Sally Rooney novels pulled from UK shelves over author’s support for Palestine Action

The decision follows the Irish author’s public declaration that she intends to keep directing her royalties towards Palestine Action, which the UK government designated a terrorist organisation in 2025.

Faber and Ms Rooney reached the agreement jointly, with the writer telling BBC News: “I have made every effort to be honest with the public about my beliefs and intentions, and I am wholly prepared to accept the consequences.”

Digital editions have already been withdrawn, while physical copies already held by retailers will remain available on shelves.

In her statement on Wednesday, Rooney outlined the sequence of events that led to this point.

Palestine Action was proscribed in July 2025, and the following month she penned an opinion piece in the Irish Times setting out her determination to continue financially backing the group.

She noted that Palestine Action remains a legal organisation in the Republic of Ireland, where she is based.

That article also revealed she had scrapped plans to travel to the UK to collect an award, fearing arrest upon arrival.

Explaining the rationale behind the withdrawal, Rooney said: “As a result, the fulfilment of contracts to publish my work in the UK could now constitute a serious criminal offence.”

Faber told BBC News that UK legislation had left the publisher unable to transfer earnings from British sales to its author.

The company said: “To sell a writer’s work and not be able to pass on earnings is an unconscionable situation for a publisher.”

They added that the decision to halt supply applied to all formats.

The publisher stressed it remained proud of Ms Rooney’s body of work and would continue distributing her titles in other territories.

Waterstones told the BBC that Faber said booksellers faced no restrictions on keeping existing physical stock on their shelves, meaning copies already in shops can still be sold.

Ms Rooney’s catalogue comprises of the titles: Normal People, Conversations With Friends, Beautiful World, Where Are You and Intermezzo.

She has sold more than six million copies worldwide, with 2.3 million in the UK, according to NielsenIQ BookData.

Normal People, published in 2018, was adapted into a television series that helped launch Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones to stardom.

More than 3,700 individuals have been arrested in connection with alleged support for the terrorist group, with roughly 2,500 charged.

No cases have reached trial yet, as a legal challenge to the proscription is due before the Supreme Court next month.