BOOK OF THE YEAR
A FAMILY MATTER BY CLAIRE LYNCH
A mother following her heart, a father with the law on his side, a child caught in the middle – an unputdownable debut about a family torn apart by secrets, prejudice and their own best intentions – for fans of Claire Keegan and Louise Kennedy.
Nick Hornby, Chair of Judges, said: “The judges all loved A Family Matter. We admired its wry humour, its deft storytelling, and its love for all its characters, even those who behave in ways we find hard to understand, and who make choices which we would regard as morally questionable. It is both readable and intelligent, and it offers hope and consolation. We believe that this novel will be read and thought about for years to come, and we very much hope that the prize will help Claire Lynch further establish herself in a literary career which will produce more novels as satisfying as this one.”
Photo by Doug Peters/PA Media Assignments for Nero Book Awards
CLAIRE LYNCH
Claire Lynch has spent her career teaching literature in universities. She is the author of Small: On Motherhoods. She lives in Windsor with her wife and three daughters.
Photography © Marc Sethi
The judges said: A delicately written yet powerful story of injustice, A Family Matter explores the fallout when buried secrets come to light. Raw, vivid and ultimately hopeful, this novel is a perfect example of how to write trauma authentically.
2025 Debut Fiction judges
