Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Dream Count Lands Women’s Prize Nomination on Release Day

Just hours after its global debut, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s latest novel, Dream Count, has stormed onto the literary scene with a major accolade—earning a coveted spot on the longlist for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction. The announcement, coming on the very day of its release, cements Adichie’s status as a literary powerhouse whose storytelling continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

The Women’s Prize for Fiction, a UK-based award now marking its 30th year, honors the most outstanding novel written in English by a woman. With a cash prize of £30,000 ($38,123) and the prestigious bronze sculpture, “The Bessie,” at stake, the competition draws some of the finest voices in contemporary literature. Yet, few books have ever made the longlist within mere hours of publication.

Dream Count unravels the intertwined lives of four women navigating identity, memory, and the weight of their choices across America and Nigeria. Chair of Judges Kit De Waal describes this year’s selection as a testament to how global events ripple through everyday lives and highlights the sheer force of women’s storytelling.

Adichie’s place on this list is no surprise. Her body of work has consistently reshaped modern literature, from Purple Hibiscus, which won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize, to Half of a Yellow Sun, a previous winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Americanah, another of her critically acclaimed novels, took home the National Book Critics Circle Award.

With Dream Count already making waves, all eyes now turn to April 2, when the shortlist will be announced. The ultimate winner will be revealed on June 12, adding yet another chapter to the legacy of one of the world’s most celebrated writers.