Living Canon

Costa Book Awards 2020: Complete list of winners

The 2020 Costa Book Awards delivered some remarkable surprises this year, celebrating a diverse slate of writers across six categories that showcase the breadth of contemporary British and Irish literature. Lee Lawrence’s powerful The Louder I Will Sing took the Biography prize, while Monique Roffey’s enchanting The Mermaid of Black Conch: A Love Story claimed the Novel award—a selection that highlights the judges’ appreciation for narratives that blend personal revelation with imaginative storytelling. Meanwhile, first-time novelists got their moment in the spotlight with Ingrid Persaud’s Love After Love earning the First Novel category, proving that debut authors continue to command serious attention in the literary world.

What strikes many observers about the 2020 Costa Book Awards is the geographical and thematic richness on display. Natasha Farrant’s Voyage of the Sparrowhawk took home the Children’s Book award, while Eavan Boland’s The Historians claimed Poetry, and Tessa Sheridan’s The Person Who Serves, Serves Again won the Short Story category. The Costa Book Awards, one of the UK’s most prestigious literary honors, have long served as a bellwether for accessible, engaging writing that resonates with both critics and general readers alike. This year’s winners are no exception, each bringing distinctive voices and urgent stories to readers across all ages and genres.

Here’s the complete breakdown of this year’s prestigious Costa Book Awards winners:

Biography

Children’s Book

First Novel

Novel

  • The Mermaid of Black Conch: A Love Story by Monique Roffey

Poetry

Short Story

  • The Person Who Serves, Serves Again by Tessa Sheridan