Considered one of the UK’s most prestigious and popular literary prizes the Costa Book Awards shortlists are always eagerly anticipated and are guaranteed to add a title or three to everyone’s TBR lists.

This year’s finalists are dominated by female authors and contain an eclectic mix of genres and writing styles. With four books shortlisted for each category and five categories there’s bound to be at least one book that piques your interest in amongst these twenty titles. We’ve emphasised the Costa Novel Award as this is usually the most anticipated award from the five categories but all twenty of the Costa Book Awards 2016 finalists are included.

Novel Award:

Sebastian Barry – Days Without End

A powerful new novel of duty and family set against the American Indian and Civil Wars where two young men find  filled with wonder, despite the horrors they both witness.

Days Without End US
Days Without End UK

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Maggie O’Farrell – This Must Be the Place

Maggie O’Farrell may have written seven novels but this is considered to be her breakout novel; This Must Be the Place is an irresistible love story about an unforgettable family.

This Must Be the Place US
This Must Be the Place UK

This Must Be the Place Review

Karan Mahajan – The Essex Serpent

The Essex Serpent is a beautiful historical fiction novel that is a celebration of love and the many different guises it can take and told with a breathtaking grace.

The Essex Serpent US
The Essex Serpent UK

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Rose Tremain – The Gustav Sonata

What does neutrality do to a person? How hard can it be to grow up in a neutral country, living a neutral life and having neutral opinions? The Gustav Sonata reveals many perhaps unexpected consequences of such a life.

The Gustav Sonata US
The Gustav Sonata UK

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Costa First Novel Award

The Good Guy – Susan Beale

My Name is Leon – Kit de Waal

The Words in My Hand –  Guinevere Glasfurd

Golden Hill – Francis Spufford

Costa Biography Award

Dadland: A Journey into Uncharted Territory – Keggie Carew

Elizabeth: The Forgotten Years – John Guy

The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land In Between – Hisham Matar

I’m Not With the Band: A Writer’s Life Lost in Music – Sylvia Patterson

Costa Poetry Award

Sunshine – Melissa Lee-Houghton

Falling Awake – Alice Oswald

Say Something Back – Denise Riley

Let Them Eat Chaos – Kate Tempest

Costa Children’s Book Award

The Bombs That Brought Us Together – Brian Conaghan

Orange Boy – Patrice Lawrence

The Monstrous Child – Francesca Simon

Time Travelling with a Hamster – Ross Welford