In what has become a favorite year-end tradition, I can’t say hello to the new year without casting one last, lingering look behind. 2015 was filled with many memorable reads, and I am thankful for each that fell into my eager hands. This year’s list includes a surprising number of non-fiction. For most books, click on the title to see my full review. Fiction and non-, here are my faves, in the general order in which I read them:

The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst. First on my list is the only one I did not read to review. When it was given to me by a thoughtful friend, I was excited because I’ve loved every book by Lysa TerKeurst I’ve ever read. I wasn’t sure, however, whether this particular book would have much to teach me. After all, I’m already a fairly deft hand at saying no, drawing boundaries, and maintaining margin in my life. Ha. Friends, let me tell you: this is a must-read for every Christian woman. I’ve learned so much–about the power of a small no, God’s boundless provision, and my own limitations, all while figuratively sitting at the feet of one of the warmest, wisest mentors out there. If you were here beside me, I’d place this book in your hands and say, “Read it. Now. Your new year…and your life…will be the richer for it.” (In fact, I may be due for a re-read.)

Still Life by Christa Parrish. I was a happy girl for the days I was reading this novel because this is what I love: Christian fiction that reads like mainstream, with all the gravitas, grit, and nuance that that entails, but without the profanity, without the sex-without-consequences, and with a healthy shot of hope for second chances. This author writes real and she writes redeemed–a win-win in my book.

The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart. Another shining example of the kind of women’s fiction I love: Honest and true, written with such pathos that even if you can’t relate to a particular situation…you can. Nicole’s writing is exquisite, and her novel is both beautiful and significant: a story that matters. 

Praying Upside Down by Kelly Stanley. For every Christian, prayer a central part of our faith. God Himself invites us to talk to Him: an unimaginable gift, and yet, many of us struggle to take full advantage of that privilege. I found Kelly’s book both transformative and imaginative, prompting me to elevate my prayer life to a new level. Her insights and ideas gave me fresh hope, inspiration, power, and purpose in my communication with God.

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The Sound of Glass by Karen White. I consider Karen White’s writing to be among the finest in contemporary fiction, and one of her novels often lands on my year-end list. She delivers consistently pitch-perfect prose, with plot lines that delve deep into real-life issues without becoming melodramatic or macabre. She’s one of the few novelists–along with the likes of Nicole Baart and Lisa Wingate–who manage prolific output while still maintaining excellent caliber. I liked this story for its layers of mystery and complexity, as well as its celebration of the resiliency of the human spirit and the resourcefulness of unconditional love.

Called: My Journey to C.S. Lewis’s House and Back by Ryan Pemberton. I was easily persuaded to love this book. It is, after all, a story with one of my favorite writers at its heart. It is also a story about story. And about calling, faith, doubt, fear, heartache, and–ultimately–understanding and triumph. Ryan Pemberton’s voice is authentic and deeply personal, and his insights provided me with innumerable aha moments. I felt a rare kind of connection to the author: even as his storytelling invited me to understand him, I felt similarly understood. Called is a book I look forward to returning to, and it earns a spot on my forever-shelf.

30 Day Praise Challenge for Parents by Becky Harling. There aren’t many books that have made my heart sing in quite the same way this one did…does. Since reading it for the first time, I’ve referred to it several times when I needed encouragement regarding a particular parenting issue. Through its wisdom, I’ve found that praise is a very practical way to transform my prayer life. Because everything looks different when seen through the lens of praise. Problems appear smaller. Answers seem likely. Hope abounds. Who doesn’t want that…especially when it comes to parenting?

Tiny Little Thing by Beatriz Williams. It may say tiny in the title, but there’s nothing small about this book. To the contrary, it’s bursting with big personalities, big secrets, big twists, and one big, fat, whopper of an ending. The author’s whip-smart voice and deft narration kept me riveted to every page. She is a master storyteller who knows how to structure a story to achieve maximum tension. I find reading a Beatriz Williams novel to be like watching a movie in 3-D. Each carefully chosen detail, every impeccably crafted phrase combines to elicit the utmost pop from every scene. This sophisticated novel brims over with fascinating, multifaceted characters that you may love or hate–and sometimes both.

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Rainy Day Sisters by Kate Hewitt. I love falling in love with a new novel (and a new-to-me author while I’m at it), and this one charmed me from the start. Winsome characters, romance-worthy setting, and enough relationship drama to keep me up at nights. I can’t say enough good things about this one, including the fact that it’s clean. From page one, I loved sweet Lucy and her hopeless optimism. I ached for prickly Juliet while rooting for Lucy’s determination to crack her nut-hard shell. I relished the way these two estranged sisters found the complement in the other they each needed, leading them both to health and hope. And the romance they found along the way provided sweet icing on the cake. Rainy Day Sisters would make a delightful treat his winter on your next curl-up-beside-the-fire-with-a-cuppa rainy day.

The Sea Keeper’s Daughters by Lisa Wingate. Aside from memorable characters and original plot lines, the best part of a Lisa Wingate novel is her enriching exploration of the human spirit–the kind that resonates so deeply within my own soul that I feel I’ve been given the gift of fresh understanding and compassion. I found The Sea Keeper’s Daughters to be a stunningly perceptive tale, with meaningful examinations of eternal matters. All of which crescendos to an unexpected and soul-satisfying conclusion.

Just Show Up: the dance of walking through suffering together by Kara Tippetts & Jill Lynn Buteyn. If you are a woman…if you are a friend…this book is for you. Written with open authenticity by both authors, this book is about being there for our friends. Being present, always, but especially when a friend is walking through a dark valley. Honestly, I can’t think of a woman who wouldn’t be blessed by what she’ll read here. If you are a woman who does “hard” well, it will provide you strength and encouragement. If you don’t, it will provide sound, practical advice and hope for doing better tomorrow. If you fall somewhere in between–as probably most of us do–it is one of the most helpful, authentic books on friendship I’ve read.

Why God Calls Us to Dangerous Places by Kate McCord. I read every page of this concise book, enthralled. McCord deftly weaves together stories and Scripture with a liberal dose of hard-won wisdom. Though she wrote it first and foremost for those who feel called to serve Christ where danger exists, it will find an even wider audience with those who must watch those loved ones go. Kate McCord possesses the gift of storytelling, which I daresay is a reflection of her cultivated living among a storytelling people. Fascinating. Hard. Lovely. Frightening. Inspiring. I highly recommend this book.

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What She Knew by Gilly McMillan. I do love a good suspense. While the premise is dark, the characters and plot are so skillfully developed, shaded with such fine-tuned nuance, that it is not depressing. Stakes ratchet and the web tightens with every turn of the page. It’s the kind of novel that I hated to put down, and when I did, could hardly wait to pick it up again. While a story like this can hardly be called a happy one, the ending was nonetheless satisfying. I found What She Knew a mesmerizing, addictive, and unforgettable read.

Unlocking Worlds: A Reading Companion for Book Lovers by Sally Allen. This little gem of a book reminded me of all the reasons I became an avid reader, at the same time convincing me that I’ve not read nearly prolifically or deeply enough. I appreciated the way the author wasn’t afraid of injecting her own experiences and her own opinions into her recommendations. She writes cleanly and articulately, and I enjoyed connecting with her, reader to reader, on the pages of this book. I’ve already put several of her recommendations on my TBR list, and I look forward to returning to her suggestions for more. There’s enough here to keep a happy reader busy for years.

Happiness by Randy Alcorn. This hefty tome changed not only the way I think, but the way I live–and, not coincidentally, my level of happiness. In his introduction, Alcorn explains how many Christians have come to misunderstand the Bible’s position on happiness, which leads to his purpose: “My hope is that this book will bring balance to your worldview and your walk with Christ by correcting–through Scripture and Christian history–widespread and deep-seated misconceptions about happiness.” Though a giant of a book at 500+ pages, Alcorn’s style is engaging and highly accessible, making it a joy to read–and to return to again and again. Another one for your forever shelf.

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After words: I’d love to hear from you! What books made it onto your favorites list this year? What do you look forward to reading in 2016? (Me: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, recommended by Sally Allen in Unlocking Worlds.)

Happy New Year, friends. Looking forward to more bookish conversation with you in 2016!