Newer faces join bestselling authors on the shortlist for this year's Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance, sponsored by National Express coaches. The award remembers popular chick lit author Melissa Nathan who tragically died of cancer in 2006 aged 37, and celebrates the best books in chick lit.

The 2012 shortlist is:

• Jenny Colgan - Meet Me At The Cupcake Café
• Jane Costello - Girl On The Run
• Milly Johnson - An Autumn Crush
• Jane Lovering - Please Don't Stop The Music
• Sarra Manning - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
• Allie Spencer - Summer Loving

The award judges are Jo Brand, author Joanna Trollope, author Sophie Kinsella, comedy actress, writer and producer Morwenna Banks, actress and presenter Liza Tarbuck, m.d. of National Express Andrew Cleaves, Waitrose book buyer Freya Wright, and Andrew Saffron, founder of the award and the Melissa Nathan Foundation. The winner is announced at a gala celebration on 12th June in London.