Sally Rooney's books withdrawn from UK sale over Palestine Action support
Sally Rooney's books will no longer be sold in the United Kingdom because of her support for Palestine Action.
Faber, her UK publisher, has withdrawn her titles from sale in Britain. The company will continue to sell them in other countries, according to the most recent trade report. Publishers Marketplace
Rooney is an Irish novelist. Faber is the house that publishes, prints and distributes her work in the UK market. The Guardian
The withdrawal follows her statement that she would donate her royalties, meaning her share of earnings from each copy sold, to Palestine Action. Palestine Action, described as a pro-Palestinian group, was labelled a terrorist organisation in the UK in 2025.
That designation creates a legal risk around payments linked to the group under terrorism law. The UK market is now closed to her.
The decision was foreshadowed in court last year. In November 2025, Rooney told the High Court she may have to withdraw her books from sale in the UK. She also said she was highly unlikely to be able to publish new work in the UK while the ban on Palestine Action remained in effect. BBC
In February 2026, the High Court ruled it was unlawful to ban Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws. Rooney described that ruling as a victory for civil liberties in Britain. The Guardian
For readers, this means a split in availability by territory, meaning where a book can be sold. British bookshops cannot order or restock her titles through Faber. Readers elsewhere face no change.
No new UK publishing arrangement has been announced. An unannounced deal is not yet a deal.
