Books / News
Journalist’s memoir longlisted for Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction
A Bristol-based investigative journalist and law graduate’s deeply personal memoir has been longlisted for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
Jenny Evans’ debut book Don’t Let It Break You, Honey is one of 16 books on the longlist, six others of which are also debuts.
“Writing a book about your deepest shamiest shame is terrifying,” said Evans, expressing gratitude to her editor and publisher on Instagram. “You helped make it bearable, I helped make it a little bit funny, and here we are at the Women’s Prize longlist.”
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Fresh off the success of her 1997 dark comedy Twin Town, Evans was getting ready to explore a promising new life, until she was assaulted by a high-profile figure at a party. Don’t Let It Break You, Honey is an account of the incident and her subsequent fight for justice.
In the book, Evans writes about fame, power and talks about how her path to justice led her into a career of journalism.
The memoir was first published in 2025 by Robinson, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group.
Books on the longlist are chosen by a judging panel, which in 2026 is chaired by former Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire.
Talking about the books chosen for the longlist, Debbonaire said: “The books on this hopeful longlist are rigorous and researched, lyrical and flowing.
“They are drawn together by the originality and skill with which they have been written.
“This reading list carries relevance and truth for the future as well as holding significant value for the present day – the books spark curiosity and demand attention; they are for everyone navigating the complicated and unpredictable world we are living in.
“The voices of these sixteen remarkable women need to be heard – loud and clear.”
The full longlist can be read here: womensprize.com/revealing-the-2026-womens-prize-for-non-fiction-longlist/
Main photo: Jenny Evans
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