Tough Stuff: “Real Life” Reading
Heart Happy
Audio By Carbonatix
I’ve heard it said before that novels written by Christians don’t relate to “real life.” Some like to think that we hide away in our safe little world and ignore the tough stuff. (As if we aren’t in the midst of living through many of the same issues!)
I’ve written stories about children born out of wedlock, children abandoned by parents, wives abandoned by husbands, and true loves separated by circumstances—and that’s just in four books. I explore these issues because, although I haven’t lived through the exact same things, I have dealt with issues of loss, pain, abandonment, and unfulfilled longings.
But my novels aren’t the only ones out there that deal with tough stuff. This list has books on lots of “real life” issues, and I hope you’ll find some books here worth reading!
Social Issues Addressed in Christian Fiction:
Abortion:
Tears in a Bottle by Sylvia Bambola
The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers
Alcoholism/Drug Abuse:
Beyond the Shadows by Robin Lee Hatcher
Looking for Cassandra Jane by Melody Carlson
Shadow of Dreams by Eva Marie Everson & G.W. Francis Chadwick
Breast Cancer:
After Anne by Roxanne Henke
Domestic Violence:
Sadie’s Song by Linda Hall
Serenity Bay by Bette Nordberg
A Nest of Sparrows by Deborah Raney
Drunk Driving:
The Living Stone by Jane Orcutt
After the Rains by Deborah Raney
Waiting for Morning by Karen Kingsbury
Homosexuality/AIDS:
Tiger Lillie by Lisa Samson
Spring Rain by Gayle Roper
A Season of Grace by Bette Nordberg
Infertility:
The Long-Awaited Child by Tracie Peterson
Lullaby by Jane Orcutt
In a Heartbeat by Sally John
Infidelity/Divorce:
The Forgiving Hour by Robin Lee Hatcher
The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers
The Breaking Point by Karen Ball
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Mental Illness/Depression/Suicide:
Finding Alice by Melody Carlson
Songbird by Lisa Samson
When Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury
The Living End by Lisa Samson
The Novelist by Angela Hunt
Pregnancy Out of Wedlock:
Child of Grace by Lori Copeland
A Moment of Weakness by Karen Kingsbury
Arms of Deliverance by Tricia Goyer
Rape/Incest/Sexual Abuse:
What She Left for Me by Tracie Peterson
When You Believe by Deborah Bedford
Why the Sky is Blue by Susan Meissner
Mending Places by Denise Hunter
The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers
Antonia’s Choice by Nancy Rue
In the Still of Night by Deborah Raney
A Nest of Sparrows by Deborah Raney
Do you have any you can add to the list? Tell us in the comment section below!
Additional Resources
Journal Through the Bible in 2024
Have you ever wanted to read through the Bible but found yourself giving up? Or even worse, you read the chapters and at the end question how they apply to your life. Tricia Goyer understands. For years she felt frustrated that she couldn’t stick to her commitment to read God’s Word all the way through. Things changed when she found a doable plan and wrote out a daily prayer. Tricia’s heart changed. Her life did, too.
God can bring real transformation into your heart and life when you daily commit to reading your Bible and praying through God’s Word. Praying through the Bible in One Year offers a guided reading plan and a daily prayer starter to help you make God’s Word applicable to your life. Discover the inspiration for real-life transformation.
