New York Book Prize Shortlist Announced: 11 Titles To Watch In 2025
A diverse group of 11 books has been shortlisted for the $50,000 Gotham Book Prize, recognizing outstanding literary achievements in New York City. The prestigious award is designed to "capture the life, history, and culture that makes up the five boroughs," and this year's finalists showcase a rich tapestry of memoirs, novels, nonfiction, and historical chronicles.
From the crime-ridden streets of Staten Island to the vibrant world of 1980s New York art scene, the shortlisted titles offer a fascinating glimpse into the city's ever-changing landscape. "Garbage Town" by Ravi Gupta is a gripping novel that delves into the dark underbelly of NYC's sanitation industry, while "Night People: How To Be a DJ in 90's New York City" by Mark Ronson is an infectious memoir about the city's legendary nightlife.
Another standout title is "Born in Flames" by Bench Ansfield, which reframes a notorious chapter of NYC history as a wave of deliberately set building fires in the 1970s. Ansfield argues that these fires were driven not by rebellious tenants but by landlords seeking insurance payouts, and that they were tied to what he calls "racial capitalism." This nuanced exploration of the city's past sheds new light on the complex web of interests that shaped its communities.
The shortlist also includes a collection of essays from Lili Taylor, which reflect on her love of nature in urban environments. With the theme being "The Power and Beauty of Noticing," the book highlights how even amidst the bustling metropolis, New Yorkers can connect with the natural world.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Mahler's sweeping nonfiction work chronicles the late 1980s in NYC as a time of transition from a working-class city to one of entrenched poverty and extreme wealth. His historical narrative captures how figures like Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump reshaped the city's civic culture and forged conditions that still echo in urban politics.
For fans of literary fiction, Adam Ross's novel "Playworld" transports readers to the 1980s New York art scene, where a successful child actor becomes entangled with a married friend who falls for him. And Keith McNally's memoir "I Regret Almost Everything" offers a candid look at the celebrity restaurateur's successes and stumbles, as well as his affection and exasperation with NYC's obsessive food culture.
The Gotham Book Prize shortlist is a testament to the city's enduring power to inspire writers and stories. These 11 titles promise to deliver some of the most compelling and thought-provoking works of fiction from New York City in 2025, and we can't wait to dive into them!
A diverse group of 11 books has been shortlisted for the $50,000 Gotham Book Prize, recognizing outstanding literary achievements in New York City. The prestigious award is designed to "capture the life, history, and culture that makes up the five boroughs," and this year's finalists showcase a rich tapestry of memoirs, novels, nonfiction, and historical chronicles.
From the crime-ridden streets of Staten Island to the vibrant world of 1980s New York art scene, the shortlisted titles offer a fascinating glimpse into the city's ever-changing landscape. "Garbage Town" by Ravi Gupta is a gripping novel that delves into the dark underbelly of NYC's sanitation industry, while "Night People: How To Be a DJ in 90's New York City" by Mark Ronson is an infectious memoir about the city's legendary nightlife.
Another standout title is "Born in Flames" by Bench Ansfield, which reframes a notorious chapter of NYC history as a wave of deliberately set building fires in the 1970s. Ansfield argues that these fires were driven not by rebellious tenants but by landlords seeking insurance payouts, and that they were tied to what he calls "racial capitalism." This nuanced exploration of the city's past sheds new light on the complex web of interests that shaped its communities.
The shortlist also includes a collection of essays from Lili Taylor, which reflect on her love of nature in urban environments. With the theme being "The Power and Beauty of Noticing," the book highlights how even amidst the bustling metropolis, New Yorkers can connect with the natural world.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Mahler's sweeping nonfiction work chronicles the late 1980s in NYC as a time of transition from a working-class city to one of entrenched poverty and extreme wealth. His historical narrative captures how figures like Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump reshaped the city's civic culture and forged conditions that still echo in urban politics.
For fans of literary fiction, Adam Ross's novel "Playworld" transports readers to the 1980s New York art scene, where a successful child actor becomes entangled with a married friend who falls for him. And Keith McNally's memoir "I Regret Almost Everything" offers a candid look at the celebrity restaurateur's successes and stumbles, as well as his affection and exasperation with NYC's obsessive food culture.
The Gotham Book Prize shortlist is a testament to the city's enduring power to inspire writers and stories. These 11 titles promise to deliver some of the most compelling and thought-provoking works of fiction from New York City in 2025, and we can't wait to dive into them!
I'm so stoked to see "Garbage Town" by Ravi Gupta on this list!!! The layout and font choices for the announcement are, like, totally on point too 
That Gotham Book Prize shortlist is giving me ALL the feels 
Can't wait to dive into those essays in Lili Taylor's book - theme "The Power and Beauty of Noticing" sounds so calming and inspiring 
i mean who else would write about the sanitation industry being more than just trash talk? and mark ronson's memoir is gonna be SO turnt up 
i love how he takes u through the 90s nightlife scene, its like u r right there with him dancing to those iconic tracks!
like ansfield's take on racial capitalism and mahler's exploration of poverty and wealth, it's clear that these writers are using their work to shed light on the city's often-overlooked histories and issues. and with titles like ronson's nightlife memoir and taylor's collection of essays about noticing nature in urban environments, it's amazing to see how different perspectives can come together to create a rich tapestry of stories that truly capture the essence of NYC 
. And its good to see Keith McNally's memoir getting some love too, I've had some wild experiences at his restaurants 
.
️. I love how they're capturing the essence of the city's history and culture - it's like they're taking us back in time to the good ol' days 
. "Garbage Town" sounds like a real page-turner, and I'm fascinated by Bench Ansfield's take on those infamous building fires in the 70s 
. And can we talk about how cool it is that Lili Taylor's book is all about finding beauty in nature amidst the concrete jungle? It just makes me want to grab a coffee at Keith McNally's restaurant (I regret almost everything 
) and soak up the vibes of the city 
gotta say, these shortlisted books sound like they're gonna be fire 
. Can't wait to dive into these books and see what all the fuss is about 
! 
And Mark Ronson's memoir about 90s nightlife? That sounds like a wild ride! 
. And Adam Ross's novel? That 80s NYC art scene sounds like a blast! 
I'm stoked to see so many amazing books making the cut for the Gotham Book Prize. As someone who's grown up in NYC, it's incredible to see how these authors are capturing the essence of our city's complexities - from its gritty underbelly (Garbage Town) to its vibrant art scene (Night People). The way "Born in Flames" reframes that infamous chapter of history is mind-blowing. And I'm loving the attention to detail in Lili Taylor's essays about noticing the beauty in urban environments 
. Can't wait to dive into these titles and see how they'll shape our understanding of this city! 
. Whoever wins this prize is gonna be a total game-changer in the literary world 
!
"Born in Flames" is giving me all the feels - how come we don't hear more about this part of NYC's history?