My BookStack, July-August (2026) 📚

A small ask, and a BIG Stack!

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And now, on to the reviews.

With the twice-a-month summer book club I attend, long drives between Michigan and Minnesota for audiobooks, and a little more downtime, I read ten books during July and August…my largest Bookstack yet! I personally know three of the authors, slipped in a couple of non-fiction books, and gave every book four or five stars (a sign that I’m getting pickier when choosing??).

Without further ado…

*BookStack, vol. 16, July-August, 2026.

Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books (Kirsten Miller) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. A fun, light summer read, I enjoyed Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books. When a small town gets behind Lula Dean's mission to ban what she considers "inappropriate" and "pornographic" books from the local library, not everyone is on board. Although her long-time rival, Beverly Underwood, hesitates to confront Lula Dean, Beverly's daughter, Lindsay, does not. When Lula Dean starts her own alternative Little Free Library, stocked with wholesome titles like "The Southern Belle's Guide to Etiquette," Lindsay sneaks over and stuffs the box with banned titles instead, hidden under Lula's dust jackets.

The community's eyes are opened when they slowly discover and read the banned books, including: The Diary of Anne Frank, Beloved, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, and more. Full of colorful characters and (sometimes crass) humor, this book exposes the harm in book banning. It also unveils the kinds of prejudice and judgment we often impose on diverse people groups before we get to know them or their people's history, and calls us toward kindness, understanding, and acceptance. (Audiobook)

You Could Be Happy Here (Erin Van Rheenen) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. When Lucy loses her mother to cancer and her sister abandons her, she leaves California in search of a place and a people she belongs to. She's also dealing with the shocking revelation that her biological father is Gabriel, or "Uncle Gabo," a man she only knew in childhood as a close family friend, and he's planning to bequeath his land to Lucy after his death. Gabriel is from Palmita, Costa Rica, a tropical paradise rich in nature, history, and culture,

When Lucy travels to Palmita, her discoveries continue, as she meets locals who both frighten and mystify her. Although she feels a connection to this place and people, will they accept her as "family," or only view her as another northern outsider who's come to steal their land? Rich in metaphor and drawing connections between insect and bird instincts and human behavior, Erin Van Rheenen conveys a strong sense of place, while weaving together an intriguing and suspenseful story of what it means to belong. (Paperback)

Mother of the Year (Cheryl Balcom) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. Cheryl Balcom (author of Winds of Grace, and writer-friend of mine) has gifted us with her first novel—the poignant story of Lindy, a grieving woman in midlife struggling with her identity as a recent widow and mother of two adult children who no longer depend on her. Balcom chronicles Lindy’s cross-country road trip from Michigan to Seattle, bringing an element of adventure and surprise as the reader rides along. The perils and predicaments Lindy faces on her journey force her to confront her greatest fears and longings. Add to that the mysterious letter her late husband left behind, which has her questioning all that she thought was true, and we have a real page-turner.

What mother doesn’t at some point grieve her children’s independence as they slowly pull away? And oh, how a mother’s heart breaks when her child is heartbroken! Although I’m not a widow, I could relate to so many aspects of this story from the mother’s point of view. Lindy, like myself, wants to control her life and that of her children, all the while resisting the comfort and peace she can find only in her heavenly Father's arms of love. I enjoyed traveling along with Lindy on her journey to wholeness and healing, and I think you will too! (Paperback)

So Far Gone (Jess Walter) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. Rhys Kinnick, a retired journalist, has been living off the grid and away from his family for seven years, ever since an argument with his conspiracy-driven, Christian Nationalist son-in-law pushed him over the edge. But his quiet, reclusive life changes overnight when his two grandchildren, aged 14 and 9, show up at his doorstep. Their mother, Rhys's daughter Bethany, has taken off and left instructions for a neighbor to bring them to her father's house.

Searching for his daughter while protecting himself and his grandchildren from the militant group his son-in-law belongs to leads to a hair-raising adventure. Jess Walter's writing includes vivid characters, mystery and suspense, and smart, laugh-out-loud humor. Although the dichotomy of a militant Christian group and a reclusive old man is extreme, it paints a familiar picture of the tension in American society today. A story of family turmoil and the forces of love that can pull us back together, So Far Gone reminds readers not to give up on broken relationships. (Audiobook)

The Lost Passenger (Frances Quinn) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Highly Recommend. As a lover of historical fiction, especially when mixed with a strong female protagonist, I was captivated by this novel by Frances Quinn. When Elinor Coombs, the daughter of a wealthy Englishman, marries into the British aristocracy, she finds herself disenchanted with a harsh reality. Her husband doesn’t really love her, but married her for her wealth. And her dreams of being a loving mother to her infant son are dashed when she is only allowed to spend 20 minutes a day with him.

But she escapes it all when she survives the horror of the sinking of the Titanic. By simply taking on the identity of a passenger who perished, her remaining family will be notified of her death, and she can start a new life with her son in America. Little does she realize the reality of working in order to survive, of living in poverty rather than extreme wealth, and of hiding the lie that threatens to undo the new relationships she’s formed.

I appreciated Quinn’s emphasis on the true values of freedom, honesty, and forgiveness over the false values of money, status, and appearances. The story she weaves is engaging, heart-wrenching, suspenseful, and ultimately joy-filled. (Audiobook)

Spying on Jesus (Ryan Ahlgrim) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. Biblically sound, yet refreshingly new, Ryan Ahlgrim's fictionalized account of Caleb the scribe—a spy joining the followers of Jesus—reminded me of the popular show, "The Chosen." It brought the miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus to life in a very relatable way. It also left me with several life lessons and a desire to live more sacrificially for the One who sacrificed all.

"Spying on Jesus: A Novella" is a quick and engaging read that will spur you to examine your own heart and leave you wanting more of Him. (Paperback)

Fun fact: Ryan Ahlgrim is my son-in-law’s father!

Learning to Walk in the Dark (Barbara Brown Taylor) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. "New life starts in the dark. Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, it starts in the dark."

Since Barbara Brown Taylor is an ordained pastor, I expected this book to be heavy on spirituality. And while she masterfully weaves aspects of faith, God, and mental health into the book, she writes more about actual, physical darkness. From her research on sleep to experiences with blindness simulations and cave exploration, her descriptions are both educational and engaging.

If you have ever equated darkness with fear, danger, or dread, this book will open your eyes to the beauty we can find when the sun has set and the lights are out. (Paperback)

Crying in H Mart (Michelle Zauner) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. “Crying in H Mart” is a moving memoir about a young artist’s struggle in the face of her mother’s untimely death from pancreatic cancer. Michelle Zauner, a Korean-American lyricist and musician, describes her life growing up in Eugene, Oregon, where fellow students, confused by her mixed ethnicity, asked her, “What are you?” Her Korean mother’s demands for perfection in looks, behavior, and academics, along with Zauner’s rebellious adolescent tendencies, resulted in a complicated mother-daughter relationship.

However, caring for her 56-year-old mother when she was only 25, Zauner’s reflections center on the love between them and the grief she faced after her mother’s death. Having cared for my own mother before her death, these scenes brought back difficult and precious memories all at once.

Their mutual love of Korean food and her mother’s cooking skills inspired Zauner’s newfound passion for making Korean staples like kimchi, bibimbap, and bulgogi. Reading her vivid food descriptions made me curious, and I longed for a Korean sampler platter (minus the live octopus, thank you!). (Audiobook)

A Midwife’s Journey (Niomi Rohn Phillips) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. Leaving her family and homeland of Ukraine behind, Margaretha Rahn reluctantly joins her husband, Abe, and travels to America in search of freedom and prosperity. They settle with fellow Mennonites in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, but not for long. Abe soon sets his heart on free homestead land in North Dakota, and the family moves again. Despite the moves, hardships, and harsh environment, Margaretha uses her passion and skill to care for the surrounding women—regardless of their status or religion—through midwifery. Her desire to help anyone in need eventually draws heavy scrutiny from fellow conservative Mennonites, and she must decide, once again, whether to follow her husband or go her own way.

The author, Niomi Rohn Phillips, is a direct descendant of the family she writes about, basing some of the story on historical facts from her grandfather Peter's (Margaretha's son's) journals. I've always appreciated the research required by historical fiction writers, and Niomi's is no exception. Her depictions of homesteading, midwifery, and the Mennonite culture of the late 1800s were well-researched, resulting in an informative and intriguing novel. (Paperback)

Fun Fact: Niomi attends my Minnesota book club, and we had a great discussion with her this past week about her writing process and family legacy.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead (Brené Brown) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommend. I received this book several years ago (it was published in 2015), but had never gotten around to reading it. When I saw it was available in audiobook form through Libby, I uploaded it for one of my drives home from Minnesota.

The book offers an abundance of research, and several models for—as the title says—living, loving, parenting, and leading. Its main focus is on avoiding shaming, either of yourself or those around you, through honesty and vulnerability. Much of Dr. Brown’s approach has become mainstream over the ten years since its publication. While this is a positive trend, there is still being plenty of room for improvement. Her observations and lessons might be even more applicable in today’s society than in 2015.

Thank you, Brené, for helping us “Dare Greatly,” as we strive for better connection with our families, friends, neighbors, and communities. (Audiobook)

And…that’s the stack!

Let me know if you’ve read or plan to read any of these books! Or, just show me some love 🖤 by hitting that little heart button!

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