Curated by bookshops, chosen by booklovers
The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards are one of a kind. They're the only book awards curated by bookshops and chosen by readers, like you!
The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards include six shortlists which are chosen by booksellers across the UK and Ireland, while the Readers' Choice Award – nominated and chosen entirely by readers – completes the set.
The Books Are My Bag Readers Awards launched in 2016, in partnership with and sponsored by National Book Tokens.
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards Winners
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2024
Fiction: You Are Here by David Nicholls
Non-Fiction: Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad
Poetry: Lobster: and other things I’m learning to love by Hollie McNish
Young Adult Fiction: The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Children’s Fiction: I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery
Breakthrough Author: Asako Yuzuki, author of Butter
Readers’ Choice: Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2023
Fiction: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Non-Fiction: Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
Poetry: The Cat Prince & Other Poems by Michael Pedersen
Children's Fiction: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell
Young Adult Fiction: Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
Breakthrough Author: Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
Readers' Choice: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmu
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2022
Fiction: Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
Non-Fiction: The Transgender Issue by Shon Faye
Poetry: The Fire People by Lemn Sissay
Children's Fiction: Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good by Louie Stowell
Young Adult Fiction: All That's Left in the World by Erik. J. Brown
Breakthrough Author: Alice Oseman, author of the Heartstopper series
Readers' Choice: Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2021
Fiction: Still Life by Sarah Winman
Non-Fiction: I Belong Here: A Journey Along the Backbone of Britain by Anita Sethi
Poetry: The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
Children's Fiction: When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle
Young Adult Fiction: Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Breakthrough Author: Marcus Rashford, author of You Are A Champion written with Carl Anka
Readers' Choice: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2020
Fiction: The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton
Non-Fiction: Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty
Poetry: Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright: An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year by Britta Teckentrup and Fiona Waters
Young Adult Fiction: Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Children's Fiction: The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Breakthrough Author: Jean Menzies author of Greek Myths
Readers' Choice: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2019
Fiction: Circe by Madeline Miller
Non-Fiction: Becoming by Michelle Obama
Poetry: The Flame by Leonard Cohen
Young Adult: Toffee by Sarah Crossan
Children's Fiction: No Ballet Shoes In Syria by Catherine Bruton
Breakthrough Author: Greta Thunberg, author of No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference
Beautiful Book: The Binding by Bridget Collins, designed by Micaela Alcaino
Readers' Choice: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez
Outstanding Contribution to Bookselling: Trevor Goul-Wheeker, former Chairman at Blackwell’s
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2018
Novel: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
Non-Fiction: The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken by The Secret Barrister
Poetry: The Last Hedgehog by Pam Ayres, illustrated by Alice Tait
Young Readers - Middle Grade: The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle
Young Readers - YA: La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One by Philip Pullman
Beautiful Book: Virago Modern Classics 40th anniversary series designed by Hannah Wood, illustrated by Yehrin Tong (Little, Brown)
Breakthrough Author: Sarah J. Harris for The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder
Readers' Choice: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Oustanding Contribution to Bookselling: Vivian Archer, Newham Bookshop
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2017
Popular Fiction: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
Non-Fiction: This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay
Novel: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Middle Grade (7-11): Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll
YA (12-18): The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Breakthrough Author: Kate Tempest for The Bricks that Built the Houses
Beautiful Book: The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris
Readers' Choice: This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay
Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2016
Fiction: Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter
Non-Fiction: Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Biography & Autobiography: The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson
Children's: The Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson and Sara Ogilvie
Breakthrough Author: Joanna Cannon for The Trouble with Goats and Sheep
Beautiful Book: The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry and designed by Pete Dyer
Readers' Choice: The Good Immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla