fiction – Rachel Yarworth, Writer

Why is it so hard to find decent Christian fiction? It’s really been bugging me recently. So in an attempt to find more, lately I’ve been following Rebecca Smiff on YouTube and enjoying her book recommendations. She recently posted a list of her favourites and it made me think about what my top 10 would be right now. So here we are. I’ve had a go at listing them in reverse order, as a kind of countdown, but the top three are all pretty equal, to be fair. The remaining seven tend to shift around as I’m discovering new books all the, but this is it for now. Maybe I’ll come back next year and see how much it’s changed…

We start with a book I have only just read…

10/ Theo of Golden – Allen Levi (contemporary fiction)
I finished this book last night, and have to admit, I still have a bit of a book hangover, so had to include it. In case you weren’t aware, it was no. 1 on the NYT best-seller list earlier this year, (so don’t go telling me that Christian fiction doesn’t sell!) Anyway, I wanted to see for myself what the fuss was about. Honestly, with my editor hat on, I was a little surprised by what HarperCollins allowed: POV hopping a-plenty, and a fair amount of omniscient narrator to boot. That said, I loathe the modern trends that insist you can’t ever POV hop or deploy a bit of omniscient narrative, so I found it easy to forgive. Because what this book does have in abundance, is heart. The main character is deeply altruistic but damaged enough to not be annoyingly perfect. Some of the other characters are truly compelling too (I want to be BFFs with Ellen). And the Gospel is presented in the perfect proportion for me: gently presented for all to see (esp by the end) but not in a preachy/ aggressive way. Fair warning, it will likely break your heart before the end, but the ending is 99% lovely (if you think you spot the 1% that I was unsatisfied by, let me know privately – this is a spoiler-free zone).

9/ Alabaster – Chris Aslan (Biblical fiction)
I read this one last year after somebody – sorry, I forget who – recommended the author. He has written several books, but this one is my favourite of his so far. I find it so helpful when authors use their imagination to expand and explore Scripture in a way that doesn’t disrespect or change God’s Word, but allows us to meditate on the Bible in greater depth.
This book explores the well-known story of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus from the New Testament in a truly beautiful and plausible way. I loved everything about it and immediately went looking for more of Chris Aslan’s books as a result.

8/ This Present Darkness – Frank Peretti (contemporary fiction)
One from my student days, I read this book at a time when my old simple childhood belief in God was starting to mature into an understanding of the spirit realm. This was the first book that really opened my imagination regarding the power of prayer in warfare, and I dare say those concepts have influenced my prayer life to a greater or lesser degree ever since. Recently I decided I needed to read it again, so I’m hoping I will still enjoy it the second time round.

7/ The Screwtape Letters – C S Lewis (Christian fiction)
Another from my student days. I had the joy of studying C S Lewis for my dissertation, and absolutely loved this clever book for its precise exposure of the subtle ways the enemy tries to influence our lives, helping us to stand stronger against temptation. It’s one of those examples of where a single work of fiction can be so much more memorable than multiple sermons.

6/ The Stranger – Joy Margetts (historical fiction)
Full disclosure, I am privileged to call Joy a friend, but I fell in love with her books before I ever met her, and this one is my favourite of her whole medieval series.
Not only is it a jolly good, immersive read, I love the Kingdom message that is woven throughout – how Joy is not afraid to tackle very real subjects of pain, discouragement and doubt, and to invite God into that space and let Him heal the reader who relates as they take the journey with Silas, the protagonist. It brought healing to my own journey as I read. That’s something I find over and over with Joy’s books, so they all – but this one in particular – deserve to be in this spot on my list regardless of our friendship.

And speaking of authors I am blessed to know personally…

5/ The Wanderer Scorned (and Reborn) – Natasha Woodcraft (Biblical fiction)
OK I have to be honest, I wasn’t drawn to this book initially. A re-telling of the story of Cain and Abel did not seem to be the kind of uplifting read I tend to prefer (I feel there’s enough darkness to deal with in the real world – I like to read books that help me focus on lovely things (Phil 4:8)). But I wanted to read it after I met the author – who is lovely – and I am SO GLAD I did!
It’s just so deep and rich. I love the world Natasha creates and the characters within. And what blew me away the most was the sympathy towards Cain (Kayin in the book) and how his downfall is so skillfully portrayed in such a way that we can all relate – how easy for one small misstep to lead to another and another, with disastrous consequences.
I must add that I recommend reading this immediately followed by the sequel – The Wanderer Reborn, which gives Kayin a beautiful redemptive resolution, but this book is the one that had a lasting impact on me, so it absolutely belongs in my list.

4/ The Last Sin Eater – Francine Rivers (historical fiction)
This was a surprise discovery this year. Of course I’ve heard of Francine Rivers before, but some of her books have been kind of hit & miss for me. I’m not really into the Christian romance genre, so the more relationship-heavy ones are not my thing (except Redeeming Love which I love because of it’s simply beautiful picture of Christ’s devotion to the Church) So when I came to this book I tried to keep my expectations neutral.
I simply loved it! Had a proper book hangover when it finished. Really well written, set in a community of Welsh immigrants in an Appalachian valley in the 1850s, steeped in superstition, all building to a perfect redemptive conclusion. Love, love, love it! It may climb even higher in my list over time, but the top three spaces are reserved for books that feel like family because of how often I return to them, so they are tough ones to beat.

They are…

3/ The Tanglewoods Secret – Patricia St John (children’s fiction)
St John’s, books are all so good at expressing truths in a way that children can grasp, and this one is my favourite, because it was the one that impacted me most as a child, and – I believe – was a contributing factor in the start of my own faith journey, as a 7 year old (gotta love a book that sets you on the right path from the start!) It helped that I really related to Ruth, the main character who wanted to be good but couldn’t help being naughty. I had heard of Jesus before reading this book, but I believe reading this helped me really see His love and fall in love with Him, so this book will always have a very special place in my heart.

2/ Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis (children’s fiction – and then some!)
OK this is technically seven books, but if I listed them individually I’d only have three spaces left on my list, so consider it a bonus!
Oh, and I know – two ‘children’s fiction’ entries in my top three! Yes I am a grown woman, but tbh, calling these children’s fiction is far too restrictive. I, and many other adults, return to these books often because of the deep truths reflected within. Age limits are not always applicable to a well-written story!
Every single one of the seven Chronicles are outstanding, but for a few years now my favourite has been The Silver Chair – probably because of its portrayal of the power of deception and the courage needed to stand against it. But quite simply, the whole series is my favourite audiobook set to play on long car journeys.

1/ Hinds Feet on High Places – Hannah Hurnard (Allegory)
If I had to choose one single fiction book that has impacted me more than any other, I would have to say this one as I found the protagonist, Much Afraid, and her stumbling journey to the High Places entirely relatable and encouraging to my relationship with God. It is just a beautiful picture of an individual’s walk with Jesus, and how it is HIS LOVE that overcomes our weaknesses in the end. It speaks to me every time I read it, making it the most re-read of my books, and certainly the one I have gifted most copies of to others.

So those are my top ten – what do you think? Did you spot any of your faves? Which ones did I miss? What would you recommend for me to read next?

It takes a village to raise a child, or so we are told. This week, having released twin book-babies into the world, I can confidently assert that the same is true when birthing books. It certainly takes a village to get them from conception to delivery…

It was almost a year ago that I felt God was leading me to take the idea of writing a book about the wilderness, to pull it out of my metaphorical TBW (to-be-written) pile, and to write it even while still experiencing a wilderness season of my own. I had conceived the spark of a divine idea. However, many people conceive book-ideas that never make it full term, and I can honestly say that over the past year if it were not for the love, support, advice, experience and hands-on help of my own village, I don’t think my two books would have made it to publication.

For a start there was my small group of writer-friends from the Kingdom Story Writers who when I bounced the idea off them didn’t respond with horror or laughter, but fully endorsed it, believed I could do it, and helped launch me on my journey. As I began writing they periodically checked in with encouragement, in particular when it came to Lent and I felt God was leading me to write a chapter a day. I really needed the accountability that came from sharing my goals with a group of supportive friends, to keep me on track. Every writer needs a squad of cheerleaders when trying to write a book. (If you don’t have one, I recommend joining a writing group, in person or online). Thus conception and the first trimester were complete.
Joy M, Joy V, Alex, Natasha, Jo… thank you.

Then once my first and second drafts were done, I reached out to my squad of beta-readers (some of whom came from the first group of cheerleaders). These are my friendly critics: experienced writers who know what they are talking about but have the grace to suggest improvements in a constructive way. Without knowing they had all cast their expert eyes over my book, I doubt I would have had the confidence to send it to those I hoped would endorse it – greatly respected Christian leaders. When they were all happy to give endorsements it was a real boost!. This felt like my second trimester when I started to ‘show’ and let others see what had been growing.
Again: Joy M, Joy V, Alex, and Natasha; Jenny, Chris, and Cath; Steve, Anne and Laurence… thank you.

Next came my lovely cover designer, line editor, proof-reader and formatter, all in one glorious human being. I handed my manuscript over to the excellent Liz Carter, secure in the knowledge that hers were very safe hands for it to be in. Being able to trust the publishing professionals you are working with is a blessing that cannot be taken for granted. I’ve heard some horrifying stories that have resulted in botched or unfinished books, and I am so grateful that God pointed me in Liz’s direction for my first book, so I have never needed to go elsewhere since. Once Liz had finished, I was at the finish line – third trimester complete, it was time for delivery.
Liz, you rock. Thank you x

And that brings us to this week. If you’ll pardon my stretching the metaphor further, I had been nesting like crazy – working intently to prepare the world for my babies’ arrival, with daily scheduled promos all over Social Media. It was intense, exhausting, and emotionally draining to the point where a set-back with my print-run felt utterly devastating. At that point I am most grateful for my lovely, beautiful village who rallied around: my friends who prayed for me, reached out and encouraged me, and in some cases put themselves out to offer very practical help, in order to get me to – and through – delivery.
All the aforementioned villagers, plus Mike, Mum, Aimee, Thelma, the Warrior Mums, our family prayer support group, the Kingdom Story Writers and Association of Christian Writers, and every person on social media who has liked, shared, commented, pre-ordered, and in any other way cheered me on… thank you. You all made a very real difference.

So this evening I am resting. Delivery complete, I have twin book-babies newly arrived in the world. And it took a whole village of people to get them here safely.