I read a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean I’m the kind of person that ups her goal every year and now reads upwards of 30 books a year. If that resonates with you, you’re my people. Let’s start a book club.

I’m not very good about reading across genres and mostly stick to three categories: great emotional storytelling, science fiction-esque works, and Christian books that deepen my faith, make me ask questions, and hopefully make me a better follower of Jesus. 

Maybe you clicked on this article expecting an answer like “The Bible”, but I have more for you! Yes – go read the Bible. Find a good daily study or app and dig in. Buy a nice big study Bible with all the notes and maps (seriously – it’s a game changer). Spend some time in the Word. But you don’t have to only read the Bible!

If you’re someone that wants to read more, or you’re looking for your next book to pick up, settle in for my personal “best of” from the past few years:

Best Book for Really Digging In:

“Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion” by Rebecca McLaughlin

I work full-time in ministry and we recently read this as a staff for our weekly discipleship meeting. And let me tell you – this is an absolute gem. McLaughlin writes in such an equally elegant and casual style that makes it easy to understand but stimulating beyond belief. Whether you’re new to faith or have been going to church your whole life, this book will really dig into the questions we all ask about life and human existence – ranging from diversity, violence, and morality to slavery, women, and LGBTQ persons – scattered with tales from her personal experience (which WILL surprise you). This line from the sleeve says it best: “Look more closely and the reality of suffering, the complexity of sexuality, the desire for diversity, the success of science, and other personal roadblocks to faith become signposts. Jesus becomes not a relic from the ancient world, but our modern world’s best hope.” Have your highlighters and pens ready for this one. My hope is that you’ll walk away from this one ready to defend your faith better, have answers for our most heartbreaking questions, and encourage you to love like Jesus.

Best For The New Christian:

“Garden City” by John Mark Comer

“What does it mean to be human? Why am I here and what should I do about it?” When this book was recommended to me by a co-worker, I was told it was one I would want to re-read. He was right. I’ve read it three times in the span of a year. All of us go through seasons in life where we’re not really sure what we’re even doing. Is life all about work and making money to pay our bills and trying to sustain relationships? Or is there so much more to it that we’re missing out on? Comer so eloquently explains “work” and “rest” through rich storytelling from his own life and interactions, and leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about “work”. Again, have a notepad and pen ready for this one because you’ll want to take notes, jot down your thoughts and reactions, and possibly make a game plan for your next season of life. 

“Scripture and The Skeptic” by Eric Huffman

Okay okay okay this one might be a bit biased (since this one is written by my talented preacher and boss) but it’s seriously so good. Eric is from a long line of preachers, but spent years as an atheist while preaching from the pulpit every Sunday. Since his re-conversion breakthrough in 2013, he’s made it his goal to reach skeptics like him. This book is an easy read, and similar to “Confronting Christiantiy”, it addresses some of the hardest topics of faith and specifically the Bible. If you’re looking for a guide to understanding Scripture better, start with this one. 

Best For Single & Dating:

“Outdated: Find Love That Lasts When Dating Has Changed” by Jonathan Pokluda

A very recent release, but JP is THE expert on dating. He led the infamous Porch gathering for over a decade, ministering to singles and couples alike through that enormous ministry, and still finds time to do it every week through his podcast and “Friday Q&A” Instagram stories. This book is super-short but full of powerful advice about dating. He’s blunt and honest, and if you’re anything like me, sometimes that’s what you need. If you’re a single/dating Christian, PLEASE pick this one up and let it change your perspective on every aspect of romance. I’ve already lent this one out to multiple friends, it’s that good. This one will leave you believing that: a) dating doesn’t have to be as hard as it’s made out to be/we’ve all experienced and b) Christian dating should be SO intentional. So grab this one, head to the pool/park/beach, and take it all in one sitting. And then get ready to date better (and probably feel just a little attacked).

“Loveology” by John Mark Comer

If you’re tired and fed up with what the media and world has to say about falling in love, or with how terrible the church can be about talking about romance, this one is for you. Comer digs into all aspects of “the theology of love”: sexuality, singleness, dating, romance, marriage, what it means to be male and female, and so much more. He’s super candid about his relationship with his wife and deeply intellectual about all things love. And it ends with a Q&A portion featuring our most-asked questions about all things romance. This is another read that will change your position on dating and relationships and hopefully inspire you to love differently. 

Most Encouraging:

“Love Does” and “Everybody Always” by Bob Goff

I’m convinced it’s completely impossible to finish a Bob Goff book without feeling like rainbows and sunshine. These are the kind of books that inspire you to do that “thing” you’ve always wanted to do, hug strangers on the street, and dance around your house like nobody’s business. Jam-packed with both joyful and heartbreaking stories from Bob’s life (lawyer, professor, philanthropist, best-selling author, big fan of balloons – just to name a few of the things he’s done) and highlighted by the love of his wife “sweet Maria”, his children and friends, these easy reads will leave you wanting to read them again and again.

p.s. he leaves his literal cell phone number on them, so if you ever have a question, he’s a phone call away! I have it saved in my contacts for the day I just need Bob Goff to weigh in on a major decision. 

Best for Changing Your Life:

“Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer

(I’m not sorry this guy is listed three times in this list – he’s a talented writer and I can’t get enough of him.) I’ll make this one quick: why the heck did it take me 25 years to learn the importance of Sabbath? This book is SO practical and informative. Comer and his fam take Sabbath very seriously following a season of heavy burnout and depression he went through, and in this gem he lays it out best. One read through and you’ll hopefully be making plans for your weekly Sabbath. It seriously has become the highlight of my week and the day I look forward to all week, just as he hypothesized. I’ve re-read it twice in the past year just to keep it as a fresh reminder. If you want to hear from my experiences on practicing sabbath (going on a year and a half now) or just want some practical advice from a 20-something single person, slide into my DMs on Instagram (@kat_brough). I’m more than happy to help anyone start making a sabbath day a priority!

“A War Of Loves” by David Bennett

I’ll probably never stop talking about how amazing of a human being David is, and I’m fortunate to have had some deep, late night conversations with him a few years ago when he was a guest speaker at my church. David is an openly gay, celibate Christian theologian (and a former activist and outspoken atheist) from Australia, and in this book he details his coming to Jesus in a bar, his experiences growing up as gay, and his biblical understanding of scripture. If you’re not sure where you stand on LGBT issues in the church or don’t even know what it’s like to be same-sex attracted AND Christian, his story is phenonmenal. There’s so much love and grace and truth in every single page, and you most likely won’t want to put it down once you start. He’s finishing up at Oxford, so be ready for more writing from him in the years to come!

Best Daily Devotional:

“New Morning Mercies” by Paul David Tripp

I was 10000% Instagram influenced into buying this – I saw it on the Stories of accounts I follow one too many times and impulse bought in on Amazon. And now it’s my go to devo every single morning (even though I miss it very regularly – hey, we’re not perfect). There’s a devo for each day of year followed by Scripture verses to dig in deeper to the topic. And it takes no more than 5-10 minutes in your morning. If you’re in the market for a new daily devo, this is the one! Somehow, each day resonates with me, no matter what season I’m going through in life. That’s some Holy Spirit power right there.

Best Christian Fiction:

“The Screwtape Letters” by CS Lewis

I don’t think I could even attempt to write a review that would ever do this masterpiece justice. Lewis is a genius like no other. This fictional account of the demon Screwtape writing to his nephew, teaching him how to be the best demon possible in the face of the enemy (which in this case is God), is straight up phenomenal. This book is also 100% a gateway drug into reading all of his works. You’ve been warned. 

“Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers

I almost didn’t include this one for fear of judgement – but based on the number of people in my circle that have read and loved this book (and the fact that it was put on my list by two Christian guys/dudes), I had to. It’s extremely rare that I buy a hard copy of a book – I’m a BIG fan of my local library’s online borrowing system. But when my two week loan was up (when I was FINALLY able to get it) and I saw I’d have to wait 2 to 3 months to finish it, you know I overnight shipped a copy to myself. And proceeded to finish it in 24 hours. Rivers captures the beauty and pain of the short book of Hosea in her fictional account of “Redeeming Love”. It’s a love story like no other – a broken prostitute with a brutal past being pursued by the godliest man around in California’s gold rush era, turning away again and again, and slowly learning what love actually looks like. Spoiler: it’s God. Warning: may make you want to run away into the countryside with a man you just met.

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That’s all I got for now. If you have some book recs, drop them in the comments! I’m always looking for new books to read. And if you have a favorite not listed here, please share it!