February sales shook up the bestseller list with five of the top 10 titles— all by authors well known for their past books, podcasts and speaking engagements — were released last month. The books also share a common tone: They encourage readers to feel empowered, to lift their spirits, trust their faith, and step out into the world.
Pastor and church leadership expert Craig Groeschel’s Winning the War In Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Zondervan) based on his Embracing Change YouTube series, is in the #2 spot. It’s followed by Annie F. Downs’ That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, The Power of Falling in Love, And Why You Need A Hobby (Fleming H. Revell). Her podcast by that name reveals her as someone with a delight for life. The book is a cheery follow up to her 2019 title, Remember God, for readers faced with suffering and disappointment.
The books are sandwiched between two longstanding hits from Thomas Nelson. Lysa TerKuerst’s fall title, Forgiving What You Can’t Forget: Discover How to Move On, Make Peace with Painful Memories, and Create a Life that’s Beautiful Again remains #1 and Sarah’s Young’s 2004 title, Jesus Calling Enjoying Peace in His Presence is still #4.
A little farther down the list are two new titles on the ever-popular subject of prayer – with a twist. At #5 is Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone (HarperOne) by Jesuit and best-selling writer James Martin offering help for people struggling to find their voice. And at #9 A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal (Convergent Books) with prayers from two dozen progressive Christian women and essays by Christian author and speaker Sarah Bessey who edited the book.
Bible-based books always have a top 10 niche and the new one in February is Priscilla Shirer’s Elijah - Bible Study Book: Faith and Fire (LifeWay) at #7. Filling out the list are: Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts (WaterBrook) at # 6: Rockridge Press’s first Bible-based book, The Bible in 52 Weeks: A Yearlong Bible Study for Women by Kimberly D. Moore, at #8; and Shannon Roberts’ Prayer Journal for Women: 52 Week Scripture, Devotional & Guided Prayer Journal (PCG) at #10.
While nonfiction buyers shook up the chart in February, fiction lovers were locked in on the tried-and-true authors — eight of 10 the titles have been favorites for months if not years.
However, Wanda E. Brunstetter’s trio of three bestselling Amish romance novels under the umbrella title of Indiana Cousins (Barbour) knocked #10, The Oracle (Jonathan Cahn’s fourth book on January's bestseller list) out of the limelight.
Another book is returning to the list since it first appeared last summer. Linda Loigman’s The Wartime Sisters (St. Martin’s) is #8, taking one of Karen Kingsbury’s two January spots on the list. Truly, Madly, Deeply is off while Someone Like You (both from Atria) remains, now at #7.
Don’t cry for Cahn: His three remaining Frontline titles are still hot sellers. The Harbinger II: The Return is at #1, the original The Harbinger at #3, and The Mysteries at #9.
Repeating bestsellers include: Malka Adler’sThe Brothers of Auschwitz (One More Chapter) at #2; Francine Rivers' Redeeming Love (Multnomah) at #4; William Young’s The Shack (Windblown Media) at #5; C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce (HarperOne) at #6.
