Finalists for 2025 National Book Awards Announced

NEW YORK CITY, NY — The finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards were announced today, highlighting a diverse group of authors across multiple genres. This year’s shortlist includes prominent novelists Rabih Alameddine and Megha Majumdar, along with first-time nominees such as journalists Omar El Akkad and Julia Ioffe.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for November 19, where winners in each of the five categories will be revealed. Each finalist will receive $1,000, while winners will be awarded $10,000 and a bronze sculpture.

Among the 25 nominees, nine have been recognized previously by the National Book Foundation. Alameddine was a finalist for his 2014 novel, while Majumdar received a longlist mention in 2020 for her debut novel, A Burning.

This year’s categories include Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. Notable fiction nominees are Karen Russell and Bryan Washington, both past winners of the Foundation’s 5 Under 35 honors.

The nonfiction finalists are all new to these accolades, featuring works that explore a range of subjects from feminist history to natural disasters. The poetry category boasts established voices like Patricia Smith and rising stars such as Tiana Clark.

The National Book Awards began in 1936 and are regarded as one of the highest honors in American literature. They celebrate books written by U.S. authors published in the country.

According to the National Book Foundation, their mission is to ensure that the celebrated works have a lasting impact across the nation.