If you or someone on your shopping list loves to read clean fiction, a great starting point for finding books worth reading is the list of Christy Award nominees each year.
What are the Christy Awards?
The Christy Award was established in 1999 as a way to recognize the value and impact of faith-based novels in today’s culture. Since then, the awards have come to recognize the best of fiction written from a faith perspective and that have matters of faith at their core.
The awards are named in honor of Catherine Marshall and her novel Christy. First published in 1967, Christy — which was based on the life of Marshall’s mother — helped define what we know as Christian fiction today.
Awards are given across multiple genres to books first published during the past year. In addition, one entry is chosen for the Christy Amplify Award and one is chosen as Book of the Year.
2022 Christy Award nominees and winners
Book of the Year
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Amplify Award for Christian Fiction
In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
From The Christy Award website: The Christy Amplify Award for Christian Fiction is intended to elevate and recognize BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) stories and their authors in the Christy Award program; and to raise awareness of the Christy Award opportunity among Christian fiction authors who identify as members of an ethnic minority and have used that experience in their storytelling.
Contemporary Romance
All That Really Matters (winner) by Nicole Deese (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Bookshop by the Sea by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong (Kregel Publications)
First Novel
All That Is Secret (winner) by Patricia Raybon (Tyndale House Publishers)
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom (She Writes Press)
General Fiction
The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery (winner) by Amanda Cox (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Under the Magnolias by T. I. Lowe (Tyndale House Publishers)
Historical
Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Drawn by The Current (winner) by Jocelyn Green (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan (Love Inspired)
Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Historical Romance
As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham (Barbour Publishing)
Shadows of Swanford Abbey by Julie Klassen (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Until Leaves Fall in Paris (winner) by Sarah Sundin (Revell/ Baker Publishing Group)
Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
Aftermath (winner) by Terri Blackstock (Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The Barrister and the Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Short Form (Novella)
A Texas Christmas Carol (in Under the Texas Mistletoe) (winner) by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group)
Mr. Nicholas: A Magical Christmas Tale by Christopher de Vinck (Paraclete Press)
False Pretense by Heather Day Gilbert (WoodHaven Press)
Speculative
A Time to Seek by Tracy Higley (Stonewater Books LLC)
Dark Intercept by Brian Andrews & Jeffrey Wilson (Tyndale House Publishers)
Recorder by Cathy McCrumb (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Windward Shore (winner) by Sharon Hinck (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Young Adult
A Gently Tyranny by Jess Corban (Wander, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers)
Realms of Light by Sandra Fernandez Rhoads (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
Shadow (winner) by Kara Swanson (Enclave Publishing, a division of Oasis Family Media)
I’ve read several books on the list or have read other books by many of these authors, so would recommend any of these books based on that. Maybe this should be my starting point for 2023 reading. 🙂
Your turn:
If you’re a Christian fiction fan, who are some of your favorite authors? And if you’re on Goodreads, let’s find and follow each other so we can share about all the great things we’re reading.
No matter what genre you enjoy, find your next novel to read – or give to someone else – among the 2022 Christy Award finalists. #cleanfiction #christianfiction Click To Tweet
Leigh, I appreciate this amazing list of choices. I’m thankful for Christian fiction that give us these clean options that can also provide life’s teaching moments