Scribe signs International Booker shortlistee Jente Posthuma’s ‘darkly funny’ novella

Scribe is to publish International Booker shortlisted author Jente Posthuma’s debut People With No Charisma, translated by Sarah Timmer Harvey, in the English language for the first time.

Publisher Marika Webb-Pullman acquired world English language rights from Lolies van Grunsven at Van Grunsven Creative Management for publication in July 2025. 

Originally published in the Netherlands in 2016, People With No Charisma is a “tender, darkly funny” novella narrated by a 13-year-old girl and her dysfunctional suburban family. Told in 12 parts, each representing a different life stage, the novella “expertly dissects a complex family history, exposing the absurdity that often lies at the heart of life’s most poignant and challenging moments”. 

Posthuma was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2024 for her second novel What I’d Rather Not Think About, translated by Harvey. 

Webb-Pullman commented: “Following the international success of What I’d Rather Not Think About, I’m thrilled to be publishing this exceptional author–translator pairing again, and bringing Jente Posthuma’s debut to an English-language audience for the first time.”