The longlist for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction has been announced. The 16 novels include debut authors as well as esteemed writers like Lily King and Susan Choi, all competing for a £30,000 prize. Founded to champion female authors and fresh voices, the prestigious literary award is now in its 31st year.
According to Julia Gillard, Chair of Judges and former Prime Minister of Australia, each of the longlisted books “examine[s] the messy business of being human”. Whether tackling global issues like the displacement of people and climate change, or exploring familial and romantic intimate relationships, the books cover a range of topics, including cultural heritage, friendship and human connection.
“From climate change to artificial intelligence, they navigate the issues of our time with urgency and purpose, they immerse us in environments and experiences that are sometimes like our own, but more often are radically different, and they explore identities and perspectives that are often ignored or forgotten, amidst those inherently universal and recognisable,” Gillard said.
Recognising seven debut novels and spotlighting independent publishers, the Prize aims to bring lesser-heard female voices to the forefront. “Across three decades, the Women’s Prize for Fiction has transformed the literary landscape.... our mission remains unchanged: to help build a future where every woman’s story has a place, and where these rich and vital narratives are put into the hands of more readers,” Claire Shanahan, Executive Director of the Women’s Prize Trust, said.
This year, Mona Arshi, author, presenter, poet and speaker; Salma El-Wardany, writer, podcaster, actor and comedian; Cariad Lloyd, author, broadcaster and DJ; and Annie Macmanus, join Gillard on the judging panel.
Two of the most talked-about books of 2025, Virginia Evans’s The Correspondent is a touching story of a 73-year-old woman’s attempt to reckon with her past and reconnect with loved ones through letters, while Susan Choi’s Flashlight is a historical family drama spanning generations and geographies.
Elsewhere, Megha Majumdar’s second novel, A Guardian and a Thief, is set in a near-future Kolkata that’s beset with flooding and famine, while Hannah Lillith Assadi’s third novel, Paradiso 17, follows a Palestinian refugee from Kuwait to Italy and New York.
When it comes to debuts, Lucy Apps’s Gloria Don’t Speak follows a 19-year-old woman with a learning difficulty, Elaine Castillo’s Moderation is a satire on the tech industry (it’s drawn comparisons with Apple TV’s Severance), while Addie E. Citchens’ Dominion follows the devoted wife of a Baptist minister after their golden child runs into trouble.
Providing plenty of reading inspiration for your 2026 reading pile, many of the books haven’t yet been released – but among the titles that have, Lily King’s Heart the Lover is a must-read. A campus love story that revisits the characters decades later, it’s moving, beautiful and thought-provoking – a romance for people who don’t usually like reading romance. Having loaned my copy out to friends and family, everyone seems to agree. Here’s everything you need to know about the Women’s Prize for Fiction longlisted tome, Heart the Lover.
'Heart The Lover' by Lily King, published Canongate Books
Released in summer 2025, Lily King’s Heart the Lover has enjoyed slow-burning success – particularly on TikTok. Testament to the writing and characters, it’s a romance that can be enjoyed by every type of reader, from literary fiction fans to “chicklit” devotees. The title is technically a sequel to the American writer’s 2020 novel Writers & Lover’s, but the new book easily stands on its own.
It begins with our unnamed narrator at college, where she experiences first love, heartbreak, passion and intimate friendship in the orbit of fellow students Sam and Yash. But this isn’t your average campus story. Decades later, the protagonist is married with two young children, having achieved her dream of being a successful author. But when an old lover comes calling, she’s sent spiralling back into the past.
Saying anything else would ruin the pure delight of reading the novel – but be prepared to cry. A meditation on the passing of time, coming-of-age and mortality, the literary references throughout give it extra appeal for book lovers. I’ve since read Writers & Lover’s which is just as gorgeous.
Buy now £14, Amazon.co.uk
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