My 2026 Q2 Reading List
I decided to group my Q2 reads by category/genre and am hopeful that you will find one or two books that you're eager to dive into.
#15 is my all-time favorite book from childhood
#19 is a must-read historical fiction
#25 is one of my favorite studies on a book in the Old Testament
#27 is a must-read for career women who are burnt out and exhausted
Children’s Fiction:
As I shared in my Q1 reading list, I recently found my childhood books at the bottom of a trunk and decided that it was time to pass them on to my nieces and nephews, so I’ve been reading through them to decide who to send them to.
2026 Book 15: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Still my all-time favorite book from childhood; the whimsy and magic are delightful.
2026 Book 16: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
A sweet story of friendship and caring for others.
2026 Book 17: Stuart Little by E.B. White
A bizarre little story with some fun adventures.
2026 Book 18: The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
A fascinating tale that all bird watchers will enjoy.
Young Adult Fiction:
2026 Book 19: The Teacher of Nomad Land by Daniel Nayeri
I read Daniel’s beautiful memoir in 2021 and knew I would love this historical fiction book about a lesser-known aspect of World War II, as seen through the eyes of two children. It is written for a young adult audience but is a great read for adults too.
Soul Care/Biblical Studies:
2026 Book 20: Ever Approaching Dawn by Christianity Today
A Lenten study with poetry and prose from multiple writers.
2026 Book 21: He Knows Your Name by Paige Allen
A study of several women whose stories are told in the Bible but are never actually named. Paige does a wonderful job of using their stories to show us how much God loves us, even when we don’t feel seen, heard, or understood.
2026 Book 22: The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
I read this book over 25 years ago and again 15 years ago, and thought that a third read through it would be helpful. I don’t love some of her theology or philosophy, but the prayers themselves are wonderful and perfect for those of us who have a hard time putting our concerns and desires into words.
2026 Book 23: Fervent by Priscilla Shirer
Another powerful and eye-opening book about prayer, specifically in the 10 areas that women face the most resistance.
2026 Book 24: In His Image by Jen Wilkin
Similar to her book about the attributes of God, that I read in 2024, this book shows us where we are called to be like God; what attributes of His that we are to emulate.
2026 Book 25: Judges for You by Tim Keller
God never desired for the Israelites to submit to the rulership of kings, He wanted them to trust that He would take care of them, as He had been doing for hundreds of years, through the use of stewards (aka judges). This study goes through the Old Testament book of Judges and does a deep dive on each of the judges/stewards that God put in place – who they were, what their background was, how they helped or failed the Israelites, and their personal characteristics (strengths and weaknesses). It is a fascinating look at history and human behavior, with learnings that are applicable to life today.
2026 Book 26: Revelation for You by Tim Chester
Having grown up in an environment where the Left Behind books and movies were the dominant view on the book of Revelation and its meaning, etc., I have been taking a more systematic and in-depth look at other perspectives about John’s letter. This study has a new-to-me perspective that makes a lot of sense and seems far more plausible than most other suggested meanings. I also did this study in 2024 that provides a different perspective than the premillennial, pretribulation theology that I was raised with.
Professional Development:
2026 Book 27: Having It All by Corinne Low, PhD
A must-read for every career woman who is burnt out, exhausted, and trying to figure out why she can’t get everything done. Rather than the overdone narrative approach, Dr. Low does an excellent job of bringing research and data to the conversation.
2026 Book 28: The No Club by Linda Babcock, Brenda Peyser, Lise Vesterlund, and Laurie Weingart
Employee disengagement costs companies upwards of $500 BILLION per year. A big driver of disengagement is workloads/tasks that are unfulfilling, unchallenging, and unrewarded. These four professors bring forward research that shows how organizations can adopt a better approach to workload management that will create improved engagement. This is a must-read for those who are disengaged, as well as for every business owner and people leader.
Memoir:
2026 Book 29: Hooked by Sutton Foster
A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the life of this Tony-winning actress, singer, and dancer. I appreciated her candor about her family life and her explanation of her coping mechanisms.
