Nick and Nigella share book honours

Nick Hornby's How To Be Good was named the nation's favourite novel of the year at the WH Smith Book Awards.

The author, whose novels include High Fidelity and Fever Pitch, saw his fourth book take the fiction prize, beating works by Ian McEwan and Joanne Harris, at the ceremony in London's Great Eastern Hotel.

Beverley Hodson, managing director of WH Smith UK Retail, said the awards, mostly voted for by readers, attracted a "staggering number of votes, which is testament to the fact that we are truly passionate about the books we read".

All of Hornby's previous books have been turned into movies, the latest of which, About A Boy, stars Hugh Grant and will receive its premiere in a few days. How To Be Good saw Hornby drop the laddish perspective of his earlier outings to write through the eyes of a woman.

McEwan's novel Atonement did land the literary prize - the only title at last night's awards not voted for by the public - beating books by PD James and Niall Griffiths. Atonement narrowly missed out on this year's Booker Whitbread prizes.

Following her victory last year for her book How To Be A Domestic Goddess, Nigella Lawson landed the home and lifestyle prize again with Nigella Bites, which beat offerings by Jamie Oliver and Rick Stein. Comedian turned therapist Pamela Stephenson landed the biography award for Billy, her profile of husband Billy Connolly, which was recently named book of the year at the British Book Awards.

Former journalist Emily Barr was named the year's hottest new talent for her book Backpack.

Other awards were: business - The Rise and Fall of Marks & Spencer, by Judi Bevan; general knowledge - The Blue Planet, by Alastair Fothergill, Martha Holmes and Andrew Byatt; children's book - Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer; travel writing - The Weekenders, by Alex Garland, Tony Hawks, Irvine Welsh, Victoria Glendinning, WF Deedes, Andrew O'Hagan and Giles Foden.