It has been fantastic to see so much enthusiasm around Carmel’s emotional thriller, The Stolen Child, (Headline) and Esther Walker’s Well, This Is Awkward (Bedford Square), the hilarious and uplifting debut novel about finding a family when you least expect it.

Today, Good Housekeeping have named Carmel the winner of their Good Books Autumn Collection. The book won after impressing the panel with its “intriguing characters and emotional depth.”

Carmel said: “I grew up seeing Good Housekeeping on my grandmother’s and mother’s coffee tables, and they always followed the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Tried and Tested accreditation scheme when selecting beauty and household products, as I do now! To think that The Stolen Child is now recognised by Good Housekeeping is a standout moment in my career. I am genuinely honoured to be chosen by the reader panel as the Winner of the Good Books Autumn Collection.”

Esther Walker’s debut novel has also been listed by Good Housekeeping as a Reader Favourite in the collection. The book comes out on 11th September.

A heartfelt congratulations to Carmel, Esther and all the authors in the collection.