Temperatures are rising, end-of-year celebrations are planned, vacations are booked: summer is coming. If your ideal summer involves devouring a new book while soaking up the sun, then the last thing you have left to do is find the perfect read. We compiled a list of favorite reads from a wide variety of readers at The Crossing to help you do just that.
Whether you're an avid book reader or audiobook listener, looking for a fiction page turner, a spiritual nudge, or to explore a new topic, you're in the right place. Happy reading!
Recommended by Luke Simon, Crossing Students Director
The Power and the Glory
by Graham Greene
This novel tells the story of the “whisky priest”—a flawed, alcoholic priest trying to serve God while being hunted during a time of church persecution in Mexico. He’s fearful, sinful, and often unsure, but he keeps going. I loved this book because it refuses to romanticize faith and instead shows how God’s grace works through weakness, not spiritual heroics. It’s not a feel-good story, but it is an honest one.
The Old Man and the Sea
by Ernest Hemingway
This short novel follows an old fisherman as he battles a giant fish far out at sea. It’s a quick read, but it carries surprising depth. I loved this book for its quiet strength—it’s about perseverance, dignity, and doing your work faithfully even when things don’t turn out the way you hoped. Hemingway’s simple writing makes the story linger, leaving you with a deeper appreciation for endurance.
A Heart Aflame for God
by Matthew C. Bingham
Many Reformed Christians feel like they need to look outside their own tradition—to Catholicism, charismatics, or spiritual gurus—to find spiritual practices that help them experience God. I loved this book because it gently pushes back on that assumption. Drawing from the Puritans and early Reformers, Matthew Bingham shows that the Reformed tradition already has a rich, biblical approach to spiritual growth rooted in prayer, meditation on scripture, and self-examination.
Recommended by Grace Albritton, on staff at The Crossing
Remember Heaven
by Matthew McCullough
I read this book last summer when my life was full of good things. But at the time, I wasn't enjoying them. Instead, I felt anxious about losing the gifts I was given. I was anxious to preserve what I had now, instead of trusting God with life's changes, and ultimately looking forward to what's to come: heaven.
This book lifted my eyes to what we have in Jesus. In seven chapters, it walks you through various experiences on earth (sin, anxiety, suffering, etc.), and how those can point us to the ultimate hope of what's to come in heaven. I finished this read with a reoriented perspective of what eternity with Jesus will be like, and my desires were shifted from preserving now to eagerly waiting for what's to come. Through reading, I exchanged anxiety for peace.
Everything Sad is Untrue
by Daniel Nayeri
Daniel Nayeri recounts his family's emigration story from the perspective of his 12-year-old self. He narrates his own story alongside Persian myths, blending past and present to cope with tragedy and to draw courage for what's to come.
I enjoyed this book of stories because it reminded me of my grandpa. Growing up, he would tell me about his childhood in Greece while weaving Greek myths into his tales. The blending of past and present stories demonstrates there's nothing new under the sun: humanity faces the same tragedies and victories. But what if there was a greater story? An ultimate story that made everything sad untrue?
Readers grapple with this question as the author weaves together history and legend.
Recommended by Lauren Gray, member of The Crossing and staff at Magnolia
Scars and Stilettos
by Harmony Grillo
Don't be fooled by the Y2K cover. Unfiltered, redemptive, gripping — this one is hard to put down and even harder to forget. Harmony Dust Grillo, a survivor, walks us through her story of trafficking and exploitation and how God refused to let that be her ending.
I love this book because it's not just abstract statistics. We've walked alongside women with very similar stories right here in Columbia. Scars and Stilettos gives a compelling vision for compassionate, relational outreach to women in the industry and reminds us that stepping out in faith can spark generational change. As Harmony writes, "Once we have a true revelation that we are loved, valued, and purposed, it becomes difficult to live in such a way that contradicts this truth." Preach!
Recommended by Abby McClelland, Elementary Director at The Crossing
Wanted: Toddler's Personal Assistant
by Stephanie Kiser
My goal in 2025 was to read more non-fiction books (I failed), but I did pick up a memoir by Stephanie Kiser that was a fun and surprising read. This book is full of stories of the author’s relationships with families in New York City, and includes the perks and the pits of being the nanny to their kids. I love how the author grapples with her upbringing compared to how others lived as a young adult. As she spends time with people very different from her, she comes to the conclusion that one isn’t better than the other—they are just different. It’s a lesson I keep learning over and over, and I loved how this book yet again reminded me of it. Plus, who doesn’t want to learn about the lifestyles of the rich and famous?
Liturgy of the Ordinary
by Tish Harrison Warren
I’d heard of Liturgy of the Ordinary for a few years but only recently picked it up. Like with the book above, I read it on my quest to read more non-fiction, and another quest to read more Christian books in 2025 (I failed this one, too). Liturgy of the Ordinary helps shed light on how you can practice theology in everyday life, even in the simple things. As someone often shocked by how mundane life can be, this book was good for my thoughts, emotions, and spiritual growth.
My Friends
by Fredrik Backman
When I finished My Friends by Fredrik Backman, I told someone it would likely be one of the top books I read in 2026, and I still believe that, even though it’s only April. It’s one of the only books I’ve read lately that has made me stay up past my bedtime to see what happens. I think one reason I love it so much is that you see how people’s lives become intertwined, how they support and love one another, all while being part of a cross-country journey with one of the characters. This book made me laugh, cry, and remember the importance of people who love and support you.
Recommended by John Tinnin, pastor and Director of Counseling at The Crossing
Anatomy of The Soul
by Curt Thompson
Curt Thompson's Anatomy of the Soul is one of those rare books that is both scientifically rigorous and spiritually alive. Drawing on the cutting edge of interpersonal neurobiology, Thompson makes a compelling case that our brains are literally shaped by relationship — and that being truly known by another person and by God is not just emotionally meaningful but neurologically transformative.
For anyone who has ever wondered why soul care actually works, Thompson provides the answer with clarity and depth. Thompson is a trained physician, and he knows the Bible well, making him very good at relating the two with wisdom. He addresses shame, trauma, and fragmentation not as abstract theological problems but as real patterns written into our neural pathways—patterns that can be rewired through the integration of relational, therapeutic, and spiritual practice. Rooted in the work of Dan Siegel and informed by Thompson's own clinical experience as a psychiatrist, this book is an essential read for therapists, pastors, spiritual directors, or anyone serious about the intersection of mind and soul. Anatomy of the Soul doesn't just explain transformation—it invites you into it.
Healing What’s Within
by Chuck DeGroat
Chuck DeGroat—therapist, pastor, and seminary professor—wrote this as a pastoral and clinical guide for people carrying buried pain who have learned to cope by numbing and disconnecting. He structures the book around the three questions God asks Adam and Eve in Genesis 3—Where are you? Who told you? Have you eaten?—reframing them not as divine accusation but as compassionate pursuit. The book addresses trauma, shame, disconnection, and the body's role in carrying unprocessed pain, drawing on voices as diverse as Bessel van der Kolk, Gabor Maté, Augustine, and John of the Cross. The goal is whole-person integration—coming home to yourself, to others, and to God.
Recommended by Heather Cummins, on staff at The Crossing
Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Sometimes books leave their mark on popular culture for generations. One of those books is Treasure Island. How would our depiction of pirates change without an “X” marking the spot or a parrot perched on the shoulder of a man with a peg leg? Those images originated in this book, but I think (maybe) most people have not actually read the unabridged original tale. My kids and I tackled this book recently, and although we didn’t understand every word, it didn’t stop us from being captivated by this wild adventure. This is one of those stories that draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You’ll discover the appeal of the charismatic villain, Long John Silver, and cheer for the brave Jim Hawkins. There are lots of great books out there, but there’s a reason some are classics. This one is worth the effort.
Focus on the Bible Commentaries - 1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart
by Dale Ralph Davis
I get that a commentary is technically not what someone is thinking about when they are trying to find a good book, but this one deserves a look (hint: not for the cover art). It’s rare to find the work of a talented theologian to be both relatable and understandable by the everyday reader, but this guy has a way! You'll study through the lives of Samuel, Saul, and David with humor and depth. In doing so, you may find yourself wrestling with your own heart and what motivates it. If you love it, you can also get his work 2 Samuel: Out of Every Adversity.
Tillie Pierce – Teen Eyewitness to the Battle of Gettysburg
by Tanya Anderson
Our family LOVES the library. One of the things we like to do is go to the juvenile nonfiction section and pick a topic of interest and get a bunch of books on the subject. Most of these books have plenty of pictures and just the right amount of interesting info to keep us all engaged in learning. In preparation for a trip east this summer, we got some books on the Battle of Gettysburg. That is how I stumbled across this book about Tillie Pierce, who wrote an eyewitness account of the battle in At Gettysburg: Or What A Girl Saw and Heard of the Battle: A True Narrative (1889) – Tillie Pierce Alleman. This short book had all kinds of fascinating information on this major battle of the Civil War and what it would have been like to be a teenager living through it. It was a terrifying and uncertain time, and it reminded me that bravery and character aren’t always traits that can be seen in everyday life, but are often revealed in times of peril.
Recommended by Patrick Miller, pastor at The Crossing and Not Just Sunday co-host
All the Pretty Horses
by Cormac McCarthy
There are a lot of reasons not to read McCarthy. The Spanish. The lack of quotation marks. The sudden eruptions of violence. But this was my favorite novel last summer, and it could be yours. It’s got it all: a gripping plot wrapped in romance wrapped in a coming-of-age story wrapped in a philosophical exploration of the existence of God in an uncaring world. Oh, and lots of horses.
Liturgies of the Wild
by Martin Shaw
When Stanford mythologist and storyteller Martin Shaw converted to Christianity, he was more shocked than his mystified friends. But he couldn’t deny what he heard and saw after a hundred-day-long vigil: the call of Jesus. In this book, he retells his story and draws deep water from the ancient wells of forgotten fables, fairy tales, and myths in order to quench the wisdom-starved souls of modern people.
Recommended by Tanya Willmeth, Ten Minute Bible Talks co-host and member at The Crossing
Theo of Golden
by Allen Levi
If reading had a smell, Theo of Golden would be like sitting in the kitchen with a warm loaf of sourdough browning in the oven. Enriching, good for your heart, tender, and generous, Theo is the kind of character who makes you think about who you really want to be in this beautiful world. Every time I recommend this book, I follow up with the same question: "Which part made you cry?" Not in an Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows kind of way, but in the best way, the kind where your heart is moved to learn and understand more about who people really are and what stories they carry.
Please, if you read this book, send me a message on Instagram and tell me which part moved you. Or tell me what you're going to do to pass on a little more generosity. You can't read it and be unmoved!
Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do?
by Jonathan "JP" Pokluda
My daughter is reading Why Do I Do What I Don't Want to Do? by Jonathan "JP" Pokluda, and I had to pick it up myself because this theme is one of my favorite things about Paul in the New Testament. He essentially says the same thing, which makes him so relatable as a sinner (and helps us accept that we are too) without throwing in the towel.
There's hope, and there's a better way to live.
We all know the things we don't want to do. Whether we face them or not is the real conundrum.
JP takes that tension into the real world: careers, money, dating—all the places where we can easily act just like everyone else and lose ourselves, or try to follow Jesus, look a little weird, and find a surprising amount of peace in the process.
Pretty much anyone from ages 13 to 97 can get something from this. And if it resonates with you, pass it along to a friend who genuinely wants to grow.
Reframe Your Brain: The User Interface for Happiness and Success
by Scott Adams
Some of us carry feedback loops in our heads that need a reset. These loops tell us to check our emails to feel important, reach for our phones when we're stressed, or catastrophize instead of building systems to control what we actually can. From beating writer's block to discovering why dog-walking counts as real productivity, Reframe Your Brain: The User Interface for Happiness and Success by Dilbert creator Scott Adams is a green smoothie for your mind—you might not love every ingredient, but you'll feel better for it.
Actually, not agreeing with everything he says is half the fun. Wrestling with his ideas is part of the workout. You'll walk away with a toolkit for interrupting negative and unproductive thought patterns and a new lens for spotting the feedback loops running in the background of your life.
My recommendation: listen to the audiobook while you fold laundry, mow the grass, or go for a run. All you need is a small task to keep your hands busy and your mind free to actually absorb what he's saying.
Next up, find your summer anthem. Check out the songs and albums that members of Crossing Music are listening to on repeat!
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