2026–2027 European Romance Novel Award
Ukrainian author Maria Matios has been honored with the European Romance Novel Award for 2026–2027 for her book Almost Never Otherwise. The prize, established in Strasbourg, celebrates contemporary romance novels from Council of Europe member countries that have been translated into French. This year, the award was contested by 11 novels representing 11 different European nations.
About Almost Never Otherwise
Originally published as a standalone book in 2007 by the Lviv-based publisher "Piramida," Almost Never Otherwise featured vibrant color illustrations and a glossy dust jacket. It won the Grand Prix at the 2007 "Coronation of the Word" literary competition and was named Book of the Year. Beyond its original Ukrainian edition, the novel was translated into English and released as separate editions in the United Kingdom and Australia. The French translation, titled Presque jamais autrement, was completed by Nicole Dziub.
Maria Matios shared her excitement: "I received wonderful news from France—my book Almost Never Otherwise has been awarded the European Romance Novel Award for 2026–2027!"
She added, "The competition featured 11 novels from 11 European countries. Among them was my work, elegantly translated by Nicole Dziub as Presque jamais autrement. This prestigious prize will return to Ukraine."
This accolade highlights the growing international recognition of Ukrainian literature and underscores Maria Matios’s significant contributions to contemporary writing. Winning the European Romance Novel Award also paves the way for greater global exposure of Ukrainian authors, encouraging wider interest and appreciation of their works across international audiences.