Women's Prize for Fiction
The 2025 Judges
‘What an honour to be the chair of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction – and in its 30th anniversary year! Not only do I get to read the most brilliant novels by women around and hear what they have to say about our world, but I’m judging with such interesting fellow judges, with all of us looking for the same thing: books that inspire and inform across the genres, books that make us laugh and weep, books that take chances without apology, and above all, books that stay with us long after the last page is read. I’m thrilled and excited.’ – Kit de Waal
Every year, a panel of five women – all passionate readers and at the top of their respective professions – choose the winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
The 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction panel is chaired by author Kit de Waal. Joining Kit is novelist, journalist and inaugural winner of the Orange Award for New Writers (the Women’s Prize for debut novelists in 2006), Diana Evans; author, journalist and mental-health campaigner, Bryony Gordon; magazine editor, most recently Editor-in-Chief of Glamour UK, Deborah Joseph; and musician and composer known for award-winning film scores, Amelia Warner.
Kit de Waal has written novels for adults and young adults, short stories and her memoir Without Warning and Only Sometimes was published in 2022. Her debut novel My Name is Leon was an international bestseller; in 2022 it was adapted for television by the BBC and it is now on the GCSE curriculum. She is founder of the TV production company Portopia Productions and The Big Book Weekend, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and holds many roles in book and arts organisations. Her new novel The Best of Everything will be released in April 2025.
Diana Evans is the bestselling author of A House for Alice, Ordinary People, The Wonder and 26a. Her prize nominations include The Guardian and Commonwealth Best First Book awards. She was also the winner of the inaugural Orange Award for New Writers (the Women’s Prize for debut novelists in 2006). A book of the year in The New Yorker, Ordinary People received the South Bank Sky Arts Award, and was shortlisted for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction, for which A House for Alice was also shortlisted. Her forthcoming non-fiction collection, I Want to Talk to You: And Other Conversations, will be published in February 2025.
Bryony Gordon is an author, journalist and mental health campaigner. She has written six Sunday Times bestselling books, including the number one bestsellers Mad Girl and You Got This. Her work as a mental health campaigner has been widely recognised; she founded Mental Health Mates, a peer support group that encourages people to move for their mental health, and in 2023 she was awarded the President’s Medal by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She wrote for the Telegraph for 24 years, and is now a columnist at the Daily Mail and hosts a weekly podcast, The Life of Bryony.
Deborah Joseph is an award-winning editor, most recently working as European Editorial Director and Editor-in-Chief of Glamour UK. She directed Glamour’s content transition from a print magazine to a digital-first, beauty-first brand. Prior to that, she spent six years working for fashion and celebrity tech start ups, and edited the Daily Mail‘s Life and Style section, Easy Living and Condé Nast Brides. Deborah speaks regularly on the topic of digital transformation, women’s empowerment and the challenges facing working mothers. She is currently writing a book and launching her own podcast.
Amelia Warner is a neo-classical composer and is best known for her orchestral film scores. She has worked on Mary Shelley, Wild Mountain Thyme, Mr. Malcolm’s List and the Jerry Bruckheimer produced film Young Woman and the Sea starring Daisy Ridley. Amelia began her career as an actress and knew she wanted to be part of the storytelling process, but quickly realised she was on the wrong side of it and moved to a career in music. Her three solo albums, Haven, Visitors and Arms have all reached number one on the iTunes classical album charts.
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