11 Books I’m Loving This Month

Looking for a few riveting reads for your summer book list? This month’s favorites include Fiction, Christian Fiction, Non-Fiction, Christian Non-Fiction, and a book that would be the most wonderful Ladies’ Night study! Ready to hear about the 11 books I’m loving this month? Read on!

To purchase a book through my affiliate link at no extra cost to you, click on image or title. Thank you for supporting my work. Full disclosure here.

Non-Fiction Books

 The Secrets of the Notebook by Eve Haas

Based on a true story, this riveting genealogical and historical mystery will keep you reading past your bedtime. The journey leads to danger in East Germany as a woman searches for her Royal roots and the truth behind her Granny’s death in WWII. Touching, heartbreaking, astonishing, beautiful.

 Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Technically, this is a murder mystery with superb character development, but I hesitate to put it in a box. Although the story surrounds an unsolved murder, it feels like a different genre. All encompassing, this book touches on domestic violence, loneliness, abandonment, mental illness, isolation, illiteracy, being a social outcast, and the temptation to lose yourself to find love. Wow! I contains some language and a couple instances of teenage sexual exploration; I just skim past what I don’t enjoy reading. Great story. Outstanding writing. I could not put it down!

Christian Fiction

 Sweet Olive by Judy Christie

What a fun, light-hearted read. Camille Gardner is an oil woman by trade and an artist at heart. When she takes an assignment for her uncle, she is torn between obligation and heart. I just discovered this book has a follow-up, Magnolia Market. Ordering it posthaste!

Non-Fiction

 Cozy by Isabel Gillies

Subtitled “The Art of Arranging Yourself in the World”, this…well…cozy book is bursting with quotes, recipes, and quirky fun facts. If you’re a fan of the hygge concept–or just coziness in general–you’ll love this book about tweaking your life to add more relaxation, creativity, and connection.

 The Finnish Way by Katja Pantzar

Continuing with the Nordic book trend, this addresses the Finnish concept of “sisu”, which embodies fortitude, resilience, and perseverance. It’s full of ideas to improve health and wellness through nature, diet, movement, and minimalism. I loved the book, but will skip the traditional “sauna in the buff” experience. Just sayin’.

Christian Non-Fiction

 Glorious Weakness by Alia Joy

I was moved by this gritty, encouraging story of finding hope in God in the midst of pain. As she struggles through mental and physical illness, pain, loss, and rejection, the author shares how she discovers the hand of God in the midst of need.

If you’re looking for more encouraging Christian non-fiction for a time of struggle, please see my recent post 7 Encouraging Christian Books.

 It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa Terkeurst

You are going to love this raw and honest book. Lysa shares her story of finding strength in God as she battles both a marriage crisis and a cancer diagnosis. Full of Scripture, hard truth, prayer, and questions for discussion and thought, you’ll find this to be a valuable friend in hard times. Find more Lysa Terkeurst books here.

 The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

If you’re looking for practical advice and encouragement on decision making, you’ll love this book. I’m a big fan of asking good questions to get at heart motivations, and this book is full of them! As a new Empty Nester pondering my next chapter, I highly recommend this book.

 Loving My Actual Neighbor by Alexandra Kuykendall

How can I love my neighbor? A lovely book based on seven principles from 2 Peter 1, the author fleshes out ways to build meaningful relationships with our actual physical neighbors…the ones in our community and on our street. I especially love the Questions for Reflection and the focal verse at the end of each chapter.

Other recommended books by this author:

• Loving My Actual Life
• Loving My Actual Christmas

 Placemaker by Christie Purifoy

“Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace.” Who doesn’t want that? This relaxing, gentle book is a call to cultivate welcoming, restful, beautiful spaces in our lives. Full of Biblical illustrations and links, this is not a book about interior decorating. Instead, it’s about recognizing, planting, and cultivating beauty in our homes and lives. Oh, I firmly believe that homemaking is still important. We all need spaces of belonging and rest, and that’s what this author offers.

 Girls’ Club by Sarah, Sally & Joy Clarkson

Perfect for a Ladies’ Book Club!!

Community. Friendship. We all long for it, but in the midst of our frazzled lives, isn’t it hard to find?

This encouraging multiple-points-of-view book is full of simple ideas to be a good friend and find good friends. One of the loveliest books I’ve read in ages, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to you. The Girls’ Club Experience is a companion study to go along with the book. You won’t be sorry you purchased these!

That’s a wrap for my 11 Books I’m Loving This Month. Now it’s your turn! What book are you loving right now? Give me some recommendations!

You are invited to follow my social media! Click to follow on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Please follow this link to join the community and receive my posts in your inbox!

I would love to pray for you. Please send prayer requests to kimturnermcculley@gmail.com.

I frequently link up with these lovely bloggers.

Related Posts

7 Encouraging Christian Books

9 Great Books for Your Reading List

15 Fantastic Books I’m Loving

11 Cozy Books to Read

More Book Recommendations