The Palm House

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2026

From the Women’s Prize-shortlisted author of First Love, The Palm House is a sharply observed, slyly funny novel of enduring friendships and small mercies. This hardcover edition, published by Picador, offers a compelling narrative from one of Britain's finest prose stylists.

About the Book:

Laura and Putnam share a deep, long-standing friendship, marked by shared evenings in a Thames-side pub, discussing work, past passions, and the state of the world. However, Putnam is facing personal challenges, including the loss of his father and a difficult situation at the magazine where he works. Laura, navigating her own complexities with a challenging mother and a precarious life in a beautiful but indifferent city, must find a way to support Putnam as he descends into despondency.

Praise for The Palm House:

• ‘This goes straight onto my list of favourite modern novels’ – The Times
• ‘One of our finest novelists of constrained fury: nobody writes better’ – The Observer
• ‘Mesmerising . . . confirms Riley as one of Britain’s best’ – The Telegraph
• ‘A slim, impeccably controlled story that contains multitudes’ – The Guardian
• ‘I love this book’ – Sarah Perry, award-winning author of The Essex Serpent
• ‘Outstandingly brilliant’ – Claire-Louise Bennett, award-winning author of Big Kiss, Bye-Bye
• ‘Riley’s prose is so electric, so alive with humour and insight and passion, that by the end you will want to stand up and cheer’ – Paul Murray, author of The Bee Sting

Key Features:

• Contemporary Fiction novel by Gwendoline Riley
• Hardcover edition
• Features the author's trademark keen observation and wit
• Explores themes of friendship, loss, and resilience

Specifications:

• Author: Gwendoline Riley
• Publisher: Picador
• Publication Date: April 2, 2026
• Edition: Main Market
• Language: English
• Print Length: 224 pages
• Dimensions: 14.3 x 2.3 x 22.9 cm
• Item Weight: 330 g
• Reading Age: 18 years and up
• ISBN-10: 1035021048
• ISBN-13: 978-1035021048

The Palm House is a slender masterpiece that offers a curious sense of possibility, confirming Gwendoline Riley's status as one of Britain's best novelists.