Have you ever read a story that stays with you long after you’ve closed the book?
Characters or situations that return in odd moments. Or, a situation that reminds you of a certain scene from a book you read years ago?
I love those kinds of stories. And it’s those kinds of story I strive to write.
Books that not only tell a good story, but remind readers that they don’t have to walk alone through the storms of life. That there is Hope beyond what they can currently see. A character who is so relatable, it’s almost as if the reader is staring at him/herself in the mirror.
What is it about these particular novels that have stayed with me?
An ugly cry for the woman so overwhelmed by life, that if I wasn’t careful, I would be her too. A man who reminded me of my own grandparents at the end of their lives who also suffered from diseases affecting their minds. Marriages that might not survive another crisis. A woman faced with an impossible choice in an impossible time. A young woman looking for answers and finding Truth from a woman ready to meet her Maker.
All of these stories dug beyond the surface, asking questions that are nearly impossible to answer when we live such sheltered lives.
But what if?
What if it were me? My marriage? My husband? My life?
Those questions are what makes these stories so impactful. Have you read any of them listed below?
Impactful Christian Fiction Reads
- Facing the Dawn by Cynthia Ruchti: This story made me ugly cry. I’ve never cried like that before while reading a story.
- A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti: A marriage hanging on by a thread and a husband who questions everything he thought he knew about his wife. Another ugly cry book.
- The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold: A stellar debut novel that has all the feels. A young woman is given a chance to redeem herself at work by writing obituaries.
- Saving Grayson by Chris Fabry: This one is about a man suffering from Alzheimers and a trip he takes back to the place he grew up. Better keep a box of tissue nearby.
- A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry & Gary Smalley: A modern retelling of the Christmas Carol, only this time, it’s a marriage on the verge of divorce. What would you change in your marriage if you could change the past?
- The Curator’s Daughter by Melanie Dobson: A young woman faced with impossible choices during WW2 and in the future, another young woman faces the heartache of her past. The twist in this story was remarkable.
And there you have it. Just a sampling of the stories I’ve read through the years that have stuck with me.
Have you read any of these? Which stories have stayed with you long after you’ve read them?