Shortlist Reaction - Women's Prize for Fiction

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Hello, welcome or welcome back to my channel and to more Women's Prize for Fiction news. The short list for this year's list has been announced.

[00:00:11]Um, I've just come back from work and I thought, "I'm going to film a blind reaction when I get home."

[00:00:17]Excited. And I was sitting on the train from work and I went on Instagram and I know I should not do that on days where they announce list and the first thing that came up was the list. I saw two titles so I know that Flashlight and I think it was Dominion have made the short list.

[00:00:32]>> [laughter] >> Um, and I almost threw my phone out before I could see the rest. Um, so yeah, let's check it out. As a reminder, I said the short list not that I want. The short list was A Girl in Exile, Audition, Kingfisher, Gloria, Don't Speak, Dominion, Paradise of the 17.

[00:00:54]Just I don't know. I don't know why I picked those but yeah.

[00:00:57]Do I have any that really want to make the list?

[00:01:03]Well, I know Flashlight has made it.

[00:01:06]And as of yet, it's definitely my favorite read.

[00:01:09]And I know it's controversial because even for the Booker, people didn't seem to love it. But I I did. I loved it.

[00:01:15]I haven't really loved a lot of the reads this year so far.

[00:01:22]So, I guess we'll see what the short list has in store, what I have read and what maybe is left to read. And yes, so let's see the list. All right, the short list.

[00:01:37]Oh, The Mercy Seat. Okay, I'm actually quite pleased with that. I did think it was a strong book. I struggled with some of the themes as I've mentioned in my review but all right. Uh, Kingfisher is there.

[00:01:51]Great. Um, I'm glad and by great I mean I'm happy that I've already read it.

[00:01:57]>> [laughter] >> And also, um, I did feel like it was a strong book as well. I really struggled to connect with it for personal reasons at the time I was reading it. I'm not going to revisit it. Like I wouldn't revisit The Mercy Seat either.

[00:02:11]Dominion, as I I said I saw it on on on Instagram.

[00:02:17]Uh, I have I have access to that one but I returned it cuz I didn't have time to read it.

[00:02:22]Um, but it's coming back to me maybe next week or the week after so I'll definitely be reading it. Uh, The Correspondent. I'm surprised to see it here but also quite happy. I guess when I initially put this on my predictions, to me it sort of gave me vibes of Elizabeth Strout a little bit and I guess she's quite prize darling in the sense of making short list so yeah, not too surprised to see it here. I also have a hold on this one. Although, I think I'm still at five or six weeks.

[00:02:49]Hopefully I get to read it before the prizes, you know, the winner is announced.

[00:02:54]Heart the Lover.

[00:02:56]Okay, I'm surprised to see it here.

[00:02:57]Again, I sort of I enjoyed that well enough. Yeah, I'm so cool. And then it will be Flashlight.

[00:03:05]Okay.

[00:03:07]Okay. I'm a bit surprised, I have to say.

[00:03:11]Um, but an interesting short list.

[00:03:20]Hm. I'm I'm not going to lie, I really thought Audition would get make it.

[00:03:24]Like I didn't gel with that book but I really thought it was going to make it.

[00:03:28]So, all right. So, I've read The Mercy Seat, I've read Kingfisher. I have yet to read Dominion, The Correspondent. Oh, they're the only two I have left to read. You know what? Yes, that means I can return The Benefactors to the library because I was not keen to read that one.

[00:03:48]I wasn't that keen on The Best of Everything and The Others so I will just sort of scratch those off my list.

[00:03:54]And I am currently reading A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing so I'll definitely keep reading that one.

[00:04:01]And I had just started Paradise of the 17. I hadn't quite gone further than like 5 10%.

[00:04:08]I might leave it. I'll see I'll see how the rest of the summer goes. I think I'll focus on what's made the short list so far anyway. Um, all right. Well, congrats to all these authors. Um, at first glance, it feels to me like Flashlight might win.

[00:04:26]I don't know why. I I I just I don't know why I feel that but I it just does the that's what it's giving me.

[00:04:33]Uh, and I mean, solely based on covers, it doesn't feel like Lily King or Virginia Evans would win the prize but I guess you just never know. You never know. But I feel like Flashlight might be a good one. Maybe Dominion.

[00:04:48]To me, Kingfisher and The Mercy Seat didn't feel like winners.

[00:04:54]They were good but they didn't feel like winners.

[00:04:57]Um, of this of overall fives. Oh my god, interesting. Okay.

[00:05:03]Tell me what you think in the comments.

[00:05:05]Like is there a book that you love didn't make the list? Let me know. Um, or is there a book on this list that you hated?

[00:05:13]>> [laughter] >> Let me know as well. I really look forward to seeing what all the reactions are. Um, yeah, it'll be great to sort of chat and then we have a lots of time. I only have two books to read but we have lots of time to read more of the short list and talk about it before the prizes is announced or the prize winner is announced in June.

[00:05:33]All right. Well, thank you so much for watching and I'll see you next time.

[00:05:35]Bye.