By Amy Joan Sayner and Maisie George
The British Book Awards celebrate the UK and Ireland’s best-loved literary works. Regarded as "the BAFTAs of the book trade," it gives recognition to leading authors and illustrators, as well as the industry behind the scenes that brings their work to readers. This year’s ceremony was hosted by broadcaster and presenter Lauren Laverne and CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson and was available to view on livestream.
On Monday 13 May, at a lively ceremony in Grosvenor House London, G. T. Karber’s Murdle was announced as the Overall Book of the Year. The murder mystery puzzle book secured this title after winning Non-Fiction: Lifestyle & Illustrated, taking the number one spot in the Christmas charts, and smashing sales expectations.
Childrens author, Katherine Rundell was named Author of the Year. Her first novel in a new fantasy series, Impossible Creatures (Bloomsbury Children’s Books) won the award for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year and was nominated for a further four awards across Book of the Year and Trade categories.
The 2024 awards were a strong year for children’s publishing. Jamie Smart was given the Illustrator of the Year award and won the Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year for Bunny vs Monkey: Multiverse Mix-up (David Fickling), whilst Raksha Dave's Lessons from Our Ancestors, illustrated by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong was crowned winner of the adult-dominated Discover award, and its publisher Magic Cat Publishing took home the coveted Small Press of the Year gong.
Alice O’Keeffe, Books Editor of The Bookseller and overall Chair of the Books of the Year, says: "Our judges had their work cut out this year when deciding on the winning titles from the rich and varied shortlists. The British Book Awards 2024 winners, which range from new perspectives on the distant past to twisty crime, from pin-sharp satire to future fantasy classic, from raw memoir to genuine puzzle innovation, each has been brilliantly published, with ambition and flair, and we celebrate them here."
Book of the Year Winners 2024
Book of the Year - Audiobook Fiction
Lisa Jewell, narrated by Nicola Walker and Louise Brealey
None of This is True
(Penguin Random House Audio)
Book of the Year – Audiobook Non-Fiction | Supported by Audiobookish
Fern Brady, narrated by Fern Brady
Strong Female Character
(Brazen, Octopus Publishing)
Book of the Year - Children’s Fiction | Supported by The Week Junior
Katherine Rundell
Impossible Creatures
(Bloomsbury Children's Books)
Book of the Year - Children’s Illustrated | Supported by Lovereading4kids
Jamie Smart, illustrated by Jamie Smart
Bunny vs Monkey: Multiverse Mix-up
(David Fickling Books)
Book of the Year - Children’s Non-Fiction | Supported by The Week Junior Science and Nature
Atinuke, illustrated by Kingsley Nebechi
Brilliant Black British History
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Book of the Year - Crime & Thriller
Lisa Jewell
None of This is True
(Century, Cornerstone)
Book of the Year - Début Fiction | Supported by Spotify
Alice Winn
In Memoriam
(Viking, Penguin General)
Book of the Year - Discover
Raksha Dave, illustrated by Kimberlie Clinthorne-Wong
Lessons from Our Ancestors
(Magic Cat Publishing)
Book of the Year – Fiction | Supported by Scala Radio
Rebecca F. Kuang
Yellowface
(The Borough Press, HarperCollins)
Book of the Year - Non-Fiction: Lifestyle & Illustrated
G. T. Karber
Murdle
(Souvenir Press, Profile Books)
Book of the Year - Non-Fiction: Narrative
Rory Stewart
Politics on the Edge
(Jonathan Cape, Vintage)
Book of the Year – Pageturner | Supported by Stylist
Rebecca Yarros
Fourth Wing
(Piatkus, Little, Brown)