Davina McCall and Dr. Naomi Potter’s book, Menopausing, emerged as the prestigious Book of the Year at the esteemed British Book Awards 2023. Renowned Channel 4 anchor man, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who served on the judging panel, praised the book for igniting a nationwide dialogue on menopause and capturing the essence of the current cultural climate.
The publishing team’s astute marketing efforts, despite numerous challenges, helped nurture the book’s success. The collaboration between Davina McCall and Dr. Naomi Potter proved to be a stroke of genius, resulting in an authoritative, entertaining, and invaluable exploration of an often-overlooked subject.
Months after its release, Menopausing continues to soar on bestseller lists, while its impact, often referred to as the ‘Davina effect,’ has led to an additional 500,000 women receiving hormone replacement therapy prescriptions. However, the British Book Awards celebrated not only the triumph of Menopausing but also recognized other exceptional literary works.
Check out The British Book Awards 2023 Shortlist.
In the category of Book of the Year – Non-Fiction Narrative, presented in association with The Big Issue, notable nominees included memoirs by Matthew Perry and the late Alan Rickman. Ultimately, Super-Infinite by Katherine Rundell, a captivating biography delving into the life of poet John Donne, claimed the victory.
Reflecting on her experience, Katherine Rundell expressed her initial hesitation to engage with Super-Infinite due to her limited interest in history books since university. However, she admitted her misjudgment, confessing that the book proved to be a delightful surprise.
Engrossed by its narrative, she relished the companionship it provided during her daily walks to work, shattering her preconceived notions.
Philip Jones, the Chair of the British Book Awards judges and editor of The Bookseller, emphasized the triumph of readers in this year’s awards. He lauded the extraordinary versatility of the book industry, showcasing its role in amplifying and facilitating conversations on vital topics such as mental health, misogyny, sexuality, gender, and the often-neglected subject of menopause. From Menopausing to Tygerto I’m a Fan, the awarded titles exemplify the remarkable influence of literature in shaping our society.”
Here is a list of British Book Awards 2023 winners –
Overall Book of the year
Davina McCall with Dr. Naomi Potter
Menopausing
Author of the year
Bonnie Garmus
Lessons in Chemistry
Illustrator of the Year
Alice Oseman
Book of the Year – Fiction
supported by Good Housekeeping
R.F. Kuang
Babel (Harper Voyager, HarperCollins)
Book of the Year – Début
Louise Kennedy
Trespasses (Bloomsbury Publishing)
Book of the Year – Non-Fiction, Lifestyle & Illustrated
Davina McCall with Dr. Naomi Potter
Menopausing (HQ , HarperCollins)
Book of the Year – Non-Fiction Narrative
supported by The Big Issue
Katherine Rundell
Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne (Faber & Faber)
Book of the Year – Children’s Fiction
supported by The Week Junior
SF Said, illustrated by Dave McKean
Tyger (David Fickling Books)
Book of the Year – Children’s Non-Fiction
supported by The Week Junior
Dr. Alex George, illustrated by The Boy Fitz Hammond
A Better Day (Wren & Rook, Hachette)
Book of the Year – Children’s Illustrated
supported by Love Reading 4 Kids
Harry Woodgate
Grandad’s Camper (Andersen Press)
Book of the Year – Discover
supported by Magic Radio Book Club
Sheena Patel
I’m a Fan (Rough Trade)
Book of the Year – Crime and Thriller
supported by Scala Radio Book Club
Janice Hallett
The Twyford Code (Viper Books, Profile Books)
Book of the Year – Pageturner
supported by TikTok
Colleen Hoover
Verity (Sphere Books, Little, Brown)
Audiobook of the Year – Fiction
Douglas Stuart narrated by Chris Reilly
Young Mungo (Picador, Pan Macmillan)
Audiobook of the Year – Non-Fiction
supported by Audiobookish
Richard E. Grant
A Pocketful of Happiness (Gallery UK, Simon & Schuster)
Which of these books from The British Book Awards 2023 winners have you read or plan to read? Share with us in the comments section below.
