Virginia Giuffre’s memoir wins top book award
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Getty ImagesA posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, has won the top prize at this year’s British Book Awards.
Nobody’s Girl, co-written with Amy Wallace, was named book of the year in a ceremony held in London on Monday evening.
The memoir, which was published six months after Giuffre took her own life, detailed her encounters with the late sex offender and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
Accepting the award, Giuffre’s sister-in-law Amanda Roberts said the book was “a true testament to what a survivor’s voice can do when finally given the space to be heard”.
“She inspired millions, not just to be seen, or survivors to be seen, but she called us to action,” Roberts told the ceremony in a video acceptance speech.
Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts added the family was “truly honoured to accept this award on Virginia’s behalf”, while Wallace said working with Giuffre on the book had been the “honour of my career”.
Nobody’s Girl also included details of Giuffre’s allegations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, which he has always denied.
The publication of the memoir last October increased pressure on Mountbatten-Windsor and was part of a chain of events that ultimately led to King Charles III removing his brother’s royal titles and honours.
The memoir also picked up the prize 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, said the judges “championed” Giuffre’s memoir.
“With this award we recognise the late author’s extraordinary courage and determination, supported by [publisher] Doubleday’s sensitive campaign, #BelieveHer,” O’Keeffe said.
Philip Jones, editor of The Bookseller and chair of the judges at the British Book Awards, added: “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.”
The awards ceremony, hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern at Grosvenor House, also saw Dame Jilly Cooper, Joanna Trollope and Sophie Kinsella commemorated with a special posthumous award.
Cooper, known for her best-selling romps including Rivals and Riders, died in October aged 88, while Kinsella and Trollope both died in December.
Elsewhere, the event’s first romantic fiction book of the year award was given to Emily Henry for Great Big Beautiful Life, while Jamie Smart took home the first graphic novel book of the year for Bunny vs Monkey.
Getty ImagesChildren’s authors were also celebrated, with Skandar series creator AF Steadman taking home author of the year, and Dog Man writer and illustrator Dav Pilkey winning best illustrator.
US author Suzanne Collins won the children’s fiction category for Sunrise On The Reaping, a prequel to the series The Hunger Games.
There was also an accolade for Michael Rosen, who won the children’s non-fiction illustrated award for his latest book with illustrator Helen Oxenbury, titled Oh Dear, Look What I Got!
The debut fiction prize went to Florence Knapp’s The Names, which explores the repercussions of domestic abuse, while Marcia Hutchinson’s portrait of a girl growing up in the 1960s Bradford Windrush generation, The Mercy Step won the discover book of the year.
Sarah Wynn-Williams won the prize for book of the year in the audiobook non-fiction category for Careless People.
Her account of working as a public policy director at Facebook made headlines when it was published last March, and the social network blocked her from promoting the book.
Wynn-Williams and Giuffre were jointly named the winners of the freedom to publish award. Jones said “both stories, told by silenced voices, represented the best in the book trade”.
The British Book Awards celebrate the best books published in 2025. The awards are also known as the Nibbies because of the golden nib-shaped trophy.
The winners in full
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