After a record-breaking public vote, York St John University has announced not one but two winners for the 2026 Big Summer Read campaign.
More than 500 votes were cast in this year’s competition, with two books emerging as clear favourites and separated by only a handful of votes. Together, the winning titles secured more than 80% of the overall vote share.
The joint winners of the York St John Big Summer Read 2026 are:
· Hex House by Amy Jane Stewart
· Featherfall by Jerry Ibbotson
Both authors are alumni of York St John University, having completed the University’s MA Creative Writing programme.
Coordinated by the English Literature team at York St John University, the Big Summer Read is an annual initiative designed to encourage reading for pleasure across the University community and beyond, while also this year celebrating contemporary writing and literary talent connected to the institution.
Hex House is a dark contemporary fairytale set deep in the wilds of Scotland. The novel follows Elly, a pregnant bride who discovers the mysterious Hex House after fleeing her husband on their wedding night, and Siobhan, an ambitious filmmaker invited to document the house and its secrets. A sanctuary that appears only to women who need it most, Hex House transforms its inhabitants into vessels of revenge.
Amy Jane Stewart said:
“I’m so thrilled and thankful that Hex House has been selected as joint winner for the YSJ Big Summer Read! Doing my Creative Writing MA at York St John in 2018 helped kickstart my career as a writer, and so it feels really special to have this connection to the university now that my debut novel has come out. I’m very excited to read fellow winner Jerry Ibbotson’s Featherfall, and to see what readers make of Hex House!”
Meanwhile, Featherfall brings fantasy much closer to home, weaving its story through the streets and hidden corners of York itself.
Describing the novel, Jerry Ibbotson said:
“Featherfall has York in its blood. Much of the story takes place on the city streets and the Minster itself takes centre stage on occasion. I’ve tried to reflect the city as
it really is and build a believable, realistic picture of the place I call home, while telling a story that is pure fantasy.”
He added:
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been selected as one of this year’s Big Summer Read books, particularly as the other nominees were so worthy. I hope that I can do it justice and that those who read Featherfall enjoy it!”
Reflecting on York’s influence on his writing, he said:
“There’s a magic about York that really lends itself to my kind of storytelling. There’s so much history piled up in one place that it weaves a spell over you. Walking around some of the narrow city streets, you start to imagine all sorts of jiggery pokery taking place down dark alleys and snickleways. I’ve put a lot of that into Featherfall.”
Dr Adam James Smith, Course Lead for English Literature at York St John University, said:
“In the past, the Big Summer Read has always been a wonderful opportunity to bring students and colleagues from across York St John University together to share in the experience of reading the same book at the same time.
It’s always extraordinary to see the responses the books have generated, and the conversations that this shared experience has sparked, creating connections we never would have predicted.
This time we’re reading two novels for the first time, and we’re in the wonderfully unique position of both of them having been written by York St John University graduates, so it seems an extra special opportunity to share and celebrate everything that is special about our university community, and the genuine wonders it creates.
If you’re looking to get back into reading, looking for something fun to read having just finished your GCSE or A-Level exams, or just want to read a brilliant book alongside lots of enthusiastic and engaged readers, then we’d absolutely love to read Hex House and Featherfall with you this summer.”
Further details and a carefully curated reading schedule will be available from the 1 June via the WordsMatter_YSJ page on Instagram.