A shortlist has been released for the 2025 Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award, which celebrates "compelling storytelling with brilliant characterization and a distinct voice," and is presented annually to "novels that combine immersive narratives, vivid settings, and unforgettable characters." The winner receives both £2,000 (about $2,680) and an engraved glass bell. This year's shortlisted titles are:
The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wastelands by Sarah Brooks
James by Percival Everett
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike
There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak
All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Goldsboro Books managing director David Headley said: "Each year, the Glass Bell Award reminds us of the extraordinary breadth of talent in contemporary fiction, and this year's shortlist is no exception. These six books are wildly different in style, scope and setting, yet they all share that rare magic--the ability to completely transport a reader. From the first page to the last, they demand to be read, remembered and shared, and I'm thrilled to celebrate such bold and brilliant storytelling."