2024 Nero Book Awards Shortlist: Celebrating Exceptional Talent

The 2024 Nero Book Awards have revealed their shortlist, honoring the finest literary achievements from the UK and Ireland. Featuring 16 titles spanning four categories—Fiction, Debut Fiction, Nonfiction, and Children's Fiction—the awards highlight both seasoned writers and emerging talents. Established by Caffè Nero in 2023, the Nero Book Awards step in to replace the Costa Book Awards, which concluded in 2022. Each category winner receives £5,000, with an extra £30,000 going to the overall Nero Gold winner, to be unveiled in March 2025.

Fiction Category: Diverse Narratives

The Fiction shortlist features Donal Ryan's Heart, Be at Peace, a multi-perspective contemporary novel set in rural Ireland. Ryan's storytelling delves into social concerns and human feelings through the viewpoints of 21 characters. Also featured is Lost in the Garden by Adam S Leslie, an otherworldly exploration of the English countryside, merging reality with fantasy.

Jo Hamya's The Hypocrite and Suzannah Dunn's Levitation for Beginners complete the Fiction shortlist, presenting readers with innovative viewpoints on identity and social norms.

Debut Fiction: Fresh Voices

The Debut Fiction category showcases emerging writers with compelling narratives. Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon transports readers to 412BC Syracuse, where historical intrigue and nuanced characters develop. Additional shortlisted debut works include No Small Thing by Orlaine McDonald, Monumenta by Lara Haworth, and Wild Houses by Colin Barrett, with the last also earning a Booker Prize longlist spot.

Nonfiction: Thought-Provoking Accounts

In Nonfiction, emerging authors are creating impact with works that explore current topics. Pixel Flesh by Ellen Atlanta investigates how social media shapes beauty ideals, while Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst recounts the compelling true account of a couple adrift at sea for 117 days. Zeinab Badawi's An African History of Africa presents a new angle on the continent's past, and All That Glitters by Orlando Whitfield delves into art deception.

Children's Fiction: Adventure and Imagination

The Children's Fiction shortlist features Patrick Ness's Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody, a playful story about schoolboy monitor lizards and killer robots. Also shortlisted are Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton, How to Survive a Horror Movie by Scarlet Dunmore, and The Twelve by Liz Hyder, with illustrations by Tom de Freston. These works deliver thrilling journeys, combining fantasy, the supernatural, and coming-of-age elements.

What to Expect

Winners will be revealed on January 14, 2025, with the overall Nero Gold prize winner announced in March. The judging committee, featuring writers Patrice Lawrence, Louise Doughty, Kevin Power, and Rhik Samadder, chose these 16 outstanding works from numerous entries. The shortlist showcases the remarkable literary skill in the UK and Ireland, presenting a variety of genres and perspectives.

The Nero Book Awards honor the outstanding writing coming from the UK and Ireland. The 2024 shortlist offers engaging reads for every kind of reader, from fiction and nonfiction enthusiasts to those looking for creative children's literature. As the judging panel gets ready to choose the winners, one fact stands out: the future of literature in the UK and Ireland looks promising.