Nero book awards

There are four awards every year: Children’s Fiction, Fiction, Debut Fiction and Non-Fiction. Each award has a shortlist of four. One of the four winners is then chosen as book of the year, for the Gold Award. On this list, this winner will be highlighted.

They are sponsored by Cafè Nero in partnership with The Booksellers Association, Brunel University London and Right To Dream.

Children's fiction
2025

My Soul, a Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin (winner)

People Like Stars by Patricia Lawrence

Dragonborn by Struan Murray

Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson

2024

The Twelve by Liz Hyder (winner)

Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton 

How to Survive a Horror Movie by Scarlet Dunmore

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness

2023
The Swifts by Beth Lincoln (winner)

Gwen & Art are not in Love by Lex Croucher

Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn

Wild Song by Candy Gourlay

Fiction

2025

Seascraper by Benjamin Wood (winner)

Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

The Two Roberts by Damian Barr

2024

Lost in the Garden by Adam S Leslie (winner)

Levitation for Beginners by Suzannah Dunn 

The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya

Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan

2023

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (winner & Book of the Year)

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

Ordinary Human Failings by Megan Nolan

Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen Powell

Debut Fiction

2025

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch (winner)

The Expansion Project by Ben Pester

Lush by Rochelle Dowden-Lord

Season by George Harrison

2024 

Wild Houses by Colin Barrett (winner)

Monumenta by Jara Haworth

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

No Small Thing by Orlaine McDonald

2023

Close to Home by Michael Magee (winner )
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa by Stephen Buoro

The New Life by Tom Crewe

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth

Non-fiction

2025

Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry (winner)

The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet

Craft Land by James Fox

We Came by Sea by Horatio Clare

2024

Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst (winner and overall winner)

Pixel Flesh by Ellen Atlanta

An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi

All That Glitters by Orlando Whitfield

2023

Strong Female Character by Fern Brady (winner)

The Tidal Year by Freya Bromley: 

Undercurrent by Natasha Carthew

Hags by Victoria Smith