Why 'stunning' assisted-dying novel Switzy caused a Booker Prize controversy

Despite tough subject matter, Emma Cline's novel about a man with dementia choosing to end his life has been one of 2026's hits – and its exclusion from the Booker has caused outrage.

The story of a man with dementia making his way to an assisted dying clinic in Switzerland might not sound like a book that should immediately go to the top of your to-be-read pile. But, as bleak as its premise sounds, Emma Cline's Switzy is one of the most championed books of the year.

In some ways its success shouldn't be surprising. The US author's two previous novels were both big literary success stories. Her 2016 debut The Girls, loosely inspired by the Manson family cult, sparked an 11-way bidding war and a reported $2m (£1.7m) advance. Follow-up The Guest, about a young woman grifting her way through the Hamptons, was the It-book of summer 2023 (and is mooted to be turned into a movie starring Sadie Sink).

Warning: This article contains references to assisted dying that some readers may find distressing.

A new Emma Cline title was always going to be one of the most anticipated releases of the year. But while those other books' juicy subject matters made them prime cultural currency (who does't love a scammer story?), her most recent is a tougher sell. Even her agent wasn't immediately convinced. When the author sent the first draft to her agent, Cline told the Financial Times, his reply was: "Are you OK?"   

Yet since its September release, Switzy has captivated readers and critics alike, proving that even its existential bleakness can't dampen the online enthusiasm that surrounds Cline's work.

Such is the internet love for Switzy, that when it was omitted from the Booker Prize shortlist – it had been one of 13 books on the long list – corners of bookish social media (politely) rioted with cries of "Justice for Switzy". Literary influencer Jack Edwards – known as "the internet's resident librarian" – joined in, commenting "We ride at dawn for Switzy" on a post on the Booker Prize's Instagram page.

Of course, lots of worthy books miss out on literary prizes. But Switzy does seem to have connected with readers in a profound way, with thousands of TikTok and Instagram posts proclaiming its greatness, and fellow writers declaring their admiration. Best-selling author Matt Haig calls Switzy "very impressive", while previous Booker winner Samantha Harvey has described it as "a miracle of a novel".

Asked about the novel missing the shortlist, Booker Prize judge Patricia Lockwood said the panel had to ignore "hype cycles". So is Switzy simply the latest literary fad, or was the outrage over its omission justified?

The novel follows the final days of David Hastings, a retired business executive with Alzheimer's. As it begins, he is travelling to Zurich by private jet – lent to him as a parting gift from a business associate – to end his life at an assisted dying facility, rather than face "a forced march through the next brutal decade". 

David is accompanied by his assistant Cody, who doles out medication and........

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