The Indie Book Awards Shortlist 2025 has been announced, and Penguin Random House Australia has four books on the list!
Established in 2008, the Indie Book Awards aims to recognise and reward the best Australian writing, as chosen by independent booksellers.
All independent bookshops are invited to nominate books that celebrate the broad range of literary talent in Australia.
It’s a great accomplishment to be shortlisted, so we’d to congratulate the four Penguin Random House Australia authors whose books made the list this year.
Books on the Indie Book Awards Shortlist 2025

Juice by Tim Winton
(Fiction)
Two fugitives, a man and a child, drive all night across a stony desert. As dawn breaks, they roll into an abandoned mine site. From the vehicle they survey a forsaken place – middens of twisted iron, rusty wire, piles of sun-baked trash. They’re exhausted, traumatised, desperate now. But as a refuge, this is the most promising place they’ve seen. The child peers at the field of desolation. The man thinks to himself, this could work.
Problem is, they’re not alone.
So begins a searing, propulsive journey through a life whose central challenge is not simply a matter of survival, but of how to maintain human decency as everyone around you falls ever further into barbarism.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston
(Debut Fiction)
Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car he’d return it washed and polished, with a full tank of petrol. The problem is, he has no one left to borrow from. At 82 he’s desperately lonely, broke and on the brink of homelessness.
But Fred's luck changes when, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of cranky Bernard Greer at Wattle River Nursing Home. Suddenly he has a roof over his head, warm meals in his belly and, most importantly, the chance to be part of a family again.
Fingers crossed his poker face is in better nick than his prostate, or the jig is up.
As Fred walks in Bernard’s shoes (and underpants), he discovers more about the man’s past - and what it would take to return a broken life to mint condition.
Bittersweet and remarkably perceptive, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a feel-good novel about forgiveness, redemption and finding family.

The 113th Assistant Librarian by Stuart Wilson
(Children’s)
Oliver Wormwood is sure his new job in the library will be boring. Until he learns that books hold great power – and danger.
By the end of his first day, Oliver has witnessed a death, been frozen by a book, met a perplexing number of cats, and fought off a horde of terrifying creatures.
With only a mysterious girl called Agatha to show him the ropes, Oliver needs to learn fast . . . if he wants to live longer than the 112 assistant librarians before him.

Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep a Secret by Amy Doak
(Young Adult)
Eleanor Jones is adjusting to her new normal: friends, school and volunteering at the local old age home.
Just as things feel calm, a series of events once again rock Eleanor’s world: Troy’s ex-girlfriend is back in Cooinda, there's a spate of farmhouse robberies, and Eleanor’s nursing home buddy Nance admits to witnessing a murder.
In an effort to definitely not be concerned about Troy’s ex, and not get involved in the robbery investigation, Eleanor throws herself into solving Nance's mystery. But Eleanor soon realises that digging into old secrets can be incredibly dangerous.
The Indie Book Awards Book of the Year will be announced 24 March 2025.