A little over a week ago, the Women’s Prize for Fiction announced their fantastic longlist. Made up of some stunning debuts by the likes of Fiona Mozley alongside literary heavyweights including Kamila Shamsie and Jennifer Egan of The Goon Squad fame, there’s little doubt that any reader worth their salt should add the sixteen books to their reading pile pronto. And if you’d like to do just that, you’re in luck, as I’m offering one lucky reader the chance to get their hands on the complete sixteen books! To enter, simply subscribe to my site here, and if you’re already subscribed, comment below and let me know which book from the longlist is at the top of your wish list.
The winner will be contacted by email on March 31st and you can read more about the longlist below.
The Women’s Prize for Fiction has today announced the sixteen-strong 2018 longlist. Now in its 23rd year, the prize is known and loved for championing women writers all over the world.
Announced on International Women’s Day, the longlist is as follows:
Happy by Nicola Barker
The Idiot by Elif Batuman
Three Things About Elsie
Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar
Sight by Jessie Greengrass
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife
Elmet by Fiona Mozley
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy
See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt
A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
The 2018 judging panel consists of Anita Anand, Katie Brand, Catherine Mayer, Imogen Stubbs and is chaired by sarah Sands, editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.
Said Sarah Sand of the sixteen selected: “The longlist came out of a Chequers style meeting where different views were accommodated and peace reigned, at least for now, What is striking about the list, apart from the wealth of talent, is that women writers refuse to be pigeon-holed. We have searing social realism, adventure, comedy, poetic truths, ingenious plots and unforgettable characters. Women of the world are a literary force to be reckoned with.”
This year’s longlist honours both new and well-established writers and a range of genres: the list features two previously longlisted authors and one previously shortlisted author. There are six first novels on the list and four nationalities are represented – the UK, America, India and Australia.
The Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist will be announced on April 23rd; the awards ceremony will be held on June 6th.
For more information on the shortlist, and all things related to the Women’s Prize for Fiction, visit their website here.
*** COMPETITION CLOSED ***
Eleanor Oliphant is probably top because I have been seeing it EVERYWHERE and heard nothing but rave reviews!
I think that’s the top spot on my list too! xo
I’ve only read Home Fire so far from the list (and really loved it). The one I’m desperate to read is Sight by Jessie Greengrass – keep hearing how brilliant it is. Looking forward to seeing the shortlist next month!
I’ve read and loved two and would love to ge tiny hands on the rest! I think the Roy is at the top of my list ????
I loved Sing, Unburied, Sing! I’ve been wanting to read Home Fires for so long now though.
I can’t pick just one!
I’m ready subscribed… But I’ve been meaning to read Elinor Olyphant is Completely Fine for what feels like such a long time 🙂
And your awesome for offering this opportunity, so thanks x
See What I Have Done is definitely top of my list.
Sight by Jessie Greengrass is top of my list – I really liked her short stories so I have high hopes for this one.
Home Fire for sure. I haven’t heard one bad thing about it…sounds beautiful and heartbreaking, exactly what I want in a book!
I think Eleanor Oliphant is at the top of my list just because I’ve heard the most about it!
See what I have Done. There’s something morbidly fascinating about fiction based on real life crimes
Eleanor Oliphant is a great book but I really want to read Home Fire
H(appy) by Nicola Barker is on the top of my list 🙂
To be honest i havent heard of any of these but i really want to read more womens fiction so all of these seem right up my alley!
The Book at the top of my wish list is, The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock. It’s such an interesting title and peeks my interest. Thanks for the chance to win!
Elmet is the top of my list after hearing so many great things about it from sources I trust, plus it was shortlisted for the Man Booker and now longlisted for the Women’s Prize. Home Fire is my favourite of the four I’ve read so far.
I think either Eleanor Oliphant or The Idiot is on top of my TBR, but I would gladly make my way through them all. BookTube as a community is putting out interesting videos since the longlist was announced and I’m here for all that good content
Oooh. The Trick To Time – Kit de Waal!
Definitely The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, I recently read God of Small Things and fell in love with Arundhati Roy’s style of writing. I savoured every word In God of Small Things, I’m certain I’ll do the same in the next.
Three Things About Elsie and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine are my most favourite books and I recommend them to everyone! Would love to read The Ministry of Utmost Happiness – But what a great list.
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is at the top of my list. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things! X
Top for me is Jennifer Egan. I love her work and need to get my mitts on this latest one. (sidebar: hope you are now back in whelm & no longer in overwhelm LP x)
The Idiot by Elif Batuman would have to be on my shortlist
A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert…. Or maybe Kit De Wall’s The Trick to Time… Or maybe…
Waal’s, not Wall’s. Its predictive text getting in the way of me and splendid books.
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward!
I really want to read The Idiot because the cover is stunning (and matches Vintage’s Woolf series) and as a fairly recent English grad it sounds right up my street.
Thank you for this great chance! For me, it has got to be “Sight” by Jessie Greengrass. It sounds exactly like the kind of book I would enjoy and so many critics have already lauded it as a book that might win the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Man Booker Prize.
What an inspiring list! I’ve already read and loved Eleanor Oliphant and I’ve heard great things about Three Things About Elsie, but the one I most want to read is The Trick to Time.
Top of my list is Elmet – I live in York and the buzz about the book around here has been incredible, as Fiona Mozley works and studies here. Have wanted to read it for ages!
I can’t wait to read The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal. I read an essay of hers in Know Your Place a couple of months ago and she has such a great voice.
I’m rooting for Gail Honeyman to win! I’d really like to read Elmet next.
Top for me is probably The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. I’m ready to be sucked into some exciting historical fiction!
I would LOVE to win all these books ! I leave in France, an hour away from Paris, where the closest english bookshop is. “The Mermaid & Mrs Hancock” is at the top of my list, followed closely by “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” and “Miss Burma”.
The entire list seems simply wonderful, but Eleanor Oliphant and Elmet are at the top of my reading list.
I really want to read Kit de Waal’s The Trick to Time because I’m interested to see how both grief and love are portrayed! Plus the cover is dreamy!
Miss Burma — I actually went into a bookshop after the longlist was announced and looked for it everywhere, embarrassed the bookseller a bit when I kept insisting that they should have it or at least order it in, only for him to explain that it’s not even been published yet, it came out on the 15th March. Facepalm!, but the commitment is there.
I’m just reading H(A)PPY by Nicola Barker and it is certainly an extremely clever novel with a powerful theme. If you’re looking for a writer that pushes boundaries then this might be the one. Homefires by Shamsie is probably my choice for packing a punch. Looking forward to reading a few more.
Top of my wish list is Happy by Nicola Barker, followed closely by Jessie Greengrass’s Sight. But what a strong list overall – glad it’s not my job to narrow it down …
Hmm, I think Eleanor Oliphant (spellcheck keeps trying to change it to “Elephant”????) is top of my list because I’m seeing it everywhere. I’m also interested to pick up Sing, Unburied, Sing though and several of the others.
Home fire by Kamila Shamsie
Have read Home Fire & Sing Unburied Sing, both excellent. Would love to read Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
I’ve heard amazing things about ‘When I Hit You’ and have it next on my list to read; such a fantastic contender for the Women’s Prize. If I can get through the longlist by April 26 I’ll be very happy! x
Definitely Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan!
Such a good list – I can’t decide what is top of my list , either Elmet it The Idiot. I think maybe The Idiot. I’ve been wanting to write a book ever since I was a little girl and have just signed up to my first novel writing course starting in May- these books by great female authora would be a great inspiration and influence!! X
Ministry of Utmost Happiness
Elmet is one that has been on my wish list for a very long time.
Absolutely The Idiot by Elif Batuman. Fits in with my interest in Russian literature.
They all look amazing but the one I most want to read is The Idiot as I am fascinated by the whole idea of language and culture and how it shapes us.
It has to be Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine! Too many brilliant reviews! I think I might relate to her a lot!
Thanks!
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman is at the top of my list. I know it’s said don’t judge a book by its cover but have you seen that cover? I bet Eleanor is not completely fine.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman is top on my list. I know it is said don’t judge a book by its cover, but it hard not to with this book. Have you seen that artwork? And I can bet Eleanor is far from being fine.
A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert is top of my list but the others are closely following! I am a firm believer that you can never have too many books, so I would love to add these to my collection
Home Fire is on the top of my list at the moment – I keep seeing brilliant reviews creeping around x
Elmer has to be my top read. Such a different take on a folk story and the Yorkshire setting is so recognisable to anyone who’s lived there.
this would be an amazing prize to win I do not watch tv or even own one as I am to busy reading good books so would love to win this.
I’ll have to go with Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman as well – heard great things about it 🙂
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar is top of my list as I keep coming across this book wherever I go so I think I am fated to read it. x
Happy by Nicola Barker is top of my list
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal looks good!
I would have to read A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert first. I’m a huge psychological thriller fan, but like to mix it up with other genres now and again.
I’ve read Eleanor Oliphant which was brilliant but I’m intrigued by When I Hit You Or The Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife. They all sound wonderful though – what an amazing list to work your way through!
I really want to read ‘The mermaid and Mrs Hancock’ as I love mermaid mythology and books about the seven seas so it’s on my shortlist! 🙂
The ministry of utmost happiness is definitely at the top of my list! I’ve wanted to read it ever since I saw the title of it advertised at a train station.
I’ve only read Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward so far, but it’s breathtaking. Though I’ve been really looking forward to reading all of these! What a dreamy long list!????
As a Yorkshire lass, I’m super excited about Elmet
Without doubt Eleanor Oliphant – seems to be on all my friends lists too!
Miss Burma sounds I intriguing.
A Boy in Winter for me
Happy by Nicola Barker is at the top of my list. Amazing Competition!
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar. It sounds like such an addictive read. The book looks beautiful and I love reading a big book on the sofa with a cup of tea. I love big books and I can not lie! Would love love love to win this collection!
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeymoon definitely top of mine, have wanted to read for ages!
I have not read any of them but would love to
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
Wow! What an amazing prize! I have heard such great things about not only Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman but also about The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar. I would love to read both these books and the others on the list too, thank you for this opportunity. Good luck everyone! X
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is at the top of my list – Everyone recommends it!
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy is my top choice!
this is a superb range of women`s fiction by some writers I love like Jennifer Egan and Jesmyn Ward.
I would love the chance to read the whole spectrum.