4 Books I Loved This Summer

Few things are better than getting good book recommendations from friends whose taste you know and trust, so I'm taking a beat from my friends Rachel and Erin and sharing a few of the books I loved this summer. For the past couple of months, I have only been working part-time, which allows me long, lazy, uninterrupted stretches to indulge in what has been my very favorite past time for as long as I can remember. In fact, yesterday, a friend noticed and called attention to the fact that this was one of only a handful of occasions he had ever seen me without a book in my hand, and I had to laugh because he was so right. So, without any further ado, let the book recommendations commence.

Letter to My Daughter, by Maya Angelou

I'm so glad that I got to share a planet with this beautiful, strong woman. She wrote that despite the fact that she never gave birth to a daughter, she had countless daughters around the world, and she wanted to leave them with some life lessons that she had learned (sometimes the hard way) throughout her years: lessons on awkwardly meeting new people, politics, learning about different cultures, and how to not be reduced by our circumstances.

Small Great Things, by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult is known for writing books with themes ripped straight from the headlines, and she also does an incredible amount of research. Another unique aspect of her writing is that you find different points of view within the chapters. I was so excited to read this, her latest novel, which is about a black labor and delivery nurse, a white supremacist, and an impossible choice. It took less than 48 hours for me to finish, and while I've only read a handful for Jodi Picoult's work (she has written 22 books!), this has by far been my favorite.

Goliath Must Fall, by Louie Giglio

This past season, I've been more hungry for spiritual growth in my life than maybe ever before. I know that in order to see that growth take place, I have to allow Jesus to come in and set me free from some things. I knew this book was for me before I even got through the first chapter. I've been hearing the story of David and Goliath my entire life, but Pastor Giglio presents it in a way that feels vibrant, fresh, and powerful.

Unseen, by Sara Hagerty

The subtitle for this book is "the gift of being hidden in a world that loves to be noticed." I was fortunate enough to be on the launch team for this stunning work, so I got to read it before it actually hit the shelves. Sara Hagerty is a woman who makes me crave more of Jesus. I trust her voice because I know that she has walked this path for real. Not one word of this book feels pithy or pedantic or filtered in any way -- it's just raw, honest, and authentic, and if you ask me, we need more books like that in the "Christian living" section. In Unseen, Sara shares her experience with finding God in secret spaces when no one else is looking. So much of life is made up of moments that no one else sees. But Sara writes that God has things to show us in those moments.

What were your favorite books from the summer? My fall reading list seems to be growing by the day, and I'd love to know what books have made the list for you!