We conclude our&nbsp;Best&nbsp;Books&nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to young adult. First,&nbsp;Libba Bray&nbsp;joins us to discuss&nbsp;Under the Same Stars&nbsp;(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Feb. 4). Then young readers’ editor Laura Simeon highlights some more of the year’s best YA.Thanks to our sponsors:<ul><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lance-lee/the-tale-of-the-wicked-old-woman-and-the-very-nice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End</a>&nbsp;by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/diane-pike-heiler/a-widows-fire/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A Widow’s Fire</a>&nbsp;by Diane Pike Heiler</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melissa-cox/future-focused-wealth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Future-Focused Wealth</a>&nbsp;by Melissa Cox</li></ul> See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;We conclude our&amp;nbsp;Best&amp;nbsp;Books&amp;nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to young adult. First,&amp;nbsp;Libba Bray&amp;nbsp;joins us to discuss&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Under the Same Stars&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Feb. 4). Then young readers’ editor Laura Simeon highlights some more of the year’s best YA.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thanks to our sponsors:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lance-lee/the-tale-of-the-wicked-old-woman-and-the-very-nice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/diane-pike-heiler/a-widows-fire/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;A Widow’s Fire&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;by Diane Pike Heiler&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melissa-cox/future-focused-wealth/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Future-Focused Wealth&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;by Melissa Cox&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See Privacy Policy at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; and California Privacy Notice at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

On a special episode celebrating the Best Young Adult Books of 2025, Megan talks with Libba Bray (Under the Same Stars) and young readers’ editor Laura Simeon.

Best Young Adult Books of 2025 with Libba Bray

We’re continuing our&nbsp;Best&nbsp;Books&nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to middle grade. First,&nbsp;Adam Gidwitz&nbsp;joins us to discuss&nbsp;Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II&nbsp;(Dutton, February 25). Then young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar discuss more of the year’s best books. Thanks to our sponsors:<ul><li> <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lance-lee/the-tale-of-the-wicked-old-woman-and-the-very-nice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End</a> by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pk-edgewater-pen-name-for-paul-caldron/passages-Edgewater/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Passages</a> by P.K. Edgewater</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/l-galuppo/eco-reign-galuppo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Eco Reign</a> by L. Galuppo</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tom-diggs/rom-com-for-dummies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rom-Com for Dummies</a> by Tom Diggs</li></ul>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;We’re continuing our&amp;nbsp;Best&amp;nbsp;Books&amp;nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to middle grade. First,&amp;nbsp;Adam Gidwitz&amp;nbsp;joins us to discuss&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;(Dutton, February 25). Then young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar discuss more of the year’s best books.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thanks to our sponsors:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/lance-lee/the-tale-of-the-wicked-old-woman-and-the-very-nice/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pk-edgewater-pen-name-for-paul-caldron/passages-Edgewater/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Passages&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by P.K. Edgewater&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/l-galuppo/eco-reign-galuppo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Eco Reign&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by L. Galuppo&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tom-diggs/rom-com-for-dummies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Rom-Com for Dummies&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Tom Diggs&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;See Privacy Policy at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; and California Privacy Notice at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

n a special episode celebrating the Best Middle Grade Books of 2025, Megan talks with Adam Gidwitz (Max in the Land of Lies) and young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar.

Best Middle Grade Books of 2025 with Adam Gidwitz

We’re continuing our&nbsp;Best&nbsp;Books&nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to picture books. First,&nbsp;Patricia Morris Buckley&nbsp;joins us to discuss&nbsp;To Walk the Sky:&nbsp;How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities, illustrated by E.B. Lewis&nbsp;(Heartdrum, Jan. 28). Then young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar dishes on more of the year’s best books.Thanks to our sponsors:<ul><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anthony-webb/the-history-of-lightning/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The History of Lightning</a> by Anthony Dwanye Webb</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/oge-mobuogwu/into-the-gray-scale/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Into the Gray Scale</a> by Oge Mobuogwu</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/stefania-gander/maybe-im-not-god-cat-chronicles/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Maybe I’m Not God</a> by Stefania Gander, trans. by Chiara Gastaldi</li><li><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gramma-sir/the-judgy-bunny/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Judgy Bunny</a> by Gramma Sir&nbsp;</li></ul>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;We’re continuing our&amp;nbsp;Best&amp;nbsp;Books&amp;nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to picture books. First,&amp;nbsp;Patricia Morris Buckley&amp;nbsp;joins us to discuss&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;To Walk the Sky:&amp;nbsp;How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities&lt;/em&gt;, illustrated by E.B. Lewis&amp;nbsp;(Heartdrum, Jan. 28). Then young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar dishes on more of the year’s best books.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Thanks to our sponsors:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anthony-webb/the-history-of-lightning/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The History of Lightning&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Anthony Dwanye Webb&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/oge-mobuogwu/into-the-gray-scale/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Into the Gray Scale&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Oge Mobuogwu&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/stefania-gander/maybe-im-not-god-cat-chronicles/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Maybe I’m Not God&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Stefania Gander, trans. by Chiara Gastaldi&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gramma-sir/the-judgy-bunny/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Judgy Bunny&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; by Gramma Sir&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;See Privacy Policy at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; and California Privacy Notice at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

On a special episode celebrating the Best Picture Books of 2025, Megan talks with Patricia Morris Buckley (To Walk the Sky) and young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar.   

Best Picture Books of 2025 with Patricia Morris Buckley

We’re continuing our&nbsp;Best&nbsp;Books&nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to nonfiction. First,&nbsp;Jen Hatmaker&nbsp;joins us to discuss&nbsp;Awake: A Memoir&nbsp;(Avid Reader Press, Sept. 23), one of Kirkus’ Best Nonfiction Books of the year. Then nonfiction editor John McMurtrie dishes on more of the year’s best books.See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;We’re continuing our&amp;nbsp;Best&amp;nbsp;Books&amp;nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to nonfiction. First,&amp;nbsp;Jen Hatmaker&amp;nbsp;joins us to discuss&amp;nbsp;&lt;em&gt;Awake: A Memoir&lt;/em&gt;&amp;nbsp;(Avid Reader Press, Sept. 23), one of Kirkus’ Best Nonfiction Books of the year. Then nonfiction editor John McMurtrie dishes on more of the year’s best books.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See Privacy Policy at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; and California Privacy Notice at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

On a special episode celebrating the Best Books of 2025, Megan talks with Jen Hatmaker (Awake) and nonfiction editor John McMurtrie.

Best Nonfiction Books of 2025 with Jen Hatmaker

We’re kicking off our&nbsp;Best&nbsp;Books&nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to fiction. First,&nbsp;Lily King&nbsp;joins us to discuss Heart the Lover (Grove, September 30), one of Kirkus’ Best Fiction Books of the year. Then fiction editor Laurie Muchnick dishes on the year’s&nbsp;best&nbsp;novels and story collections.&nbsp;See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;We’re kicking off our&amp;nbsp;Best&amp;nbsp;Books&amp;nbsp;of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to fiction. First,&amp;nbsp;Lily King&amp;nbsp;joins us to discuss &lt;em&gt;Heart the Lover &lt;/em&gt;(Grove, September 30), one of Kirkus’ Best Fiction Books of the year. Then fiction editor Laurie Muchnick dishes on the year’s&amp;nbsp;best&amp;nbsp;novels and story collections.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See Privacy Policy at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy&lt;/a&gt; and California Privacy Notice at &lt;a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"&gt;https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

On a special episode celebrating the Best Books of 2025, Megan talks with novelist Lily King (Heart the Lover) and fiction editor Laurie Muchnick.

Best Fiction Books of 2025 with Lily King


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