Today, booksellers across the UK have revealed their top books of the year, as the shortlists are announced for the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, sponsored by National Book Tokens and with support from many UK publishers.
 
Unveiled ahead of Bookshop Day (Saturday 12 October), the annual celebration of bookshops across the country, the Readers Awards are the only book awards with a shortlist curated by booksellers. The public vote is now open, with readers encouraged to cast their vote and have their say on the titles and authors they would like to win the awards.
 
On Tuesday 12 November 2024, the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Foyles on Charing Cross Road. This will be hosted by TV presenter and author Charlene White, with social media content from creator Joel Rochester, who will be providing exclusive behind-the-scenes content on the night from their social channels (Instagram: @FictionalFates, TikTok: @FictionalFates).

The 2024 Readers Awards shortlist includes: beloved best-selling author David Nicholls, for his new love story of first encounters, second chances and the search for human connection in You Are Here; multi-award-winning and nominated author Noreen Masud, for her raw and beguiling memoir exploring identity and trauma, A Flat Place; former Conservative MP and cabinet member Rory Stewart for his searing inside story of Westminster in Politics on the Edge; best-selling poet Hollie McNish for Lobster: and other things I’m learning to love, the latest collection tackling the difficulties of loving in a flawed world; master of mystery Holly Jackson and author of the best-selling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series, for her the thrilling novel The Reappearance of Rachel Price; Ross Montgomery, award-winning fantasy children’s author for his latest adventure, I Am Rebel; and Asako Yuzuki for her cult Japanese bestselling novel which took the world by storm, Butter.
 
The shortlist categories open for public vote are: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult Fiction, Children’s Fiction and Breakthrough Author. The public is invited to vote for a winning title from each shortlist until 11pm on Sunday 3^rd November, using the following link: http://www.nationalbooktokens.com/readers-awards.
 
In addition to voting in the categories above, the public is also encouraged to nominate their favourite book of the year – any book they’ve read in the past year – as the Readers’ Choice winner.
 
The 2024 Books Are My Bag Readers Awards Shortlist, as chosen by bookshops:
 
Fiction
Clear by Carys Davies (Granta)
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (Pan Macmillan)
Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon (Penguin)
You Are Here by David Nicholls (Hodder & Stoughton)
 
Non-Fiction
Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad (Transworld)
A Flat Place by Noreen Masud (Penguin)
brother. do. you. love. me. by Manni Coe & Reuben Coe (Canongate)
Politics on the Edge by Rory Stewart (Vintage)
 
Poetry
Poyums by Len Pennie (Canongate)
Lobster: and other things I’m learning to love by Hollie McNish (Little Brown)
He, She, They, Us by Charlie Castelletti (Pan Macmillan)
Adam by Gboyega Odubanjo (Faber)
 
Young Adult Fiction
Northern Soul by Phil Earle (HarperCollins)
Some Like It Cold by Elle McNicoll (Pan Macmillan)
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson (HarperCollins)
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (Pan Macmillan)
 
Children’s Fiction
I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery (Walker Books)
The Clockwork Conspiracy by Sam Sedgman (Bloomsbury)
Bea’s Bad Day by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury)
Dim Sum Palace by X. Fang (Pushkin Press)
 
Breakthrough Author
Kaliane Bradley, author of The Ministry of Time (Hodder & Stoughton)
Julia Armfield, author of Private Rites (HarperCollins)
Asako Yuzuki, author of Butter (HarperCollins)
Jamie Smart, creator of Bunny vs Monkey (David Fickling Books)
 
David Nicholls, shortlisted for the Fiction category, said: “What a thrill. I love bookshops, was a bookseller myself for many years, and so to find myself on this list is an absolute delight.”
 
Rory Stewart, shortlisted for the Non-Fiction category, said: “It is so exciting to be nominated by booksellers. Almost nobody – in my experience – knows and loves books more than booksellers. I rely on them so much for my recommendations for guidance on what to read. And I’m deeply honoured that they should’ve thought of choosing Politics on the Edge.”
 
Hollie McNish, shortlisted for the Poetry category, said: “This is the most exciting prize to be shortlisted for. I'm such a fan and lover of bookshops and all of those booksellers who dedicate their days to reading, selecting, curating, selling and recommending books to customers looking for new adventures in between the pages. It's such a treat and such an honour to be on this list, thank you!”
 
Phil Earle, shortlisted for the Young Adult Fiction category, said: “My journey to writing started with being a bookseller, so to be shortlisted by these wonderful, intelligent, empathetic individuals feels absolutely brilliant: like the finest endorsement.”
 
Ross Montgomery, shortlisted for the Children’s Fiction category, said: “I'm absolutely thrilled that I Am Rebel has been picked for the BAMB Readers' Award - I've been blown away by the enthusiasm and support that the book's had from booksellers, and I know how much of a difference that makes.”
 
Jamie Smart, shortlisted for the Breakthrough Author category, said: “It feels AMAZING to be shortlisted for Breakthrough Author in the Books Are My Bag awards. It's thrilling enough that I get to make comic books all day, even more so that people enjoy reading them, but because this award has been curated by booksellers themselves, and then voted for by readers, it feels like a real honour to even be shortlisted. I'm very happy just to be mentioned!”
 
The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, now in their ninth year, are the only book awards curated by booksellers, and with winners chosen by readers. The shortlist judging panel comprises: Rachel Airey (WHSmith), Jude Brosnan (Stanfords), James Firth (The Stripey Badger), Lucy Jakes (Waterstones), Elle Moyse (Sevenoaks Bookshop), Mariasanta Tedesco (Blackwell’s Oxford) and Christopher Walthorne (Foyles Charing Cross). Vivien Godfrey (Stanfords) will be presenting an award at the ceremony.
 
James Firth, Co-Owner of The Stripey Badger in Grassington and Readers Awards Judge, said: “I’m very honoured and excited to be included in the panel to select the shortlist, there are some truly incredible nominations, and it was a challenge to narrow it down to just four books for each category.
 
This award is a brilliant opportunity for readers and booksellers to come together and shout about their favourite books of the year, books that broaden horizons, teach us new perspectives and find cracking debut authors."
 
Jude Brosnan, Marketing Manager at Stanfords and Readers Awards Judge, said: “These awards are a wonderful chance for us to join forces with other bookshops and share what our customers have been enjoying reading. It really displays what a supportive group bookselling can be and that the close-knit relationships we share with our customers go above and beyond it being just a job for us.”
 
National Book Tokens is the headline sponsor of the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, which are part of Books Are My Bag – the annual campaign celebrating the vital importance of bookshops.
 
Everyone who votes for the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five £100/€120 National Book Tokens. Voters can increase their chances of winning by inviting others to vote via a referral link – a bonus entry is added for the referee for every referral received.
 
For more information visit www.booksaremybag.com and follow the latest developments on social media @BooksAreMyBag / #BAMBReadersAwards