One of our greatest joys at The Good Book Company is seeing the Lord achieve his purposes through believers all around the world. He’s working through evangelists, translators, church leaders, prayerful grandmothers, and neighbourhood block party organisers. He’s also working through the understated ministry of the book reviewer.
As a publisher, we have the privilege of working with book reviewers from around the world! Many of these brothers and sisters write book reviews as a part of their personal ministry, as they seek to build others up and encourage them in their walks with Christ.
To honour their efforts, we’ve asked some of our reviewers to tell us a bit more about reviewing books this past year:
Why do you write book reviews?
Reading the Bible is most important, but reading good Christian books has also been instrumental in building my faith. I review the books I read to help me remember and share what I’ve learned.
Who do you write for?
I write for those who want to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. Pastors as well as other church and ministry leaders have found my reviews helpful. I also have a soft spot for lovers of children’s books!
Where can people follow you?
My website is DiveInDigDeep.com, but most follow me on Instagram @diveindigdeep. I also write a weekly newsletter where I share my ministry, reviews, and all of the free eBooks I find on the Internet. I also include help to become better readers and writers, as well as weekly book giveaways.
What was your favourite book you read this year?
I have two standouts: Rich Wounds by David Mathis and Finding My Father by Blair Linne were both insightful and incredible books!
Why do you write book reviews?
I review books, because I LOVE books and want to share that love with my littles. Even better when the books will help our littles fall in love with the Bible. I know I'm not the only mom who feels this way, so I love to share the books we are loving and connect others to resources their family will enjoy.
Who do you write for?
My audience is parents of preschoolers 0-5 years old.
Where can people follow you?
I can be found at www.babydevotions.com and @babydevotions on Instagram.
What was your favourite book you read this year?
My favourite read this year has been La Creación de Dios tan Colorida. It's the Spanish edition of God's Very Colourful Creation by Tim Thornborough. We love this series in general. Anytime I bring it to my preschool Sunday School class all the 3 year-olds are silent, on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens. However, my kids' dominant language is Spanish. So whenever we see you've released a new Spanish edition we are quick to pick it up. Especially in this series. Finding a faith-filled book in Spanish with diverse skin tones represented is a rare treasure. We have been so impressed with the Spanish translations of all your books, and this series is such a gift to be able to share with my littles in their heart language. La Creación de Dios tan Colorida is for sure a favourite because it's the latest book we've picked up from you all, but we will continue to come back for more libros that help my kids see the Bible is for them too.
Why do you write book reviews?
I love to share the spiritual books that are enriching my own walk with the Lord and ministry as an ordained minister. There is a wonderful online global community of Christians engaging and sharing good biblical resources and it’s a real joy to be a part of it.
Who do you write for?
The great thing about Instagram is the global reach of it, so I have the joy of interacting with Christians right across the globe, many of whom are Christians who have a hunger for sound doctrine and biblical books and resources. It’s great being able to interact in sharing our enjoyment and appreciation of good books and biblical resources.
Where can people follow you?
My Instagram page is “BibleBooksTheology”.
What was your favourite book you read this year?
It’s really hard to pick just one book as there have been so many good ones that I have had the privilege of reading and reviewing! But if I had to choose just one, then I would go for Theology for Ministry (Edited by Edwards, Ferguson and Van Dixhoorn, P&R Publishing). Written by several different authors to honour the ministry of Sinclair Ferguson, Theology for Ministry is a wonderful, practical systematic theology resource, particularly for those of us who are engaged in full-time ministry, and it’s one of those books that I wished had been around when I was a theology student and in my early days of ministry!
Why do you write book reviews?
I review books because I want to share and help guide people to sound authors and biblical content. When I began reading Christian books, I had no idea what was theologically sound or what was dangerous, and years later I realised I had a lot of heretical books in my collection, and I don't want people to make the same mistake l did.
Who do you write for?
My audience is mainly those who are Christians and who desire to know more about the faith and God Who we serve
Where can people follow you?
@reformedandreading on Instagram
What was your favourite book you read this year?
Divine Providence by Stephen Charnock but a VERY close second was Into His Presence by Tim Chester.
Why do you write book reviews?
I am a big book-lover myself. Reading with my children as well as by myself or with my husband is one of my highlights each day! Over the years, I have come to know and love so many books that the desire to share my favourites with the world started growing bigger and bigger! I love introducing Christian as well as wholesome books.
Who do you write for?
The majority of my audience is mothers! Homeschooling mothers are in the majority, as well as those with younger children (elementary & middle school-aged children).
Where can people follow you?
You can follow along on Instagram as well as Facebook! I also recently started a podcast on which I talk about all things books and family discipleship and will also interview authors and fellow book-lovers!
What was your favourite book you read this year?
My favourite mum-read was Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito, my favourite new devotional was Into His Presence by Tim Chester, and one of my favourite picture books for all ages was Old and New Friends by Casey Martin.
Why do you write book reviews?
I love reviewing books for so many reasons! Primarily, I love to share books that have impacted me in a powerful way, or books that I believe were written with excellence. It's fun to be able to promote a new author's work, or to share a book from the "old days," that not many people today have read. I also love to review books because it gives me a creative outlet and an opportunity to dialogue with other readers.
Who do you write for?
I don't pay much attention to the statistics of my "reach," but I'd guess the majority of people following my account are Christian women.
Where can people follow you?
You can follow me at @sincerely_reading on Instagram.
What was your favourite book you read this year?
My favourite fiction book this year was The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold. My favourite non-fiction book was Holiness by J.C. Ryle.
Why do you write book reviews?
I review books because I want parents to have access to free book reviews that are filtered through a Biblical Christian Worldview
Who do you write for?
My audience is parents, grandparents, and other adults in search of books both they and the children in their lives will love.
Where can people follow you?
My website www.GoodBookMom.com
Instagram @goodbookmom
Facebook @Good Book Mom
What was your favourite book you read this year?
That is SO hard to choose, but possibly The Dream Keeper Saga by Kathryn Butler
Abigail Talbott is the Publicity Manager at The Good Book Company. She and her husband Thomas and daughter Evangeline attend Grace Church in Martinsburg, WV. She enjoys coffee, classic literature, and nachos.
