A Guide to Finding Fiction Worth Reading
By Ashley Davis
I think even the most casual readers get the itch to read fiction at least once a season. There’s just something refreshing about curling up in a comfy chair or sitting under a beach umbrella or reading during travel that’s refreshing and just plain FUN. Sometimes, we don’t have the space or time for a dense, non-fiction book, so we start looking for some good (and often easier-to-read) fiction books. Therein lies the real challenge. Where do we discover clean (books that align with Christian values) fiction? I have felt myself fall into a reading slump more than once because I did not, until recently, discover the answer to this question! It’s such a huge bummer to get 50 pages or so into a book that you’re enjoying SO MUCH to suddenly have the story take a turn toward an explicit sexual relationship or a same-sex love interest or a character with a sailor’s mouth! This guide is intended to help you find some fiction from genres you enjoy without compromising your values at the same time!
Recommended “Booktubers”
· Chantel Reads All Day on Youtube:
This specific video linked here is an awesome resource for Christian fiction that is worth reading. Chantel reads a lot of mystery, suspense, historical fiction, graphic novels, middle grade, and Christian non-fiction. In my research, Chantel’s channel provides recommendations of the widest variety of genres. You will find very few romance recommendations on her channel. Chantel lives in Canada. She is a wife, homeschooling & foster mom.
· Oceana GottaReadEmAll on Youtube:
Oceana reads a lot of clean/Christian romance, modern fiction, and Christian non-fiction. Oceana is a single young adult; she lives in Canada.
· Krista (Books and Jams) on Youtube:
Krista reads a wide variety of genres and is very good at sharing her opinions about books she has read without spoiling them for other readers. I don’t think she’s as strictly opposed to some (what we may call) “inappropriate content” as my two recommendations above, but she’s certainly on the more conservative side when it comes to fiction. Krista also hosts a lot of live reading sprints and book discussions with other like-minded BookTubers. Krista is a single adult and lives in the US.
Recommended Christian Authors & Their Genres + a personal recommendation!
· Colleen Coble: romance, romantic suspense (detective style common), and historical fiction. (Haven of Swans)
· Carrie Stuart Parks: detective-style suspense with a romance element (Formula of Deception)
· Jaime Jo Wright: dual timeline, historical fiction, suspense, usually with a ghost-y element (The Souls of Lost Lake)
· Charles Martin: drama, historical & modern, sometimes with a romance element (Long Way Gone)
· Amanda Cox: dual timeline, mostly modern (The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery)
· TI Lowe: drama, romance (Under the Magnolias)
· Nicole Deese: romance (All That it Takes duology)
· Susan May Warren: romance, suspense (You Don’t Know Me)
· Jennifer A. Nielsen (not overtly Christian, but clean): Young adult, historical fiction, fantasy (The Ascendence Trilogy)
· Connilyn Cossette: Biblical fiction (A Light on the Hill)
Tips & Places to Find Fiction Worth Reading
· Check the publisher: In addition to finding some favorite Christian authors, pinpoint a few publishers with similar values to yours. Sometimes it’s hard to determine if a book is distributed by a Christian publisher. This article (and other Google searches) may help you determine the quality of a book’s content before you drop your hard-earned cash on it.
· Goodreads: Goodreads is a website and app that allows users to track books they want to read or have read on “shelves.” Each book can also be given a star rating and a written review. You can follow friends on Goodreads too. I find this app super helpful for keeping track of books I want to read and hearing what other people thought about it. Follow me on Goodreads: Ashley Davis
· Libby: Libby is an app available through your library. All you need to use it is a library card. It allows you to check out ebooks and audiobooks for free. I get a lot of my books (and ALL my audiobooks) from Libby and my local library.
· Local Library: I encourage you to try out requesting books for hold from your library via their online catalog or app. This is great for those of us that don’t have time to browse the shelves for what we’re looking for. You find the book on the online catalog, request a hold, and when it’s available, you’ll receive a notification that it’s waiting for you to pick up at your library. Most libraries have a hold shelf; just walk up, find your last name, and snag your book! We really loved this feature even for our kids during the pandemic. I use it regularly now. The beauty of the library is that if you get home with a book that isn’t what you expected, it doesn’t cost you a thing to decide you don’t like it!
· Amazon & Barnes and Noble: Did you know you can return books to Amazon and Barnes and Noble? I have, more than once, bought a book from these sellers and decided to return it because the content didn’t align with my values. Don’t waste the book budget, friend!
· Discounted Booksellers Online: Book Outlet & Thrift Books
If you would like further assistance in finding a good fiction read, complete the following questions and email your answers to me at the email address linked below! Happy reading!
1. Some genres that I like are:
2. Do you like romance (yes, no, or a little)?
3. Do you prefer middle grade, young adult, or adult books?
4. Do you like multiple perspectives?
5. Do you like multiple timelines?
For more information about this book or other reading suggestions, feel free to contact me directly.
