2025 Booker prize predictions
It’s time for our panel to pick our winner. Find out which book our panelists think will win the prize this year. The prize will be announced tomorrow, November 10th.
Nicole: I’m super hopeful that The Land in Winter is our dark horse winner, but my prediction is Audition and I’m bummed about it.
Jen: The book I’d like to see win the prize is the Land in Winter. The book I think will win the prize (and I feel pretty confident about this prediction) is The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. The book I don’t want to see win is The Rest of Our Lives. I’d be okay if any of the other shortlist books won. I didn’t really enjoy reading Flesh but I could appreciate the writer’s skill.
Tracy: This is tough! If I’m going by my favorite, which would I read again book, that would be Audition. If looking at quality of writing and relevance, it would be Flashlight. For enjoyment, Sonia and Sunny or The Land in Winter. Please please please don’t let it be Flesh or The Rest of our Lives- I think the majority of current readers out there may be alienated from the prize if either are chosen. Hmm.. I think it will be The Land in Winter.
Anita: While I am secretly (okay not SO secretly) hoping and praying for Audition, I really believe that The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny will take home the prize. Though not my personal favorite at all, it just seems to have that right combination of culture and humanity and beautiful writing (plus a known author) to receive a big prize. If Land of Winter gets it, I honestly will be delighted too.
Lisa: The only one I did not read is The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. So it’s hard for me to say where that will fall. I thought The Land in Winter was by far the best of the rest. It was so atmospheric, and moving, and about a period of time (post-WW2) that I haven’t often read about. I did not think Flashlight was great. And I really disliked Flesh and The Rest of our Lives — I was not interested in the stories of these men at all. So I will predict The Land in Winter.
We want to hear from you. Which book do you think deserves to win the prize?
jenp27
Nicole Del Sesto
The Reader's Room 
My favourite is The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, but I only read that and Flashlight which I also really enjoyed, but Sonia and Sunny has the edge for the way it demonstrates that contemporary generational rub of western educated Indian children having multiple dilemmas of both cultures and that subtle mystical element that allows their transformation to intersect with the potential for a second chance at romance. It’s such a nice feeling to end with the idea of hope, even if the reality is that there’ll be multiple more challenges.
LikeLike