News Release
July 9, 2025

As summer settles in and books find their way into beach bags, onto park benches and under shaded porches, the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Library (TPL) are pleased to announce the longlist for the 2025 Toronto Book Awards. 

Established in 1974 by Toronto City Council, the Toronto Book Awards honour authors whose works deepen our understanding of Toronto’s diverse communities, cultures and history.  

2025 Longlist 

  • ‘Encampment’ by Maggie Helwig (Coach House Books) 
  • ‘Unlike The Rest’ by Chika Stacey Oriuwa (Harper Collins Canada) 
  • ‘Shadow Price’ by Farah Ghafoor (House of Anansi) 
  • ‘The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse’ by Vinh Nguyen (Harper Collins Canada) 
  • ‘Other Worlds’ by André Alexis (McClelland & Stewart) 
  • ‘Nobody Asked For This’ by Georgia Toews (Doubleday Canada) 
  • ‘Story of Your Mother’ by Chantal Braganza (Strange Light) 
  • ‘All the Parts We Exile’ by Roza Nozari (Knopf Canada) 
  • ‘Widow Fantasies’ by Hollay Ghadery (Gordon Hill Press) 
  • ‘The Knowing’ by Tanya Talaga (Harper Collins Canada) 
  • ‘The Immortal Woman’ by Su Chang (House of Anansi) 
  • ‘Anne of the Library-on-the-Hill’ by Catherine Little with Sae Kimura (Plum Leaf Press) 

The shortlist will be released later this summer with the winner announced at a ceremony on October 15. This year, the City is doubling the prize amounts, awarding $20,000 to the winner and $2,000 to each of the remaining shortlisted finalists. 

This year’s jury includes Canadian literary voices and advocates Sam Hiyate, Sophie Jai, Wanda Nanibush, Don Oravec and David Silverberg. 

More information about the award program is available on the City’s Toronto Book Awards webpage.

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 X, Instagram or Facebook.

Media Relations