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Bookouture, Saucy Books and Audible UK up for RNA Industry Awards 2025
The shortlists for the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) annual Romance Industry Awards have been unveiled, with Audible UK and Bookouture up against Harlequin, Headline Eternal, Tor Bramble, Boldwood Books and Ulverscroft for Publisher of the Year.
The six categories are Publisher of the Year, Editor of the Year, Agent of the Year, Romance Champion of the Year, Rising Star of the Year and Romance Narrator of the Year.
The winners will be announced during a ceremony held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, on Monday 3rd November 2025 at 11:30am. Tickets to the event are on sale.
Vying for editor of the year are Oliver Grant at Audible UK; Elisha Lundin at Sphere; Ajebowale Roberts at Tor Bramble; Hannah Smith at Penguin Michael Joseph; Lucy Stewart at Hodder & Stoughton; Annie Warren at Harlequin and Rebecca Weigler at Bedford Square.
Meanwhile, Saucy Books and Book Lovers’ Bookshop are in contention for Romance Champion of the Year, alongside Glimmer Book Club, RARE – Romance Author Reading Events, Riveting Reads & Vintage Vibes, S&S UK’s Sara-Jade Virtue and Ian Wilfred.
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Shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year are Harlequin’s Helena Bacon, Chloe Cummings (One More Chapter), Tia Davis (Joffe Books), Laura Heathfield (Greenstone Literary), Ash Jayy (Picture of Romance), Binti Pattani (Harlequin – Mills & Boon Series, editorial team) and Niamh Wallace (Boldwood Books).
In line for Romance Narrator of the Year are Kristin Atherton; Andrew Eiden/Teddy Hamilton; Soneela Nankani; Phyllida Nash and Chloë Sommer.
The nominations were submitted by RNA members, comprising almost 1,000 authors and industry professionals, with the shortlist decided by a panel of independent judges from the RNA using the following criteria: how the nominee supports individual writers/authors; how the nominee supports the genre and how the nominee innovates or improves support for writers/authors or the romance genre.
RNA chair, Seána Talbot, said, “We are delighted to announce the shortlist for this year’s RNAs. The romance publishing industry is strong at present and that strength is reflected in the quality and quantity of nominations we received. Shortlisting was challenging and all those who made the list should be proud.”
Maryam Oliver, RNA director and awards coordinator, commented: “I extend my congratulations to all the industry professionals who have been shortlisted for this year’s RNAs. You have all contributed to making romantic fiction the best-selling genre adored by millions of readers worldwide.”
