41 Comments
User's avatar
Reb Smyth's avatar

Instead of reading books I already own I just went ahead and bought Heating and Cooling from this list. Oops. Maybe 2026 will be my year.

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

hahaha I fully support this decision

Expand full comment
Katie Blackburn's avatar

Dead 💀 (also, planned on doing the same 😂)

Expand full comment
Kaitlin Rogers's avatar

I loved The Tender Bar!! Read it in 2010, and I can still access some of what it made me feel. I’d like to read Book of Longings. Love that you’re doing this!

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

Thanks, Kaitlin!

Expand full comment
Maggie Couch's avatar

I love this post and can’t wait for the follow up with your thoughts on these books :)

Heating and Cooling is fantastic! There’s one essay with a fantastic punch line I will never forget. I don’t want to ruin it but let me know when you’re done! I bet you’ll be able to guess which essay I’m talking about.

I’ve read three of Maggie O’Farrell’s books and The Marriage Portrait is unquestionably at the bottom of the pack. If you don’t love it, maybe try This Must Be the Place. I love that one so much I gave it to a few people for Christmas this year.

The Book of Longing broke my heart and is an all time favorite. I can’t wait for you to report back!!

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

I’m reading The Plan now and think Heating and Cooling will be my next pick!

Expand full comment
Stacy Bronec's avatar

How dare you suggest I read one of the many books I already own?! 😂 (I really should do this, too.) Heating & Cooling is so good, you'll fly through it!

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

I know, I’m such a jerk!

Expand full comment
Christina's avatar

Heating and Cooling is the book in both stacks 😊

I have one book that I’m trying to read through, it’s called Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I have to pause a lot and re read. It may take me 6 months!

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

I want to read that one!

Expand full comment
Sara Koert's avatar

I’m reading that one right now with a woman I mentor—about 3/4 done. It’s a good one to discuss with someone…mind stretching theology! Gentle and Lowly is one I want to re-read…I think I underlined the entire thing 😅

Expand full comment
Crystal Rowe's avatar

When are you reading The Tender Bar? I want to read with!!

The Book of Longings is amazing and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

I don't have a date in mind for any of these books, so I'm game to read The Tender Bar whenever works for you! *YAY!*

Expand full comment
Fay Gordon's avatar

Really excited for you two to discover The Tender Bar. I LOVED it. I listened to it, and it is excellent on audio (great character voices)

Expand full comment
Kendra Kruckenberg's avatar

Ok, but is it bad that in stark contrast to the goal here, I added like four books to my TBR list?? 🫠

Expand full comment
Megan Temte's avatar

I actually love this as a reading goal! I did not finish so many books this last year simply because I wasn't fast enough to get through them before the digital library loan expired, so I like the idea of reading the physical books on my shelf so I actually have time to get through them....

Expand full comment
Fay Gordon's avatar

No judgment if you give up on The Marriage Plot! I absolutely adored her memoir, “I am, I am, I am,” but I could NOT get into the marriage plot.

That DKG memoir sounds fantastic! Love a mother-daughter book club ❤️

Expand full comment
Brooke Shorey's avatar

*adds books to TBR*

this year's reading goal is 60!

Expand full comment
Alyssa Silvester's avatar

Loved Heating & Cooling and Gentle & Lowly!

Expand full comment
Valerie S's avatar

I love this idea!! I loved The Book of Longings and can’t wait to hear what you think. I also own and have never read On Writing and I’m hoping to read it this year too! Thanks for mentioning my post! :)

Expand full comment
Laura Bass's avatar

I loved The Secret Life of Bees too—excited to hear what you think about The Book of Longings!

Expand full comment
Kristina Tucker's avatar

So many of these look like great reads! I am going to follow you and Laura's lead and make a list of my own- this was a fun read and great inspiration!

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

Thanks, Kristina!

Expand full comment
Amber Cook's avatar

The book of longings was such an intriguing book. I read it a few years ago now but I remember being in awe when I finished it

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

I love finishing a book with a sense of awe!

Expand full comment
Amber Cook's avatar

Me too! Though I often find myself in a book slump after that 😂

Expand full comment
Laura Rennie's avatar

Have you read Peace Like a River? If not, put it on your list!

Expand full comment
Amber Cook's avatar

I don't think so! Adding it now!

Expand full comment
Melissa Kutsche's avatar

This is my 2025 reading goal, too: books I already own or can borrow. Maybe this is the year I’ll stick to it!

Expand full comment