The award-winning books of 2020 to gift this Christmas, from ‘Queenie’ to ‘Shuggie Bain’

Set in Eighties Glasgow, this is the unforgettable story of young Hugh "Shuggie" Bain who spends his pivotal years in run-down public housing. Exploring Thatcher's politics, it is a heartbreaking story of addiction, love and sexuality. Stuart's portrayal of a working-class family is so rarely seen in fiction, for him to do so in such a powerful and all-important way is noteworthy. This is a story between Shuggie and his mother is hard to forget, it’s intimate, challenging and compassionate. 

Written by one of the greatest living novelists, this is the heartbreaking story behind one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays. Through impeccable and emotional prose, it’s a fictional account of the short life of the Bard’s son, Hamnet, who died at the age of 11. At its very core, it’s a novel of love and loss and speaks volumes of grief and how people find their way through it. Written with raw honesty, Hamnet showcases O’Farrell’s unflinching ability as a truly versatile writer. 

Filled with wit, warmth, wisdom and urgency, Carty-Williams’s dazzling debut follows the life of Queenie, a young black woman who has just broken up with her long-term boyfriend. It’s a coming-of-age tale that explores black female identity and politics in contemporary Britain, as well as meditating between friendship, family and love. A fresh, funny and at times painful read, but one that is an absolute must.  

Intensely lyrical, raw, and gritty, The Discomfort of Evening explores what life is like within a devout Christian family in the Netherlands. It's told from the perspective of 10-year-old Jas, whose brother dies in a sudden accident after she wishes him dead instead of her pet rabbit. It’s a dark portrait of childhood and is awash with compelling imagery of a family dislocated and destroyed, not just by grief, but by a failure to acknowledge and articulate it. Rijneveld's debut carries heavy themes with confidence through wildly pervasive prose.

Set against the bright(ish) lights of Eighties Liverpool, Reasons to Be Cheerful tells the story of teenage Lizzie Vogal, who’s started a new job as a dental assistant and is attempting to leave her "alcoholic, nymphomaniacal, novel-writing” mother behind. Triumphantly funny, Stibbe crafts a charming and gorgeously uplifting novel. The perfect antidote to the year we’ve had.  

Having worked as a journalist on the fringes of the fashion industry, Dawson started to realise there were problems – namely, models were often very young, nameless and simply bodies who were not treated well by those around them. Meat Market is a gripping page-turner, an exposé of the dark and often seedy side of the industry, addressing timely themes around #MeToo and #TimesUp.