• mamahood
    • homeschool
    • Maxwell
    • Natalie
    • Marigold
    • Landon
    • baby things
  • faith
    • 23 identities (PDF)
    • Tanzania + Compassion
  • inspiration
    • our home
    • books
    • lifestyle
    • marriage
    • homeschool
    • simple living
    • we’re debt free!
    • book recommendations
  • homeschool
  • devotionals
    • (in)courage Devotional Bible
    • 31 Days of Prayer for the Dreamer & Doer
  • new? start here

Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / Book Recommendations

Book Recommendations

(You can read all blog posts on books/reading by clicking HERE.)

Reading is one of my favorite past times as a mother, partly because it means the house is unusually quiet but mostly because it’s a chance for me to sit down and learn, laugh, lament. I really enjoy the rest reading brings.

Below is a list of books I’ve really enjoyed, organized by category, with the newest at the top.

C H R I S T I A N  L I V I N G

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins

Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman

You and Me Forever by Francis Chan & Lisa Chan

Beholding and Becoming by Ruth Chou Simons

Dear Daughters by Susie Davis

Have More Fun by Mandy Arioto

A Prairie Girl’s Faith by Stephen W. Hines

Own Your Life by Sally Clarkson

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado

The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

Falling Free by Shannan Martin

Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman

The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

No More Faking Fine by Esther Fleece

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Wild and Free by Jess Connolly & Hayley Morgan

Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood by Melissa B. Kruger

The Lifegiving Home by Sally & Sarah Clarkson

Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman

A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman

H O M E S C H O O L I N G

The Call of the Wild + Free by Ainsley Arment

Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

C L A S S I C S

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

C R E A T I V E  W R I T I N G

Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

D E C O R A T I N G  &  D E S I G N

Design Mom: How to Live with Kids by Gabrielle Stanley Blair

Cozy Minimalist Home by Myquillyn Smith

The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines

Nesting Place by Myquillyn Smith

F I C T I O N

The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Where’d you go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

H I S T O R I C A L  F I C T I O N

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

M E M O I R

Educated by Tara Westover

All The Pretty Things by Edie Wadsworth

Look at You Now by Liz Pryor

Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

T I M E  M A N A G E M E N T

Big Dreams, Daily Joys by Elise Blaha Cripe

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living by Meik Wiking

My Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner

The House That Cleans Itself by Mindy Starns Clark

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner

Affiliate links included throughout. If you make a purchase through Amazon I may receive a small percentage of commission.

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • LinkedIn
ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
READ MORE >>
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Join over 4,400 women who receive Maggie Whitley Designs inspiration & encouragement:

 

Loading

instagram

maggiewhitley

JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

✨ see #maggiewhitleydotcom for the full post ✨
I took off my “comparison / contemplation” gla I took off my “comparison / contemplation” glasses last month and it’s been soooooo good. See also: sooooo hard (because life is never and/or). I’ve been writing more, reading more, spending more time outside. Talking to friends faces and smelling their detergent. My heart feels lighter. I’m sharing a few updates on my blog if you’d like to read? 🌾🤓blog reading & writing is a much better pace for me. You too? Link in profile.
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
.
.
.
.
.
#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️ Current backyard status: stunning in wonder ❄️✨
A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.