Looking for new books to read in 2021? Look no further.
Each of these books has been on my radar since 2020 and are ones I think you might like to know about and read.
As a book launch team member, I’ve had the privilege of reading advanced copies of books number 1 and 11 (yep, there’s a bonus one at the end). Those are the only two titles on this list that I’ve read in advance of their release. I have not yet read the others but am looking forward to them.
That means in this post you’ll simply find an objective list with the publisher, release date, format, and a brief description of each title.
Click on the book’s title or cover image to learn more and grab yourself a copy!
If you’d like to catch my reviews as I read, I encourage you to sign up to become an email friend here and/or follow me on Goodreads here.
Please note that this page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Also, these titles appear in no particular order.
Sacred Tears: Simple Reminders That God Sees You and Loves You by Lindsey Wheeler
Publisher: Harvest House
Release date: January 5, 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the Amazon description:
“This collection of heartfelt essays, eye-catching word art, inspiring Scripture verses, honest prayers, and uplifting photography will meet you in your place of pain, offering solace and refuge for your weary soul.
Lovingly written by Lindsey Wheeler, a pastor’s wife and adoptive mom who lives with chronic pain, Sacred Tears will bring you the blessed respite you’ve been longing for and remind you that you are never alone. You’ll discover what to do when you feel far from God, how to trust Him even when you don’t understand His plan for you, and how to handle the difficult decisions that often accompany painful situations. All this and more await inside.“
Praying through Every Emotion: Experiencing God’s Peace No Matter What by Linda Evans Shepherd
Publisher: Revell
Release date: February 2, 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the Amazon description:
“Topically arranged so you can go directly to your particular need, Praying Through Every Emotion offers transforming Scripture and prayer to help you change your perspective, heal your emotional wounds, and find yourself unburdened from cares and concerns. The power-packed prayers cover nearly 70 different emotions, from feeling angry, broken, or exhausted to feeling confident, hopeful, and joyful–and everything in between. You’ll even find prayers for the really hard things, such as when you feel depressed, shamed, or suicidal.”
Fighting Forward: Your Nitty-Gritty Guide to Beating the Lies that Hold You Back by Hannah Brencher
Publisher: Zondervan
Release date: January 5, 2021
Format: Paperback
From the Amazon description:
“At the darkest point of a life-altering depression, Hannah Brencher took a silver marker and labeled a composition book “Fight Song.” In that little notebook, she poured hope-filled truths and affirmations, knowing that one day, she–and you–would need a reminder to stay in the fight. Drawn from those glow-in-the-dark words, Fighting Forward is your empowering invitation to show up, claim hope, and take back your life one small win at a time.”
Hope Anyway: Welcoming Possibility in Ourselves, God, and Each Other by Leeana Tankersly
Publisher: Revell
Release date: August 17, 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the Amazon description:
“With an openhanded spirit and openhearted vulnerability, Leeana Tankersley reveals the darkest chapter of her own story, the thing she never thought would happen and could do nothing to prevent. Along the way she shares how waiting patiently in the darkness allowed something incredible to take root within her: a defiant and hard-won hope that is not dependent on happy endings.
If you have lost your faith, your family, your health, your home, your security, your business, or your very self, Leeana wants you to know that you are not alone or forgotten. You are not doomed to stagnation or stasis. You are not worth less than you once were. Against every last odd, you can hope anyway.”
Every Moment Holy, Vol. 2: Death, Grief, and Hope by Doug McKelvey
Publisher: Rabbit Room Press
Release date: February 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the publisher’s description:
“Every Moment Holy, Vol. 2: Death, Grief, and Hope is a book of liturgies for seasons of dying and grieving—liturgies such as “A Liturgy for the Scattering of Ashes,” “A Liturgy for the Loss of a Spouse,” or “A Liturgy for the Wake of a National Tragedy.” These are ways of reminding us that our lives are shot through with sacred purpose and eternal hopes even when—especially when—suffering and pain threaten to overwhelm us.”
Journey to the Soul: A Practical Guide to Emotional and Spiritual Growth by Bill and Kristi Gaultiere
Publisher: Revell
Release date: February 16, 2021
Format: Hardcover and paperback
From the Amazon description:
“In Journey of the Soul, [the authors] draw on more than 70,000 hours of providing therapy and spiritual direction to show you how to identify your current stage of faith and the next steps to take based on your unique needs and struggles. With Scripture, self-assessments, and soul care practices to support your progress along the way, this insightful and inspiring book will be a treasured companion on your journey no matter where you are or how long you’ve been following Jesus.”
When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough: A Shooting Survivor’s Journey into the Realities of Gun Violence by Taylor S. Schumann
Publisher: IVP
Release date: July 6, 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the Amazon description:
“Gun violence undercuts God’s vision of abundant life and community―and the silence of the church rings loudly in the ears of survivors and families of victims. Taylor weaves her own incredible story of survival and recovery into a larger conversation about gun violence in our country. With compassion and honesty, she encourages readers to reconsider their own engagement with the issue and to join her in envisioning a more hopeful, safer future for our nation. Move beyond thoughts and prayers and enter into grace-filled dialogue and action.”
I Love Jesus, but I Want to Die: Finding Hope in the Darkness of Depression by Sarah Robsinson
Publisher: WaterBrook
Release date: May 11, 2021
Format: Paperback
From the Amazon description:
“In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better.”
Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-Hurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl by Jennifer Dukes Lee
Publisher: Zondervan
Release date: May 11, 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the Amazon description:
“With eloquent truths and vivid storytelling, Jennifer reflects on the lessons she learned from living on her fifth-generation family farm and the insights she gathered from the purposeful yet never rushed life of Christ. Growing Slow charts a path out of the pressures of bigger, harder, faster, and into a more rooted way of living where the growth of good things is deep and lasting.”
That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, the Power of Falling in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby Annie F. Downs
Publisher: Revell
Release date: February 2, 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the Amazon description:
“Exploring some research and sharing some thoughts behind why fun matters, she shows you how to find, experience, and multiply your fun. With her signature storytelling style and whimsical vulnerability, Annie is the friend we all need to guide us back to staying true to ourselves and finding the fun we need.”
+ A Bonus Recommendation:
The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life by Allison Fallon
Publisher: Zondervan
Release date: January 12, 2021
Format: Hardcover
From the Amazon description:
“Author, writing coach, and speaker Allison Fallon’s life transformed when she discovered the power of a daily writing practice. As it turns out, using your words is one of the most powerful means you have for unlocking your life. The Power of Writing It Down is your guide to this transformative tool available to us all. In as little as five to twenty minutes a day, scientific research shows this daily practice can help you:
- Identify your ruts and create new neurological grooves toward better habits
- Find fresh motivation and take ownership of your life
- Heal from past pain and trauma
- Relieve anxiety and depression
- Contextualize life’s setbacks and minor frustrations
- Live a more confident, balanced, and healthy life
- …and so much more”
I’ve pre-ordered your book, Kristin, but there are a few others on this list I’d love to read as well!
Thank you for the list; I am always looking for books to add to my TBR pile!
Great recommendations. I read Journey of the Soul earlier this year and LOVED it! God has been using it profoundly in my life.