The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden Wins Big at Women’s Prize for Fiction 2025
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In a landmark moment for literary fiction, Dutch author Yael van der Wouden has claimed the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction for her stunning debut novel The Safekeep. Set against the backdrop of 1960s Netherlands, this emotionally rich narrative explores forbidden love, post-war trauma, and human vulnerability through the lens of a slow-burning romance between two women.
Praised by the judges as “an astonishing debut,” The Safekeep merges historical fiction, suspense, and intimate storytelling, offering a refreshingly nuanced portrayal of queer love in a conservative society. The novel follows a solitary woman whose life is unexpectedly disrupted when her brother’s girlfriend moves in for the summer. What begins with discomfort slowly unfolds into emotional closeness, revealing buried truths and personal reckonings.
A Classic in the Making
Kit de Waal, chair of the fiction award panel, hailed The Safekeep as a “classic in the making” and emphasized how each word “is perfectly placed.” She commended the novel for shedding light on underexplored aspects of post-war Europe and the Holocaust, layered with “delicacy and compelling eroticism.”
The £30,000 prize was awarded during a vibrant ceremony in London, celebrating the novel’s artistry and emotional depth. De Waal added, “Books like this don’t come along every day. It’s a love story that will resonate for generations.”
Rachel Clarke Takes Non-Fiction Prize for Organ Donation Memoir
Alongside van der Wouden’s win, Dr Rachel Clarke received the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction for The Story of a Heart, a deeply moving account of organ donation that tells the parallel stories of two families: one grieving a young girl named Kiera, and another praying for a heart transplant for a boy named Max.
This emotional narrative not only delves into the human cost of tragedy but also honors the expertise of medical teams and the dignity of donors. Clarke, a physician and acclaimed author, weaves compassion, meticulous research, and history into a powerful testament to human resilience. The book has already been adapted into a 2024 ITV series, amplifying its reach and emotional impact.
Non-fiction chair Kavita Puri praised Clarke’s storytelling: “Her writing is authoritative and compassionate. The book left a lasting impression on the panel.”
Shortlists of the 2025 Women’s Prize Awards
Fiction Shortlist:
- The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
- Good Girl by Aria Aber
- All Fours by Miranda July
- The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji
- Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
- Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
Non-Fiction Shortlist:
- The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke
- A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry
- Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
- Agent Zo by Clare Mulley
- What the Wild Sea Can Be by Helen Scales
- Private Revolutions by Yuan Yang
Final Thoughts
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden is more than a debut; it’s a deeply resonant work that expands the boundaries of historical and queer fiction. Alongside Rachel Clarke’s poignant memoir, this year’s Women’s Prize winners highlight the importance of empathy, courage, and human connection in literature.
These works are not only literary milestones but also essential reading for anyone seeking stories that challenge, heal, and inspire.
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