The Costa Book Awards shortlist has been announced – so it’s time to get reading

If you’re looking for some new books to add to your shelf, the 2019 Costa Book Awards shortlists have been announced.

The Costa Book Awards is the only major book prize that’s open exclusively to UK and Irish authors. Categories include First Novel, Biography, Poetry, Novel and Children’s Book.

Winners in each category receive a £5,000 cash prize, and the overall winner of the Costa Book of the Year will receive a whopping £30,000.

Category winners are officially announced on Monday 6th January, and the overall winner is announced during a ceremony on Tuesday 28th January.

The full list of shortlisted novels, by category, can be found below. There are twenty shortlisted books in total, so that's plenty of reading to keep you occupied over the festive season!

2019 Costa First Novel Award shortlist

Dairy of a Somebody by Brian Bilston

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

The Other Half of Augusta Hope by Joanna Glen

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2019 Costa Biography Award shortlist

On Chapel Sands: My mother and other missing persons by Laura Cumming

The Volunteer: The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather,

In Extremis: The Life of War Correspondent Marie Colvin by Lindsey Hilsum

The Making of Poetry: Coleridge, the Wordsworths and Their Year of Marvels by Adam Nicolson

2019 Costa Poetry Award shortlist

Surge by Jay Bernard

Flèche by Mary Jean Chan

The Mizzy by Paul Farley

Reckless Paper Birds by John McCullough

2019 Costa First Novel Award shortlist

Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

The Other Half of Augusta Hope by Joanna Glen

2019 Costa Children’s Award shortlist

Asha & the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan

Crossfire by Malorie Blackman

In the Shadow of Heroes by Nicholas Bowling

Furious Thing by Jenny Downham

These books were shortlisted by 15 judges, who have carefully considered each entry and why it should be shortlisted.

The Costa Book Awards shared a message of thanks for them, which read, 'The biggest thank you must - of course - go to our 15 category judges this year who have all been ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! The most heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for everything you’ve done for us over the past few months 💫⭐️🥰📚'