Cast Your Vote for the 2024 Readers Awards Shortlist

The 2024 Readers Awards are officially open for voting, and it’s your time to shine a light on your favourite books of the year! Curated by passionate booksellers from across the UK, these awards are all about celebrating the stories that captured our imaginations in 2024. Whether you love fiction, non-fiction, poetry, young adult, or children’s literature, this year’s shortlist is brimming with incredible reads. Make sure your voice is heard and vote for the books that moved you the most!

What Makes the 2024 Readers Awards Special?

The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards are a true celebration of literature, but what makes them unique is the process. Unlike other book awards, the shortlist isn’t selected by a panel of critics or publishers. Instead, it’s curated by booksellers – the real champions of reading – who work every day to connect readers with stories they’ll love. This means the awards are powered by people who genuinely understand what makes a book special to readers.

Hosted by TV presenter and author Charlene White, the winners will be announced at a prestigious event at Foyles, Charing Cross Road on Tuesday, 12th November. It’s set to be an exciting evening, and you can be part of it by casting your votes. Plus, there’s an added incentive: everyone who votes is entered into a draw to win one of five £100/€120 National Book Tokens!

The 2024 Shortlist: A Glimpse at the Nominees

Booksellers from some of the best-loved bookshops in the UK – like Stanfords, Sevenoaks Bookshop, Foyles, Blackwell’s, Waterstones, and WHSmith – have worked together to select this year’s shortlist. And what a selection it is! Here’s a glimpse of the titles and authors that have been nominated across the six categories:

Fiction

• Clear by Carys Davies
• Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar
• Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
• You Are Here by David Nicholls

Non-Fiction

• Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad
• A Flat Place by Noreen Masud
• brother. do. you. love. me. by Manni Coe & Reuben Coe
• Politics on the Edge by Rory Stewart

Poetry

• Poyums by Len Pennie
• Lobster: and other things I’m learning to love by Hollie McNish
• He, She, They, Us by Charlie Castelletti
• Adam by Gboyega Odubanjo

Young Adult Fiction

• Northern Soul by Phil Earle
• Some Like It Cold by Elle McNicoll
• The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
• A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

Children’s Fiction

• I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery
• The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman
• Bea’s Bad Day by Tom Percival
• Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang

Breakthrough Author

• Kaliane Bradley for The Ministry of Time
• Julia Armfield for Private Rites
• Asako Yuzuki for Butter
• Jamie Smart for Bunny vs Monkey

The variety within this shortlist means there’s something for everyone – from memoirs and poetry to thrilling mysteries and heartwarming stories. Some of the notable nominees include David Nicholls with his touching love story You Are Here, Noreen Masud‘s introspective memoir A Flat Place, Holly Jackson with the gripping YA thriller The Reappearance of Rachel Price, and Ross Montgomery‘s adventurous children’s novel I Am Rebel.

Why Vote for the Readers Awards?

Voting for the Readers Awards is about more than just picking a favourite – it’s about being part of the conversation that celebrates and uplifts fantastic literature. Bookseller-curated awards mean that each book on the shortlist has been chosen because it’s resonated with readers and booksellers alike. Plus, by voting, you’ll also have a chance to:

• Discover New Reads: Whether you’ve read many of the shortlisted titles or none at all, exploring the shortlist is a great way to discover new authors and genres you may love.
• Support Your Favourite Authors: By casting your vote, you can directly support your favourite authors and help them receive the recognition they deserve.
• Get Involved in the Bookish Community: Awards like these are more than a popularity contest – they’re about building community, supporting the art of storytelling, and celebrating our love for books.

How to Vote

Voting is simple! Head over to the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards voting page to make your choices. You can vote in categories such as Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult Fiction, Children’s Fiction, and Breakthrough Author until 11 pm on Sunday, 3rd November.

Don’t forget that you can also nominate your favourite book of the year for the Readers’ Choice award. It can be any book you’ve read and loved this year – let’s make sure all the amazing reads get the recognition they deserve!

Spotlight on the Authors and Their Thoughts

It’s not just readers who are excited. Many of the shortlisted authors have expressed their delight at being recognised by booksellers and bookshops, which hold such an important place in the literary world:

• David Nicholls: “I love bookshops, was a bookseller myself for many years, and so to find myself on this list is an absolute delight.”
• Rory Stewart: “It is so exciting to be nominated by booksellers. I rely on them so much for recommendations on what to read. And I’m deeply honoured that they should’ve thought of choosing Politics on the Edge.”
• Hollie McNish: “I’m such a fan and lover of bookshops… It’s such a treat and such an honour to be on this list.”

These heartfelt responses from authors highlight the importance of bookstores and booksellers in connecting readers to incredible books.

Join the Bookish Celebration!

The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards ceremony will be held at Foyles, Charing Cross Road on Tuesday, 12th November, hosted by Charlene White, with exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage from social media creator Joel Rochester. It’s going to be a wonderful event celebrating the best books of the year, and your vote will help determine the winners!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this amazing literary celebration. Vote today and share your favourite reads with other book lovers. Together, we can spotlight the most incredible books of 2024 and give them the recognition they deserve.

Cast Your Vote Now and celebrate the stories that have shaped your year!