Some books are simply enjoyable. Others fade from memory soon after you close the cover. But every once in a while, a book changes you. It lingers in your thoughts, shifts your perspective, and quietly becomes part of the way you move through the world. I’ve read many books I’ve loved, but a handful have truly left their mark on me. Though not necessarily my top favorite books, these are the ones that helped me grow, reshaped how I think, or deepened my appreciation for life’s quiet moments.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
This book is like a warm hug. With its tender love story and a touch of magical realism, it invited me to look at the everyday through a softer lens. It’s full of food and flowers and family and romance and small-town life, all laced with wonder. Reading it made me more attentive to beauty in the ordinary. A garden, a meal, a moment of stillness—there’s magic there if we’re paying attention. I often do say this is my favorite book.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
I read this at a time when I was searching for something more. The story’s message is deceptively simple: sometimes the treasure we’re looking for is already right where we are. It taught me to stop waiting for the “big thing” and to start paying attention to the work, the people, and the purpose already in front of me. There is so much value in blooming where you’re planted. Before we got married, Matthew read this book at my recommendation and also was a fan.

The Bombshell Manual of Style by Laren Stover reminded me that confidence can be cultivated, that beauty and femininity don’t have to be shallow, and that a little lipstick and flair can be its own kind of rebellion. It encouraged me to take joy in expressing myself outwardly while continuing to grow inwardly. The illustrations are so fun, too.

Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore
This book was a lifeline. In a season when I felt stuck and emotionally exhausted, Beth Moore offered both spiritual encouragement and practical wisdom. She writes with such clarity and compassion, gently helping readers recognize destructive patterns and walk toward healing. I’ve returned to her words more than once, always finding something that speaks to me in a new way.

Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery
I loved Anne Shirley, but Emily captured a different part of my heart. She’s quieter, a little more mysterious, and deeply imaginative. This book reminded me of the quiet richness of childhood, of walking alone in the woods, writing stories in secret notebooks, and dreaming big dreams. Emily helped me reconnect with that wide-eyed version of myself and embrace the quiet joys of daily life. She also gave me permission to be a little shy.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
This one completely changed how I think about food. It gave me a clearer understanding of how food is grown, processed, and brought to our tables. It also deepened my desire to feed my family in a thoughtful, grounded way. It’s not about chasing perfection but about becoming more aware and intentional. We still eat pizza and boxed mac and cheese sometimes, but I care more now about where things come from and how we share them together.

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
I think about this book all the time. It’s full of fascinating stories and surprising insights about what shapes success. Gladwell reveals how timing, opportunity, and environment often play as big a role as talent or hard work. It helped me understand that there’s more to every story than meets the eye. It made me more compassionate and more curious, two qualities I always want to grow in.

Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman
This book came to me when I was pregnant with my first child, and I’m so glad it did. It gave me a completely different vision for motherhood, one that felt calm, confident, and sustainable. It helped me understand that children thrive when they are invited into the rhythm of family life. We learned to eat meals together, to have conversations at the table, to offer structure and kindness without revolving everything around the child. It still influences how I parent today.

All You Need to Be Impossibly French by Helena Frith Powell
This book made me rethink the way I take care of myself. It’s light and fun but also quietly revolutionary. It helped me see that self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be found in little daily rituals, getting dressed, brushing my hair, enjoying a slow lunch. I read it during a season when it was easy to let myself slip to the bottom of the priority list, and it helped me make space for small, sustaining joys again. Helena felt like an older sister, showing me how to wear red lipstick and use a night cream.

As much as I treasure these books, there’s one that continues to change me in ways no other can—the Bible. It’s the book I return to again and again, not just for encouragement or wisdom, but for truth. It has shaped the foundation of who I am and continues to guide my decisions, my parenting, my relationships, and the way I see the world. The others are lovely and helpful, but Scripture is living and active. It speaks to my soul and reminds me who I am and whose I am.

Each of these books came to me at just the right moment, like a wise friend with exactly the words I needed. They’ve shaped the way I live, parent, cook, think, and notice beauty. That’s what I love most about reading. You never know when a book will change your life, or when a quiet little story will hand you something you didn’t know you were missing.