The Costa Book Awards, formerly the Whitbread Book Awards, were established in 1971 to encourage, promote and celebrate the best contemporary British writing, and are the only awards to use a category system that includes First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Book.

Recent winners have included Mark Haddon, Andrea Levy, Phillip Pullman and, most recently, AL Kennedy.

You could be curling up in Heal’s gorgeous Geo leather armchair to enjoy all 20 of this year's shortlisted books, including titles from Louis de Bernieres, Diana Athill, Ciaran Carson, Sadie Jones and Pat McGrath. The variety of books shortlisted ensures that there are plenty of deliciously good reads to suit all tastes.

For more information about the Costa Book Awards, and for details of all this year's shortlisted books, visit costabookawards.co.uk - and don't forget to look out on the 27th January to find out this year's Costa Book of the Year!