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In the world of the Booker Prizes this week: The IBP nominees on the books that sparked their love of lit; 10 dysfunctional families in Booker Prize novels; plus, we count down to the shortlist reveal

The 2025 longlistees on the book that made them fall in love with reading

For many of us, there’s a defining moment when the magic of reading first captured our hearts. Often, it’s a book from our formative years – a childhood tale that wrapped us up like a warm hug, or a story from our teenage years that altered our perspective, challenging us in a way that felt entirely new.

These moments of literary discovery shape us as readers – and sometimes as writers too. Here, the authors and translators nominated for the International Booker Prize 2025 share the books that sparked their love of reading and left such an impression, they still remember them today.

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10 of the most dysfunctional families in Booker Prize-nominated novels

We all know of one – some of us, if we’re honest, might even belong to one – but one thing is certain: dysfunctional families have featured heavily in some of the most memorable works of fiction ever published, from Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov to Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

More recently, several Booker-nominated authors have explored the defective dynamics between siblings, parents and children. This list of novels reveals a wide range of complex, chaotic and maladjusted households, where rivalries, estrangement, secrets and betrayals are commonplace – some of which might spark an awkward pang of familiarity among readers. Just remember: while we can’t choose our families, at least we can choose which of these superb books to pick up next.

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Have you joined our Reading Challenge yet?

In less than two week’s time, on Tuesday, 8 April, we will announce the shortlist for this year’s International Booker Prize. But while we wait to reveal the final six books, why not take part in our latest Reading Challenge? It’s not too late to join in the fun, and we’ve got plenty of tips to help you get started.

• Download our resources: Print off our progress chart to track your progress during the challenge, or use our social media templates to share your journey online.

• Stay in the loop: Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok for regular prompts, inspiration, and updates from our readers.

• Share your progress: We’d love to see what you’re reading! Use #IBPReadingChallenge to join the conversation, whether it’s a snap of your longlist TBR pile, a quote that stuck with you, or even a mid-read reaction.

Which books from this year’s longlist have you read – and loved – so far? Let us know in the comments below!