We are proud to unveil the 2025 longlist for the Fiction Prize, spotlighting 15 remarkable debut novels by unpublished women and non-binary writers across the UK and Ireland.
This year saw a record-breaking 1,000+ entries, a testament to the Prize’s reputation as a launchpad for powerful new literary voices. These longlisted novels stood out for their originality, emotional depth, and compelling storytelling.
The 2025 Longlist showcases a range of themes, genres, and voices – from the intimate to the epic, touching the zeitgeist through to the fantastical.
2025 longlist
- Cass Bonner - The Guardians
- Emily Charlton - Motherskin
- Lucy Coleman - Supernova
- AJ Davage - Between us three and the sea
- Emma Dawson - Marine
- Melissa Gitari - My Girls
- Ceri Gould - On Wednesdays We Wear Black
- Becca Heddle - Guiltless
- Clair Humphries - Mrs Peacock's Pavlova
- Deborah Karlsen - The Norwegian Girls
- Isabella Peralta - Comets
- Frankie Regalia - Ghost Daddy Issues
- Rachel Rowlinson - Seastroke
- Jade Wright - Kill Your Darlings
- Ciara Broderick - Catfish
Hellie Ogden and Matilda Forbes Watson, Co-heads of UK Books say, “We had almost double the number of entries from 2024, and we were blown away by the standard. It’s been such a pleasure to dip into these worlds and we are looking forward to seeing the response from our experienced judges.”
The longlisted novels are now with our judges, who will be carefully reading and considering each one. The shortlist will be revealed on 8 May 2025, and we can't wait to share the next chapter of this year’s Prize.
This year’s judges bring a wealth of literary expertise and creative insight:
- Kiran Millwood Hargrave (Head Judge): Award-winning poet, playwright, and bestselling novelist
- Candice Brathwaite: Acclaimed author, journalist, broadcaster, and cultural commentator
- Leodora Darlington: Publishing Director at Orion and debut author
- Dr Olivia Krauze: Director of Studies in English at Lucy Cavendish College
- Dr Lindsay Traub: Former Vice President and Emeritus Fellow of the College
The winner will be awarded a prize of £1,500 and all shortlisted entrants will receive one-to-one consultation with an agent at our sponsor who will give each author editorial feedback as well as publishing advice.
With the Prize in its 15th anniversary, and the College celebrating 60 years of innovation and inclusion in 2025, this year's Prize marks an exciting new chapter.
Our prize sponsor is WME, a leading global talent agency with a rich history. At the heart of WME Books is a boutique literary agency ethos, combined with the unparalleled reach of a global network spanning every facet of entertainment. This collaboration brings exciting opportunities for our shortlisted authors, offering them exposure to world-class literary and creative representation.
With the support of our community, we were able to offer 24 fully sponsored places to writers from low-income backgrounds, continuing our mission to make the competition as inclusive and accessible as possible.
To find out more about the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize click here.