Booker Prize Longlist | 2026

Image: The Booker Prize 2026 longlist
© Yuki Sugiura for Booker Prize Foundation

I always know that the end of summer is near when the Booker Prize drops! I try to remember every year to keep my late summer/early fall TBR clear to prevent feeling overwhelmed. Once again, I’ve failed at that. I am overwhelmed by my reading life in the best possible ways. So let’s chat a bit about my plans for this year’s Booker Prize!

When it comes to the Booker, I tend to prioritize the books written by women. One of my long-term goals is to read all the female Booker Prize winners (I’ve currently read 16 out of 21 of them) and prioritizing those books helps me stay ahead of that goal. But most importantly, I tend to like the books written by women more so that’s where I want to spend my precious reading time.

I don’t do a ton of research before deciding on what to read. I typically glance at a review, take note of some keywords, and make my decision based on that. So that’s what I’m sharing with you today. Each of these entries follow a similar format:

❒ Name of Book – Author of book – DO I PLAN TO READ IT?
– US publication date // UK publication date (with links to order)
– how I plan to read it
– if I’ve read it, do I recommend it?
– keywords that caught my eye

That might look confusing, but it will make sense as you keep reading!!

The Books:

❒ The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjhis – HOPE TO READ
– publishes in the US: 2/23/27 // published in the UK: 4/16/26
– I ordered this from Blackwell’s
– keywords that caught my eye: Mexico, dream-like conversations, given an important mission

❒ Switzy by Emma Cline – HOPE TO READ
– publishes in the US: 9/8/26 // publishes in the UK: 9/10/26
– available to request on Netgalley — I was approved yesterday!
– keywords that caught my eye: aging, reflective, final destination: Zurich (does this mean assisted suicide?)

✔️ Helen of Nowhere by Makenna Goodman
– published in the US: 1/29/26 // published in the UK: 1/29/26
– I read with my Kobo Plus membership
– Not for everyone. Thought provoking, slightly strange.
– keywords that caught my eye: philosophical, idyllic houses

❒ The End of Everything by M. John Harrison – HOPE TO READ
– publishes in the US: 10/13/26 // published in the UK: 6/18/26
– available to request on Netgalley
– keywords that caught my eye: apocalyptic, shifting creatures

❒ The Disappearers by Marlon James – HOPE TO READ
– publishes in the US: 9/1/26 // publishes in the UK: 9/3/26
– available to request on Netgalley – 100% sure I will not receive this!
– keywords that caught my eye: 1980s, Jamaica, crime story

❒ Black Bag by Luke Kennard (not planning to read unless it makes the shortlist and then I’ll decide)
– published in the US: 3/16/26 // published in the UK: 3/6/26
– keywords that caught my eye: funny, psychological experiment, campus novel

❒ The Renovation by Kenan Orhan – HOPE TO READ
– published in the US: 2/10/26 // published in the UK: 10/26/26
– planning to request an interlibrary loan
– keywords that caught my eye: immigration story

❒ May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry – HOPE TO READ
– publishes in the US: 10/20/26 // published in the UK: 1/29/26
– I ordered this from Blackwell’s
– keywords that caught my eye: female author, the cover!, curator, medieval palace

❒ The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley – HOPE TO READ
– published in the US: 4/14/26 // published in the UK: 4/2/26
– I requested an interlibrary loan and it arrived on Monday!
– keywords that caught my eye: female author, friendships, keen observations

✔️ The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
– published in the US: 5/5/26 // published in the UK: 5/7/26
– ❤️ – loved and would recommend
– keywords that caught my eye: Elizabeth Strout. That’s all I need.

❒ John of John by Douglas Stewart – HOPE TO FINISH!
– published in the US: 5/5/26 // published in the UK: 5/7/26
– I have started this but have been distracted by other books. I plan to finish it!!
– keywords that caught my eye: Scotland, weaving, family drama, LGBTQ+

❒ All Them Dogs by Djamel White – WASN’T PLANNING TO READ BUT IT WAS AVAILABLE ON LIBBY
– published in the US: 5/19/26 // published in the UK: 3/26/26
– keywords that caught my eye: fast-paced, Ireland, LGBTQ+
– Currently reading: will report back

❒ The Vivisectors by Missouri Williams – HOPE TO READ
– published in the US: 5/26/26 // published in the UK: 5/21/26
– I requested through interlibrary at loan at first but decided to order a copy from Blackwell’s because it looks so good!
– keywords that caught my eye: gothic, reclusive graduate student

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So there’s a lot that I hope to get to in the next few months. Of course – it’s not likely that I’ll be able to read all of these books and I’ll probably start some and decide to abandon them. Only time will tell.

Are you following along with the prize? Which books jumped out at you? Which do you hope to read before the winner is announced? What’s your favorite literary prize to follow?! I’ll be finishing this prize goal next year and will need another one to work towards, so I’m contemplating different prizes.

I’m so pleased to have gotten this post published this morning and can’t wait to hear from all of you. I hope the rest of this week goes well for you. Take good care!