City of Toronto announces 2023 Toronto Book Awards longlist

News Release
July 31, 2023

Just in time for summer reading, the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Library (TPL) have named the 13 books longlisted for the 2023 Toronto Book Awards. Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the awards honour books of literary merit that are inspired by Toronto.

 

This year, the Toronto Book Awards received a record-smashing 105 submissions that reflected the creativity and diversity of the city’s literary community.

The titles selected for the 2023 longlist are:

  • Nomenclature by Dionne Brand (Penguin Random House)
  • Half-Bads in White Regalia by Cody Caetano (Penguin Random House)
  • Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey (HarperCollins)
  • The Story of Us by Catherine Hernandez (HarperCollins)
  • Denison Avenue by Daniel Innes & Christina Wong (ECW)
  • Wild Fires by Sophie Jai (The Borough Press)
  • On the Ravine by Vincent Lam (Knopf)
  • Moving the Museum by Wanda Nanibush and Georgiana Uhlyarik (Goose Lane Editions)
  • The Melancholy of Summer by Louisa Onomé (HarperCollins)
  • Finding Edward by Sheila Murray (Cormorant)
  • Quality Time by Suzannah Showler (M&S)
  • The Fake by Zoe Whittall (HarperCollins)
  • Clara at the Door with a Revolver by Carolyn Whitzman (On Point Press)

TPL has created a reading list of the 2023 Toronto Book Awards longlisted titles on the TPL website.

The shortlist for the 2023 Toronto Book Awards will be announced later this summer and a winner will be named in a prize ceremony in October.

This is the 49th year of the Toronto Book Awards. The annual awards offer $15,000 in total prize money. Each shortlisted finalist will receive $1,000, with $10,000 awarded to the winner. The 2023 Toronto Book Awards Jury is comprised of writers, educators and other dedicated members of Toronto’s literary community.

This year’s supporting media partner for the Toronto Book Awards is the Toronto Star.

More information about the awards is available on the City’s Toronto Book Awards webpage and on Twitter and #tobookawards.

Quote:

“We are thrilled to support the Toronto Book Awards again this year. This incredible list of longlisted books shines a spotlight on stories told by talented Toronto authors with diverse voices. Summer is the perfect time for reading and this list can help connect Torontonians to some truly wonderful local books.”
– Vickery Bowles, City Librarian, Toronto Public Library

Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Media Relations