Titles by Honeyman and Fraser crowned WHS 'Books of the Year'

Titles by Gail Honeyman and Henry Fraser have been named the 2017 W H Smith Fiction and Non-Fiction Book of the Year respectively.

Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (HarperFiction) has been crowned the retailer's best novel this year, while Fraser's The Little Big Things (Seven Dials) has been awarded the non-fiction accolade.

As a result of their wins, the titles will be featured as the 2017 Books of the Year in all High Street stores across the country.

Honeyman's title has sold 42,143 copies in hardback so far through Nielsen BookScan, while The Little Big Things has shifted 10,447. Last year’s W H Smith Book of the Year, The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (Corgi), is currently the second-bestselling book of this year with 373,204 copies sold.

According to the bookseller, Honeyman's first book has been one of the bestselling debuts of 2017 and continues to be one of the most talked about books of the year. It follows Eleanor Oliphant who leads a simple life, wearing the same clothes to work every day, eating the same meal deal for lunch and buying the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything. One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself.

Sue Scholes, W H Smith fiction buyer, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is the W H Smith Fiction Book of the Year for 2017. I absolutely loved it, and so did everyone else who I know who has read it. It’s a very deserving winner.” 

The title has also been endorsed by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who added: “We love discovering talented new authors and wonderful new books, and sharing those discoveries with other readers. That’s why we’re delighted that Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine has been picked as the W H Smith Fiction Book of the Year. It’s already one of the bestselling debut novels of 2017 and that’s no surprise -  it’s a wonderful read; a book that has it all – sad, funny, engaging, intelligent and warm.”

Meanwhile, The Little Big Things by Henry Fraser (Seven Dials) has been named 2017 W H Smith Non Fiction Book of the Year.

Fraser was 17-years-old when a tragic accident severely crushed his spinal cord. Paralysed from the shoulders down, he has "conquered unimaginable difficulty" to embrace life and a new way of living, the retailer said. Through challenging adversity, he has found the opportunity to grow and inspire others.

Dave Swillman, W H Smith Non-Fiction trading controller, said: "This book is truly inspirational – a book to read, love and recommend to everyone! I’m not alone in thinking this is a just title for such an award.”