Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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“Heart the Lover by Lily King is a novel about first love, and the power the past has over us. Spanning the lifetimes of our three protagonists, it’s an intimate novel that explores desire and friendship. Beautiful, tender and utterly truthful, it’s a book that will stay with you for some time.” 2026 judge, Cariad Lloyd

To hear more about ‘Heart the Lover’ we spoke to Lily King about what sparked the idea for her novel, her creative process, favourite writers and more – read here: womensprize.com/in-conversation-with-lily-king