Awards

The BookPeople Awards - 2023

We are very excited to announce the BookPeople Book of the Year 2023 Award winners.

The BookPeople 2023 Book of the Year Awards recognise the 2022 Australian new releases our booksellers have selected as their favourite hand-sells as part of their ongoing drive to bring writers and readers together. We believe this is a special award because it is decided by the people who personally recommend and care enough to put a book in the hands of the reading public.

BookPeople BookData - Adult Fiction Book of the Year

• Limberlost by Robbie Arnott (Text Publishing)

BookPeople BookData - Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year

• Bulldozed: Scott Morrison's Fall and Anthony Albanese's Rise by Niki Savva (Scribe Publications) 

BookPeople Kids' Reading Guide - Children's Book of the Year

• Runt by Craig Silvey (Allen & Unwin)

BookPeople 2023 Book Awards Shortlists

BookPeople BookData - Adult Fiction Book of the Year

• Limberlost by Robbie Arnott (Text Publishing)
• Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au (Giramondo)
• Horse by Geraldine Brooks (Hachette Australia) 
• All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien (HQ) 
• Willowman by Inga Simpson (Hachette Australia) 
• Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson (Penguin) 

BookPeople BookData - Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year

• Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave & Seán O’Hagan (Text Publishing)  
• Reasons Not to Worry by Brigid Delaney (Allen & Unwin) 
• The Book of Roads and Kingdoms by Richard Fidler (ABC Books)
• Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby (Allen & Unwin)
• Not Now, Not Ever edited by Julia Gillard (Vintage Australia)
• Bulldozed: Scott Morrison's Fall and Anthony Albanese's Rise by Niki Savva (Scribe Publications) 

BookPeople Kids' Reading Guide - Children's Book of the Year

• Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall (Lothian Children's Books)
• Come Together: Things Every Aussie Kid Should Know about the First People by Isaiah Firebrace & Jaelyn Biumaiwai (Illus) (Hardie Grant Explore) 
• A Tiny Light by Alison Lester (University of Queensland Press) 
• The Bookseller's Apprentice by Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press) 
• Runt by Craig Silvey (Allen & Unwin)
• Snap! by Anna Walker (Scribble) 

BookPeople Hardie Grant Children's Publishing Bookseller of the Year award recognises individual children's specialist booksellers for their outstanding achievements in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop that they work in but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to be recognised by the book industry for innovation, excellence and career achievements. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000. 

We are very excited to announce the Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Children’s Bookseller of the Year 2023 winner is:

Rachel Robson, Gleebooks

Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Children’s Bookseller of the Year – shortlist

• Mia Florance, Harry Hartog Tuggeranong
• Fran Hancox, Escape Hatch Books 
• Katherine Matthews, Mary Martin Bookshop
• Rachel Robson, Gleebooks

BookPeople Penguin Random House Australia Young Bookseller of the Year award recognises and rewards the excellence of a bookseller 35 or under and promotes bookselling as a career choice for young people. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores as well as the local and wider community. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000. 

We are very excited to announce the Penguin Random House Young Bookseller of the Year 2023 winner is:

Emily Westmoreland, Avenue Bookstore

Penguin Random House Young Bookseller of the Year - shortlist

• Emma Chan, The Book Cow Kingston
• Lexie Eatock, Better Read Than Dead
• Matt Farrell, Burns Bay Bookery
• Emily Westmoreland, Avenue Bookstore

BookPeople Text Publishing Bookseller of the Year award recognises an individual bookseller for their outstanding achievement in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop where they work but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000. 

We are very excited to announce the Text Bookseller of the Year 2023 joint winners are:

Bronwyn Druce, Red Kangaroo Books, and Mark Rubbo, Readings.

Text Bookseller of the Year – shortlist

• Allya Bella, Berkelouw Books Paddington
• Ross Dillon, Dillons Norwood Bookshop
• Bronwyn Druce, Red Kangaroo Books
• Molly Murn, Matilda Bookshop
• Mark Rubbo, Readings