I love to read. I love to read more than I like to sleep. I love to read more than I like to eat. As they have my entire life, books allowed me to travel to new places, to meet new people, and to consider new ideas. What a joy to be able to read! To have eyes that can see and the resources to purchase so many great works.
This year I had the privilege of reading 159 books. This is by far the most books I’ve read in a year…and not a goal to break anytime soon! A large part of my reading continues to be non-fiction. Most of what I’m interested in is related to spiritual formation and things that will help me learn more about the person of Jesus Christ. I have enjoyed several Bible studies this past year that have shaped me and stretched me. The main focus of my reading will always be Scripture because the reading of God’s word is the only reading that has eternal value.
Tons of great ones, but I’ll call these my favorites…
I’ve added in more fiction reading over the years because the gospel reminds me that I’m called to “tell a good story” (JM Ritchey). In order to be more creative in the way I build relationships and love and lead those around me…I need to let my mind wander in new places. Some were super easy beach reads and some required a lot of thinking and a whole lot of highlighter. In some cases, I found a great story and then read all of the books that the author had written. When you look at the list below, you will see links for all of the books that I’ve done a book review for on my blog. Many of them I just read for enjoyment or to learn something new.
I realize that reading is a HUGE privilege and it’s not anything that I take for granted. My mom is to thank for instilling a love of reading in all three of her kids from a very early age. As a single mom, she faithfully took us to the library weekly so that we could all check out the max number of books allowed. I’ve written on this blog a number of times how I feel about reading and the way that reading shapes the influence that you have. I’ve heard it said that you can tell a lot about a person by the people that they hang out with and the books that they read. Words matter.
I’d love to hear what you are hoping to read in 2024…I’m eager to continue adding to my “to read” list!
Here are some links to the books I’ve intentionally documented the last several years…
Books from 2010 41 books
Books from 2011 63 books
Books from 2012 78 books
Books from 2013 43 books
Books from 2014 32 books
Books from 2015 41 books
Books from 2016 54 books
Books from 2017 40 books
Books from 2018 51 books
Books from 2019 51 books
Books from 2020 101 books
Books from 2021 93 books
Books from 2022 109 books
Books from 2023 108 books
Books from 2024 159 books
Books from 2024…(link included if I posted a review on my blog)
January 11
+ Something Old, Something New by Amy Clipston
+ Agents of Grace by Daniel Darling https://meganstrange.com/?p=17499
+ All Right Here by Carre Armstrong Gardner
+ Better all the Time by Carre Armstrong Gardner
+ They Danced On by Carre Armstrong Gardner
+ Five Lies of our Anti-Christian Age by Rosalia Butterfield
+ Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
+ Teaching the Entrepreneurial Mindset by Stephen Carter
+ Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
+ Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury
+ The Stories We Tell by Mike Cosper
February 14
+ Holier Than Thou by Jackie Hill Perry
+ Made for People by Justin Whitmel Early
+ Essential Christianity by JD Greear
+ What to do NEXT by Jeff Henderson https://meganstrange.com/?p=17515
+ How to Human by Carlos Whitaker
+ What Made Mandy Run by Kate Fagan
+ The Family Life of a Christian Leader by Ajith Fernando
+ In This Moment by Karen Kingsbury
+ The AI Advantage by Jerry Jarrard https://meganstrange.com/?p=17518
+ Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer
+ How to Memorize Scripture for Life by Andrew Davis
+ What God has to Say About our Bodies by Sam Allberry
+ The Gospel According to Satan | Eight Lies About God that Sound Like the Truth by Jared C. Wilson
+ The Road to JOY by Scott Drew
March 8
+ Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung
+ Finding the Right Hills to Die On by Gavin Ortlund
+ Heaven by Randy Alcorn
+ Extraordinary Hospitality for Ordinary Christians by Victoria Duerstock
+ Elisabeth Elliot a Life by Lucy Austen https://meganstrange.com/?p=17528
+ If For Any Reason by Courtney Walsh
+ Is It Any Wonder by Courtney Walsh
+ Grace at Work by Bryan Chappell https://meganstrange.com/?p=17531
April 17
+ Called to Create by Jordan Raynor
+ Fifteen Minutes by Karen Kingsbury
+ A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and a Great War : How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-1918 by Joseph Loconte
+ Coffee Shop Conversations : Making the Most of Spiritual Small Talk by Dale and Jonalyn Fincher
+ The Millennials by Thom Rainer and Jess Rainer
+ Next Stop, Chancey by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Chancey Family Lies by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Strange New World by Carl Trueman
+ The Not-So-Secret Secret to Reaching the Next Generation by Kevin DeYoung https://meganstrange.com/?p=17537
+ Derailed in Chancey by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Chancey Jobs by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Kids Are Chancey by Kay Dew Shostak
+ A Chancey Detour by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Secrets Are Chancey by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Chancey Presents by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Devoted | Great Men and Their Godly Moms by Tim Challies
+ Hope is Chancey by Kay Dew Shostak
May 12
+ Chancey Moves by Kay Dew Shostak
+ Pomp and Chancey by Kay Dew Shostak
+ The Christian Mind by S. Michael Craven
+ Wisdom Pyramid by Brett McCracken https://meganstrange.com/?p=17831
+ A Soldier’s Prayer by Jenna Mindel
+ To the Moon and Back by Karen Kingsbury
+ Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury
+ Tidings of Comfort and Joy by Davis Bunn
+ How to Know a Person by David Brooks https://meganstrange.com/?p=17813
+ You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K.A. Smith https://meganstrange.com/?p=17817
+ Leading Together: Teachers and Administrators Improving Student Outcomes by Jon Eckert https://meganstrange.com/?p=17821
+ One Generation to the Next by Jim McKenzie https://meganstrange.com/?p=17815
June 27
+ Loving Your Adult Children by Gaye Clark https://meganstrange.com/?p=17807
+ The Last Flight by Julie Clark
+ Fake it til You Make It by Laura Carter
+ Identity Theft by Melissa Kruger
+ Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson https://meganstrange.com/?p=17833
+ Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar
+ The Day the World Came to Town by Jim Defede
+ Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger Duggar Vuolo
+ No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship by Rebecca McLaughlin https://meganstrange.com/?p=17836
+ The Island of Dreams by Helen McGinn
+ Why We’re Protestant by Nate Pickowicz
+ Waiting Isn’t a Waste by Mark Vroegop
+ The Beach House by Sally John
+ Castles in the Sand by Sally John
+ Winning at Home by Randy Gravitt
+ Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
+ The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt https://meganstrange.com/
+ The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
+ Between Us Girls by Sally John
+ Heaven Help Heidi by Sally John
+ No Matter How Far by Sara Beth Williams
+ Over the Rainbow by Meredith Resce
+ Yesterday, Now, and Always by Sara Beth Williams
+ Her Unlikely Homecoming by Rachelle Paige Campbell
+ Her Hometown Dream by Rachelle Paige Campbell
+ Her One in a Million by Rachelle Paige Campbell
+ The Education Reformation by Jimmy Scroggins and Trevin Wax
July 18
+ Beyond Biblical Integration by Roger Erdvig https://meganstrange.com/?p=18141
+ What New Beginnings Are Made Of by Debra Clopton
+ What Dreams Are Made Of by Debra Clopton
+ What Hopes Are Made Of by Debra Clopton
+ What a Heart’s Desire is Made of by Debra Clopton
+ What True Love is Made of by Debra Clopton
+ What a Glamping Christmas is Made of by Debra Clopton
+ The Secular Creed by Rebecca McLaughlin
+ Hurt Road by Mark Lee
+ Confronting Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
+ Seasons Under Heaven by Terri Blackstock and Beverly LaHaye
+ Showers in Season by Terri Blackstock and Beverly LaHaye
+ Times and Seasons by Terri Blackstock and Beverly LaHaye
+ Season of Blessing by Terri Blackstock and Beverly LaHaye
+ The A.I. Dilemma by Andrew McPeak
+ The 7 Myths of Singleness by Sam Allberry https://meganstrange.com/?p=18266
+ A New Life by Melissa Storm
+ Unity: Striving Side by Side for the Gospel by Conrad Mbewe https://meganstrange.com/?p=18144
August 7
+ What If It’s All True? By Rick Beckwith https://meganstrange.com/?p=18274
+ Slow Productivity by Cal Newport https://meganstrange.com/?p=18272
+ Relaxed by Megan Fate Marshman https://meganstrange.com/?p=18264
+ Camino Ghosts by John Grisham
+ On the Sandy Beach by Jessie Cussman
+ Meet in the Middle by Sandra Stanley and Allie Cooney
+ What Do I Say When . . . ?: A Parent’s Guide to Navigating Cultural Chaos for Children and Teens by Christian Walker and Andrew Walker https://meganstrange.com/?p=18269
September 16
+ God, Technology, and the Christian Life by Tony Reinke https://meganstrange.com/?p=18447
+ A Thousand Voices by Lisa Wingate
+ Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
+ The Heart of Jesus by Dane Ortlund
+ Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
+ The Storm and The Tide by Lars Anderson
+ Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews
+ The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh
+ To the Tenth Generation by Ray and Jani Ortlund
+ Ten Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin
+ Broken Dreams by Laura Scott
+ Crushed Promises by Laura Scott
+ Holiday Haven by Laura Scott
+ Shattered Trust by Laura Scott
+ Fractured Reunion by Laura Scott
+ Good to Great in God’s Eyes by Chip Ingram
October 10
+ Reset by Dan Heath https://meganstrange.com/?p=18445
+ Harvest Moon by Denise Hunter
+ When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley
+ The Beachfront Inn by Ainsley Keaton
+ Consider the Lillies by Jonny Ardavanis https://meganstrange.com/?p=18443
+ How to be Married by Dustin Nickerson
+ Raising a Modern Day Joseph by Larry Fowler
+ A Christian Reading Manifesto by David Steele https://meganstrange.com/?p=18440
+ Christ & Creed by Nate Pickowicz https://meganstrange.com/?p=18438
+ Finding Home by Irene Hannon
November 7
+ Pieces of Forever by Valerie Bodden
+ Learning to Disagree by John Inazu https://meganstrange.com/?p=18436
+ Drenched in Light by Lisa Wingate
+ Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet
+ A Time to Lead: A Faithful Approach to Artificial Intelligence in Christian Education by Paul Matthews https://meganstrange.com/?p=18451
+ What is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung
+ Christmas at the Beach by Wendy Wax
December 12
+ Just Show Up by Drew Dyck
+ Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita Paul
+ An Island Christmas by Nancy Thayer
+ AI for Better Basics by Paul Matthews
+ The Christmas Cottage by Davis Bunn
+ Something Good by Vanessa Miller
+ Managing Leadership Anxiety by Steve Cuss
+ The Nantucket Inn by Pamela Kelley
+ Jingle Bell Jam by Pamela Kelley
+ Where Butterflies Wander by Suzanne Redfearn
+ Repeat the Sounding Joy by Christopher Ash
+ The Bible using the MCheyene reading plan http://www.edginet.org/mcheyne/year_classic_single_a4.pdf