Irish Independent

Crime Fiction Book Of The Year:

‘Breaking Point’ by Edel Coffey (Sphere)

One mistake could cost her everything.

Susannah has two beautiful daughters, a high-flying medical career, a successful husband and an enviable life. Her hair is glossy, her clothes are expensive; she truly has it all.

But when - on the hottest day of the year - her strict morning routine is disrupted, Susannah finds herself running on autopilot. It is hours before she realises she has made a devastating mistake. Her baby, Louise, is still in the backseat of the car and it is too late to save her.

As the press close in around her, Susannah is put on trial for negligence. It is plain to see that this is not a trial, it's a witch hunt. But what will the court say?

Sunday Independent

Newcomer Of The Year:

‘None of This is Series’ by Catherin Prasifka (Canongate Books)

Dublin student life is ending for Sophie and her friends. They've got everything figured out, and Sophie feels left behind as they all start to go their separate ways. She's overshadowed by her best friend Grace. She's been in love with Finn for as long as she's known him. And she's about to meet Rory, who's suddenly available to her online.

At a party, what was already unstable completely falls apart and Sophie finds herself obsessively scrolling social media, waiting for something (anything) to happen.

None of This Is Serious is about the uncertainty and absurdity of being alive today. It's about balancing the real world with the online, and the vulnerabilities in yourself, your relationships, your body. At its heart, this is a novel about the friendships strong enough to withstand anything.

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Breaking Point by Edel Coffey (Sphere)

'Breaking Point is raw, compelling, and ground-breaking; Coffey puts the life of working mothers under a microscope. To say I loved it is an understatement, I expect it will be a huge success.' Liz Nugent

'A gripping, compulsive page turner about what we expect from women, especially mothers. It's going to be a massive hit.' Marian Keyes

'A rare treat, an emotional thriller steeped in humanity. I read it in a single sitting!' John Boyne

Odgers Berntdson

Non-Fiction Book Of The Year:

‘Listen to the Land Speak’ by Manchán Magan (Gill Books)

Our ancestors developed a uniquely nature-focused society, centred on esteemed poets, seers, monks, healers and wise women who were deeply connected to the land. They used this connection to the cycles of the natural world – from which we are increasingly dissociated – as an animating force in their lives.

In this illuminating new book, Manchán Magan sets out on a journey, through bogs, across rivers and over mountains, to trace these ancestor’s footsteps. He uncovers the ancient myths that have shaped our national identity and are embedded in the strata of land that have endured through millennia – from ice ages through to famines and floods.

Here, the River Shannon is a goddess, and trees and their life-sustaining root systems are hallowed. See the world in a new light in this magical exploration into the life-sustaining wisdom of what lies beneath us.

Specsavers

Children's Book Of The Year (Senior):

‘The Truth About Riley’ by Sinéad Moriarty (Gill Books)

Suddenly finding herself homeless, Riley tries to keep up appearances at school, hiding the truth from her lovely but clueless friend Sophie and spiteful, suspicious Vanessa.

But as strangers step up to help her and her mum, Riley realises that sometimes it is those you least expect who will change your life for the better …

The Truth About Riley is the timely and thought-provoking new story for young readers from one of Ireland’s best-loved

Writing.IE

Short Story Of The Year:

‘Red Market’ by Sheila Armstrong from How to Gut a Fish (Bloomsbury)

From a dazzling and disquieting collection of stories, how to gut a fish places the bizarre beside the everyday and then elegantly and expertly blurs the lines. An exciting new Irish writer whose sharp and lyrical prose unsettles and astounds in equal measure, Sheila Armstrong's exquisitely provocative stories carve their way into your mind and take hold.

The winners will be honoured at the Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on November 23rd in the Convention Centre Dublin.

https://www.irishbookawards.ie/