Why Sally Rooney’s Books Were Withdrawn in the UK

Why were Sally Rooney’s books withdrawn in the UK?

Rooney said she and Faber agreed not to keep supplying her books to UK booksellers. She said that carrying out the publishing arrangements could now amount to a serious criminal offence. ¹

The issue is her stated support for Palestine Action. The group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in July 2025. Rooney had said she intended to use proceeds from her books to support it. ¹²

What does Palestine Action’s proscription mean?

Proscription means that the UK has formally listed an organisation as a terrorist organisation. The Guardian reports that supporting a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act. ²

Rooney’s statement says Palestine Action is not proscribed or otherwise prohibited in the Republic of Ireland, where she lives. The legal status described in these reports is specific to the UK; this explainer does not assess how the law applies to any individual case. ²

Can readers still buy Sally Rooney books in the UK?

Some physical copies may still be available. Waterstones told the BBC that Faber had not restricted shops from keeping copies they already had on their shelves. ¹

UK ebook editions had already been removed from sale, according to the BBC. The reports do not establish how much physical stock remains or how long shops may continue to sell it. ¹

Does this mean readers cannot own or read her books?

The reported action is that Rooney and Faber agreed to stop further supply to UK sellers. It is not described as a prohibition on readers owning, reading or keeping copies they already have. ¹

The distinction matters: a publisher’s supply decision affects what shops can replenish, while existing copies may remain on sale. The BBC specifically reported that booksellers could retain their current physical stock. ¹

Which books and sales are affected?

Rooney’s well-known novels include Normal People, Conversations With Friends, Beautiful World, Where Are You and Intermezzo. ¹³

The BBC reported that her books had sold more than six million copies worldwide, including 2.3 million in the UK, citing NielsenIQ BookData. Those figures describe sales reported by the BBC, not how many copies are currently available. ¹

What is still unclear about the withdrawal?

The reports do not give a complete account of how the legal risk would be assessed, or whether any authority has ruled on the specific publishing arrangements. Rooney’s statement describes a concern about potential criminal liability, while the reported response is a joint decision with Faber to stop UK supply. ¹²

The available information also does not say when physical copies will disappear from shops, whether the arrangement could change, or how UK readers will access future editions. These are unresolved practical questions, not evidence that all copies have been banned.