We’re halfway through the year–which means if you made a New Year’s Resolutions to read 25 books in 20025, you might be looking for a few new favorites.

Here’s a list of seven books that have grown my relationship with Jesus. Some books are fiction, some are nonfiction, some are short, some are long, but all of them have grown my relationship with God.

Please note: I use affliate links in this post. That means if you buy the book through the link, I earn a dollar at no extra cost to you.

#1 – “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp

I LOVE this book. I’ve recommended it before, and with good reason. It’s all about GRATITUDE and the gospel!!

This book makes me feel alive and keeps pushing me to stop and exist with Jesus.

You can grab your own copy on Amazon.

More than 1.5 million copies sold! What if you discovered that the life you already have is the life you’ve always wanted? What if joy and gratefulness is possible right where you are??

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#2 – “A Seat at the Table” by Michelle Nezat (Fiction)

I had the absolute pleasure of working on this book before I knew anything about the author! It’s incredibly long, but it challenged my assumptions about faith and my willingness to go my own way more than almost any other book I’ve read.

It’s also a sweet clean romance.

You can grab your own copy on Amazon.

Armed with nothing but a fresh graduate degree, her own self-assurance, and $50,000 of borrowed money, Joy Swallow is determined to start the marketing agency of her dreams.

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#3 – “The Treasure Principle” by Randy Alcorn

Don’t let the cover fool you, this book is incredibly valuable. I started reading it around 1 AM last night and I’m not very far in, but it’s already shifted my mindsets around God and money.

If you’re a college student, PLEASE don’t move on until you’ve gotten yourself a copy. It is currently $9 and I promise you the knowledge inside is worth more than thousands of dollars.

A family friend gave me this book with a note that it helped them immensely and I procrastinated reading it. I wish I hadn’t waited so long! I needed this months ago.

You can grab your own copy on Amazon.

Jesus spent more time talking about money and possessions than about heaven and hell combined. But too often we’ve overlooked or misunderstood his most profound teaching on this topic, from his words in Matthew 6.

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#4 – “Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortlund

I’ve been crawling through this book. So many people recommend it, but it hasn’t been a fast-paced read in my experience. I guess this is more of a “sit down with tea or coffee” and linger sort of book.

Maybe I’m wrong. I haven’t finished it yet.

You can grab your own copy on Amazon.

“I have read no book that more carefully, thoroughly, and tenderly displays Christ’s heart.”

—Paul David Tripp, President, Paul Tripp Ministries; author, New Morning Mercies and My Heart Cries Out

#5 – “Declutter Your Heart and Your Home” by Julia Ubbenga

When I started this book, I thought I was starting a book on Christian minimalism.

I was so wrong. It’s a book about how to live for Christ. It pushed the boundaries of my idea of minimalism–yes, I want to chose a lifestyle that helps me focus on what’s more important. BUT I need to declutter my mind and soul for that to work.

And apparently decluttering possessions helps us to declutter our souls.

This book blew my mind and pushed me into the arms of Jesus. I grew so much as I read it, even though I didn’t get as much decluttering done as I hoped!

(I am still in the middle of reading it, so maybe I’ll actually get to decluttering soon.)

You can grab your own copy on Amazon.

Declutter Your Heart and Your Home provides tips, tricks, and tools to rid yourself of the internal and external clutter weighing you down, as well as relatable stories and soul-nourishing truths from Scripture to fill your heart and home with what truly matters.

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#6 – “Untangle Your Emotions” by Jennie Allen

I’m a big fan of Jennie Allen. So many of her books have touched and changed me!

I’ve actually mentioned this one before because it kept making me cry. It made me realize I was a little afraid of my own emotions, and that I’m not the only one.

You can grab your own copy on Amazon.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • ECPA CHRISTIAN BOOK AWARD FINALIST • The author of Get Out of Your Head provides a revolutionary path to embracing a healthy relationship with your emotions, one that leads to life-giving connection with God and others as well as to a richer understanding of yourself.

“This book is worth thousands of dollars of counseling.”—Jonathan Pokluda, bestselling author and host of the Becoming Something podcast

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#7 – “Fantastical Summer” developed by Vella Karman (Fiction)

This book has helped me grow closer to God. What’s more amazing to me is that it’s helped other people grow closer to God!

Ignore the fact that my name is on the cover for a moment, because there are fourteen other stories in this collection by fourteen other authors.

Their stories have ministered to me, and people I know are texting me to share how God’s using these stories in their lives. Praise Him.

You can grab your own copy on Amazon.

A mermaid outcast, a girl who can steal stars, and a high schooler suddenly affected by gravity in a gravity-free world—these are just a few of the fantastical premises you’ll find in this collection of short stories.

Weaving classic coming-of-age themes into magical versions of our world, fifteen Christian writers each bring a fresh perspective on childhood, loneliness, and identity.

Save a spot in your beach bag, because this collection of clean, fun summer stories is more than a fluff read. This beautifully brave anthology leads us to ask hard questions while staying grounded in the truth of the Bible. You’ll want to revisit these thought-provoking stories throughout the year.

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That’s all!

What book would you add to this list? Drop a comment, I’d love to know what books have helped you grow closer to Jesus. And if you’re doing the 25 books in 2025 challenge, I’d love to know how it’s going!