Nominees and Finalists

17th Annual Whitney Award Nominees

The Whitney Awards are a readers’ choice award. Nominees, finalists, and winners do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Whitney Awards Committee or the Storymakers Guild organization. Nominees will be posted as they come in.

* Titles with an asterisk met the requirements and received the necessary nominations for a Whitney Award. They are not competing due to the one book per category per author rule. The Whitney Awards program is happy to honor the authors and fans of these titles by featuring them on our website.

Nominate a Novel

General/Historical

Bentley, Elizabeth Petty – Facing Grace

Bessey, Sian Ann – The Call of the Sea

Boyd, H. R. – Paint the Grass

Brower, Beth – The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 7

Connolly, Rebecca – Under the Cover of Mercy

Harmon, Amy – A Girl Called Samson

Moore, Heather B. – Under the Java Moon

Moulton, Ali Benson – Time or Tide

Sabey, Joshua – Ali: The Iraqi

Sowards, A. L. – A Waltz with Traitors

Adult Speculative

Atkins, Kristina – Feathers Sharp as Knives

Bateman, Melanie – Traveler

Bates, Kevin W. – Quarantine

Belt, C. David – The Witch and the Devourer of Souls

Bennion, John – Ruth at the End of the Earth

Brianne, Natalie – Keepers of the Zodiac

Camp, Shannen – My Not-So Rad Afterlife

Cooper, Caitee – Silverskin

Dalby, Carrie – Discernment

Dunn, Colby – The Brink

Gage, Rebecca – The Curious Case of the Whispering Corpse

Gunderson, Cindy – The Blessing Giver

Hagberg, Elesa – The Dissection and Reassembly of Cohen Hoard

Hastings, Samantha – Return of the Queen

Holmberg, C. N. – Keeper of Enchanted Rooms

Holmberg, Charlie N. – Heir of Uncertain Magic*

Holmberg, Charlie N. – The Hanging City*

King, Jason James – The Mad Reaper

Laurie, Erica – One Thousand Winters

Powell, Christie Valentine – The Captain’s Dowry

Read, D.T. – Apprentice to the Gods*

Read, D.T. – Crucible of the Gods*

Read, D.T. – Mountains of the Gods

Reeder, Joanna – Courting Fae Thieves and Crowns

Wheeler, Jeff – Doomsday Match

Mystery/Suspense

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Covert Ops*

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Unseen

Black, Stephanie – Come, Gentle Night*

Black, Stephanie – The Trespassers

Edwards, Paige – Skye Fall

Eljarbo, Heidi – The London Forgery

Griffith, Jennifer – If Looks Could Kill

Hahn, Caren – This Side of Dark

Lewis, L.C. – Revenge Never Rests

Lyon, Annette – Just One More

McKinnon, Rebecca – Murder To My Ears

Mitchell, Gracie Ruth – Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder

Peterson, Kathi Oram – Shifting Sands

Romeril, Christina – A Nutcracker Nightmare

Shamy, Morgan – The Dollmaker

Thompson, Jessica – Shoot, Shovel, and Shut Up

Romance

Abramson, Traci Hunter – Worlds Collide

Anderson, June B. – Reining in the Cowboy*

Anderson, June B. – Roping the Cowboy Next Door

Atkinson, Jen – Insta Boyfriend*

Atkinson, Jen – Insta Connection*

Atkinson, Jen – Insta Kiss

Baldwin, Kaylee – A Wedding Mismatch

Baldwin, Kaylee – Me and Mr. Just Right*

Beckstrand, Jennifer – Second Chances on Huckleberry Hill

Cooper, Cori – Ways to Improve Bailey

Debenham, Emily – Citizen of Caesarea

Dominguez, Keira – The Winter Princess

Easton, Meg – Spies Don’t Fall for Their Asset

Epperson, Taylor – The Rules of Mistletoe

Fowers, Stephanie – West’s Redemption

Good, Marae – The Burns We Carry

Gunderson, Cynthia – Against the Boards

Gygi, Allison – Champion of Her Heart

Hadley, Aspen – Back to Class: A School Teacher Romance

Harris, Lisa Rumsey – Not Her First Rodeo

Hilton, Emi – Bluebird Sky

Jacobson, Melanie – Betting on the Boy Next Door*

Jacobson, Melanie – Scrooge and the Girls Next Door

Keyes, Martha – Kissing for Keeps

Kimzey, Nicole J. – Breathing Underwater

Larsen, Brittany – (Not So) Famous in Paradise

Larsen, Brittany – The Grumpy Side of Paradise*

LeCheminant, Dana – Love in Disguise

Libretto, Lorelei – Finding the Wolf

Lieske, Victorine E. – A Necessary Nudge Out of the Friend Zone

Losee, Brooke J. – You Wish

Merriam, Kathryn – No Matter Who

Monson, Becky – Love Songs Suck

Nelson, Kelly – Begrudgingly Engaged

Peel, Jennifer – My Ex-Mas Emergency

Penny, Jaqueline – Seventeen Days

Peters, Jen – Falling for the Rancher

Proctor, Jenny – How to Kiss a Movie Star

Rabe, Jenny – Mistletoe Kisses*

Rallison, Janette – A Longtime (and now NFL player) Nemesis

Richards, Jill S. – Southern Stakes

Sharp, Crissy – An Annoying and Unforgiving Hart

Slaughter, Hillary – Love Letter Lost

Spencer, Jen – Happily Ever After on Huckleberry Hill

Stockton, Kasey – I’m Not Charlotte Lucas

Thorne, Danielle – A Home for the Twins

Watson, Kate – Baby Llama Drama

Wenger, Haleigh – Managing the Matthews

Zeigler, Amey – The Autumn Fallout

Historical Romance

Anderson, Rebecca – The Art of Love and Lies

Barker, Joanna – A Heart Worth Stealing

Beers, Laura – An Improper Courtship

Bessey, Sian Ann – The Unassuming Curator

Bradley, Carol P. – The Making of Margaret Dashwood

Clark, Ranee S. – A Lady’s Promise

Condie, Katie – To Win His Wife

Cummings, Kathleen – The Fight for Grace

Daines, Julie – Meriden Park

Eden, Sarah M. – Fleur de Lis*

Eden, Sarah M. – The Best Intentions*

Eden, Sarah M. – The Queen and the Knave*

Eden, Sarah M. – Wyoming Wild

Hastings, Samantha – Secret of the Sonnets

Hatch, Esther – The Earl’s Hideaway: No Ladies Allowed

Hathaway, Deborah M. – To Know Miss May

Keyes, Martha – Battling the Bluestocking

Kimball, Heidi – A Not-So-Distant Love

LeCheminant, Dana – What Dreams May Come

Linton, Chalon – Chiara’s Choice

Losee, Brooke J. – In Time With the Duke

Monroe, Holli Jo – The Counterfeit Attachment

Moore, Jennifer – Educating Elizabeth

Nelson, Miranda D. – To Win Her Kiss

Newbold, Ashtyn – Lord Blackwell’s Promise

Nichols, M. A. – An Accidental Courtship

Peaslee, Jessilyn Stewart – Always Ella

Spencer, Jen – Rachel and Riley

Stockton, Kasey – A Noble Inheritance

Stones, Rachel Kelley – Love Unseen

Van, Nichole – One Kiss Alone

Wade, J. C. – A Storm Summoned

Walker, Anneka R. – An Unwitting Alliance

Walker, Megan – Miss Newbury’s List

Wecker, Alene – An Engagement of Errors

Young Adult General

Bateman, Rachel – Make the Fireflies Dance

Cluff, Sara Jo – Veronica’s Bombastic Scheme

Cooper, Cori – Sage Advice

Daley, Tracy – The Wrong Side of the Setting Sun

Eves, Rosalyn – An Improbable Season

Frost, K.M. – No Matter What

Garrett, Jared – Carry Your Heart*

Garrett, Jared – Worlds Apart

Jepson, Theric – Just Julie’s Fine

Leavitt, Martine – Buffalo Flats

Matthews, Julie K. – Anna’s MVP

Mickelson, Marcia – The Weight of Everything

Richards, Teresa – Flippin’ Skaters

Rigby, Randi – Derailed

Young Adult Speculative

Cassidy, Jo – A Darkness Below

Daley, Tracy – Loss of the Unguarded

Fitzgerald, Sara – Can You See Me

Frost, Crystal – Moon & Ruin

Hibbert, Debbie – Necromancy the Musical

Hues, L. Blaise – Victor-27

Kreitzer, C. F. – Blood Poisoning

Mera, Daniela A. – The Gilded Survivor

Peters, Camille – Decoy

Stevens, A. J. – Mere Mortal

Zeller, Mathilda – The Bee King

Young Adult Fantasy

Anderson, Allison – The Spring Maiden

Benson, K.B. – Well of Eida

Burnham, Chantel – Magic Feared and Furious

Drysdale, Elizabeth – The Exile’s Promise

Eshbaugh, Kayla – Glass Midnight

Flory, Jessica – Oceans of Sand

Frost, Heather – Esperance

Frost, Heather – Royal Rebel*

Gage, Rebecca – Stealing Cinderella

Humpherys, Leialoha – Married at Sunrise

Hunt, Sydney – Cursebreaker

Lloyd, Janilise – The Whisperer’s Wish

Lowham, Elizabeth – Beauty Reborn

Millecam, Courtney – The Never Heir

Purdie, Kathryn – The Forest Grimm

Richards, Michael – The Peace of Freysdal

Sanderson, Brandon – Tress of the Emerald Sea

Stanford, Brit – The Timespeaker

Wheeler, E. B. – Wild Magic

Middle Grade

Allen, C. W. – Tales of the Forgotten Founders

Allen, Sarah – The Nightmare House

Baldwin, Cindy – No Matter the Distance

Carlson, Rebecca J. – The Wizard of Frogsmire

Carter, Molly McNamara – Before

Dewsnup, Abby – Branson Garcia and the Sea of Sceros

Evans, Loralee – Taigh- A Flying Squirrel’s Adventure

Hartman, Aubrey – The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor

Hill, Amanda Rawson – Once Upon a Family

Jacobs, Bruce – Zeke Zooter and the Eye of Balor

Johnson, Janet Sumner – The Winterton Deception: Final Word

Jolley, Mary Locke – First, The Conjurer

Moore, Heather B. & Merrill, Allison Hong – The Paper Daughters of Chinatown: Young Readers Edition

Morris, Chad & Brown, Shelly – The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry

Morris, Chad & Brown, Shelly – Virtually Me*

Mull, Brandon – The Candy Shop War: Carnival Quest

Nielsen, Jennifer A. – Iceberg*

Okerlund, Taya & Nathan – Never Lore

Savage, J. Scott – Graysen Foxx and the Treasure of Principal Redbeard

Smithson, Camille – Ditch the Glitch

Swenson, Daniel – Gingersnap! A Redhead’s Guide to Not Being Eaten by a Dragon

Thayer, Mike – The Talent Thief

Vickers, Elaine – Half Moon Summer

Best Novel by a Debut Author

Anderson, Allison – The Spring Maiden

Atkins, Kristina – Feathers Sharp as Knives

Boyd, H. R. – Paint the Grass

Burnham, Chantel – Magic Feared and Furious

Carter, Molly McNamara – Before

Cooper, Caitee – Silverskin

Cummings, Kathleen – The Fight for Grace

Daley, Tracy – The Wrong Side of the Setting Sun

Flory, Jessica – Oceans of Sand

Gage, Rebecca – The Curious Case of the Whispering Corpse

Hagberg, Elesa – The Dissection and Reassembly of Cohen Hoard

Hartman, Aubrey – The Lion of Lark-Hayes Manor

Hibbert, Debbie – Necromancy the Musical

Hunt, Sydney – Cursebreaker

Jacobs, Bruce – Zeke Zooter and the Eye of Balor

Jolley, Mary Locke – First, The Conjurer

Kimzey, Nicole J. – Breathing Underwater

Libretto, Lorelei – Finding the Wolf

Lowham, Elizabeth – Beauty Reborn

Millecam, Courtney – The Never Heir

Moulton, Ali Benson – Time or Tide

Penny, Jaqueline – Seventeen Days

Richards, Michael – The Peace of Freysdal

Sabey, Joshua – Ali: The Iraqi

Slaughter, Hillary – Love Letter Lost

Stanford, Brit – The Timespeaker

Stevens, A. J. – Mere Mortal

Stones, Rachel Kelley – Love Unseen