From 56 entries, four books have been shortlisted for the 2025 ACT Book of the Year award that showcase storytelling across memoir, non-fiction and historical reflection.

The 2025 ACT Book of the Year shortlist are:

• Lebanon Days by Theodore Ell
• Model Minority Gone Rogue by Qin Qin
• Stories My Grandmothers Didn’t Tell Me by Andra Putnis
• Warra Warra Wai by Darren Rix & Craig Cormick

Eligible nominated books are read and judged by an independent, four-person panel experienced in writing, editing, publishing and literature curation.

The winning book will be announced on October 24.