Recommendations for Your 2016 Book List {Also Known as: My Best Reads of 2015}

Today, I am sharing some of my very favorite books from the past year for you in hopes that you will find a good fit for your 2016 book list!  Friends, these are encouraging, soul-feeding, edifying reads.  These are the kinds of books that lead us to think differently as we learn.  I can get on board with those sorts of words!  May your reading list be abundant and may your coffee pot be full.  This is your year for digging into good books.  I can just feel it!

1) Anything by Jennie Allen This is the book that I read twice this year.  I read it in less than a week upon its re-release in the summer and then re-read it the past few months of 2015 while I led the study with a group of women from my local church.  It speaks of surrender in such a real way.  Your heart will absolutely be pointed to Jesus again and again.  This is a must-read, sweet friends.

2) For the Love by Jen Hatmaker Goodness gracious, I cannot express how hilariously funny this book is in words!  Do yourself this favor in 2016.  Read it, read it, read it!  Ladies, you will laugh so hard that you will undoubtedly cry.  I love Jen Hatmaker and this book is pure gold.  She has a way of transitioning from serious subjects on loving the least to funny chapters about  {never ever} wearing leggings as pants.  Let me know when you get to that chapter so that I can laugh with you all over again!  Funniest book I have ever read, hands down.

3) Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine I had no idea how much I would enjoy this book since it was a bit different from my usual genre…close but slightly more business-minded than the usual Courtney Stanford book-pick.  And I loved every page, I tell you.  It was an honor to be on the book launch for Crystal Paine and to read it extra early!  If you have any interest in making money in any form: traditional job, direct sales, small business, or work from home while balancing this motherhood thing then you must read this book!  Truly, I had no idea how brilliantly captivating it would be.  You can find it {and all of these books} by clicking the link(s) above the description!  If nothing else, get to know Crystal Paine.  I adore her!

4) The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst This is another book I read twice and led this year!  Lysa beautifully guides us in the necessary practice of choosing a truly loving yes and the power of saying a “simple no.”  I am still working on this.  It is such a process for a me, people pleaser and a girl with lots of passion.  I am a dangerous combination of “Yes qualities,” and sweet friend?  Maybe you are too?  You will be refreshed by the grace in this book.  We all need a little bit more self-grace and a deeper look at priorities.  

5) 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker I can’t get enough of Jen Hatmaker’s sense of humor and perhaps that keeps bringing me back to her books.  You know what else?  She is good at caring about things that have eternal significance.  There is surely not a better book about cutting away the excess in our lives than Seven.  I laughed and laughed as Jen experimented with 7 areas of her life (one per month) to rid her day to day of the inessential stuff.  In addition to that crazy-wise insanity, her council of friends devoted to purging excess warmed my heart as the different personalities of friends handled Jen’s bloopers with sweet grace or with authoritative accountability.  Her friends were a rather delightful crew and reminded me the value of diversity in friendship.  I’m going to be honest with you here.  I kind of want to form my own council of friends.  Everyone needs one.  Amen?

6) The Mingling of Souls by Matt Chandler Confession time: I haven’t read the actual book.  Rather, I did the video study with Matt Chandler on Right Now Media, which is clearly an abrreviated version.  I’m recommending this book {or that study} to you nonetheless.  Matt talks about marriage, redemption, and intimacy in the context of Song of Solomon from the Bible.  I’m going to be real with you.  This is slightly awkward in a room full of couples and yet it is worth every minute of study whether you blush a bit or escape the rosy cheeks.  You will learn and see the heart of God in his gift of marriage and that is priceless.  May hearts be transformed.  Also, Matt Chandler is another hilarious Bible teacher.  He is  on Jen Hatmaker level of funny.  You will laugh hysterically!  The humor and serious subject matter have a perfect balance and make this book (well…the study) a must-read or a must-watch! 

7) The Women of Christmas by Liz Curtis Higgs You probably just boxed up the Christmas ornaments.  I know.  Christmas is behind you, but I highly recommend pinning this book on a Pinterest board called “Books of 2016” or “Christmastime,” or something of the sort. Oh, I know! Maybe  you can add it to your Amazon wish list to order around Thanksgiving? You could jot it down on a post it and stick it in with your Christmas tree? Now, we are thinking! Because friends, you must read this during Christmas 2016. Liz takes us through the scriptures for a closer look at Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna~the women of Christmas. I had tears as I read the commentary about each significant woman in the true Christmas story. What a gift from Liz! You will be blessed with every page.

Happiest year of reading to you!

From the heart of one book-loving nerd to another,

~Courtney