Latest news

We're thrilled to see Tom Chivers' EVERYTHING IS PREDICTABLE: How Bayes' Remarkable Theorem Explains the World on the shortlist for this year's Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize! The book, published in April by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, is one of a 6-strong shortlist for the prize which celebrates the best popular science writing from across the globe. Professor John Hutchinson, chair of the 2024 judges, said: “Competition for this shortlist was extreme. 2023-2024 has been an incredible year for great science books. Our shortlist spans a wonderful variety of highly timely topics: from artificial intelligence and privacy issues to the challenges of space settlement, to the underappreciated importance of a statistical method, to the evolution of female reproductive biology, to the discovery of human-induced extinction itself, and to the biology of ageing and death. There’s something for everyone interested in science here, whether it’s for your own leisure reading and enlightenment, a generous gift to someone else, or for education in STEM disciplines. Humanity needs creative and scholarly books like these that digest the huge wealth of modern scientific understanding and translate it into accessible impact.” And the judging panel said of EVERYTHING IS PREDICTABLE: “This is a highly impressive book that immediately hooks the reader in. Chivers is an exemplary writer and his distinctive voice shines through as he covers Thomas Bayes’ theories in an accessible and exciting way. This is a book for anyone who wishes to expand their knowledge of maths, and it illuminates aspects of probability and its applications in today’s society that are hugely relevant to us all.” We wish Tom the best of luck 🏆 You can see the full shortlist here!

Janklow & Nesbit's own Matt Parker was crowned at #1 of The Sunday Times Bestseller this week! His book, LOVE TRIANGLE: How Trigonometry Shapes the World, has been greeted with universal praise, including from Tom Calver who wrote in The Sunday Times: “This book is an attempt to rescue trigonometry from the bounds of boredom—and for many reasons, there will not be another like it this year.” Author Matt Parker, described as “maths royalty”, is the mathematician behind the YouTube channel Stand-Up Maths which has more than a million subscribers. “This book is not for everyone: algebra, computer code and A-level trigonometric equations are nakedly strewn all over its pages. But Parker is funny, likeable and aware enough of his audience to carry them along. And those who persevere will end up smarter than they were when they started it.” Huge congratulations to Matt Parker and Allan Lane! 

We're thrilled to see that Yomi Adegoke's smash-hit THE LIST (published by Fourth Estate) has been longlisted for The Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2024. Judged by the Goldsboro team of booksellers, the prize rewards ‘compelling storytelling with brilliant characterisation and a distinct voice that is confidently written and assuredly realised’ in all genres. The winner — announced on Thursday, 26th September, at Goldsboro’s 25th Birthday party — will be awarded £2,000 and a beautiful, handmade, engraved blue glass bell. Previous winners include Chris Cleave for Everyone Brave is Forgiven (Sceptre), John Boyne for The Heart’s Invisible Furies (Transworld), Christina Dalcher for VOX (HQ) & Ayanna Lloyd Banwo for When We Were Birds. David Headley, Goldsboro Books co-founder, MD, and founder of the Glass Bell, says: ‘This is the longest list we have chosen in the eight years since we launched this prize. Reading is one of the greatest comforts available to us in these uncertain times – and each of these stories constructs very different but equally immersive worlds for readers to inhabit. This longlist highlights fourteen of the best works of fiction around today! I’m looking forward to our judging discussions – there’s so much to be said about each of these remarkable novels, and I feel that this year will be particularly difficult choosing a winner because we couldn’t cut the longlist to our normal twelve, so passionate were the team about each book.’ You can find the full longlist here. 

Chukwuebuka Ibeh's breakout debut BLESSINGS has been longlisted for the 2024 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize! The prize is convened by The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation, whose mission they describe as follows: The foundation’s aim is to open a space for these writers, young and old, from across the globe, to shine. The first stage of our mission will be to award an annual prize for adventure writing – the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. The next stage will be to reach out to writers and readers across the world, bringing the spirit of adventure into their lives and inspiring them to undertake their own journeys of discovery. More than anything we want the Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation to be an organisation that uplifts, inspires and educates.” Chukwuebuka is one of 12 longlistees for the £10,000 prize who were chosen by a panel of librarians and library staff from across the UK who meticulously reviewed more than 100 submissions from publishers and literary agents. The shortlist — revealed on 30th May — will be reviewed by a judging panel which consists of: Matt Barr, host of Looking Sideways Action Sports podcast and author; Lee Craigie, Active Nation Commissioner for Scotland and champion cyclist, Alasdair Harris, marine conservationist and founder of Blue Ventures; Sarah Outen, author and first woman and the youngest person to row solo across the Indian Ocean; and Emma Styles, author and winner of the 2023 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.  The overall winner will be announced on 19th September; you can see the full longlist here. 

The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller THE LIST by Yomi Adegoke is a Richard & Judy's Book Club pick for April! Ola Olajide, a high-profile journalist, is marrying the love of her life in one month's time. Young, beautiful, successful - she and her fiancé Michael seem to have it all. That is, until one morning when they both wake up to the same message: 'Oh my god, have you seen The List?' It began as a list of anonymous allegations about abusive men. Now it has been published online. Ola made her name breaking exactly this type of story. She would usually be the first to cover it, calling for the men to be fired. Except today, Michael's name is on there. With their future on the line, Ola gives Michael an ultimatum to prove his innocence by their wedding day, but will the truth of what happened change everything for both of them? The book, now out in paperback, has won praise from a clutch of publications and authors alike, with Booker Prize winner Bernardine Evaristo calling the novel 'topical, heartfelt, provocative' and best-selling author Paula Hawkins gushing that it's 'impossible to put down'.  You can buy all of the Richard & Judy's Book Club picks here.  

We couldn't be more proud to see Janklow & Nesbit's very own Will Francis shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at The British Book Awards, aka The Nibbies. Selectors of the shortlist had this to say about the reasons for his making the cut: “Will Francis of Janklow & Nesbit has a flair for building agenda-setting non-fiction, from Adam Rutherford, Tracy King, Mary Ann Sieghart and Ed Yong among others in 2023. He’s a very strategic agent with an eye on the long-term rather than instant hits, and with Rangan Chatterjee has shown he can build big author brands.” Several of Will's clients have added their praise via social media with Pete Etchells - author of the forthcoming UNLOCKED: The Real Science of Screen Time (and how to spend it better) - tweeting: "It's so great to see this. Will is the kindest, most thoughtful, compassionate and genuinely interested (and interesting!) agent that anyone could ask for. It's a privilege to work with him, and he should win all the awards." We wish Will the best of luck! The winner will be announced at a ceremony at Grosvenor House London on Monday 13th May. You can see the remainder of the Book Trade Award shortlists here: https://www.thebookseller.com/...

We're hugely proud to see that not one but two Janklow & Nesbit authors are featured on the shortlist for Debut Fiction of the Year at The British Book Awards aka The Nibbies: REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY by Monica Heisey and THE LIST by Yomi Adegoke, both published by Fourth Estate. THE LIST also features in the shortlist for Audiobook Fiction of the Year. “Last year saw the book business roll up its sleeves, stare down the cost-of-living crisis and post-Covid-19 troubles, and unleash a series of memorable and remarkable new titles,” said Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of The British Book Awards judging panel. “Book-ended by two record-breakers – Prince Harry’s Spare and the fifth book in Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series – this year’s titles did what the industry does best: start conversations, connect communities and push boundaries. Our collective ability to support the creative endeavours of writers and illustrators, and to judge and deliver what readers want, continues to be a wonder to behold. It is an honour to celebrate these success stories.” The awards celebrate the whole journey of a book – from the author’s mind to the reader’s hand. The 12 category winners, and the winner of Overall Book of the Year, will be unveiled at a ceremony at Grosvenor House London on Monday 13th May. The category awards will be nominated by separate panels, with judges including Toby Jones, Nihal Arthanayake, Lorraine Kelly, Adrian Chiles and Yinka Bokinni, as well as Candice Brathwaite and Diana Evans. You can see the shortlist for all categories here: https://www.thebookseller.com/...

Gillian Anderson has announced the September publication date for WANT, an anthology of sexual fantasies submitted anonymously by women from around the world and collated by Gillian. Bloomsbury Books will publish the book on 5th September 2024.  Following the announcement, the book soared in the number 2 spot on Amazon's Movers and Shaker's List which tracks the upward trajectory of books on their site in a 24 hour period. It's available to pre-order now at she-wants.com.

Jasper Fforde's much-anticipated RED SIDE STORY — the second in his SHADES OF GREY series — has debuted at the number 2 spot on The Sunday Times bestseller list! It was featured by The Guardian in their roundup of the best recent science fiction and fantasy books and they said of the novel: "Cleverly constructed, with engaging characters and lots of good jokes, this sparkling Wizard of Oz-inspired fantasy is the second book in an intended trilogy, and one of the quirkiest dystopias ever imagined." Huge congrats to Jasper and Hodder! 

Eva Rice's THIS COULD BE EVERYTHING — published in paperback on 07/12 — has been chosen as a Richard & Judy's Book Club pick for December. The novel is about a young woman finding happiness again after her life is shattered by grief. It’s 1990 in glamorous Notting Hill, a London alive with pop music, models and film stars. At 19, February Kingdom is knocked sideways by tragedy, but her journey back to joy is tenderly chronicled in this enchanting feel-good novel. Judy Finnigan said: “This is such a wise, tender book about the bond between sisters, full of warmth, sadness and joy.” Amongst those praising the book is much-loved author Jojo Moyes who said of the novel: "Every time I have read one of Eva Rice’s books it has felt like a modern classic. Tender, and acutely observed, the characters of THIS COULD BE EVERYTHING have stayed with me. Reading it every night felt like wrapping myself a comfort blanket". You can read more about the Richard & Judy Book Club picks here: https://www.thebookseller.com/...

Rebecca Renner's GATOR COUNTRY, published by Flatiron on 14th November, has peaked at #4 on the Hudson News bestselling chart! This is an indicator of sales nationwide and follows a flurry of excellent reviews in a number of outlets, from the New York Times — 'Every species, and every person who fights for its continued existence, deserves a book like this' — and the Tampa Bay Times who called the book 'a loving natural history of the irreplaceable Everglades'. Orlando Weekly said of the author, 'Renner is a natural storyteller, and she does service to wild Florida, igniting an answering passion in the reader.'  GATOR COUNTRY is available now to order online and at all good bookshops.

“The Sun Sets in Singapore” by Kehinde Fadipe is Jenna’s book club pick for November, set amid the hustle and bustle of Singapore, where three Nigerian expats are attempting to live their best lives. This debut publishes on Oct. 31 in the US and out now in the UK.  “I think you will fall in love with this trio of women because you will relate to them, you will fall in love with Singapore and you will leave with more compassion and more understanding,” Jenna Bush Hager says of what she calls the “dazzling debut novel.” “It’s about three best friends who each are at a different stage in their lives, even though they’re the same age, which I find to be so relevant for women these days,” Jenna says. “I loved this story about friendship, who we lean on, female ambition and what defines us.” To read more, click here: https://www.today.com/popcultu...

We're thrilled to announce that Aaron Robertson will be judging the International Booker Prize 2024.  Robertson is a writer, translator, and editor at Spiegel & Grau in New York. Robertson’s translation of Igiaba Scego’s novel, Beyond Babylon (Two Lines Press, 2019), was shortlisted for the 2019 PEN Translation Prize and the National Translation Award. In 2021 he received a National Endowment for the Arts grant to support his translation of Giulia Caminito’s The Big A. He has served on the board of the American Literary Translators Association and is currently an advisory editor for The Paris Review. His debut book, The Black Utopians, will be published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2024. Robertson has been a contributor to two books, The Heart of a Stranger: An Anthology of Exile Literature (Pushkin Press, 2019) and Violent Phenomena: 21 Essays on Translation (Tilted Axis Press, 2022). His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, Foreign Policy, n+1, The Point, Literary Hub and elsewhere. His writing has received support from the Robert B. Silvers Foundation, the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society at Stanford University and the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. To find out more, click here. 

The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller "THE LIST" by Yomi Adegoke is #GMABookClub's pick for October!Adegoke's new novel is a story about internet culture and tackling complicated moral questions surrounding "call-out" practices in the age of online backlash. Click here to find out more: https://gma.abc/46z5NlL Out now with Fourth Estate (UK) and William Morrow Books (US).