10 Favorite Books of 2021

I read 95 books in 2021. This was less than 2020 (a record-breaking 151! That'll never happen again!), but still a great amount of books. The vast majority were audiobooks, since that's the easiest way for me to "read"  while exercising, folding laundry and unloading the dishwasher. It was tough to narrow the list down, but these are my top ten books of 2021. 

  

CLASSICS (FICTION)

The Blue Castle (L.M. Montgomery)

I read this TWICE in 2021 (January and December), so that should say how much I loved it! See HERE for full review. You may like it if: you enjoy snarky/witty humor and a sweet romance

The Keeper of the Bees (Gene Stratton-Porter)

You may like it if: you enjoy books about friendship, war vets healing from emotional and physical wounds, and a whole lot of gardening and bee-keeping set on an idyllic California cliffside. See my full review HERE

The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien)

You may like it if: you enjoy adventure, humor, and world-building. This is a great intro to the Lord of the Rings trilogy since its only one book, so it's less commitment if big books/series are intimidating to you like they are to me! For full review, see HERE

PARENTING

Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family (Paul David Tripp)

You may like it if: you want to be humbled every chapter with the reminder that we are more like our children than we realize and need God's grace to be the ambassadors to our children, pointing them to Him. See full review HERE

For the Children's Sake (Susan Schaeffer Macaulay)

You may like it if: You are interested (or currently are) homeschooling, particularly in the Charlotte Mason style. I read this twice in 2021, which shows I really loved it! Full review HERE

Raising Passionate Jesus Followers: The Power of Intentional Parenting (Phil and Diane Comer)

You may like it if: You want a birds-eye view of intentional parenting from infancy through adulthood with practical tips balanced with Scripture-based foundations. See full review HERE

MEMOIR

L'Abri (Edith Schaeffer)

You may like it if: You are familiar (or want to be familiar) with Frances and Edith Schaeffer and want to learn more about the beginning of their thriving Christian community in the Alps in the 1950s; you want to see evidence after evidence of God's provision for a family who trusted Him fully. Review HERE

Nerves of Steel: How I Followed My Dreams, Earned My Wings,  and Faced My Greatest Challenge (Tammie Jo Shults)
You may like it if: You like memoirs about brave women who point their success to God rather than themselves. See my full review HERE

THEOLOGY/BIBLE STUDY

When Strivings Cease: Replacing the Gospel of Self-Improvement with the Gospel of Life-Transforming Grace (Ruth Chou Simons)

You may like it if: you'd like to dig into how grace changed Ruth's life from a life of constantly self-striving to a life of understanding the gift of God's grace and its power ... and how this can be your story too. Read review HERE

The Holiness of God (R.C. Sproul)

You like it if: You want to more fully understand God's holiness in a deep, impactful, and convicting way. See review HERE.

Truthfilled: The Practice of Preaching to Yourself Through Every Season (Ruth Chou Simons)

You may like it if: You want a to study Colossians while also learning to preach God's truth to yourself in your everyday moments. See review HERE

What books did you love in 2021? Which books challenged you to grow, taught you new things, or just offered a great story or escape for a little while?