2009 Finalists
Best Romance
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| Counting the Cost by Liz Adair |
Illuminations of the Heart by Joyce DiPastena |
All the Stars in Heaven by Michele Paige Holmes |
Santa Maybe by Aubrey Mace |
Previously Engaged by Elodia Strain |
Best Mystery/Suspense
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| Lockdown by Traci Hunter Abramson |
Methods of Madness by Stephanie Black |
Murder by the Book by Betsy Brannon Green |
Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack |
Altered State by Gregg Luke |
Best Youth Fiction
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| Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George |
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven Book 4) by Brandon Mull |
My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison |
Bright Blue Miracle by Becca Wilhite |
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams |
Best Speculative Fiction
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| Servant of a Dark God by John Brown |
The Maze Runner by James Dashner |
Wings by Aprilynne Pike |
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson |
I Am Not A Serial Killer by Dan Wells |
Best Historical
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| Tribunal by Sandra Grey |
The Undaunted by Gerald Lund |
Alma by H.B. Moore |
The Last Waltz by G.G. Vandagriff |
In the Company of Angels by David Farland |
Best General Fiction
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| Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford |
No Going Back by Jonathan Langford |
Gravity vs. The Girl by Riley Noehren |
The Route by Gale Sears |
Eyes Like Mine by Julie Wright |
Unlike previous years, no finalists are being announced for the two overall awards. Instead, the Whitney Academy can choose from any of the eligible finalists in any category. In other words, all of the novels listed above are still in the running for Best Novel of the Year.
Likewise, any of the above finalists that meet the eligibility requirements for Best Novel by a New Author can be chosen for that award. This year, the eligible books are:
- Servant of a Dark God, by John Brown
- Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
- No Going Back, by Jonathan Langford
- Gravity vs. The Girl, by Riley Noehren
- Wings, by Aprilynne Pike
- I Am Not A Serial Killer, by Dan Wells
- Bright Blue Miracle, by Becca Wilhite
This year we will also be asking voters to certify that they have read each of the books in the categories they are voting in. If, for example, a voters wants to vote for Best Romance, then the ballot will contain a checkbox asking the voter to certify that they’ve read all five novels in that category.
To vote for Best Novel of the Year, you must have read all of the finalists in all categories–all thirty novels.
