Winner of Welsh Book of the Year 2025 (Fiction)

Winner Golwg 360 People's Choice Award 2025

A groundbreaking bilingual romantic comedy offering an unfiltered look at contemporary Welsh life.

V & Fo, the debut novel from Gwenno Gwilym follows V, a Welsh woman, and Rob, her English ex-partner, as they navigate co-parenting and the search for identity in modern Wales. Told through an innovative structure where V’s narrative in Welsh and Rob’s in English, the story authentically reflects the linguistic realities of many Welsh families, using playful code-switching and everyday vernacular to capture cultural complexity.

The book’s bold, honest portrayal of family separation and the messiness of real relationships has resonated widely, earning V & Fo both the Fiction award and the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Wales Book of the Year ceremony. Critics praise its authentic characters, vivid sense of place, and the way it captures the nuances of bilingual Welsh identity. The storytelling is described as raw and deeply affecting, with reviewers noting its lasting emotional impact and commending its realistic depiction of co-parenting and everyday struggles. V & Fo stands out as a fresh and innovative contribution to Welsh literature and is celebrated for its originality and emotional resonance.

Note: The bilingual nature of this work presents both challenges and opportunities for translation, potentially appealing to publishers in bilingual or minority language markets.