Conversations' Top 15 Books for Young Readers, 2025

 Cyrus Webb and Conversations Book Club are excited to share their Top 15 Books for Young Readers in 2025. 

Conversations' Top 15 Books for Young Readers in 2025 (listed in no particular order)

1. Ballet Brown by Bellen Woodard (Scholastic Inc)
2. The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta (Scholastic Press)
3. Snoop by Gordon Korman (Scholastic Press)
4. The Family I'm In by Sharon G. Flake (Scholastic Press)
5. Little Big Man by Varian Johnson (Orchard Books)
6. Hold Your Head Up, Princess by Dr. Velma Bagby (Adoni Publishing)
7. Becoming Boba by Joanna Ho and Amber Ren (Orchard Books)
8. Cassie the Sassy Fairy by Rochelle Dawson (Rochelle Dawson)
9. Harlem Honey by Tamron Hall (Harper)
10. Ruby Bridges: A Journey of Courage and Forgiveness by Dr. Norma McLauchlin (Chosen Pen)
11. A Hidden Surprise in the Forest by William D. McCreary (William D. McCreary)
12. Girls on the Rise by Amanda Gorman (Viking)
13. Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson (Scholastic Press)
14. Millie Fleur Saves the Night by Christy Mandin (Orchard Books)
15. Dream it! Sing it! Do it! by Jason Derulo (Lightswitch Learning)

Conversations' Top 25 Fiction Books of 2025

 Cyrus Webb and Conversations Book Club shares its Top 25 Fiction Books of 2025!

Top 25 Fiction Books of 2025 (Listed in no particular order)

1. The Missing Pages by Alyson Richman (Union Square & Co.)
2. The Grave Artist by Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado (Thomas & Mercer)
3. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)
4. Please Don't Lie by Christina Baker Kline and Anne Burt (Thomas & Mercer)
5. At the Island's Edge by C. I. Jerez (Lake Union)
6. A Fool Indeed by Dean Conan (Rise and Read)
7. The Queen's Musician by Martha Jean Johnson (Spark Press)
8. Rooftop by Darden North (WordCrafts Press)
9. Starting From Here by Paula Saunders (Random House)
10. Chasing Different by Colette R. Harrell (Intentional Entertainment)
11. Love Between the Pages by Natasha D. Frazier (Encouraging Works)
12. Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap (Crooked Lane)
13. What If I Don't by Tony Lindsay (Tony Lindsay)
14. A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl by Nanda Reddy (Zibby Books)
15. The Ten Worst People in New York by Matt Plass (Crooked Lane)
16. Split by Michael Swartz (Koehler Books)
17. Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez (She Writes Press)
18. Loving Myself: Reese's Story by Suzetta Perkins (SP Productions)
19. Trapped: City of Angels by Michael Cory Davis (Michael Cory Davis)
20. The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee w/ Jayne Allen (Storehouse Voices)
21. The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Thomas & Mercer)
22. Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda (Scarlet)
23. Seth's Cross by Jeff Randall (Winged Publications)
24. The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram (Zibby)
25. Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner (Grand Central)

Conversations Top 25 Non-Fiction Books of 2025

 Cyrus Webb and Conversations Book Club have compiled its Top 25 Non-Fiction Books of 2025. 

Top 25 Non-Fiction Books of 2025 (listed in no particular order)

1. Words Make a Way Through Fire by Cyra Sweet Dumitru (She Writes Press)
2. Beauty Beyond the Tears by Kate Thurman (Kate Thurman)
3. The Black Family Who Built America by Cheryl McKissack Daniel (Atria)
4. Interview Speak by Barbara Limmer and Laura Browne (Manning)
5. The Artist's Roadmap by Richard Lawson (Legacy Launchpad Publishing)
6. Don't Walk Away by Marilyn Raichle (Counselor Books)
7. Lightkeeper by Stacy Waldman Bass (Radius)
8. Finding Your Voice After Corporate Laryngitis by Dr. Velma Bagby (Adoni Publishing)
9. Stronger by Dr. Teresa A. Smith (DQ Consulting)
10. Chatterbox by Barbara Worton (Susan Schadt Press)
11. Successful Failure by Kevin Fredericks (Random House)
12. Iron Will by Roderick Sewell II (Legacy Lit)
13. Post Oak by Tina Siemens (Tina Siemens)
14. The End Is the Beginning by Jill Bialosky (Washington Square Press)
15. Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen (Simon & Schuster)
16. You've Been VALidated by Valerie Greenberg (Post Hill Press)
17. The Quintessential Woman by Dr. Anissa Short (Chosen Pen)
18. Hollywood Confidential by Steve Jones (Harper Celebrate)
19. The Inner Fitness Revolution by Tina Lifford (Amistad)
20. The World Is Waiting for You by Edwina Findley Dickerson (HarperOne)
21. Master of the Pivot by Kayla Corine Thompson (Kayla Thompson)
22. She Journeys by Sarah May (She Writes Press)
23. Plan It Like a Pro by Melissa Banks (Conversations Media Group)
24. This Is It by Melba Moore (Melba Moore)
25. The E.M.P.O.W.E.R. H.E.R. Blue Print by Chanelle Coleman Wesley (Chanelle Coleman Wesley)

[BOOK REVIEW] Master of the Pivot by Kayla Thompson

 
by Cyrus Webb

Sometimes you just need a reminder that everything is going to be okay.

That is what Kayla Thompson delivers in her book MASTER OF THE PIVOT. It shows how she has been able to make tough choices in her own life that have paid off, learned from the things that didn't go her way---and most importantly given herself the opportunity and the space to rise and thrive. 

MASTER OF THE PIVOT reminds us to lean into our strengths, trust our gut and be willing to do it alone, especially when it appears others don't understand the vision. Kayla's signature humor and still come through as she pours into the reader, making you feel like you're right there with her as she outlines the path that has led to her current success. 

The big lesson? Trust the process. If you stay true to yourself and don't leave yourself behind, things will turn out just fine. 

Get MASTER OF THE PIVOT on Amazon. 

Conversations Book Club's BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ in October 2025 (Non-Fiction)

 

Looking for some great books to add to your reading list in October? Conversations Book Club and Cyrus Webb are glad to recommend these 25 BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ. 

Conversations' 25 Books You Need to Read in October 2025, Non-Fiction

(Listed in no particular order)

1. The Artist's Roadmap by Richard Lawson (Legacy Launchpad Publishing)
2. Facing the Jaguar by Babs Walters (She Writes Press)
3. The Quintessential Woman by Dr. Anissa Short (Chosen Pen Publishing)
4. Learning In Free Fall by Nicole Terrizzi (Riverside Publishing)
5. Post Oak by Tina Siemens (Tina Siemens)
6. You've Been Validated by Valerie Greenberg (Post Hill Press)
7. She Journeys by Sarah May (She Writes Press)
8. The Call of Wonder by Brian Cranley (Greenleaf Book Group Press)
9. The World Is Waiting for You by Edwina Findley Dickerson (HarperOne)
10. Successful Failure by Kevin Fredericks aka KevOnStage (Random House)
11. My Brother Wife Beater by Anonymous 
12. Hollywood Confidential by Steve Jones (Harper Celebrate)
13. Chatterbox by Barbara Worton (Susan Schadt Press)
14. Iron Will by Roderick Sewell II (Hachette)
15. The Black Family Who Built America by Cheryl McKissack Daniel (Black Privilege Publishing)
16. Stronger by Dr. Teresa A. Smith (DQ Consulting)
17. Jump and Find Joy by Hoda Kotb (Putnam)
18. Who Better Than You? by Will Packer (Harmony)
19. Hold Your Head Up, Princess by Dr. Velma Bagby (Adoni Publishing)
20. The Inner Fitness Revolution by Tina Lifford (JVL Media)
21. Words Make a Way Through Fire by Cyra Sweet Dumitru (She Writes Press)
22. Before I Let You Go by Angelo Ellerbee (HOV Publishing)
23. The End is the Beginning by Jill Bialosky (Washington Square Press)
24. Out of Bounds: The Chris Washburn Story by Chris Washburn and Ron Chepesiuk (Wild Blue Press)
25. Lightkeeper by Stacy Waldman Bass (Radius)

Conversations Book Club's BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ in October 2025 (Fiction)

 

Conversations Book Club and Cyrus Webb are excited to share 25 Fiction Titles that should be on your reading list in October and through the rest of the year. 

Conversations' 25 Books You Need to Read in October 2025, Fiction

(Listed in no particular order)

1. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)
2. Josie's Way of Grace by Felicia Brookins (Felicia Brookins)
3. The Hockey Experiment by Ava Miles (Ava Miles)
4. Loving Myself (Reese's Story) by Suzetta Perkins (SP Productions)
5. Chasing Different by Colette R. Harrell (Intentional Entertainment)
6. The Grave Artist by Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado (Thomas & Mercer)
7. A Fool Indeed by Dean Conan (Rise and Read)
8. Follow Me by Elizabeth Rose Quinn (Thomas & Mercer)
9. Seth's Cross by Jeff Randall (Winged Publications)
10. A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl by Nanda Reddy (Zibby Media)
11. The Bulls of Bashan by Jodi Lea Stewart (Rising Phoenix Press)
12. Shooting Stars Above by Patricia Leavy (She Writes Press)
13. The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Thomas & Mercer)
14. What if I Don't by Tony Lindsay (Tony Lindsay)
15. Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter (Minotaur Books)
16. I Become Her by Joe Hart (Thomas & Mercer)
17. Where Eagles Fly Free by David A. Jacinto (Meadow Vista Publishing)
18. Trapped: City of Angels by Michael Cory Davis (Michael Cory Davis)
19. Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap (Crooked Lane Books)
20. Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez (She Writes Press)
21. The Best Man: Unfinished Business by Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen (Storehouse Voices)
22. Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda (Scarlet)
23. Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor (Berkley)
24. Somebody's Husband by Robbi Renee (Black Odyssey Media)
25. The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram (Zibby Media)

Conversations' Top 25 Summer Reads, 2025

Conversations Book Club President Cyrus Webb is pleased to share Conversations' 25 Summer Reads of 2025. It is our hope that these fiction and non-fiction titles will bring you as much enjoyment and satisfaction as they did us.

Top Non-Fiction Reads

1. Master of Me by Keke Palmer (Flatiron Books)
2. Dancing on Coals by Cynthia Moore (She Writes Press)
3. Barely Visible by Kathleen Somers (She Writes Press)
4. Facing the Jaguar by Babs Walters (She Writes Press)
5. Matriarch by Tina Knowles (One World)
6. Don't Walk Away by Marilyn Raichle (Counselor Books)
7. The Artist's Roadmap by Richard Lawson (RLS Publishing)
8. Chatterbox by Barbara Worton (Susan Schadt Press)
9. Boat Baby by Vicky Nguyen (Simon and Schuster)
10. Post Oak: Quanah Parker, The Comanche and the Mission by Tina Siemens (Tina Siemens)
11. The End Is the Beginning by Jill Bialosky (Washington Square Press)
12. Stronger by Dr. Teresa A. Smith (DQ Consulting)
13. Before I Let You Go by Angelo Ellerbee (HOV Publishing)
14. Standing Up by Mary L. Devine (She Writes Press)
15. Brand It Like Serhant by Ryan Serhant (Hachette Go)

Top Fiction Reads

1. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Berkley)
2. The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (Thomas and Mercer)
3. Marguerite by the Lake by Mary Dixie Carter (Minotaur)
4. At the Island's Edge by C. I. Jerez (Lake Union)
5. Saving Vincent by Joan Fernandez (She Writes Press)
6. Keeping Receipts by W. Mason Dunn (W. Mason Dunn)
7. Enemies Domestic by John DeDakis (Speaking Volumes)
8. The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren (William Morrow)
9. Letters From Strangers by Susan Walter (Lake Union)