I love to read. I love to read more than I like to sleep. I love to read more than I like to eat. In 2025, I had the privilege of reading 152 books and writing reviews for some of them that I’ve posted at the end of this blog. I read a lot more fiction books than usual and chose not to write reviews for some non-fiction books that I read just for fun or to learn something new. 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. 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.
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 2025 152 books
The most important reading that I have done this year is to read through the Bible completely. When I turned the last page on Revelation 22 early this morning, there was no feeling of relief. No sense that I had “checked that off the list.” Instead, I’m eager to pick up God’s word tomorrow morning and start a new reading plan for 2026. What a PRIVILEGE it is to be able to draw near to the Lord by reading His word. Can I be honest with you? I haven’t always felt that way. Even as a Christian for almost 30 years, I haven’t always chosen to study God’s Word. And…I missed out and had to learn that the hard way. The last several years, I have intentionally chosen to read and study God’s Word and to ask Him to read and study me. And I have been stretched in so many delightful ways.
This year our family chose to follow The Bible Recap reading plan. As Clint and I were talking about it this evening (we did the plan together and the kids joined us for a large portion of it as well), we decided that we liked this plan because it didn’t jump around to different parts of the Bible…but made it easy to read the story in context and follow the narrative as it unfolded. There are so many fresh and new things that I learned about the Lord in this reading and I can’t wait to dive back in tomorrow to learn more in 2026! Yes…same book…hopefully a different me!
Below I have posted the books that I read in 2025. I keep the totals for each month and can see how our schedule as a family and with my school tend to cause my reading to ebb and flow. Summer break from school is always going to provide the most time to read…I can get up early and read and also read well into the night if I want to. Yes, my family thinks I’m a little nuts about reading!
I’m already starting on my 2026 booklist and would love to hear any suggestions that you’d have for me to include. Again, I’m so grateful for the ability to read and to live in a time when books and great thoughts are so readily available. Here’s to more reading in 2026!
December 11
- 12 Truths Every Teen Can Trust by Paul David Tripp
- Home Again by Rachel Hanna
- The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster
- 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David Yeager
- The Roof Above by Gail Dwyer
- Oh. What. Fun. By Chandler Baker
- Social Skills and Anxiety Relief for Teens by Alexander Wealth
- Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson
- All I Have to Give by Melody Carlson
- Keys to the Deeper Life by A.W. Tozer
- The Bible (using Bible Recap reading plan)
November 11
- No Time to Say Goodbye by Kate Hewitt
- The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
- Trainwrecked Hearts by Jennifer Sienes
- Heartsong by Debbie Macomber
- 10 Things Every Student Should Know About AI by Paul Matthews
- How Leaders Lose Their Way by Peter Greer and Jill Heisey
- One Thursday Morning by TK Chapin
- Ocean of Regret by Mary Hanks
- Sea of Rescue by Mary Hanks
- Bay of Refuge by Mary Hanks
- Gradually and then Suddenly by Mark Batterson
October 10
- The Midnight Hour by Kate Hewitt
- Snowflakes over Starr’s Fall by Kate Hewitt
- Union with Christ by Rankin Wilbourne https://meganstrange.com/?p=20003
- Leadership in a Chaotic Word by Andrew Walker, Justin Irving, and Jeremy Pierre
- The Seaside House by Sophie Kenna
- The Last Letters by Sophie Kenna
- How Church Could Literally Save Your Life by Rebecca McLaughlin
- And Then He Fell by Kate Hewitt
- Small Town Secrets by Kristy Tate
- Hopes and Fears: Strengthening the Relationship with Today’s Independent School Parents by Robert Evans and Michael Thompson https://meganstrange.com/?p=20006
September 13
- Confident Witness : Evangelism and Apologetics for the 21st Century edited by David S. Dockery https://meganstrange.com/?p=19546
- Summer Breeze: Book 1 by Shail Rajan
- Summer Breeze: Book 2 by Shail Rajan
- Summer Breeze: Book 3 by Shail Rajan
- Summer Breeze: Book 4 by Shail Rajan
- Walk On by Ben Malcolmson
- The Buc-ee’s Phenomenon by Timothy Fay
- How to Read the Bible by David Platt
- The Gospel After Christendom : An Introduction to Cultural Apologetics edited by Collin Hansen, Skyler Flowers, and Ivan Mesa
- Leap of Faith by Kate Hewitt
- Both Feet In by Kate Hewitt
- Christopher Dock by John C. Martin
- The Last Stars in the Sky by Kate Hewitt
August 11
- If Not For You by Debbie Macomber
- Tim Keller on the Christian Life by Matt Smethurst https://meganstrange.com/?p=19114
- Your Longing Has a Name by Dominic Done https://meganstrange.com/?p=19117
- Sweet Tomorrows by Debbie Macomber
- The Memory Garden by Jessica Brodie
- Stone Family Inn by Taylor Hart
- Raising Gender Confident Lids by Kathy Koch and Jeff Myers
- Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand
- War of Words by Paul David Tripp https://meganstrange.com/?p=19553
- The Friendly Cottage by Susan Harper
- Whispering Pines by Kimberly Diede
July 15
- The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
- It’s Better This Way by Debbie Macomber
- The Beach House by Rachel Hanna
- Sweet Tea at Sunrise by Sherryl Woods
- Begin Again by Crystal Walton
- Cottage by the Sea by Debbie Macomber
- Worth It by Brian Simmons
- Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
- Last One Home by Debbie Macomber
- Living Above Your Job by Andrew Cox https://meganstrange.com/?p=19110
- Where Love Abides by Irene Hannon
- A Girl’s Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber
- The View from Coral Cove by Amy Clipston
- Saints and Scoundrels by Nancy Guthrie
- Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
June 26
- As The Tide Comes In by Cindy Woodsmall
- How May I Offend You Today? by Susannah B. Lewis
- Second Chance Summer by Jill Shalvis
- Where the Road Bends by David Rawlings
- Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze
- Where Grace Appears by Heidi Chiavaroli
- Where Hope Begins by Heidi Chiavaroli
- Giddy Up, Eunice by Sophie Hudson
- Where Love Grows by Heidi Chiavaroli
- Where Memories Await by Heidi Chiavaroli
- What Fuels the Mission of the Church by Daniel Hames and Michael Reeves https://meganstrange.com/?p=19095
- Where Dreams Reside by Heidi Chiavaroli
- Where Faith Belongs by Heidi Chiavaroli
- Where Promises Remain by Heidi Chiavaroli
- Always Becoming, Never Arriving by David Mulder
- Formed for Fellowship by Kyle Worley
- Abscond by Abraham Verghese
- A Million Little Miracles by Mark Batterson
- Remember and Rehearse by J.T. English
- The Family Man by Irene Hannon
- The Hamilton Heir by Valerie Hansen
- The Prodigal Daughter by Patricia Davids
- Lemons on Friday by Mattie Jackson Selecman
- Insight by Deborah Raney
- Make It Your Ambition by Jeremy Writebol
- The Multiplication Effect by Mac Lake
May 11
- A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks
- Not Until Someday by Valerie Bodden
- When It Falls Apart by Catherine Bybee
- How to Reach the West Again by Timothy Keller
- How to Argue Like Jesus by Joe Carter and John Coleman https://meganstrange.com/?p=19097
- One Last Summer by Kate Spencer
- Life is Hard. God is Good. Let’s Dance. By Brant Hansen
- A Month of Summer by Lisa Wingate
- On Hummingbird’s Wings by Lauraine Snelling
- How to Tell the Truth by Preston Perry https://meganstrange.com/?p=19084
- Troubles in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
April 10
- Counting Miracles by Nicholas Sparks
- The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
- At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks
- On Your Mark | Challenging the Conventions of Grading and Reporting by Thomas Guskey
- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
- The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
- Scrolling Ourselves to Death by Brett McCracken and Ivan Mesa https://meganstrange.com/?p=19102
- The Forgotten Farmhouse by Caroline Young
- Teaching with AI by Jose Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson https://meganstrange.com/?p=18889
- Foundations for Lifelong Learning by John Piper
March 13
- Understanding God’s Word by Jon Nielson https://meganstrange.com/?p=19105
- Jesus Above School by Noah Brink
- The Shell Collector by Nancy Naigle
- Good News at Rock Bottom by Ray Ortlund https://meganstrange.com/?p=18622
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis https://meganstrange.com/?p=19090
- Not Like the Other Girls by Jodi Brice
- Rediscovering the Holy Spirit by Michael Horton https://meganstrange.com/?p=19087
- The Things of Earth by Joe Rigney
- What Happens in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
- Executive Functioning Skills by Andrew Wealth
- The Way Home by Irene Hannon
- Seasons of the Heart by Irene Hannon
- Gospel Fluency by Jeff Vanderstelt https://meganstrange.com/?p=18882
February 11
- Generation Ex-Christian | Why Young Adults are Leaving the Faith…and How to Bring Them Back by Drew Dyck
- A Company of Heroes by Tim Keesee
- Home on the Range by Ruth Logan Herne
- The Sacredness of Secular Work by Jordan Raynor https://meganstrange.com/?p=18617
- Your New Life with Adult Children by Ross Campbell and Gary Chapman
- Missing in Flight by Audrey Cole
- The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
- Moondust Lake by Davis Bunn
- Firefly Cove by Davis Bunn
- Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (And Why That’s a Good Thing) by Salman Khan
- Sweet Sanctuary by Cindy Coloma and Sheila Walsh
January 10
- Meet me at the Starlight by Rachel Hauck
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
- The Overcomers by Matt Chandler https://meganstrange.com/?p=18602
- AI tools by Med Kharbach
- Waiting for Morning by Karen Kingsbury
- The Best Gift by Irene Hannon
- Winter in Paradise by Elin Hilderbrand
- Your Future Self Will Thank You by Drew Dyck https://meganstrange.com/?p=18600
- The Well-Watered Woman by Gretchen Saffles
- Lowcountry Lost by T.I. Lowe
