The Small Press Network has announced the shortlist for the 2022 Book of the Year Award, (formerly the Most Underrated Book of the Year Award). The Book of the Year Award seeks to recognise some of the best and most ground-breaking Australian books.

The Book of the Year 2022 judges, Penni Russon, Bec Kavanagh and Andrew Finegan said: ‘This year was a particularly strong one for Australia’s small press. The shortlist we have settled on speaks to the diversity of forms and the exciting experimentation in the small, people-powered publishing houses in Australia. But this shortlist is a mere peak on a mountain of novels, academic texts, poetry, non-fiction, picture books and YA. All of which are doing interesting and wonderful things to expand our ideas about the Australian publishing scene.

The winners will be announced on 25 November at 6.30pm. Tickets for the award ceremony are available through Wheeler Centre on a a pay-what-you-can basis. Booking is essential.

The 2022 shortlisted titles are:

No Document by Anwen Crawford (Giramondo)

Friends and Dark Shapes by Kavita Bedford (Text)

Hometown Haunts edited by Poppy Nwosu (Wakefield Press)

Permafrost by SJ Norman (UQP)

Gravidity and Parity by Eleanor Jackson (Vagabond)

Theory of Colours by Bella Li (Vagabond)

Sexy Tales of Paleontology by Patrick Lenton (Subbed In)