Virginia Giuffre’s Memoir Wins Top Prize at British Book Awards
A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, has been awarded the top prize at this year’s British Book Awards.
Nobody’s Girl, co-written with Amy Wallace, was named book of the year during a ceremony held in London on Monday evening.
The memoir, published six months after Giuffre took her own life, recounts her experiences with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his former associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Accepting the award on Giuffre’s behalf, her sister-in-law Amanda Roberts stated that the book was
"a true testament to what a survivor's voice can do when finally given the space to be heard".
Roberts further remarked in a video acceptance speech,
"She inspired millions, not just to be seen, or survivors to be seen, but she called us to action."
Giuffre's brother, Sky Roberts, expressed that the family was
"truly honoured to accept this award on Virginia's behalf", while co-author Amy Wallace described working with Giuffre as the
"honour of my career".
Nobody's Girl also includes Giuffre’s allegations against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which he has consistently denied.
The memoir’s publication in October intensified scrutiny on Mountbatten-Windsor and contributed to a series of events that led King Charles III to revoke his brother’s royal titles and honours.
The book additionally won the award for non-fiction narrative book of the year at the event.
Alice O'Keeffe, head of books for The Bookseller and chair of the books of the year, noted that the judges
"championed"Giuffre’s memoir.
O'Keeffe added,
"With this award we recognise the late author's extraordinary courage and determination, supported by [publisher] Doubleday's sensitive campaign, #BelieveHer."
Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the British Book Awards judges, commented,
"Our winners represent the very best of the book trade, standing up for the books and the authors when others would try to stand them down.
The British Book Awards affirms our creatives, our entertainers and our truth-tellers, and we applaud those who did so much to bring their work to the public."
Special Posthumous Awards and Other Winners
The awards ceremony, hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern at Grosvenor House, also honoured Dame Jilly Cooper, Joanna Trollope, and Sophie Kinsella with a special posthumous award.
Cooper, renowned for her best-selling novels such as Rivals and Riders, passed away in October at the age of 88, while Kinsella and Trollope both died in December.
In other categories, the first romantic fiction book of the year award was presented to Emily Henry for Great Big Beautiful Life, and Jamie Smart received the inaugural graphic novel book of the year award for Bunny vs Monkey.
Children’s authors were also recognised, with AF Steadman, creator of the Skandar series, named author of the year, and Dav Pilkey, writer and illustrator of Dog Man, winning best illustrator.
US author Suzanne Collins won the children’s fiction category for Sunrise On The Reaping, a prequel to her popular series The Hunger Games.
Michael Rosen received the children’s non-fiction illustrated award for his latest book, Oh Dear, Look What I Got!, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.
The debut fiction prize was awarded to Florence Knapp for The Names, which explores the effects of domestic abuse, while Marcia Hutchinson’s The Mercy Step, a portrait of a girl growing up in 1960s Bradford within the Windrush generation, won the discover book of the year.
Sarah Wynn-Williams won the audiobook non-fiction book of the year for Careless People, her account of working as a public policy director at Facebook. The book made headlines when published last March, as Facebook blocked her from promoting it.
Wynn-Williams and Giuffre were jointly awarded the freedom to publish award. Jones remarked that
"both stories, told by silenced voices, represented the best in the book trade".
Complete List of Winners
- Overall book of the year: Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, co-written by Amy Wallace
- Author of the year: AF Steadman
- Illustrator of the year: Dav Pilkey
- Fiction: Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory
- Debut fiction: The Names by Florence Knapp
- Non-fiction narrative: Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, co-written by Amy Wallace
- Non-fiction lifestyle & illustrated: Forgotten Churches by Luke Sherlock
- Crime & thriller: A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith
- Discover: The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson
- Audiobook fiction: Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, narrated by Weruche Opia, Diana Yekinni and Nnei Opia Clark
- Audiobook non-fiction: Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
- Science fiction & fantasy: Alchemised by SenLinYu
- Romantic fiction: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
- Graphic novel: Bunny vs Monkey: Intergalactic Monkey Business! by Jamie Smart
- Children's fiction: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- Children's non-fiction illustrated: Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
- Freedom to publish award: Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre and Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams
The British Book Awards, also known as the Nibbies due to their golden nib-shaped trophies, celebrate the best books published in 2025.
