As I dive deeper into my own writing, one thing I keep hearing is, “To be a good writer, you must read more!” I’ve completely embraced that advice, especially since I already love to read! So, I wanted to share a few of my recent favorites in case you’re looking for something new this summer. I picked a couple of Catholic non-fiction titles, a few Catholic fiction reads, and one popular fiction book. Here, you’ll get my honest take on each one. You can come find me HERE to learn more about me, follow me, and my writings.
Catholic Non-Fiction
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This Present Paradise by Claire Dwyer
I met Claire Dwyer at a Catholic writing conference and joined her writing community for mentoring and support. Since I was following her for her writing knowledge, I figured it might be a good idea to read her book. I was not disappointed!
I loved how Claire begins each chapter in this book with her personal stories of motherhood and weaves in the story of Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity—a lesser-known Carmelite saint whose life was hidden, contemplative, and rich with spiritual insight. I often struggle with reading biographies, but this one doesn’t feel like a biography—it feels like a conversation. Claire draws you in and makes you feel like you’re walking alongside her and Elizabeth in their very different vocations, yet both serving God. I listened to Claire narrating this on Audible where her gift for storytelling, in her own voice, makes Elizabeth feel like someone you could know today.
Cloud of Witnesses (25 Authors, including yours truly!)
This book is a collection of personal stories from 25 different authors who each share how a particular saint has impacted their life. Each chapter is short—about 2,000 words—so it’s easy to pick up and read when you only have a few minutes. You not only get a glimpse into the life of a saint, but you also get a window into someone’s real life and real struggles. I’m especially fond of this book because I wrote one of the chapters, about Saint Monica—someone very dear to my heart. But even if I wasn’t in it, I’d still recommend it. It’s like sitting around a table with friends, sharing stories of grace and struggle. You can order a signed copy here. As a bonus, a study guide will be out soon, making this perfect for a simple study circle gathering with friends or encounter teams. This will be available for past purchases as well.
Catholic Fiction
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Death in Black and White by Fr. Michael Brisson, LC
Death in Black and White by Fr. Michael Brisson, LCThis one is a page-turner! A must read if you are in the NY Tristate area! Fr. Michael Brisson—who used to live in this area and had a profound impact on me as my spiritual director for a time, now lives in Rome—wrote this fiction novel and it’s a Catholic mystery with depth. The story follows a priest, Father Christopher Hart, who gets wrapped up in a mystery that brings out the tension between his vocation and the messiness of the world. What I loved is how real the character felt and I did not feel like I was preached to or that he was sharing some sort of “message”. The universal truth of Christ speaks for itself. I also loved how Fr. Michael included details about priestly life that only a priest could write. The cast of parishioners is spot-on and made me giggle, wondering, “Which one of these am I?” If you love being Catholic and enjoy a good mystery. Rumor has it he is writing a sequel, so get caught up this summer and you won’t be sorry!
Lioness Lost by Susan Brinkmann
Lioness Lost by Susan BrinkmannI discovered this author through a writing workshop and decided to give her novel a try—and I’m glad I did. This is the first in a series and follows a fallen-away Catholic journalist with a pretty complicated life. She’s investigating a suspicious death in a parish and ends up entangled with an FBI agent. Her grandmother plays a strong, grounding role in the story. She is involved with family ancestry and discovers several women in their family history – each story in the series will weave a second storyline in from the past that will influence the present. I love how there is everything in this book and nothing overdone– a bit of mystery, a bit of historical fiction, and a bit of romance all woven together with someone learning about the love of God. I appreciate how faith is part of the backdrop as you do see the main character wrestling with real-life decisions in light of grace and truth. I’m already looking forward to the next in the series.
Popular Fiction
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The Wedding People by Alison Espach
The Wedding People by Alison EspachI am in a secular book club and this was our most recent read—and to be honest, I didn’t expect to like it. The main character starts off pretty hard to relate to: her husband has cheated on her, she’s spiraling, and she checks into a ritzy resort with a dark plan to end her life. But a twist of fate puts her in the path of a bride, and somehow, a strange but real friendship begins. At first, I was put off by her victim mentality, and I ordinarily would have stopped reading this, but for the fact that we had our book club meeting coming I had no excuse to skip it. But I’m glad I stuck with it. The book ended up having a surprising amount of depth.
While it’s not a “Catholic” book (none of our book club books are), I have been challenging myself to find God in each book we read. At each book club meeting, I always have a different slant or takeaway than most of the other ladies who attend.
Here is where I saw some moments of faith– a few Catholic characters with stereotypical Catholic backgrounds; some of the characters shared their Catholic school experience (again stereotypically not good); a funny moment of a disapproving grandmother insisting on saying grace before every course at a rehearsal dinner. Also, I found enough redemptive themes to keep me reading. Most of all, I appreciated the character arc: this woman chooses to live, to grow, and to stop being defined by the brokenness of her past. And thankfully, it wasn’t a Hallmark ending– it was real, unresolved, and dignified. No gratuitous immorality, no messy affairs—just a human story well told.
What will you read this summer?
Whether you’re looking for spiritual nourishment, thoughtful fiction, or just a good story that won’t leave you empty, these books offer you a lot! Remember to come check in with me HERE and let me know if you have read any of these books and what you thought!
Upcoming Book Signing.
RC Member Steve Auth will be available for book signings for his new book “Visions of the Divine,” on Tuesday June 24th at St. Vincent Ferrer (Lexington and 66th) New York City.
In this immersive exploration, we embark on a captivating artistic journey that delves into the profound mystery of the Eucharist. This collection of works seeks to bridge the gap between faith and creativity, inviting viewers to experience the Divine Presence in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
