British booksellers are placing their bets on this year’s Booker Prize winner, Orbital by Samantha Harvey, to claim the coveted Christmas number one bestseller spot, per theguardian.com. The novel, which follows a day in the life of six astronauts aboard the International Space Station, has already demonstrated its commercial appeal by becoming the first Booker winner to top the UK bestseller charts immediately after its victory, selling over 20,000 copies in a single week.
The Booksellers Association’s survey of bookshop staff revealed strong confidence in Orbital’s continued success, with many citing its accessible paperback format and competitive pricing as key factors. Amanda Truman of Truman Books in Farsley noted the novel was “flying off the shelves” even before its Booker win, while BA president Fleur Sinclair would be “amazed” if it doesn’t reach the top spot.
Other strong contenders for the Christmas charts include fellow Booker shortlisted James by Percival Everett, a powerful retelling of Huckleberry Finn, and Chris Hoy’s memoir All That Matters, which has garnered praise for its candid exploration of living with a terminal diagnosis.
Booksellers also highlighted several potential dark horse candidates, including A Pawtobiography by Ted the Dog, a quirky fishing memoir, and The 12 Murders of Christmas by Sarah Dunnakey, which combines festive murder mysteries with puzzles. Waterstones has backed its book of the year, the Japanese translation Butter by Asako Yuzuki, as their predicted Christmas number one.
The diverse range of predictions reflects the vibrant state of British bookselling, with shops reporting strong interest in everything from literary fiction to sports biographies and cozy mystery titles as the holiday season approaches.
