My Top 10 Wholesome Picks: Content for Your Faith-Filled Heart

Dear Friend,

In an effort to break my habit of doom scrolling before bed, I’ve decided to focus on reading instead. This has been a bit of a challenge—I need a book interesting enough to keep me off my phone, but not so interesting that I end up reading until 2 a.m. After thoughtful consideration, I landed on The Chronicles of Narnia series.

Reflecting on my reading habits and discussing this with friends has made me realize how difficult it can be to find movies, TV shows, music, and books that I truly feel comfortable with. So much of today’s media is saturated with violence, overly sexualized themes, or messages that feel hollow or even toxic. In a world with an overwhelming amount of entertainment options, finding content that uplifts, inspires, and aligns with my values often feels like an uphill battle.

For a long time, I thought that the media I consumed didn’t really affect me. But as I’ve grown in my faith, I’ve noticed how much more sensitive I’ve become to what I watch, read, and listen to. It matters—and I’m learning to be more intentional about choosing stories that nurture my heart and mind.

As Catholic women striving to live our faith, the media we consume matters deeply. What we watch and read shapes our thoughts, influences our actions, and feeds our spirit. Clean, wholesome content doesn’t just avoid the bad—it fills our hearts with good stories, hope, and values that resonate with our deepest beliefs.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of ten movies and books that are both wholesome and wonderfully entertaining, and are either personal favorites or highly recommended by close friends

Movies

1. Little Women (2019)
   I watched this before reading the book or seeing the older movies and it has been one of my favs for years. The story has real high and lows of life and depicts beautiful sisterhood.  
2. Return to Me (2000)
   My friend Terese’s (a true romcom expert) favorite movie. It’s a sweet but unexpected romance with some good comedy. A good wholesome Romcom.
3. The Sound of Music (1965)
   A CLASSIC.  I mean Julie Andrews, nuns, singing and dancing in Salzburg, Vienna… What more could you ask for?!?
4. Les Misérables (2012)
   Another musical, but I couldn’t help myself.
5. Cinderella (2015)
   IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THIS LIVE ACTION DROP EVERYTHING AND DO SO RIGHT NOW!! My roommates and I used to watch the ballroom scene several times a week lol. The virtue that Cinderella portrays is actually inspiring.
6. The Princess Bride (1987)
   “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father… prepare to die.” This movie is another classic and has a little something for everyone.
7. Enchanted (2007)
   Disney and the real world collide. The perfect blend of fairy-tale magic and real-world humor. Another one of my favs since childhood.
8. Anne of Green Gables (1985)
   A new discovery of mine, but and old favorite of my roommate Molly. If you haven’t fallen in love with Anne Shirley yet, you’re in for a treat. This story is full of heart, faith, and all the feels.
9. The Greatest Showman (2017)
   Just recently watched this with some of my pals and what a story of dreaming and redemption. Also the song From Now On…
10. Christopher Robin (2018)
    Such a cute and underrated movie! A warm and fuzzy throwback to childhood that reminds you of what really matters in life. .

Books

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
   I have not actually read these, but I read the Hobbit over the summer and the books are next on my list! A timeless epic of good versus evil with rich Christian allegories about hope and redemption.
2. Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
   My current read. They are written for children, but still really good stories with profound allegories of faith.
3. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
   A retelling of the biblical story of Hosea, blending faith, love, and redemption beautifully. Highly recommended by several friends.
4. Powerless by Lauren Roberts
   Loved this, and have read the two others in the series. If you like dystopian and fantasy, with some romance you will love this!
   1. Powerful, a spinoff of this book was also five stars! It has such a beautiful protagonist who doesn’t shy away from her femininity unlike most female leads.
5. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
   A whimsical origin story of the Queen of Heart. Read this summer and loved it!!
6. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
   A sci-fi/fantasy reimagining of classic fairy tales. Have yet to read these but highly recommend by friends.
7. The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
   A clever and twisty mystery about a a fortune left behind by a billionaire.
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
   A magical, otherworldly circus that serves as the stage for a high-stakes competition between two rival illusionists. Also on my lists of books to read!
9. Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman
   A little darker than the other books on this list, but a good dystopian series set in a world where death has been conquered, and Scythes are tasked with controlling population.
10. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Also an incredible movie)
    One of the classics. My roommate started reading it to us before bed last year, though we never made it all the way through. And one of my besties named her dog after Mr. Bingley!

This list is a work in progress, and I’d love to hear your recommendations and suggestions! The stories we immerse ourselves in shape who we are, influencing how we see the world and how we live out our faith. Let’s choose media that uplifts our hearts, inspires us to love more deeply, encourages us to live boldly, and strengthens our commitment to faith in every season of life.

With love and prayers,

A Narnia Reading Catholic Girl

Aka Jillian

Resources:

https://media.ascensionpress.com/podcast/why-the-media-we-consume-matters/

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ –  Resource to Review Media