I had a successful and fairly diverse month of reading. I’ll skip the lengthy preamble and get right to the reviews!

NONFICTION

Shepherds for Sale: How Evangelical Leaders Traded the Truth for a Leftist Agenda, by Megan Basham: The Bible warns against false prophets and wayward teachers; their existence is as old as Christianity itself. But the motivations and temptations behind such apostasy are always changing. In Shepherds for Sale, Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham reveals the ways in which the present church has been swayed by progressive forces such as billionaire businessmen, secular think tanks, and high-ranking politicians who have deliberately targeted Christian media, megachurches, nonprofits, and universities. Basham uncovers compromises in the areas of abortion, sexual sin, critical race theory, and other hot-button issues, with influential Christian leaders exchanging Biblical values and truth for cash, careers, and influence among the secular elite.

This shocking exposé revels the whole truth behind disturbing trends I’ve been noticing in Christian circles over the past decade or two. Though I was saddened by the levels of compromise that Basham reveals, I appreciate her willingness to report on these difficult issues with clarity and boldness. The book is meticulously reported, and though the writing could easily have become weighed down by repetitious stories and anecdotes, Basham’s writing is engaging and thoughtful, and her tone is gracious yet uncompromising.

I struggle with books like this one that focus on the underbelly of the Church and will likely stir up division. But there is Biblical precedent for public calling out of systemic sin, and Basham’s approach is constructive rather than salacious. Shepherds for Sale shines a necessary spotlight on corruption that must be addressed, and I’m hopeful that the Lord is using this book and the subsequent “stirring up” to steer the modern American church away from alluring sources of wealth and power and back to the Truth.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 5 Stars on Goodreads) // Book Format: Kindle

Honest Prayers for Mama Bears, by Hillary Morgan Ferrer: As a Christian parent, I genuinely believe that praying for my kids is one of the most important tasks in my role as their mom. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to know how to pray. Enter Honest Prayers for Mama Bears, a prayer guide that “puts words to the cries of your heart as you seek clarity and truth in today’s confused culture.” This compilation of nearly 150 prayers is gathered from real moms and speaks to the spectrum of seasons and situations faced by contemporary Christian mothers, with prayers for the range of situations our kids may face, for ourselves as moms, and for the individuals, organizations, and cultural influences surrounding our kids. The book also incorporates essays on how and why we pray, as well as additional activities, ideas, encouragements, and journaling exercises that coordinate with specific prayers.

This book is an incredible resource for every mom, from the woman who is new to faith and uncertain of how to pray, to the seasoned prayer warrior who is seeking to expand her prayer life. The prayers are organized by category, making it easy to flip to a prayer for a specific circumstance. I read this one cover to cover, using it as an opportunity to pray along with the prayers that were relevant to me. Many prayers did not pertain to my current circumstances, but I appreciated the window into the hearts of women who WOULD be in need of such prayers (such as widowed or divorced moms, adoptive moms, or moms of prodigal children). The prayers are unfailingly honest (a great reminder that we can come before the Lord with our full, unpolished selves) and theologically rich, and reading through them offered fresh perspective on a number of relevant parenting and faith-related issues.

I will absolutely be referring to this book when seeking ways to pray in the future, and I hope to pass copies to many of my mama friends. I purchased this one on Kindle but the note-taking hardcover version is calling out to me!

I’m so grateful for the team at Mama Bears Apologetics and have benefitted greatly from their podcast and books on teaching doctrine to our kids. I love that they have branched into the spiritual realm of prayer with this newest addition to the Mama Bear canon.

My Rating: 5 Stars // Book Format: Kindle

M is for Mama, by Abbie Halberstadt: I was a straight-A student in school and I strive to bring that same level of excellence to my current job of Full Time Mother. This isn’t just a matter of pride for me, but what I believe God has called and equipped me to be: the best possible mother to my kids. This isn’t always easy, not just because of my own shortcomings but also because it can be difficult to know what excellence in motherhood looks like in a culture that alternatively acclaims impossibly perfect motherhood or gives moms a pass for mediocrity. In this book, Abbie Halberstadt—a homeschooling mom of TEN (including two sets of twins!)—offers advice, encouragement, and Biblically sound strategies for helping moms embrace Biblical motherhood that goes beyond the mediocre (or impossibly perfect) models often presented to us in culture.

Chapters address some of the more obvious mothering components—such as discipline tactics, discussing sexuality, and managing media influences—as well as some that are a little less expected, like having a healthy approach to self care, dealing with mom guilt, learning to accept help, and differentiating between facts and feelings. Each chapter concludes with a summary of mediocre motherhood in this area, contrasted with a description of Christlike motherhood. We are then given action steps (including relevent Scriptures to study or memorize), a prayer, and a list of questions to reflect on and consider.

I came to this book at a time when I am feeling more grounded in my mothering role than ever before, but also slightly daunted by the immense task that is before me in the day-to-day with my kids. Though parts of Halberstadt’s message (and her life with ten kids) feel a little too aspirational, the book is filled with hard truths I needed to hear as well as practical advice I am taking to heart. The chapters on motherhood as a profession and another on learning to accept help were particularly helpful for me. I loved the bite-sized chapters (a necessity for busy moms) and the empowering tone that is inspirational and encouraging without resorting to either coddling or shaming.

I finished this audiobook then immediately started it again from the beginning so I could soak up every ounce of goodness. I have no idea how Halberstadt managed to pen this book in the midst of he busy mom life, but I am grateful for this book that is such a gift to Christian moms.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 5 stars on Goodreads) // Book Format: Audiobook

The Parasitic Mind, by Gad Saad: When the world seems to be going a little crazy (as is certainly true now, in our post-truth, feelings-over-facts culture), my first response is to turn to Scripture to be reminded of all that is good and true and beautiful. But I also look to other sources of rationality to understand how we have gotten to a place of so much madness. Gad Saad, whom I first encountered in a recent interview with Jillian Michaels, is one such source. As an expert in behavioral sciences, Saad brings his unique perspective on human behavior to this book that exposes the bad ideas (which he calls “idea pathogens”) that are destroying common sense in favor of political correctness.

Saad begins with a synopsis of the factors that led him to become a warrior against destructive ideologies, including his escape from the Lebanese Civil War as a child and his decades as a professor. He goes on to identify several specific “anti-science, anti-reason, and illiberal idea pathogens including postmodernism, radical feminism, and transgender activism” before examining the mindset that has allowed such pathogens to take root. Finally, he warns against remaining passive bystanders in the battle of ideas and offers advice for those hoping to engage in the fight for reason and freedom of thought and speech.

Saad is not a Christian, so we are coming to this topic from very different worldviews; neverthless, I fully align with his pursuit of truth and freedom. Saad’s reasoning is sound, and his explanations are extremely reader-friendly. Saad’s tone is humorous and snarky, and though I would personally take a softer approach, it’s hard to deny the effectiveness of his satirical jabs at ridiculous modern ideologies.

This was published more than three years ago and unfortunately it is just as relevant (if not more relevant) today. I listened to this the week of the presidential elections, and the timing could not have been better.

My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Audiobook

MIDDLE GRADE

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt: It’s been nearly ninety years since the Tuck family stumbled into eternal life after drinking from a magical spring. They’ve spent the intervening decades in hiding, running from anyone or anything that could expose the truth of the spring. When their secret is discovered in 1880 by Winnie Foster, a lonely 10-year-old living in the village of Treegap, the Tucks must whisk Winnie away from her overbearing family to keep her from exposing the fountain. But all does not go according to plan, leaving Winnie and the Tucks with some big questions to answer.

I remember reading this in fifth grade and debating the book’s merits with my fellow classmates: I had some strong things to say to those who didn’t care for this story that I had immediately loved. And I still loved it with this reread. The prose is gorgeous, with beautiful imagery that provides an eerie background to the deceptively rich story being told. Babbitt raises intriguing questions about destiny, the meaning and value of life, and the responsibility that comes with carrying a powerful secret. The story opened the doors for some interesting ethical discussions in my fifth grade class, and again as I read this with my kids.

As a middle grade book, I believe Tuck sets out what it needs to do in just the right amount of space, but I found myself wishing this was a longer novel (written for an adult audience) so we could plum the depths of these characters and this story about life and beauty and purpose.

My Rating: 4.5 Stars (Rounded to 4 Stars on Goodreads) // Book Format: Print

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson: The six Herdman children are the notorious bad kids in town: every child fears them, parents revile them, and teachers dread having them in their classes—which is almost unavoidable, because there are just so many of them! They plague the town and the school with their cigar smoking, their bullying, their cussing, their shoplifting, and worse. The only place they DON’T terrorize is the local church . . . which is why everyone is shocked when they show up at Sunday school one week, lured by the promise of snacks—then volunteer for the lead roles annual Christmas pageant.

Everyone knows that with the Herdmans as the stars, this is bound to be the worst pageant in the town’s history. But this strange turn of events leads to some lovely surprises for both the Herdmans AND the hardened churchgoers, who are treated to a Christmas miracle that is unlike anything they’ve ever seen.

This book is apparently a classic beloved by families for decades, but it wasn’t really on my radar until the recent release of the film remake, but upon hearing the premise I knew I had to incorporate it into our family’s (extensive) Christmas library. The kids and I were delighted by this hilarious and also heartwarming story that offers a unique spin on the true Christmas story, bringing in elements of the Gospel as we see that Jesus really did come for ALL of us (including the Herdman rabble rousers among us). I love the reminders that our pristine images of Christmas are far from reality.

This is a humorous story, which my kids loved, though I’ll note that some of the humor is a little dated (with plenty of fat shaming and bullying and other 1970s behavior that wouldn’t fly by today’s Kid Lit standards). But the book successfully walks that fine line between cheesy-funny and genuinely sweet. My one complaint was the length: I found myself wishing this was either picture-book length, or much longer to give more depth to these characters and this lovely story.

My Rating: 4 Stars // Charleston, Kali, and Sully’s Ratings: 5 Stars // Book Format: Print

FICTION

The Answer is No, by Fredrik Backman: Lucas is perfectly happy with his introverted, curmudgeonly lifestyle. There’s nothing he loves more than a solitary evening with his video games and (peanut-filled) pad thai, and there’s nothing that could ruin a perfect night like the addition of another (gasp!) human. So it’s a nightmare come true when his lovely evening in is interrupted by a knock on the door: it’s the trio of meddling individuals who make up the apartment board, and they need his help at identifying the culprit of an unlawful “frying pan disposal situation” at the entrance to the apartment recycling room. Lucas’s attempts at getting them to leave go disastrously awry, and soon Lucas’s quiet life is invaded by sheer chaos . . . but also—could it be?—a new friend, some new revelations, and a newfound appreciation for the good things in life.

This is a sweet tale told with Backman’s trademark humor and warmth. I love a good introvert story, and found the descriptions of Lucas to be hilariously relatable, as is the commentary on Group Think, community, bureaucracy, and the “grass is always greener” phenomenon. If you’re looking for a light palate-cleanser book that’s sure to make you smile, you’ve found your match with The Answer Is No.

My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Kindle

One-Star Romance, by Laura Hankin: In 2013, Natalie is a free-spirited aspiring novelist living the scrappy/struggling artist’s life in New York with her college bestie Gabby. Natalie is heartbroken when Gabby gets engaged to goofy Angus, who is (in Natalie’s opinion) not good enough for Gabby and (worse still) is breaking up the good thing the two best friends had going between them by setting them on different life trajectories. As wedding planning ensues, Natalie discovers an immediate chemistry with Best Man Rob, a Type-A academic working towards his PhD in Linguistics—surprising, since Natalie and Rob are about as different as can be. But when Natalie discovers that Rob left a 1-star Goodreads review of her debut novel, he immediately becomes her sworn enemy.

After the wedding, Rob and Natalie go their separate ways, only to be brought together again at regular intervals throughout the next decade as Gabby and Angus cross one milestone after another. Rob and Natalie bear witness to their best friends’ work promotions, housewarming parties, christenings, and health crises, and in watching their friends move on with and succeed at life, they must confront their own insecurities, failures, and unfortunate life choices. Their own stories are desperate for a rewrite—one that is screaming for the two of them in it, together.

Those expecting a romantic comedy won’t find that here. Yes, this is a romance, but there’s little comedy and quite a bit of soul searching. And while this is a love story, it’s also the story of Natalie growing up and coming to terms with her own dreams and expectations. I loved the format that allowed us to check in on Natalie across her most formative years, and I appreciated the chance to see her character grow out of her self-absorbed immaturity and into someone much wiser and more thoughtful. Her trajectory made the slow-burn nature of the romance make sense and allowed the relationship between Natalie and Rob to build gradually and naturally, without relying on silly and unrealistic miscommunication tropes (the bane of many romances).

Based on the book synopsis I worried the “one star rating” aspect to their enmity would be cheesy, but it proved to be believable and allowed the author to explore the nature of art, an artist’s relationship to her critics, the blurry lines between art and reality, and the ethics involved in telling stories that are a little too close to the truth. Another important theme is friendship and the the evolution of relationships when one friend moves into a new life stage, leaving the other behind—something I found very relatable.

A few other selling points include the mostly-closed-door nature of the bedroom scenes, the well-drawn side characters (I LOVED Angus as well as both Rob’s and Natalie’s temporary romantic interests), and of course the bookish themes. I enjoyed learning from the author (on this podcast) that the story was inspired by a “one star rating” situation she herself experienced! Head’s up for some potentially difficult subject matter related to the pandemic, dementia, infidelity, and life-threatening illness.

My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Kindle

Here One Moment, by Liane Moriarty: The passengers aboard the packed flight from Hobart to Sydney are already on edge from a lengthy flight delay, but their annoyance pales in comparison with the upheaval that they all experience when an unassuming woman stands and begins to make her way down the aisle, offering predictions about when and how each person on board will die. Many of the predictions are benign and even encouraging (dying of pneumonia in one’s late nineties doesn’t sound too bad), others less so (a young bride who is predicted to die by “intimate partner homicide” in the coming year, for instance, or a child dying by drowning at the age of seven).

Some passengers write off the woman’s predictions as the ramblings of a madwoman or maybe a practical joke, while others are certain there is truth to her prognostications. But a few months later, when a few passengers begin dying as predicted, they all start to wonder how much truth could have been in her forecasts, and many passengers begin altering their lives to ensure their prophecies do not come to pass. As the novel unfolds we follow several passengers whose lives are drastically changed by the woman’s eerie words. Their stories are interspersed with narration from the “death woman” as we get to know who she is, how she came to be on the flight, and what led her to predict (or possibly just play a role in) the fates of so many people.

This book asks and answers the timeless question of how we would choose to spend our lives if we knew exactly how much time we (or a loved one) had left, and explores issues of destiny vs free will alongside other equally interesting themes of purpose, grief, and love (of a parent, a partner, a friend). Clocking in at over 500 pages, this is not a short read but the pages absolutely fly by, and I loved seeing the various story threads come together to explore these ideas in unexpected (and brilliant) ways. The character list is extensive and diverse (I wouldn’t recommend attempting this on audio), but I enjoyed each of the many storylines equally. I was especially drawn into the story of a young mom with OCD who will do anything to save the life of her child. I also enjoyed getting to know Cherry Lockwood, the “death lady,” whose narration is quirky and at times quite profound.

Here One Moment checks off every one of my “must have” boxes for a stellar novel: unique premise, engaging narration, well-drawn characters, provocative themes, healthy balance of humor and sentimentality, and a storyline that incorporates a variety of genres (some mystery, some romance, some literary fiction). I will read anything Liane Moriarty writes, but she really outdid herself with this book that knocked God of the Woods out of its top spot of Favorite Book of 2024 for me.

My Rating: 5+ Stars // Book Format: Kindle

The Last One at the Wedding, by Jason Rekulak: Frank Szatowski has been estranged from his twenty-five-year-old daughter, Maggie, for the past three years, so he is shocked but elated when she calls to let him know she’s getting married. His surprise deepens when he discovers that Maggie is marrying Aiden Gardner, son of a famous tech billionaire—quite a step up for this daughter of a widowed UPS driver from Philly. But when Frank arrives at the Gardners’ luxurious private New Hampshire estate for the wedding festivities, he immediately senses all is not as it seems. He’s uncomfortable with the NDA he’s forced to sign, with the mother-of-the-groom being MIA, with the appalling behavior of the wealthy wedding guest, and most of all with Maggie’s seeming apathy towards her fiancé. Frank would do anything for his daughter, but does that include letting her make the mistake of a lifetime?

This thriller/family drama mash-up received glowing reviews from many of my most trusted readers. It didn’t quite live up to the hype (to me this seemed like a pretty generic thriller), but it was indeed an engaging and fast-paced story with some interesting commentary on corruption, privilege, and the parent/child relationship—particularly the lengths a parent will go to protect a child. While most of the characters are loathsome, I did like salt-of-the-earth Frank and enjoyed his folksy narration (though I can understand how some readers could be put off by his bumbling attempts to appease his daughter). And I enjoyed the ending which brings resolution but also has a level of ambiguity.

I agree with Sarah’s comparisons to The God of the Woods (camp setting, missing persons, complicated parent/child relationships, a “wealthy people behaving badly” trope), though of much lesser caliber than that standout.

My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Kindle

What have YOU been reading lately? I’d love to hear about it!