCloskey; The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith; The Secret Hours by Mick Herron; and The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman
- Non-Fiction Lifestyle Book of the Year – Murdle by G. T. Karber
- Non-Fiction Lifestyle Book of the Year Shortlist – Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Air Fryer Book by Nathan Anthony; Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken; Marr’s Guitars by Johnny Marr; Murdle by G. T. Karber; GHOSTS: The Button House Archives by Mat Baynton; and Let the Light Pour In by Lemn Sissay
- Non-Fiction Narrative Book of the Year – Politics On the Edge by Rory Stewart
- Non-Fiction Narrative Book of the Year Shortlist – The Extra Mile by Kevin Sinfield; The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett; Normal Women by Philippa Gregory; Spare by Prince Harry; The Woman in Me by Britney Spears; and Politics On the Edge by Rory Stewart
- Children’s Fiction Book of the Year – Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
- Children’s Fiction Book of the Year Shortlist – Skandar and the Phantom Rider by A. F. Steadman; This Book Kills by Ravena Guron; The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas by Matt Lucas; The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby; Powerless by Lauren Roberts; and Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
- Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year – Bunny vs Monkey: Multiverse Mix-up! by Jamie Smart
- Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year Shortlist – This is Me by George Webster; Dog Man 11: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea by Dave Pikey; Heartstopper Volume 5 by Alice Oseman; We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt by Martha Mumford; Bunny vs Monkey: Multiverse Mix-up! by Jamie Smart; and The King’s Pants by Nicholas Allan
- Children’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year – Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke, Kingsley Nebechi
- Children’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year Shortlist – Stolen History by Sathnam Sanghera; King Charles Volume 97 by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara; Black & Irish by Leon Diop; Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke, Kingsley Nebechi; Kay’s Incredible Inventions by Adam Kay; and The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Die by Peter Lantos
- Pageturner Book of the Year – Fourth Wing – The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros
- Pageturner Book of the Year Shortlist – Fourth Wing – The Empyrean by Rebecca Yarros; Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin; Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver; The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods; It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover; and Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
- The Discover Book of the Year – Lessons From Our Ancestors: Equality, Inclusivity and Sustainability in the Ancient World by Raksha Dave, Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong
- The Discover Book of the Year Shortlist – Imad’s Syrian Kitchen by Imad Alarnab; Lessons From Our Ancestors: Equality, Inclusivity and Sustainability in the Ancient World by Raksha Dave, Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong; A Bollywood State of Mind by Sunny Singh; April’s Garden by Isla McGuckin; Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth; and Pageboy by Elliot Page
The ceremony also included awards celebrating those that work in the book trade, such as Publisher of the Year (Winner: Ebury) and Independent Bookshop of the Year (Winner: Book-ish in Crickhowell, Wales), among others. Bring on The Nibbies 2025!
The British Book Awards were held on May 14th at Grosvenor House in London. All winners & nominees are available here
