Nicola Dinan's second novel, Disappoint Me, has been named the inaugural winner of the £2,000 (about $2,685) New Adult Book Prize, which was founded this year by the Bookseller to celebrate "one of the fastest growing areas of fiction publishing," and is run in partnership with the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Judge Lizzie Damilola Blackburn said: "Thought-provoking, gut-wrenching, and ultimately hopeful, Disappoint Me reminded me why I love reading--the joy of learning about other people's experiences. Dinan's writing is sharp, layered and deeply human--and, as a fellow author, frankly aspirational. Disappoint Me is a worthy winner that will stay with me for a long time."
Philip Jones, editor of the Bookseller, commented: "A fantastic winner comes after a fantastic season for this new award. Thanks to the brilliant team behind it, our partner Cheltenham, the publishers who supported it, the judges who selected the shortlist and winner, the guild who amplified it and, of course, the writers and readers who are buoying this exciting segment of the book market."