The Bailey’s Prize for Women’s Fiction is one of the UK’s premier literary awards. (Yes – that Bailey’s – cheers!). It is open to any female author who writes in the English language and the list usually has a good global representation and mix of ethnicities. Some are names familiar to you but over half this year’s longlist are debut novelists – definitely something to be proud of. The list of 20 will become 6 finalists with the prize winner being announced on June 7 in London.
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1. A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
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A touching story about an old fashioned man who faces daily challenges in a rapidly modernizing world.
Buy at: amazon.com
2. Rush Oh! by Shirley Barrett
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Set in 1908, this book tells the charming story of a young girl’s coming of age during a tough whaling season in New South Wales.
Buy at: amazon.com
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3. Ruby by Cynthia Bond
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A truly memorable novel about a man and his campaign to protect the woman he loves from a town who wants to destroy her.
Buy at: amazon.com
4. The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks
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An ambitious novel that takes on the iconic biblical story of David and tries to tell it in a new and revolutionary way.
Buy at: amazon.com
5. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
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Get wrapped up in this endlessly entertaining sci-fi romp that focuses on a young explorer adventuring across the galaxy.
Buy at: amazon.com
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6. A Dictionary of Mutual Understanding by Jackie Copleton
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If you loved Memoirs Of A Geisha, you will definitely be a fan of this new novel about family, love, forgiveness and pain.
Buy at: amazon.com
7. Whispers through a Megaphone by Rachel Elliott
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A touching romantic novel about a shy woman who finally decides to venture out of her comfort zone in an attempt to find love.
Buy at: amazon.com
8. The Green Road by Anne Enright
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A classic feeling tale that spans the ups and downs of a family over thirty eventful years.
Buy at: amazon.com
9. The Book of Memory by Petina Gappah
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An incredible book told from the perspective of an albino woman who is serving time in a Zimbabwe prison for a murder conviction.
Buy at: amazon.com
10. Gorsky by Vesna Goldsworthy
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A real page turner of a novel that incorporates elegance, romance and an addictive dose of danger.
Buy at: amazon.com
11. The Anatomist’s Dream by Clio Gray
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A brilliant novel that tells the story of a boy born with a skull abnormality who is forced to grow up in a travelling carnival.
Buy at: amazon.com
12. At Hawthorn Time by Melissa Harrison
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A sweeping novel that features the overlapping lives of a group of people, with themes including consumerism, identity, and people’s personal boundaries.
Buy at: amazon.com
13. Pleasantville by Attica Locke
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This novel by the producer of hit show Empire sees the return of lawyer Jay Porter who becomes mixed up in a tale of dangerous politics and intrigue.
Buy at: amazon.com
14. The Glorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney
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A gripping and at times dark novel that highlights the culture and institutions of contemporary Ireland.
Buy at: amazon.com
15. The Portable Veblen by Elizabeth McKenzie
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A really unique novel about dysfunctional families, love, nature and money, and all the good and bad sides of those themes.
Buy at: amazon.com
16. Girl at Way by Sara Novic
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An amazing story about a ten-year-old tomboy growing up in the war torn centre of Yugoslavia.
Buy at: amazon.com
17. The House at the Edge of World by Julia Rochester
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A brilliant debut novel that incorporates psychological drama and mystery to create a truly unforgettable read.
Buy at: amazon.com
18. The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild
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Another debut novel, this time about the comings and goings in the background of a popular London auction house.
Buy at: amazon.com
19. My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
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A touching story about a mother and daughter than revolves around a simple, unassuming visit to a hospital.
Buy at: amazon.com
20. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
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One of the most popular books of the last year, a story of four graduates classmates and their move to New York to find success and fortune.
Buy at: amazon.com
I hope you check out some of these great reads.
Congratulations to all the longlist authors and good luck!
