Reader Spotlight: Books Written by ERB Readers!

Over the years, we’ve developed a wonderful and loyal readership here at The Englewood Review of Books! As you might imagine, many of those readers are also writers. As a token of gratitude for the support and engagement of our audience, we decided to share the first-ever ERB Reader Spotlight! The following list (and part 2 coming soon!) is composed of a variety of books written by members of the ERB audience, published January-August 2026. While our team has not yet read all these titles, we think there are many here that will be of interest! Enjoy! 

Part One of the reader spotlight features books in theology, biblical studies, ecclesiology, mission, and formation. Next week, we’ll feature general non-fiction, books for young readers, memoir, and more!

*** Want more great books?
Check out our most anticipated books of Fall 2026!

Englewood Review of Books
Reader Spotlight:

Beyond the Parameters: Imagining God’s World Without America by Richard Irwin

Published 24 Feb. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

In Irwin’s first book, he uses the book of Jeremiah to challenge Christians in America to think differently about our engagement with our nation.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who want a Biblical foundation to help understand America.”

 

Getting the Church Inside You: Balancing Faith and Action by Steven K. Parker

Published 27 Feb. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Parker is a veteran pastor who has put together this study and commentary on the book of Ephesians.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who are looking for ways to live out their faith between Sundays.”
 
 

Growing a Thriving Hope: Reverence and Delight by Jake Daghe

Published 12 Mar. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Daghe is a local Indianapolis author. This is the first book in a three-book series (though they can be read independently) about cultivating a deeper faith.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who are looking for a short but weighty guide towards deepening their maturity and growing their faith in Jesus.”

 

Magic & Melancholia: Recovering the Soul After Modernity by Laura McCormack

Published 13 Mar. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

McCormack is a teacher of philosophy with an impressive academic pedigree, and this book blends psychology and religion to explore conceptions of therapy, melancholy, and the soul.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who are interested in the human mind and soul, and the challenging of assumptions.”

 

My Sap is Rising: A Pilgrimage of Holistic Mental Health Healing with Hildegard of Bingen and Alfred Adler by Danae Ashley

Published 19 Mar. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Ashley draws connections between these two seemingly disparate historical figures–abbess Hildegard and psychologist Adler–to help the reader access and connect ancient wisdom to their modern life.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who enjoy spiritual memoir, personal reflection, historical exploration, and tending to mental health.”

 

Called to Serve, Gifted to Lead: A Biblical and Practical Case for Women in Ministry by Dawn Gentry

Published 28 Mar. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Scot McKnight called this “a hands-on to-do book,” and its subject matter is certainly relevant and top-of-mind to many of us.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who want to examine and understand a biblical and practical case for women in ministry so that every believer can use their God-given gifts for the benefit of the kingdom and the common good of the church.”

 

For Crying Out Love: Transform Suffering Through Gospel Stories, Prayer, and Love by Tim Kochems

Published 1 Apr. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

In this book, Kochems creatively engages scripture as a path toward prayer–with a particular focus on those who are suffering.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who know what it is like to face longterm or returning challenges or their remaining consequences, or readers who love people facing those challenges, while also open to a natural experience-near relational approach to prayer that is focused on love.”

 

Good News about Self-Care: How Nurturing Your Soul, Your Self, and Your Sanity Honors God by Benjamin Espinoza

Published 7 Apr. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Self-care has become a buzzword that may make many of us roll our eyes. Espinoza pushes past this surface-level understanding and gets to the deeper roots at the heart of this idea.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who long for a Christ-centered approach to self-care that pushes back against the unhealthy rhythms of society today.”

 

The Gospel of Being Human: How Asking Better Questions of the Bible Reveals Who We Are by Marty Solomon

Published 7 Apr. 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Marty Solomon is the host of the very popular BEMA Podcast. In this book, he reminds the reader that to be human is not a problem, and helps unpack what scripture says about identity.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who want to reconstruct a healthier theology surrounding sin and human belovedness.”

 

Reclaiming Vision: Clarifying the Call. Embracing the Blueprint by Dr. Reginald Charlestin

Published 4 May 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Dr. Charlestin is a spiritual director with years of experience in both clinical and pastoral settings. In this book, he parses out the often-elusive idea of “vision,” offering guidance and wisdom to readers.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who have ever wrestled with purpose, carried the weight of a calling, faced resistance while pursuing a dream, or wondered how to remain faithful to a vision when the path forward becomes unclear. Through biblical wisdom, leadership insight, and personal reflection, Reclaiming Vision offers a roadmap for discerning, stewarding, and sustaining what God has placed within you.”

 

1 Peter: Sustained by a Living Hope by Mariel Davenport

Published 5 May 2026 [ Buy Now ]

This book includes journaling pages, study tools, QR codes linked to videos, a leader’s guide, and more!

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who live in a world filled with hardships and trials and are discouraged. Using the TEND method of Bible study (to tend your soul like a garden) with Peter’s first letter to persecuted Christians, [this book] will help you remember God’s promises—including who He has made you to be.”

 

Visible and Apostolic: The Constitution of the Church in High Church Anglican and Nonjuror Thought, 1688-1745. by Robert D. Cornwall

Published 7 May 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Here’s one for the church history buffs among us! This is one of the more academic texts on this list.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers interested in the history of Christianity in England during the oft-ignored but important 18th century.”

 

Becoming a Friendlier Church: A Pathway to Genuine Community by Matthew D. Kim

Published 13 May 2026 [ Buy Now ]

Kim, a professor at Truett Seminary at Baylor, explores the many ways churches “unintentionally communicate insularity, apathy, busyness, prejudice, and the pursuit of comfort.”

From the author: “This book is a good choice for readers who want practical tools on how to become more hospitable and welcoming to church guests both personally and as a congregation.”

 

Encountering Mark’s Gospel with Soren Kierkegaard
Bryan M. Christman

Published 20 May 2026
[ Buy Now ]

Christman has written a whole series that explores a “Kierkegaardian” reading of Mark. This book serves as the introduction to that work!

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who want an introduction to Mark’s Gospel and Soren Kierkegaard.”

 

What Jesus Said: Exploring the Sermon on the Plain
George Hovaness Donigian

Published 26 May 2026
[ Buy Now ]

Personally, I found this subtitle instantly intriguing. Donigian explores Jesus’s sermon from Luke 6:17-49 and considers how it describes discipleship.

From the author: “The purpose of this book is to provide a fresh, biblical basis for the role of pastors in a changing North American context and to encourage a compelling vision for how those called to serve as pastor might live that out in the context of local congregations.”

 

Compelled: Nurturing Local Missional Communities. A Pastoral Theology
Kurt Fredrickson

Published 28 May 2026
[ Buy Now ]

Here at Englewood, we are always interested in new titles that explore the interplay between local congregations and their local contexts.

From the author: “The purpose of this book is to provide a fresh, biblical basis for the role of pastors in a changing North American context and to encourage a compelling vision for how those called to serve as pastor might live that out in the context of local congregations.”

 

The Sycomore Fig Tree: Biblical Botany and Scriptural Truth
Christine Norvell

Published 1 June 2026
[ Buy Now ]

The natural world is full of metaphors and images to help us understand God’s presence and work in the world more fully, and scripture is full of them. Norvell explores those images and our connections with them.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who hope to find hope and encouragement in God’s creation as they go through difficult life transitions.”

 

Love Unrelenting: Christian Universalist Testimonies
Amory Ewerdt (Contributor)

Published 9 June 2026
[ Buy Now ]

ERB Reader Ewerdt is one of many diverse contributors to this collection of essays and reflections, offering a perspective not always explored in Christian publishing.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who are looking for stories of people coming to embrace Christian Universalism from across a broad spectrum of Christian denominations.”

 

Spirituality in Pharmacy Practice: Perspectives on Whole-Person Care
Agatha Nolen

Published 22 June 2026
[ Buy Now ]

This book is a unique offering that explores a particular vocation, likely to be of interest to any who are curious about vocation, embodiment, and their relationship to our faith.

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who believe that we as humans flourish only when there is an interconnectedness of body, mind and spiritual health.”

 

The Great Reawakening: Humanity’s Return to Its Spiritual Roots
Matthew Camlin

Published 20 June 2026
[ Buy Now ]

Camlin, an experienced pastor and spiritual director, explores the concept of original blessing in this title, sure to be of interest to many in our current cultural moment!

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who feel a spiritual longing for connection with the divine and their fellow human beings, but are disillusioned by organized religion.”

 

Praying through Life’s Battles: 90 Days to Strengthen Your Faith
Rachel Wojo

Publishing 25 Aug. 2026
[ Buy Now ]

Wojo draws on her own experiences of parenting a child with special needs, as well as the biblical account of David and Goliath, to provide the reader with 90 days of prayers and devotions.
 

 

Too Sick to Pray: A Theology of Outlaw Country
Charles Howell

Publishing 25 Aug. 2026
[ Buy Now ]

So many ERB readers are interested in the intersections between faith, theology, culture, and art–don’t sleep on this unique offering in that space!

From the author: “This book is a great choice for readers who enjoy listening to Outlaw Country, reflect on theology and the arts, or are curious about religion in music.”

 
 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the ERB Reader Spotlight, which will feature fiction, poetry, and general nonfiction!