Shirley

Judges' comments

In this strikingly charming novel, an unnamed, and seemingly unfazed protagonist must navigate veganism, bushfires and vague boyfriends, not to mention some suspiciously interested neighbours and a celebrity mother who remains tantalisingly out of reach. But all is not as it seems. A deadly plague is on its way and the past is threatening to come bubbling up to the surface.

Elegant, dexterous and wonderfully sardonic, Ronnie Scott’s second novel is a triumph of tone and voice. In a world where the boundaries between work and life, friend and family have become increasingly blurred, Shirley asks who we are and what is worth having.