Sally Rooney announced that her novels will no longer be supplied to booksellers in the United Kingdom due to legal complications arising from her publicly stated support for Palestine Action. The Irish author stated in a message to the BBC that continuing to publish her work in the UK could constitute a serious criminal offense under current legislation, prompting her agreement with publisher Faber to cease supplying her books to UK retailers.
Rooney explained that she made efforts to be transparent about her beliefs and intentions regarding Palestine Action, which the UK government designated as a proscribed terrorist organization in 2025. Following that proscription, the author wrote an opinion piece in August expressing her intention to continue directing her royalties toward the group. She noted that the group is not proscribed in the Republic of Ireland, where she resides. Rooney previously canceled a UK trip scheduled to accept an award, citing concerns about potential arrest.
Faber & Faber, Rooney’s publisher, released a statement confirming that existing UK legislation prevents the company from transferring earnings to the author for work sold in Britain, describing the situation as untenable. The publisher emphasized that it remains committed to distributing Rooney’s work in other territories and maintains pride in her literary contributions. Ebook versions have already been delisted from UK sales, though physical copies already in bookseller inventory may remain on shelves, as retailers have not been restricted from selling existing stock.
Rooney’s works have achieved significant commercial success, with over six million copies sold globally and 2.3 million in the UK alone. Her debut novel Normal People, published in 2018, became a television adaptation that launched the careers of actors Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Her other novels include Intermezzo, Conversations With Friends, and Beautiful World, Where Are You. Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori characterized Rooney’s decision as a principled stance, while describing the book withdrawal as emblematic of constraints on free expression tied to the proscription order.
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