Terrific 2023 Books That Will Make You Think

Here are the 2023 books I recommended in my monthly newsletters. The categories covered include Christian apologetics, other Christian nonfiction, fiction, children’s, and more. In case you missed any, here’s a recap.

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March 2023 Books

The Second Sister by Marie Bostwick

A touching story by Christian author Marie Bostwick and the inspiration for the Hallmark Hall of Fame film Christmas Everlasting. I absolutely loved this book about a political campaigner who is estranged from her family. But when her sister dies, she must return to her small hometown to meet the conditions of her sister’s odd will.

Live Your Truth and Other Lies by Alisa Childers

The best-selling author of Another Gospel has turned out another great book. With gentleness and splashes of humor, Alisa tackles cultural lies head on, such as “live your truth,” “authenticity is everything,” “you shouldn’t judge,” and “you are enough.” Outstanding! My entire book club raved over this book. If you’ve been wondering how to respond to things you hear that sound a bit off, but you’re not sure why, then this is the book for you.

The Biblical Theology Study Bible, edited by D. A. Carson

In February I finished reading this fantastic study Bible. It’s hefty and I used a magnifier for most notes. But it was absolutely worth reading through the well-researched notes that trace grand biblical themes. Every book of the Bible has an introduction, outline, cross-references, text notes, and commentary notes. There are also 28 theological articles, numerous charts, and full-color illustrations. This is my favorite of all the study Bibles I’ve read.

April 2023 Books

A Sticky Inheritance by Emily James

This delightful cozy mystery is the first in a 13-part series. “When Nicole’s uncle dies and she inherits his maple syrup farm, she thinks it’s time to leave her career as a criminal defense attorney behind for a life that allows her to stay far away from murderers and liars.” But then “her uncle’s suicide looks like it wasn’t a suicide at all.” I was pleasantly surprised to find Christian themes woven throughout the series.

Person of Interest by J. Warner Wallace

“Detective and bestselling author J. Warner Wallace investigates Jesus, the most significant person in history, using an innovative and unique approach he employs to solve real missing person murder cases. Wallace carefully sifts through the evidence from history alone, without relying on the New Testament. You’ll understand like never before how Jesus changed the world.” This book is fantastic! Wallace investigates the evidence using missing-body investigative techniques. I’ve never read the evidence presented in this way before and love it. This is the research he conducted before the research described in Cold-Case Christianity (another top-notch read).

May 2023 Books

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

This is a lovely fairy tale that teaches children (and adults) not to fear death but rather see it as transitioning to a beautiful land. I just read it for perhaps the third time and found it delightful once again. (It was George MacDonald’s fairy tale Phantastes that helped lead C.S. Lewis to Christ. In Lewis’s book, The Great Divorce, MacDonald is his guide to the outskirts of Paradise.)

Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer (gen. ed.)

This insightful and often funny collection of essays by women shows us how to recognize lies, offer discernment, argue for a healthier approach, and reinforce truth. They address false messages such as “Follow Your Heart—It Never Lies! Emotionalism” and “I’m Not Religious; I’m Spiritual! New Spirituality.” Chapters end with discussions to have with children. You can read my fuller review here.

June 2023 Books

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

I just finished reading this for perhaps the fourth time. I love this little book. In it, Lewis takes a trip from a shadowy town he later learns is hell to the outskirts of Paradise. The Great Divorce brilliantly answers the question, Why doesn’t God simply save everyone?

Suffering Wisely and Well by Eric Ortlund

I got this as part of my research into a book I’m writing, and it’s turned out to be a gem. Ortlund compassionately examines the book of Job in large chunks: the introduction, the friends’ speeches, Job’s speeches, etc. He ends each chapter with tips for helping those who suffer. The section on Leviathan is particularly good.

July 2023 Books

Both books below blend non-fiction and fiction seamlessly. Both are also my first encounter with the author but certainly not the last.

Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan

Fantastic. This author’s prose is lyrical, the story is sweet, and the revelations about C.S. Lewis’s life are entertaining. Here’s the book cover blurb: “1950: Margaret Devonshire (Megs) is a seventeen-year-old student of mathematics and physics at Oxford University. When her beloved eight-year-old brother asks Megs if Narnia is real, logical Megs tells him it’s just a book for children, and certainly not true. Homebound due to his illness, and remaining fixated on his favorite books, George presses her to ask the author of the recently released novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe a question: ‘Where did Narnia come from?’”

All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot

Delightful and filled with fascinating facts about animals. “In the rolling dales of Yorkshire, a simple, rural region of northern England, a young veterinarian from Sunderland joins a new practice. A stranger in a strange land, he must quickly learn the odd dialect and humorous ways of the locals, master outdated equipment, and do his best to mend, treat, and heal pets and livestock alike. This witty and heartwarming collection, based on the author’s own experiences, became an international success, spawning sequels and winning over animal lovers everywhere. Perhaps better than any other writer, James Herriot reveals the ties that bind us to the creatures in our lives.”

August 2023 Books

The Other Side of the Sun by Madeleine L’Engle

This is a gripping tale of love and hate, forgiveness and revenge in the South after the Civil War, as seen through the eyes of a young British bride. L’Engle portrays people vividly and handles dialects deftly. I learned much about the complexities of the war’s aftermath.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

A fun children’s tale that upholds virtues like honesty, kindness, and bravery. Five children receive golden tickets to visit Willy Wonka’s amazing chocolate factory. I waited months for this to come available at my library through Libby, and it was worth the wait.

September 2023 Books

The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes by Nancy R. Pearcey

This book is outstanding. The back cover copy says it well: “How did the idea arise that masculinity is dangerous and destructive? Bestselling author Nancy Pearcey leads you on a fascinating excursion through American history to discover why the script for masculinity turned toxic—and how to fix it.” Her chapter on how churches should deal with abuse is perhaps the best I’ve read.

A Tail of Murder: Cat and Mouse Whodunits 1 by Emily James

This is the first of a new series about Zoe Stephenson, a veterinarian who must turn detective to save herself and those she loves. There are lots of fun animals and even sprinkles of advice for pet owners. From the back cover: “If you like adorable animals, quirky characters, and a twisty-turny plot, then you’ll love Emily James’ page-turning story.”

October 2023 Books

Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God by Tim Challies

This is heart-warming, uplifting, and theologically rich. Seasons of Sorrow will help both those who are working through sorrow and those who are comforting others. Pastor and theologian Challies chronicles working through his grief during the first year of loss. I heartily recommend it.

All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot

If you’re looking for something to relax and charm you, try these delightful stories about a country veterinarian. The novel is based on James Herriot’s life and is the second of four books in the “All Creatures Great and Small” series.

November 2023 Books

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

Here’s a historical romance of the WWII Air Force in England for a Christian audience. From the back: “Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval—even marry a man she doesn’t love.”

The Right Kind of Strong by Mary Kassian

This is a terrific book by one of my favorite authors. From the back: “Our culture teaches us that it’s important for women to be strong. The Bible agrees. Unfortunately, culture’s idea of what makes a woman strong doesn’t always align with the Bible’s.”

December 2023 Books

This month I’ve got a children’s book you might consider as a Christmas gift as well as an amusing cozy mystery. (Also: Discovering Wisdom in Proverbs makes a great gift for teens and pre-teens just learning to read the Bible!)

What Is Truth? By Elizabeth Urbanowicz, illustrated by Miranda Duncan

This is a delightful book for children ages 3 to 8. The author is a friend of mine who writes and teaches Christian worldview curriculum. Here’s the back cover copy: “Join Sebastian and Gregg on a thrilling intellectual adventure in Elizabeth Urbanowicz’s captivating children’s book, vibrantly brought to life by Miranda Duncan’s illustrations. Our two charismatic characters guide young readers on a playful exploration of ‘truth,’ a word filled with profound meaning. With a blend of real-world examples and interactive participation, children are invited to discern what’s real and what’s not alongside their new friends.”

The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun

Braun’s cozy mysteries solved with the help of Siamese cats are just plain fun. I discovered the author earlier this year, and this is the second in a series of 29. “Jim Qwilleran isn’t exactly overwhelmed by his new assignment for the Daily Fluxion. Interior design has never been one of his specialties and now he’s supposed to turn out an entire magazine on the subject every week! But the first issue of Gracious Abodes is barely off the presses when Qwilleran finds himself back on more familiar territory—the exclusive residence featured on the cover has been burglarized and the lady of the house found dead.”

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