18 New Books You Don't Want to Miss This Spring
📚📝 I hope you have your Goodreads account open and your TBR list ready...
The first “books you don’t want to miss” list of 2024 is shared with paid subscribers as a small thank-you for making this writing space possible, keeping the metaphorical lights on in 2024 so I can continue sending both free and paid content every month. If you’re a free subscriber, you’ll see a preview below! You can upgrade your subscription at any time (even for just one month, if you only want the list, access to a particular print or Zoom call with an author, etc.) but there’s also a “5-Star Reads from 2023” list with 25 books… free for everyone to view, and hopefully enough to carry through at least Q1 of this, the year of our Lord 2024. 💛 Whether you’re able to financially support right now or not, I’m truly so thankful you’re here, inviting me into your inbox. I don’t take it lightly. And so, coming your way later this week: a book giveaway for all + Thursday Things #108.
Slipping into your email inbox on a Sunday night with the promised book list + a note to say: I hope your To Be Read list is ready because there’s a lot of goodness coming.
Whenever possible, I try to read the full book before mentioning anywhere so I can fully stand by the recommendation. I mentioned this in the All The Things IG Stories, but in case you missed it—I received a few last-minute ARCs of upcoming releases (some you’ll see below, others came off the list) and so postponed sending this out while reading. Thank you for your patience, friends. I don’t take it lightly, that you might spend hard-earned money on a recommendation here. I hope the words within the books below prove to be helpful, truth-filled, and encouraging!
I’ve read an early copy of almost every title below, but for those still on my To Be Read list, they come highly recommended from trusted friends or are written by authors I’ve read (and loved) before. The list is lengthy (I always keep it to 12-16!), but I figured you’d rather more good reads than less! (FWIW, it started at 60+ potential for Spring. Dang.)
Due to the word count of so many book descriptions, this post may only partially show in your inbox. Look for “view entire message” at the top and click for the full post! P.S. I edited the blurbs down from what’s listed on BookShop, but you can click straight through to read the rest.
Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. :: John Mark Comer
We’re constantly being formed by the world around us. To be formed by Jesus will require us to become his apprentice, to live by what the first Christian disciples called a Rule of Life—a set of practices and relational rhythms that slow us down and open up space in our daily lives for God to do what only God can do—transform the deepest parts of us to become like him. This introduction to spiritual formation is full of John Mark Comer’s trademark mix of theological substance and cultural insight as well as practical wisdom on developing your own Rule of Life.
Life Is Hard. God Is Good. Let's Dance.: Experiencing Real Joy in a World Gone Mad :: Brant Hansen
This book is about one idea: joy. A deep sense of well-being, regardless of circumstances, is not only possible but is promised to all who follow Jesus. Life is hard but God is good, and through Him we can start to see the world in a more childlike, humble, and optimistic way. From Publishers Weekly: “Quirky and inviting essays on what it means to live joyfully in a world full of anger and anxiety...This optimism booster has a light touch and a lasting impact.”
Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!: Daily Meditations for the Ups, Downs & In-Betweens :: Kate Bowler
Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day! is packed with bite-size reflections and action-oriented steps to help you get through the day, be it good, bad, or totally mediocre. As she composed these meditations during a season of chronic pain, Bowler understands how every day can be an obstacle course. She encourages us to develop our capacity to feel the breadth of our experiences. The better we are at identifying our highs and lows, the more resilient we become. With bonus sections to use during the seasons of Advent and Lent, this is an easy book to read along with other people too.
Here For It (the Good, the Bad, and the Queso): The How-To Guide for Deepening Your Friendships and Doing Life Together :: Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston
Making friends as an adult is hard. It’s weird, it’s tricky, and it can feel overwhelming. Maintaining those friendships and taking them to a deeper level can be even harder. Here For It (The Good, the Bad, and the Queso) digs into the hows and whys of doing life together in a culture that constantly tries to keep us separate, giving readers the tools they need to continue laying a strong foundation and building relationships that are steady, secure, and made to withstand whatever life throws their way.
Untangle Your Emotions: Naming What You Feel and Knowing What to Do About It :: Jennie Allen
How often have you heard, “Don’t let your emotions get the best of you”? But what if instead of ignoring our feelings, we noticed them, named them, and let God use them to draw us closer to Himself and others? Many of us need to unlearn damaging messages about our emotions. We’ve been taught that emotions are untrustworthy when, in fact, God can use them to help us see where we need His healing. In Untangle Your Emotions, Jennie Allen uses scientific research, biblical insight, and her own story to help you exchange stuffing, dismissing, or minimizing your emotions for a five-step process to know what you feel and what to do about it.