Discover Your Next No-and-Low-Spice Read

Since we just entered cozy-reading season, I thought I'd help readers who are in search of no-and-low-spice novels.

My recommendation? Check out MadiUnruhBooks.

I met Madi Unruh last month at the ACFW conference in Springfield, MO. We happened to sit at the same table for dinner one night, and I was impressed with this author/Instagram creator. We enjoyed chatting about books and writing.

Madi is not only an author (who was a finalist for ACFW's Genesis Award), but she's also an Instagram book reviewer.

If you want fun, accurate book reviews, follow her Instagram page.

If you'd like to have her book reviews sent to your inbox, Madi also has a newsletter you can join. Her newsletter provides reviews of the books she read the previous month, along with the rating, genre, spice level, language warning, and content warning for each book reviewed.

After the conference ended, I went to the airport, and Madi was waiting for her flight. While chatting and decompressing about the conference, I admitted I had to leave a pair of shoes behind at the hotel so I could pack the books I bought. She did the same thing!

I suspect we may not have been the only writers who bought too many books at the conference and chose books over shoes. Who knew discarding shoes for books was a thing? Ha!

Madi has graciously agreed to be a guest today so you can get to know her, too. Madi writes books and creates her Instagram content from Southern California.

Madi's book, which was a finalist in the Genesis Contest, From the Ashes, is a Christian contemporary romance novel. It's a modern retelling of Ruth and Boaz: A woman fleeing abuse finds refuge with a man of faith, but her criminal past and a relentless ex bring her face-to-face with one question—is redemption worth the vulnerability it requires? (Say a prayer she finds the perfect agent and an editor who loves her story!)

1. How long have you been running your bookstagram account?

I started my account in December of 2024, so I'm coming up on one year of bookstagramming! I launched it after completing the first draft of my novel, hoping to connect with other women who love Christian fiction.

It was an intimidating step, but it's ended up being such a fun community—I’m so thankful! I've done the work of understanding the algorithm (as much as you can), finding a way to add real value to my audience, and creating regular content, but I know without a doubt that it's God Who's given the growth! 

2. As an author, how does reviewing novels affect your writing?

I think it's Gary Paulsen who said the writers should "read like a wolf eats." Reviewing books every month from a Christian worldview keeps me reading widely and reading critically! I'm better connected to what my audience does (and doesn't) enjoy in fiction, which helps me shape my own stories. I also get to sample so many different styles and worlds! It's increased my respect for every writer brave enough to put their book out there and helped me separate what's objectively important in good writing and what's just a matter of taste. I've grown in confidence for my own voice as well as respect for different styles!

4. What’s your favorite genre, and what range of books do you enjoy reading?

My favorite genre could basically be boiled down to romance. I like romantasy, contemporary romance, rom coms, historical romance, dystopian, mystery, whatever, as long as we have a good romance subplot. The only genre I don't like at all is horror. 

5. What do you see as the up-and-coming genre?

Romantasy is definitely having a moment, and I think (and hope!) it's here to stay for a while! There's a huge demand for romantasy that isn't smut. We need more Christian writers in this space!

7. How much of yourself do you write into your characters?

Myself? Not much. The people around me? None of them are safe! Every character I write is grounded in someone I know and love. It's a lot easier for me to write realistic characters when I can fill in real-life details (always positively, of course, and always with permission). 

9. When did you first discover you were a writer?

Is it super cheesy to say that's something I've always known? I'm going to say it anyway. From encouraging elementary school teachers and my mom feeding me endless stories to giving my life to Jesus, thanks to Christian fiction (The Christy Miller series to be specific), there's never been a time when I didn't wholeheartedly believe I was created to write books! It's always been a question of when rather than if, and I'm so thankful to be stepping into it! 

10. You’re a wife, a mom, a writer, and you maintain a very active Instagram account. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

This is a good question, and I wish I had an easy answer. I've got four kids, ages seven and under, who are partially homeschooled, a part-time job as a copywriter, and a full-time job as a missionary for a youth-focused missions organization. We're busy! But I'm a big proponent of Eugene H. Peterson's concept of a long obedience in the same direction. I look at my life and who I want to be in ten years, and then I map out what it will take for me to get there in five years, one year, one month, this week, and today. I do the 'today' and trust that the little daily steps will add up to the whole. One of our family mottos is that Unruh's are intentional. I believe wholeheartedly that a little bit of faithfulness and discipline add up to a lot more than any amount of natural talent. That's the philosophical answer. The practical one is that I schedule weekly time to read, write, and create content in the early hours before my kids are awake or during nap and quiet time, and then I do it no matter what! Also, no matter what, I start each day with Jesus. Everything else flows from that.

13. Madi, how can readers find you on the Internet?

The best way to connect with me is on Instagram and by joining my newsletter!