The 13 longlisted books explore universal and topical themes: from deeply moving personal dramas to tragi-comic family sagas; from the effects of climate change to the oppression of minorities; from scientific breakthroughs to competitive sport. The list includes:

- 10 writers longlisted for the first time, including four debut novelists
- Three writers with seven previous nominations between them
- Writers from seven countries across four continents
- Four Irish writers, making up a third of the longlist for the first time
- A novel featuring a neurodiverse protagonist, written from personal experience
- ‘All 13 novels cast new light on what it means to exist in our time, and they do so in original and thrilling ways,’ according to Esi Edugyan, Chair of the judges