The Reader's Room

2026 Booker shortlist predictions

The time has come for our shortlist predictions. We’ve spent the last few months reading all the longlist books and rating the nominees. Keep reading to see which books topped our collective list and what panelists picked as their personal predictions.

Each year the panel reviews books and scores them on the following categories: writing, plot development, character development, originality, and enjoyment. Of course ratings are highly subjective and often influenced by which books we liked the most. Our collective rankings are often not too well aligned with what books actually make it. Individually, our lists have varied in success.

Booker 2026 musings: Reflections and personal favorites

Every year when our panel reads the longlist, we rate each book on several categories including writing, originality, plot development, character development, and enjoyment. This year each of our panelists will pick their favorite book for specific to each category and a few other new categories. Later this afternoon we will post our predictions. So here are our musings and reflections on this year’s list.

2026 Booker Prize Longlist: The End of Everything by M. John Harrison

Next up for panel is The End of Everything by M. John Harrison. Five of our panel read this book (fewer understood it) and here are our reviews…