My Favorite Books from 2025
Here’s a round up of my favorite books in 2025, as recommended in my monthly newsletters. Titles are alphabetical within categories. The categories are:
- Biography
- Christian Apologetics
- Christian Living
- Knowing the Bible
- Fiction
- Children’s Literature
- General Nonfiction
If I know an author personally, I add a link to their website. Enjoy!
Biography
He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith
Walter J. Ciszek, S.J., with Daniel L. Flaherty, S.J.
This is the uplifting story of a man’s spiritual journey through deeply dark times and how he learned to lean totally on God. From the back cover: “Captured by a Russian army during World War II and convicted of being a ‘Vatican spy,’ Jesuit Father Walter J. Ciszek spent some twenty-three agonizing years in Soviet prisons and the labor camps of Siberia.” Ciszek’s story is an encouraging look at how to put God first even in suffering. It reminded me of how much I have to be thankful for. Here are two favorite quotes:
Even in prison, a man can choose to do good or evil, to fight for survival or to despair, to serve God and others or to turn inward and selfish.
Then it is, perhaps, that he must allow our whole world to be turned upside down in order to remind us it is not our permanent abode or final destiny, to bring us to our senses and restore our sense of values, to turn our thoughts once more to him.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3WbWgy2
Christian Apologetics
Easter Enigma: Are the Resurrection Accounts in Conflict?
John Wenham
This fantastic book explains how to reconcile the various resurrection accounts. I highly recommend it. From the back cover: “Wenham begins by setting the scene of Jerusalem and its environs, going on to describe the main actors in the events with particular attention to Mary Magdalene and the five writers themselves, and then examining in detail all the biblical narratives from Good Friday through Easter Day to the Ascension. He concludes that the various accounts as they stand can be satisfactorily reconciled to provide a trustworthy record for the church.”
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3OisqqL
When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square
Natasha Crain
Wow! I highly recommend this eye-opening book. Natasha Crain explains cultural issues in easy-to-understand ways and shows where and why culture deviates from biblical teaching. “Part 1: Understanding the Hate,” explains why culture is so antagonistic to Christians. In it, she argues for Christians to advocate for the common good. “Part 2: Responding to and Persevering Through Today’s Most Prominent Charges” examines five accusations culture levies against Christians, suggests responses, and proposes possible actions. I had no idea what was behind much of what’s happening in schools and politics.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/42F9lnJ
Why Does God Allow Evil? Compelling Answers for Life’s Toughest Questions
Clay Jones
A lot of people seem to be asking why God allows evil like the recent assassination. So I’d like to recommend my husband’s book on the subject. He not only taught a course of the same name at Talbot Seminary, but he’s spoken all over the world on it.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4o1YvQu
Christian Living
liturgy of the ordinary: sacred practices in everyday life
Tish Harrison Warren
Warren examines the ordinary routines of life to see how they mesh with liturgies that teach us about spiritual life. For instance, waking up in the morning reminds her of baptism and learning to be beloved. Her musings softly encourage. Here’s an excerpt from the chapter, “Fighting with My Husband”:
We’ll have to keep forgiving all day, every time we think back to our argument, every time we’re tempted top ick up the sword again. Peace takes a whole lot of work. Conflict and resentment seem to be the easier route. Shorter, anyway. Less humiliating.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3JoAF23
Praying Personalities
Janet McHenry
I enjoyed reading about how different personalities might flourish with different prayer styles. I smiled as I recognized my own prayer styles as well as those of friends. The section on spiritual gifts was perhaps superfluous. Other than that, I found the book interesting and a good follow-up to the author’s Prayerwalking.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/43AKG4z
Run with Horses: The Quest for Life at Its Best
Eugene H. Peterson
This book is named for Jeremiah 12:5: “If you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses?” Jeremiah more than any other prophet records his personal ordeals as a prophet whom many decried as false. When young, he complained over his hardship, but God replied that he was strengthening him to do even more: run with horses. Peterson examines 16 of the personal passages in the book named for the prophet to see what we learn about living life at its best. Here’s a favorite quotation:
The abyss of obscurity and contradiction and paradox in Jeremiah’s life is resolved in this moment. All the skeptical question marks that had been raised over Jeremiah throughout his life—Was he a true or false prophet? Was he a patriot or a traitor? Was he clear-sighted or deluded? Was he futile or effective?—are turned into affirmative exclamation marks. The truth of his preaching is vindicated. The integrity of his life is proved. His commitment to God’s covenant is validated.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4mt3I3m
Suffering Well
Paul Grimmond
The author writes from a pastor’s heart on a difficult subject. It’s an encouraging book about suffering and even dying well. It’s not a theodicy (explanation of why God allows suffering), but rather encouragement to live out godliness. Taking on the world’s view that happiness is the greatest good keeps us from that. Here’s a favorite quotation:
What are Christians called to do in the face of suffering? We are called to wait well, to praise our God in every moment, and to ask for God’s strength to do good—even to our enemies.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/465Zetk
Walking in Unity: Biblical Answers to Questions on Race and Racism
Krista Bontrager and Monique Duson
Bontrager and Duson deftly explain the reasoning behind secular culture’s current directives for bringing equity among races. They compare this with Scripture’s call for unity and finding identity in Christ rather than race. Handling difficult topics delicately, they offer biblically based solutions to hot-button issues. This is a fantastic book that I highly recommend.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/41aRapi
Knowing the Bible
40 Questions About Heaven and Hell
Alan W. Gomes
Outstanding! Gomes divides his book into four parts: 1) An Overview of the Afterlife; 2) The Intermediate State between Death and the Resurrection of the Body; 3) The Final Judgment; and 4) The Eternal State. Each part is divided into questions such as, “What Happens to Infants Who Die?” He offers clear, thoughtful answers. Where scholars disagree, he explains alternate views before giving reasons for the view he finds most compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. It’s scholarly, but not difficult.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3GzX0bC
All the Genealogies of the Bible: Visual Charts and Exegetical Commentary
Nancy S. Dawson, Eugene H. Merrill, Andreas J. Kostenberger
This giant book is wonderful. I ordered it as soon as it came out. It contains over 340 genealogies in chronological order. It’s a great reference work and is particularly helpful in determining when people with similar names are the same person or not. But I confess it’s also good for reading just before bedtime.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4p6K7XM
Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ (Preaching the Word)
R. Kent Hughes
I read this book as part of my research into Ephesians for a future project. It’s terrific. It consists of 30 sermons that overflow with wise perceptions coupled with caring compassion. Although it’s meant as a tool to help pastors, the sermons read like devotions. They thoroughly blessed and encouraged me, so I highly recommend them to enrich your own understanding of Ephesians.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4eYxn18
Glimpsing the Future: New Testament Perspectives on Death, Resurrection, Immortality, Eternity, and the Afterlife
Murray J. Harris
This is a scholarly work on the afterlife. Harris differentiates between reanimation (as when Jesus raised Lazarus) and resurrection in the full New Testament sense (as when Jesus raised himself). He pulls together texts throughout the Bible to shed light on immortality. I enjoyed this a lot.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3PhHmCL
How We Got the Bible: A Visual Journey
Clinton E. Arnold
This short book is loaded with photographs, paintings, maps, and charts. It explains how the Bible was physically created from ancient to modern times, including how our modern English translations came about. I was shocked to learn that many religious and political leaders resisted translating the Bible into languages common people could understand—Queen Mary 1 burned translators at the stake! Another interesting tidbit: King James commissioned the Bible named after him partly because he detested marginal notes in an earlier translation that contradicted his belief that rebelling against a king was always sinful.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/45RGiiJ
Power and Magic: The Concept of Power in Ephesians
Clinton E. Arnold
For you serious Bible students out there, here’s a gem. Arnold explains the popular beliefs about power and magic in Ephesus that Paul addresses in his letter to the Ephesians. This book fascinated both Clay and me. The only drawback is the many untranslated Greek words.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4pTLoma
The Serpent of Paradise: The Incredible Story of How Satan’s Rebellion Serves God’s Purposes
Erwin W. Lutzer
This is another book I read as part of my research into Ephesians. Lutzer traces Satan’s history as an exalted angel who fell and who ultimately will be condemned in shame. Along the way, he shows how Satan can only do what God allows, and even that God works for good. This was an interesting book with many good insights. I appreciate that he acknowledges where some of his conclusions aren’t universally held. One benefit of this book over some is that he sticks to what the Bible teaches rather than incorporating the ancient teachings of surrounding nations, which can fall under “doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3IHFoM3
The Seven Sayings of Jesus on the Cross: Their Circumstances and Meaning
Murray J. Harris
This outstanding book examines in detail Jesus’s seven sayings on the cross. Despite excruciating pain, Jesus tends to others’ needs in the first three sayings. Then he voices anguish. Finally, he shouts his victory and commits himself to his Father. This short book increased my gratitude for and awe of Jesus’s sacrifice even more. College level.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4jphIsr
Fiction
The Agatha Christie: Miss Marple Collection (all books in one)
Agatha Christie
What fun! This collection has all the books starring my favorite of Agatha Christie’s sleuths, and it’s available on Kindle Unlimited. I read both Murder at the Vicarage and The Body in the Library last month. The first few chapters of the first book have minor formatting issues such that I had to set the font size so that line breaks occurred correctly. But the issues seemed to clear up after that. I appreciate the sweetness of Miss Marple. If you love clean cozy mysteries, this one’s a deal.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3M604j3
Around the World in Eighty Days
Jules Verne
What fun this classic is! The wealthy Phileas Fogg of London bets his friends that he can go around the world in 80 days. Written in 1873 before the first airplanes, Fogg and his French valet Passepartout have quite the adventure. I saw the movie as a child but remembered nothing but the surprising climax. Nonetheless, it delighted from beginning to end. Additionally, the watercolors are lovely. Suitable for children aged 9 and up.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4innkDD
The Book of Lost Names
Kristen Harmel
During World War II, a young woman with a gift for forgery helps hundreds of Jewish children escape Nazis. She creates a coded book linking the children’s true identities with their new identities. This story was interesting for what it teaches about history and its reminder of how evil humans can be. However, the theology the characters espouse leaves much to be desired: good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. And both Jewish and Christian characters reject the Bible’s teaching on sex outside of marriage (there’s a PG-13 scene). Still, I enjoyed learning about how forgeries were made and how rebels secreted children out of France during the Nazi occupation.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3VLRPtw
The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (7 of 29)
Lilian Jackson Braun
This is the most amusing in the series so far because of the many references to Shakespeare. Koko the Siamese cat has taken to pushing the Bard’s books off the shelves in ways that link to current events, including the mysterious murder of the local paper’s publisher. It’s a fun cozy mystery series.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4jTCGBk
Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck
My father’s parents migrated as youths to California during the Dust Bowl, my grandmother from Texas and my grandfather from Oklahoma. My grandmother told me to read Grapes of Wrath to learn what it was like. I finally did. It was worth reading to learn the history, human evil, why our government breaks up monopolies, and how unions came about. The events Steinbeck describes are eye-opening. My grandfather lived in a tent encampment near the railroad tracks in Yorba Linda. I have a much better understanding of what that was like now. The book gave me insight into some of what was behind Grandpa’s poem, “I Just Want to Be a Normal Man.”
I recommend this for learning, not pleasure. The tale is sad throughout and lacks the somewhat hopeful ending the movie of the same name has. Steinbeck paints Christianity negatively, and it saddens me to think that some Christians may have acted in the ways portrayed.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4l4dBn9
A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure
Angela Bell
This is a funny historical romance set in 1860 London. Clara’s ex-fiancé is spreading rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity so he can force her to marry him and abscond with her family’s money. Meanwhile, a former soldier with a prosthetic leg and a past he’s ashamed of begins working for her grandfather. Then grandpa flies away in a mechanical owl and leaves clues for Clara and his apprentice to follow. The author’s prose is lovely and her dialogs witty. Teen girls would particularly enjoy this clean novel with a Christian message.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4nw0Dk2
The Marlow Murder Club
Robert Thorogood
Septuagenarian Judith Potts hears a gunshot and later discovers her neighbor’s body. When the police are slow to investigate, she brings in new friends to help solve the murder: Becks the vicar’s wife and Suzie the dog walker. The quirky characters are hilarious in this cozy mystery that’s been made into a BBC television series.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4kckpxS
The Moving Finger: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marples Mysteries Book 3)
Agatha Christie
Anonymous hate mail causes minor troubles in a small town—until one of the recipients commits suicide. Now the police want to track down the author. But when one of the recipients invites Miss Marple to investigate, she doubts the death was suicide.
What intrigued me was the analysis of what used to drive anonymous hate mail. Such letter writers have been replaced by anonymous trolls on social media, but the motivations seem the same.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3IWmj8Q
An Ode to Poison: A Livia Aemilia Mystery
Lisa E. Betz
This is a fun, clean cozy mystery set in first century Rome. Livia is a newlywed who’s already solved two murders when a new friend is poisoned. Her husband is dismayed over some of the foolish risks she takes, but also needs her help to clear his brother’s name. What I enjoy most in Betz’s books is learning about the culture of the early Christians. There’s a helpful cast of characters and glossary.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4fNGrpx
Open and Shut: A Novel (Andy Carpenter Book 1)
David Rosenfelt
Amazon has been recommending this book for ages, and I finally gave it a try. Andy Carpenter is a witty defense attorney whose father—the ex-DA—drops dead in front of him. Suddenly Andy inherits a fortune he didn’t know his dad had. At the same time, he’s working a case that’s uncovering dangerous secrets—secrets that might involve Andy’s own family. The book is funny and suspenseful, and Andy’s golden retriever is a homey plus. (Caveat: Some adult situations. PG-13.)
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4kXM7il
The Queen’s Cook
Tessa Afshar
This is a sweet historical novel about a Persian girl who dreams of cooking for Queen Esther. Her life changes when she meets the Jewish court physician. There are lots of interesting details about the Persian palace. From the back cover: “In the heart of ancient Persia, the empire’s Jewish citizens face an ominous edict that threatens their very existence. Roxannah, the daughter of an impoverished Persian lord, is devastated by the news but feels helpless to come to the aid of her Jewish friends. Desperate to support her family, Roxannah approaches the royal physician, Adin–the man whose kind eyes haunt her–and seeks his help to find employment in Queen Esther’s kitchens.”
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4fIA5XB
The Queens of Crime: A Novel
Marie Benedict
In 1930 London, five female crime writers band together to solve a murder. The sleuths include two of my favorite authors, Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. The women feel their male colleagues aren’t taking them seriously, so they take it upon themselves solve a cold case. This was a fun story and brought in a lot of interesting facts about Sayers that I didn’t know.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4nz9JvO (free with Kindle Unlimited)
Theo of Golden: A Novel
Allen Levi
A reader recommended this delightful work. Theo arrives in the southern city of Golden and notices 92 pencil portraits displayed in a coffee shop. He decides to purchase them one at a time to give to each work’s subject. While doing so, he makes friends and learns many people’s life stories. Indeed, his kindnesses change others’ lives. The clever ending ties up the many mysteries satisfactorily. From the back cover: “Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted story about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the far-reaching possibilities of anonymous kindness.“
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3Sgc2FW
The Warden
Anthony Trollope
What a delightful story of personal responsibility and what matters most at the end of one’s life! How had I not known of this Victorian era author before? In this novel, Septimus Harding is the warden of Hiram’s Hospital, where he diligently cares for twelve elderly men. His daughter Eleanor lives with him, and she is in love with John Bold. But Bold sues the church because he believes too much money goes to the warden rather than the hospital’s impoverished occupants. The characterizations are charming and insightful. Some of the place descriptions run long, but these can be skimmed without loss to the narrative.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/46NV4FY (illustrated)
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4mM4qb8 (The Complete Works of Anthony Trollope, eBook only)
West With Giraffes: A Novel
Lynda Rutledge
An engrossing tale inspired by the true story of two giraffes who survive a hurricane and then travel from the East coast to California. I learned much about the Great Depression’s hardships and sundown laws in the segregated South. From the back cover: “[T]he tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes.” It took a few chapters to get into the story, but after that I enjoyed it. Some swearing. Available in Kindle Unlimited.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3Gug4It
Children’s Literature
Anne of Green Gables
L. M. Montgomery
Why had I never read this before? I read it during evenings while Clay was in the hospital and absolutely loved this charming coming-of-age classic. A spirited young orphan with a wild imagination and a bit of a temper finds a home with elderly siblings. She learns to pray, study, be patient, and forgive. The illustrated versions would delight a girl age 8 and up. The link below is to the complete 8-book set on Kindle for 99 cents.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4pHKxnC
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Barbara Robinson
My schoolteacher-niece Melody told me she reads this book to her class every year. It’s a delightful tale told from the perspective of a child. From the back cover: “The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, and swear. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant. None of the Herdmans has ever heard the Christmas story before. Their interpretation of the tale—the Wise Men are a bunch of dirty spies—has a lot of people up in arms. And their wild antics cause havoc throughout the play’s production. But the actual pageant is full of surprises for everyone, starting with the Herdmans themselves, as they ultimately lead the town in finding the true meaning of Christmas.”
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3PjUSGg
Charlotte’s Web
E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams.
I found this gem while I was cleaning bookshelves. What a delightful story about friendship. A little girl named Fern loves a piglet named Wilbur. Wilbur goes to live at Fern’s uncle’s farm. There he makes friends with various creatures, including the wise spider, Charlotte. Some creatures are good friends to Wilbur; others, not so much. But when they discover that the farmer intends to serve Wilbur for Christmas dinner, Charlotte weaves a plan to save him. This children’s classic with endearing illustrations is great for all ages.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4myqPtq
The Indispensable Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
Bill Watterson
I enjoy a good chuckle in the evenings, and that’s what this brings. I love Watterson’s illustrations and sense of humor.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/3XlSfrE
Paws Vs. Claws
Spencer Quinn
I read this funny children’s mystery while we were out at Cedars-Sinai for Clay to have a procedure. It was the perfect light distraction. Queenie the cat and Arthur the dog narrate the chapters, and they have quite different views about events. The adventure begins when Queenie wants her cream, but the cow is missing. Meanwhile, her humans are distressed about strange things happening around Catastrophe Falls. Arthur wants to help, but he is oh-so forgetful. Grades 3 to 7 plus adults who love children’s books.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4k8E6HI
General Nonfiction
Quiet Your Mind & Get to Sleep: solutions to insomnia for those with depression, anxiety, or chronic pain
Colleen E. Carney, Ph.D, and Rachel Manber, Ph.D.
My #1 health goal for 2025 was sleeping better. The New York Times recommended this book, so I ordered it because chronic pain both affects my sleep and is affected by it. The recommendations are all supported by studies. The best tip so far was about how to determine how much sleep you need since trying to get more sleep than you need worsens insomnia. My sleep has already improved. I’m going through the book a second time since there were too many recommendations to implement all at once. My only disappointment was that there was little advice about managing chronic pain other than being sure to take your medications. I recommend the paperback edition over the electronic since there are worksheets to copy. UPDATE: It hasn’t helped as much as I’d hoped partly because of the stresses of this year.
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4hDtOxF
Writing by the Book: 101 devotionals that encourage and equip writers to write well
Kathy Widenhouse
Widenhouse finds writing insights throughout the Bible in this inspiring set of devotionals for Christian writers. I enjoyed reading one of these devotionals before settling down to write. What I liked best was that they modeled what they taught. Each includes a Scripture, a short illustration, a summary truth, and a prayer. From the back cover: “The fundamentals of good writing are woven into scripture. Biblical truths provide the cornerstone for our lives. That includes our writing lives.”
Affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4mJXtbZ
Conclusion
Whew! That was 39 terrific reads last year. If you’d like to receive my monthly recommendations, subscribe to my newsletter below.
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