As a difficult year comes to a close—a year rife with fraught political battles, wars, economic challenges, and maybe personal traumas as well—religion publishers are offering a number of new titles that promise help for readers eager to restart, strengthen and improve their life in 2025.
“People are hungry for freedom, purpose and peace. Transformational books offer that possibility,” said Keren Baltzer, associate publisher for Zondervan Books, which releases The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer a Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down-and-Out, and Everyone In Between in January.
It's written by therapist, Episcopal priest and Enneagram expert Ian Morgan Cron. Baltzer calls his writing “winsome, funny, highly relatable and very readable” and that he offers a “new way of living by giving readers transformative solutions so they can form new habits, new patterns, new behaviors—through the lens of the 12 Steps.”
Along similar lines, Tyndale Refresh will publish perennial bestselling author John Ortberg’s Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn’t Enough (Feb.). Ortberg also uses the framework of AA’s 12 Steps, which “boil down to the principles of Christian discipleship, to offer us a freeing, non-legalistic, and empowering way of living that turns our deepest vulnerabilities into strength, hurts into healing and desperation into hope,” says Tyndale executive publisher-at-large Jan Long Harris.
Harris adds, “We’re living in a time when everything seems chaotic and out of control, which exacerbates our vulnerabilities to anxiety, anger, depression, defensiveness, and the tendency we all have to turn to our favorite ‘addiction’ in a fruitless effort to escape our problems and pain.”
Ortberg has endorsed another book addressing addiction, whether to alcohol, perfectionism or anything else. It's titled Grace Yourself: How to Show Up for the Sober Life You Want by Chris Janssen (Mission Driven Press, Feb.). Janssen describes her transition to sobriety and offers the same transforming help to her readers as they discover the value and power residing within.
Tyndale Refresh will also publish Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days (Feb.) by trauma therapist Aundi Kolber. The book collects quotes from Kolber’s writings (Strong Like Water, Try Softer) and pairs them with visuals to “invite readers to experience and be moved by her message in a beautiful new way,” according to Jillian Schlossberg, who acquired the book. Kolber is a “fiercely compassionate and wise voice” who, Schlossberg says, "reminds people they aren’t alone on this courageous journey of healing.”
Transformation can take place even in the most difficult times, according to author Levi Lusko. His book, Blessed Are the Spiraling: How the Chaotic Search for Significance Can Lead to Joy Through Life’s Shifting Seasons (Thomas Nelson, Apr.) puts life’s changing seasons into a new perspective, moving from crises or feeling stuck to accepting and transforming into a place of contentment and blessing.
For readers struggling with an experience of rejection by someone or something they cared about, author Tabitha Panariso aims to help them transform their rejection into a closer relationship with Jesus and an opportunity for growth with her book Loyal in His Love: An Invitation to Be Held by Jesus When Others Let You Go (Zondervan Reflective, Jan.). As a professional counselor, Panariso understands how trauma affects the body and has studied Jesus’ own life of rejection. She begins each chapter with a breath prayer exercise that complements the discussion.
“Panariso holds the physical and spiritual together as she examines the trauma of rejection,” said Kyle Rohane, senior acquisitions editor for Zondervan Reflective. “By making readers aware of that dual nature of rejection, she can prescribe a comprehensive remedy in the embrace of Christ and the transformation found in his resurrection.”
Addressing trauma can be a big part of a personal transformation process. Three upcoming books look into both healing from trauma and moving outward to help others heal.
You Don’t Need to Forgive: Trauma Recovery on Your Own Terms by Amanda Ann Gregory (Broadleaf, Jan.) is a resource for survivors and clinicians who see toxic positivity and moralism in many books and programs that pressure people to forgive. Her book explores elective forgiveness and the dangers of forced forgiveness.
Trauma Aware: A Christian’s Guide to Providing Help and Care by Eliza Huie (Harvest House, Feb.) is for those who have experienced trauma or want to help others who have. It demystifies trauma and offers practical information and guidance for those on the road to transformation.
Put Your Past in the Past: Why You May be Reenacting Your Trauma, and How to Stop by Beverly Engel (Broadleaf, Mar.) offers a comprehensive guide for emotional reenactment of past traumas and help for readers to transform and truly heal.
