2022 - You Are A Champion - Marcus Rashford
2021 – Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart
2020 – Queenie – Candice Carty-Williams
2019 – Normal People – Sally Rooney
2018 – Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman
2017 – The Essex Serpent – Sarah Perry
2015–2016 – (no award)
2014 – The Miniaturist – Jessie Burton
2013 – The Ocean at the End of the Lane – Neil Gaiman
2012 – Fifty Shades of Grey – EL James
2011 – How to Be a Woman – Caitlin Moran
2010 – One Day – David Nicholls
2009 – The Suspicions of Mr Whicher – Kate Summerscale
2008 – On Chesil Beach – Ian McEwan
2007 – The Dangerous Book for Boys – Con and Hal Iggulden
2006 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – J. K. Rowling
2005 – The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
2004 – Eats, Shoots & Leaves – Lynne Truss
2003 – Stupid White Men – Michael Moore
2002 – Billy – Pamela Stephenson
2001 – Man and Boy – Tony Parsons
2000 – Managing My Life – Alex Ferguson
1999 – Birthday Letters – Ted Hughes
1998 – Bridget Jones's Diary – Helen Fielding
1996 – Delia Smith's Winter Collection – Delia Smith
1995 – Writing Home – Alan Bennett
1994 – Wild Swans – Jung Chang