{"title":"2026 Christy Award Finalists: General Christian Fiction","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis year's list features an inspiring selection of powerful and thought-provoking stories that delve deep into themes of faith, hope, and redemption. Discover the books that have captivated readers and earned a spot among the year’s most celebrated works in the genre.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-bitter-end-birding-society","title":"The Bitter End Birding Society","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eA forbidden romance, a fractured family, and one woman's journey to piece it all together.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHometown hero Ana Leigh Watkins ventures to Bitter End, Tennessee, to help her great-aunt prepare for retirement. A town called Bitter End seems an ironic place for Ana to refresh her weary spirit, but she's desperate for respite from the attention and unwarranted admiration of her community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile on a hike in Roan Mountain, a ragtag group of amateur bird-watchers takes her under their wing — a little against her will. However, she quickly warms to these genuine souls seeking solace in the great outdoors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut when Ana's adventures in Bitter End lead her to a severed branch of her family tree — one that involves the forbidden love between a moonshiner's daughter and a preacher's son — what began as a getaway to help her great-aunt becomes a transformative journey that binds together two women who, though they live on the same street, have been estranged for sixty years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn immersive faith-based novel of finding belonging, reconciliation, and new beginnings for fans of southern fiction. This narrative of friendship and community makes for a perfect book club selection.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Amanda Cox","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52367839297837,"sku":"9780800746612","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0720\/9821\/8285\/files\/The_Bitter_End_Birding_Society_a20ce504-4830-4dc6-bb63-4094de3ed1ae.jpg?v=1789352636"},{"product_id":"south-of-somewhere","title":"South of Somewhere","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eA heartfelt story of self-discovery, forgiveness, and second chances.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Juniper Wilder's grief spiraled into addiction, leading first to an arrest for drunk driving, then jail and court-ordered rehab, she lost the most important thing in her life: her baby girl. Now, sober and on probation, Junie is determined to prove she can be the mother Fern deserves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut she's burned a lot of bridges, ones that can't be easily rebuilt.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot every road is closed to her, however. Exiled to her late grandmother's South Carolina beach house, Junie starts over, ready to pay off her debts and prove to her brother that he can safely return custody of Fern. She works hard and finds surprising grace in an eclectic recovery community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's an unexpected friendship, too — and maybe more — with her neighbor, Henry, a quirky college professor who helps her believe in second chances.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill, it's hard for Junie to imagine ever forgiving herself, let alone receiving forgiveness from those she's hurt . . . particularly when her past rears its ugly head and threatens to undo every bit of progress she's made.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"T. I. Lowe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52367839363373,"sku":"9798400507816","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0720\/9821\/8285\/files\/South_of_Somewhere_1260968a-5de3-44ad-a2d1-b319a48977d6.jpg?v=1789352639"},{"product_id":"when-the-road-comes-around","title":"When the Road Comes Around","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eOnly trouble can bring about the beauty of redemption and grace.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the small town of Grady, Montana, twenty-four-year-old Tad Bungley has a reputation for trouble. When he lands a job at Come Around Ranch, however, his life seems to take a positive turn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs he develops a soft spot for Sam, the ranch owner's disabled son, and a special bond with TJ, a rescue horse with a poor reputation of his own, Tad becomes determined not to bungle it up this time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForty-eight-year-old Anita Wilson is too young to feel so old, but rheumatoid arthritis limits her ability to work on the guest ranch she owns with her husband. It was a risk to hire Tad for the summer, but Anita is convinced he just needs a bit of encouragement to find his footing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat she doesn't anticipate is that Tad's presence at the ranch will change everything, including her relationship with her son. And when Tad finds himself in more of a mess than ever, he and Anita must learn when to hold on, when to let go, and what grace really means.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFor fans of Fredrik Backman, small-town stories, middle-age characters, redemption arcs, and second chances, a clean, gently humorous contemporary novel by Katie Powner set near the mountains of rural Montana.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Katie Powner","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52367870034221,"sku":"9780764245169","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0720\/9821\/8285\/files\/When_the_Road_Comes_Around_d6ba8efc-c661-4d9f-acbd-f5b5eab1306f.jpg?v=1789351778"}],"url":"https:\/\/christianbooks.today\/fr\/collections\/general-christian-fiction-2026-christy-award-finalists.oembed","provider":"Christian Books Today","version":"1.0","type":"link"}