The prize list that's reshaping my shelves
Pulitzer picks, a new Pope, unexpected collabs, and pre-loved gems
Well, that was fast: we have a new Pope, and Robert Harris says it’s basically The Traitors in robes. You heard that right. My highlight of the week was Conclave author Robert Harris describing the Papal selection process as ‘like the Traitors’. "Suddenly everyone swings to one person - you can't see why, particularly, but it happens”.
In more bookish news, the literary prize season continues. Officially my favourite season, there’s something magical about the moment a list drops and suddenly your TBR pile doubles overnight. This week, the Pulitzer Prize winners reminded me why I’ve been paying closer attention to them in recent years.
And the BBC has launched an AI Agatha Christie to teach whodunnit style writing as part of their Maestro learning series. According to The Bookseller, her words have been “lightly paraphrased” to “help the script flow better”. Yours for £79. Who next — Shakespeare teaching sonnets?
The 2025 Pulitzer Prize winners
This week the Pulitzer Prize winners were announced, and it’s become a recent favourite of mine. I normally gravitate towards the Booker and Women’s Prize, but when I look at past Fiction winners it’s the Pulitzer that has the most books I truly love. Nineteen books were recognised across fiction, biography, memoir, poetry, general non-fiction, and history, which had two winners.
The winners
The New York Times, who won 4 journalism awards, stirred up debate when they released a piece about James winning with ‘complications’. It seems James won through a “procedural backstop” when the board couldn’t reach consensus. Which is interesting, I guess, until you realise that the whole piece essentially highlights a book that won by… following the selection process? Rightful uproar about the impact of diminishing this win for Percival Everett.
Interesting collab on the radar
James Patterson and MrBeast are teaming up for a book with HarperCollins.
The novel will centre on a high-stakes competition where players endure challenges and form alliances to win a $1bn prize. This echoes MrBeast's viral YouTube stunts and games... and also The Hunger Games?!
Book rights are reported to have had 8-figure bids and discussions for film & TV are underway. Will be interesting to see if this encourages wide readership, and if it successfully opens the door to new formats for creators. Scheduled for release in 2026.
The best of the pre-loved bookstore
We’re obsessed with pre-loved books.
Why? Because the best books deserve more than one life. Because great stories are meant to be shared. Because a slower, more thoughtful way of reading matters. And, because there’s beauty in passing stories form one reader to another.
That’s why we created our pre-loved store. A more sustainable way to discover books. Second-hand, community powered, £4 a title, 15% donated.
Here’s a few you shouldn’t miss:
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (for kids, but also adults!)
Plus, pre-orders are open for our Verse cap. Some of our most eagle-eyed fans spotted it in photos and requested where they might find their own. So we’ve made it available to you all, for a limited time only. Get yours here.
Say goodbye to bad recommendations and hello to a better reading experience 👇