The novel was a shortlisted nominee for the 2013 Governor General's Award for English fiction.[3] The novel was also longlisted for the 2013 Scotiabank Giller Prize, but failed to make the shortlist.
The novel was selected for the 2014 edition of Canada Reads, where it was championed by journalist Wab Kinew. On March 6, 2014, the novel won the competition.[4]