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Event Assets - Nibbies

Book of the Year - Début Fiction

Proudly sponsored by Spotify

This exciting shortlist is a celebration of novelists at the very beginning of their careers. From a fresh take on heartbreak with some sharp jokes to tender love stories both contemporary and historical, and with settings from a fantasy world to a Japanese bookshop, these debuts broke through in 2023.

The Winner

In Memoriam

Alice Winn

Viking

Alice Winn was declared the "undeniable" winner of this year's prize with her "stunning" debut novel In Memoriam, a love story about two young men who leave their public school to fight in the First World War. Our judges were deeply moved by Winn's thoughtfully crafted story of love and tragedy: "a really exceptional book that people will be reading for decades", declared one judge.

Viking's "classy" publishing secured a broad readership; the imprint organised a three-city pre-publication proof tour with the US-based author (visiting 32 bookshops over three days) and a series of festival events. "Viking really believed in the book and its quality", said one judge. The winner of the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and the named chain's Novel of the Year, In Memoriam has cemented its position as the debut of 2023 "people will remember", our judges agreed.

The Shortlist

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

Satoshi Yagisawa, translated by Eric Ozawa

Manilla Press

With cosy Japan-set novels proving enduringly popular with readers, Bonnier snapped up UK rights for Satoshi Yagisawa’s Days at the Morisaki Bookshop for a small advance from HarperCollins US and published as a £10.99 flapped paperback, a first for the publisher. Fittingly for a novel about the healing power of reading, it was the passion of individual booksellers on the high street, both independents and Waterstones, that drove sales making this the bestselling debut in our shortlist. Hat-tip to cover illustrator Ilya Milstein.

Godkiller

Hannah Kaner

HarperVoyager

Epic fantasy Godkiller became the bestselling fantasy debut of 2023. With a stunning jacket featuring a luminous woodland scene from artist Tom Roberts, three special editions were produced for subscription box Illumicrate, specialist SFF bookshop The Broken Binding and Waterstones, which sold out before it was even released. Rave reviews from individual Waterstones booksellers were turned into personalised quote cards and shared across social media.

In Memoriam

Alice Winn

Viking

In Memoriam, which scooped the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and Waterstones Novel of the Year, tells of the love between two First World War soldiers. The original cover design centres the men rather than the war, to appeal to readers of contemporary as well as historical fiction. Review coverage from the Sunday Times to Women’s Weekly and a post-publication UK tour for US-based Alice Winn helped make In Memoriam the bestselling hardback fiction debut of 2023.

Really Good, Actually

Monica Heisey

4th Estate

“Schitt’s Creek” screenwriter Monica Heisey’s debut Really Good, Actually charts the highs, lows and chronic oversharing of a heartbroken millennial whose marriage has ended before her 30th birthday. Selected as one of the Observer’s best new novelists, Heisey undertook a two-week, nationwide, sold-out events tour. Much-coveted tote bags, a Foyles exclusive, featured a ‘Google search’ list from the novel and fans of the book could listen to a Spotify Wrapped list specially created for protagonist Maggie.

Talking at Night

Claire Daverley

Penguin Michael Joseph

Falling for the epic love story between Will and Rosie, Penguin Michael Joseph moved swiftly to pre-empt Talking at Night. With author Claire Daverley a complete unknown, with no existing platform or subscription box support, the publisher focused on finding individual bookseller champions. On TikTok, user-generated videos raving about the book have received 1.5 million views, and the book has inspired playlists, character art – and at least one Talking at Night tattoo!

The List

Yomi Adegoke

4th Estate

This highly topical debut shines a light on the dark side of social media and its effect on Ola and her fiancé Michael weeks before their wedding. The first novel from Yomi Adegoke, journalist and co-author of the bestselling Slay in Your Lane, triggered a fierce 11-publisher auction. Fourth Estate produced an eye-catching emoji cover design that formed the basis of an unmissable advertising campaign whether on socials or the London Underground: “Have you seen #TheList?”