Faber pulls Sally Rooney titles from UK sale over terrorism law
Normal People sold a million copies in the UK, and it's still coming off the shelf
This is the one that should make every author sit up, whatever you write about. A bestselling author, a major publisher, a law passed in 2025 — and a title with a million copies sold is suddenly not for sale. I don't know the mechanics of why Faber made this call, and neither does the reporting, but the outcome is plain enough: legislation can reach backward and touch work that's already in the world. Watch this one closely.
Why it matters to you: A UK law passed in 2025 has reached backward to pull a million-copy bestseller from sale, and no author's backlist is immune from that kind of reach.
This story ran in the Coral Wire edition of Sat, Oct 17 2026, when the Coral Index stood at 53/100 (Mixed signals).
Coverage — 3 outlets
Every outlet found reporting this story.
- Faber to no longer distribute Sally Rooney in UK due to Palestine Action legislationthebookseller.com
- Can You Still Buy Sally Rooney Books in the UK? Titles Withdrawn Despite 'Normal People' Selling One Million Copies | IBTimes UKibtimes.co.uk
- Sally Rooney Books Pulled from Sale in UK Due to Terrorism Lawlunch.publishersmarketplace.com
Also in this edition
- Authors Guild tells publishers: detectors alone can't justify cancellationLegal — The new guidelines follow a similar set the Guild issued to authors in May, aimed at building "mutual trust" on both sides.
- Agent explains the foreign rights trade-off before you signLegal — Keep the rights and the money comes direct, but only if your agency actually has a foreign rights desk
- Orélien admits old plagiarism, denies AI use on new novelLegal — La Presse's investigation into his 2012-2014 work got him dropped from Goncourt Prize contention, but the AI accusation stands separate and denied.
- Bramble lands two seven-and-eight-figure fantasy deals this monthMarket — Devney Perry's City of Saint series went for eight figures and Sarah Beth Durst's Spellshop extension for seven, both at Bramble.
- Authors and industry groups launch global ethical AI charterLegal — The Society of Authors says its own position on generative AI "remains unchanged" despite the backlash the charter has drawn.
- Substack's Pangram AI-detector sparks writer civil warAI — A seven-figure book deal, a Hachette pull, and a lost NYT column show publishing can't agree what the AI problem even is
- YouTube in talks to launch audiobooks next yearPlatform — The Wall Street Journal reports YouTube may bundle the feature into its $16-a-month Premium tier.