Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist announced: An exciting collection of new and well-established writers

Spanning from the Fifties to the Nineties, from the Deep South to California, this was an eagerly anticipated novel. It’s a deftly woven plot that follows two twin sisters who take very different paths. Compelling and utterly original, Bennett covers serious questions of racism, social experiences and expectations, lies, love and compassion. Owing to its nature, it’ll likely stay with you long after you’ve put it down.

Already devoured this? Read Bennett’s debut novel, The Mothers (£6.65, Amazon.co.uk). It’s a lyrical book that charters a young woman’s path from sorrow to love to doubt.

This book offers a unique study into a world filled with loneliness and solitude. Blending mystery and magic, this fantasy novel explores the life of narrator Piranesi, who lives in “The House”. On Tuesdays and Fridays, he sees his friend, the Other, while sometimes he takes tributes to the Dead, but often he is alone. Piranesi is a tale of his surroundings and the mystery inhabitants within it, and it’s said to be a rich read with a gothic atmosphere.

When talking about the book, judge Nesrine Malik said: “Piranesi by Susanna Clark is a book that is utterly transporting. It spirits you away into a fascinating universe that stays with you long after you’ve put the book down”.

This title follows 51-year-old twins, Jeanie and Julius, who still live with their mum, Dot, in rural isolation and poverty. Their cottage is at once armour against the world and their sanctuary. But following Dot’s death Jeanie and Julius’s carefully cultivated existence on the fringes of society begins to unravel as they discover more secrets, turning everything that they thought they knew about their lives on its head. Touching on themes of love, friendship and neighbours, it’s a powerful exploration of loneliness and isolation and a truly stunning novel.

This offers a painstakingly moving portrait of a Ghanaian immigrant family that is ravaged by depression, addiction and loss. It’s told from the perspective of Gifty, a young woman on a quest to find her way back to herself and her mother. Transcendent Kingdom questions faith, religion, mental health and fundamentally, belief systems, all while exploring the different ways people handle issues within society, such as racism and grief.

Judge Vick Hope said that it had her in “tears, wailing,” before noting it’s “the most emotional I felt after reading a book for a long, long time”. This serves as a testament to Gyasi’s exquisite storytelling abilities.

This is a tale of murder, abuse, voice, love and loss in Barbados seen through four very dominant female voices, each of whom is eager to escape the so-called “paradise”. Tackling themes of poverty, domestic abuse, drug trafficking and mother-daughter relationships with eloquence, Jones is a new voice to pay attention to. A must-read from an exciting debut novelist.

This exciting debut from American poet Lockwood and tells the story of how one woman’s life is turned upside down when something she posts on social media goes viral. Equal parts witty and unexpected, it covers internet culture and human connection in a wry and intelligent way. Lockwood takes risks while making sure she maintains warmth and provides insight into human nature.