The prestigious 2025 Booker Prize longlist has been announced, showcasing an impressive selection of authors from nine different nationalities. This marks the most global list seen in a decade, highlighting the vibrant and diverse landscape of contemporary literature. Among the nominees are notable writers such as Kiran Desai, Tash Aw, and David Szalay, each bringing unique narratives to the forefront of literary recognition.
This year’s judging panel is chaired by acclaimed author Roddy Doyle, alongside renowned actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Nigerian writer Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀. The panel has curated a “Booker dozen” longlist featuring 13 titles, including works by Katie Kitamura, Andrew Miller, Ben Markovits, and Jonathan Buckley. Other noteworthy longlistees include Susan Choi, Natasha Brown, and Benjamin Wood.
Kiran Desai, who previously won the Booker Prize in 2006 for her novel The Inheritance of Loss, returns with her highly anticipated book, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. Set to be published in September, this new work took nearly two decades to complete and spans 667 pages, making it the longest title on the longlist. Desai's mother, Anita Desai, is also a notable literary figure, having been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times.
Tash Aw, nominated for the third time, presents his latest novel, The South. Should he win the £50,000 prize this November, he would make history as the first Malaysian recipient. In contrast, David Szalay, who was shortlisted in 2016 for All That Man Is, has been nominated this year for Flesh, a narrative tracing the life journey of a man named István from adolescence to midlife.
This year’s longlist includes One Boat by Jonathan Buckley, published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, which marks the publisher's first nomination for the Booker Prize. The novel, at just 168 pages, is the slimmest title on the list. Additionally, independent publisher Faber has made a notable impact with three nominations, featuring titles like Universality by Natasha Brown and The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits.
The 2025 longlist includes two debut novels: Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga and Endling by Maria Reva, the latter depicting the journey of three women and an endangered snail through contemporary Ukraine. Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, highlighted the longlist's remarkable diversity, stating it features the highest number of different nationalities seen in a decade, while also maintaining strong representation from British writers.
This year’s panel also includes novelist Kiley Reid and writer/critic Chris Power, alongside Roddy Doyle, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀. Parker, who has previously served as editorial director at SJP for Hogarth and launched her imprint SJP Lit, has been actively sharing book recommendations on her Instagram account, further promoting contemporary fiction.
The shortlist for the 2025 Booker Prize will be revealed at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday, 23 September, with the winner announced on Monday, 10 November. Last year, the prestigious award was claimed by Samantha Harvey for her novel Orbital, adding to a list of notable winners including Paul Lynch, Shehan Karunatilaka, Damon Galgut, and Douglas Stuart.
