Waterstones has revealed the shortlist for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2025, a prize for debut fiction of all forms, voted for by Waterstones booksellers. This year’s shortlist takes us from the metropolises of New York and London to the depths of the Provençal countryside and rural Ireland, via a Swedish cabin and a holy Indian river.
Waterstones booksellers have always played a vital part in the discovery of inspiring new voices, helping to create bestsellers and establish enduring careers for debut authors. The Debut Fiction Prize is a manifestation of the power of word-of-mouth recommendation by booksellers.
Last year’s winner, Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon, shot into the bestseller charts after the announcement and dominated sales at Waterstones for summer holiday reading.
The Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize provided a truly impactful platform for Ferdia that paved the way for further recognition. He went on to be nominated for several major prizes including the Waterstones Book of the Year, the Nero Book Awards, the BAMB Fiction award and the Dylan Thomas Prize. The book also featured on the BBC’s Between the Covers, won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize and The Authors’ Club 2025 Best First Novel Award.
Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2025 Shortlist:
Confessions by Catherine Airey, Penguin
Saraswati by Gurnaik Johal, Profile
Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin, Bonnier
Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter, Merky
When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén, translated by Alice Menzies, Transworld
The Artist by Lucy Steeds, John Murray
The winner of the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2025 will be announced on Thursday, 24th July 2025.
Discover the very best in Arts, Culture, Travel, Leisure and Lifestyle news and reviews with The Arts Shelf. Enjoy reading our content? Love Movies, Theatre, Opera, Books, Travel, Video Games, Art and Exhibitions, Music, Ballet and Dance, Days Out, Events, Competitions and Collectibles? Make sure to follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and Sign Up to the Mailing List to be kept up to date with all the latest news and reviews.
