Today is National Read a Book Day! To celebrate, we created a list of recommended titles in every genre. Follow the links to learn more!
Bibles
The Christian Basics Bible NLT
by Martin H. Manser and Michael H. Beaumont
New to the Bible? Either because you have become a Christian recently, or because somehow the Bible seems to have passed you by? Then this edition is for you! Whether you are reading the Bible for the first time or not, its variety of material—not to mention its length—can seem overwhelming. It can be difficult for readers new to Scripture to explore its teachings and to see how Christian beliefs are established in its pages. But understanding both what we believe and why we believe it provides the foundation for a grounded Christian faith. The Christian Basics Bible is filled with features designed to help readers—especially those new to the Bible—connect biblical teachings to Christian beliefs and to see how those beliefs apply to their lives. By delivering the right amount of both information and application, The Christian Basics Bible can become the catalyst for living a vibrant Christian life.
Life Application Study Bible NLT
The Life Application Study Bible is today’s #1–selling study Bible. The notes not only explain difficult passages and give information on Bible life and times but go a step further to show you how to “take it personally,” speaking to every situation and circumstance of your life! This is the one Bible resource that incorporates today’s top scholarship in answering your real-life questions. It includes nearly 10,000 Life Application notes and features designed to help readers apply God’s truth to everyday life. The New Living Translation breathes life into even the most difficult-to-understand Bible passages, changing people’s lives as the words speak directly to their hearts.
Nonfiction
So Close to Amazing
by KariAnne Wood
Fans of The Magnolia Story and The Pioneer Woman will love this debut memoir from the beloved Thistlewood Farms blogger. So Close to Amazing is a collection of hilarious and heartfelt reflections on getting it almost right―and how, instead of giving up, we can choose to simply embrace our real selves right where we are. It’s a story of transparency and honesty and recognizing that perfection is completely overemphasized and overrated. It’s about grace and learning from mistakes and rejoicing in every victory, no matter how small. Because when you find joy in the “you” God created you to be, you’ll discover the amazing that was there all along.
Real Families, Real Needs by Joni and Friends, Inc.
When a family is affected by disability, everyone’s life changes. Whether you’re a father, mother, sibling, grandparent, or other relative, you have specific questions based on your role in the family as well as unique needs for support.
Real Families, Real Needs by Joni and Friends not only answers those questions, but also provides godly advice and spiritual hope for the challenges you face. Divided into five sections written specifically for every member of the family, this book also offers encouragement, Scriptures to lean on, practical ideas, and more. Learn from the stories of families like yours, and be inspired as they share how God has helped them live victoriously through the challenges of life with disability. Find comfort and peace in a community of people who understand what you face on a daily basis. You are not alone!
Fiction
Rule of Law by Randy Singer
What did the president know? And when did she know it? For the members of SEAL Team Six, it was a rare mission ordered by the president, monitored in real time from the Situation Room. The Houthi rebels in Yemen had captured an American journalist and a member of the Saudi royal family. Their executions were scheduled for Easter Sunday. The SEAL team would break them out. But when the mission results in spectacular failure, the finger-pointing goes all the way to the top. Equal justice under law. It makes a nice motto. But will it work when one of the most powerful people on the planet is also a defendant?
Crisis Shot by Janice Cantore
Tess O’Rourke dreams of becoming the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way . . . until the night she responds to an officer-needs-assistance call and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press. Winning over the residents of Rogue’s Hollow might be more difficult than adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small, backwater town. Especially when her closest friend, the pastor’s wife, goes missing and the woman’s cousin is found shot. Tess finds an ally in sheriff’s deputy Steve Logan, but as they track down Rogue’s Hollow’s first murderer, she worries that she’s breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him.
Youth
Just Sayin’ by Dandi Daley Mackall
Just Sayin’ tells the story of an almost-blended family that almost falls apart before it even begins. 11 year-old Cassie Callahan is staying with her grandmother while her mom, Jennifer, recovers from a difficult breakup from her fiancé, Trent. Cassie, along with Trent’s kids, Nick and Julie, are trying to figure out why their parents’ relationship ended so abruptly and searching for a way to bring them back together. In a way that only Dandi can accomplish, this story weaves together, in a contemporary way, an old-time game show, letter writing, outstanding vocabulary, and reminders from God’s word that taming our tongue is both difficult and important!
Girl Talk Guy Talk by Jesse Florea and Karen Whiting
One of the most awkward things about growing up is learning to communicate with the opposite sex. What is she thinking? Why did he do that? Teen guys and girls know they often don’t understand the opposite sex or know how to talk to one another. Communication is a key tool in life. The devotions in Girl Talk Guy Talk give insights that focus on different aspects of teen life to help both guys and girls better understand and communicate with the opposite sex. Various styles of devotions, including stories, checklists, quizzes, fact-based news, text messages, and skill-building tips will encourage and equip young girls and guys to understand how the opposite sex is wired and how to best relate with them.
