Mayo's Sally Rooney up for British Book Award — along with Gillian Anderson and Boris Johnson
X-Files star Gillian Anderson is nominated for her book Want: Sexual Fantasies by Anonymous, a collection of women’s confessions about their sexual desires. Boris Johnson is nominated in the same categories for his memoir, Unleashed, which covers his time as London mayor, Brexit campaigner, foreign secretary and Britain's prime minister. Sally Rooney has been nominated for her latest novel, Intermezzo.
author Sally Rooney has been nominated for a British Book Award in the fiction category for her latest novel . The shortlist also features Jacqueline Wilson’s book and by David Nicholls.
US actress Gillian Anderson and Britain's former prime minister Boris Johnson are also among the nominated authors at this year’s British Book Awards.
The star Anderson, 56, has received a nod in two categories — audiobook nonfiction and nonfiction narrative — for her book , a collection of women’s confessions about their sexual desires.
Boris Johnson, 60, is nominated in the same categories for his memoir, , which covers his time as London mayor, Brexit campaigner, foreign secretary and Britain's prime minister.
Mr Johnson plugged his book on Channel 4, during its coverage of the US election in November, and appeared to depart the programme early with Krishnan Guru-Murthy explaining he had been “fired for banging on about his book”.
In the audiobook nonfiction category the former prime minister and actress face competition from reality star Pete Wicks, who is nominated for his memoir , and writer and presenter Dan Jones for historical book .
author Nicholls and Sophie Kinsella, known for her best-selling series, are among those battling it out in the author of the year category.
In the audiobook fiction category, by comedian Bob Mortimer is nominated alongside Matt Haig’s , narrated by Joanna Lumley and musician Jordan Stephens.
Another nominee in this category is Joe White’s adaptation of George Orwell’s , narrated by stars including Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott and Tom Hardy.
The nonfiction narrative shortlist includes Miranda Hart’s memoir and a translation of posthumous memoir by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Navalny died in a remote Arctic prison in February 2024 while serving a 19-year sentence on several charges, including running an extremist group.
Other categories include illustrator, debut fiction, children’s nonfiction and crime and thriller.
Alice O’Keeffe, chairwoman of the books of the year, said: “When our panels of judges meet this spring to discuss, debate and finally agree on the best books published in 2024, they have some tricky decisions to make.
“From esteemed novelists at the peak of their powers to narrative non-fiction that has literally changed people’s lives, from exciting innovations in the audio space to viral BookTok sensations, this year’s shortlists are filled with books to delight in, admire and celebrate.”
Winners will be announced at a ceremony in central London on Monday, May 12.
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