The Whitbread Book of the Year is an annual literary award presented in the United Kingdom. Established in 1979, it recognizes outstanding works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry published in the previous year. The award aims to celebrate and promote literary excellence and is one of the most prestigious honors in British literature. The award is part of the larger Whitbread Awards, which also include categories for children's books and first novels. Winners are selected by a panel of judges, and the award has been known to significantly boost the visibility and sales of the winning titles and authors.