Keep Talking: Conversations with Our Kids When They Want Us Least but Need Us Most

by Jen Shoemaker Davidson

2026 Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY Awards) Silver Medalist, Parenting

2026 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist, Parenting/Family (Non-Fiction)

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual. But fellow mom Jen Shoemaker Davidson is here to offer straight talk and practical strategies for establishing loving and trusting communication to last a lifetime.
When her own kids entered their teenage years, Jen realized she had important topics she wanted to share with them—but getting them to open up and talk to her would take her full commitment to showing up, even when it was hard. What started as simple “life lesson lunches”—intentional times to sit down and focus on important conversations—became a tried-and-true philosophy for fostering connection throughout their teenage years.
In Keep Talking, Davidson has created a trusted companion for parents navigating the meaningful—and often messy and embarrassing—conversations essential for maintaining open communication with your kids. Through her practical tips and tools, here’s just a glimpse of what you’ll and end a conversationBe an active and thoughtful listenerHandle silence when that’s their answerBe less judgmental and anxiousInstill confidence and a growth mindsetAvoid pushing perfectionMaster the art of an apologyWith sample conversations to help you get started, Keep Talking offers parents open and honest guidance without judgment, delivered with laughter and love.

Genres: Parenting, Self Help, Nonfiction

154 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Thank you so much for your interest in my book. I truly believe it will make a meaningful impact and help strengthen the way you communicate with your kids.

Reviews

[Suzanne]

What sets this book apart is its deeply personal and conversational tone. The author, Jen, doesn't preach or pretend to be perfect—instead, she shares relatable stories from her own parenting journey. The book’s core message is that communication is a two-way street.
This is not just a parenting book; it's a relationship book. It's a reminder that the goal isn't to control our kids, but to connect with them. I never thought I’d be encouraging my kids to talk back to me but in the best possible way.

[Audrey]

Worthwhile. There is a lot here.

[Andrea Henry]

A lot of common sense but I’m glad I read it. Keep asking questions. Be curious. Our words matter. Connection matters.

[Elly]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. The book offers practical advice on navigating tough conversations with teenagers. I appreciated how the author didn't sugarcoat the realities of connecting with teens - the raw and rough moments are real and relatable. The strategies for initiating conversations were super practical and helpful. Just keep in mind that the approaches might not all align with your values and beliefs.

The book gives you a good foundation for having daily conversations with your teens, and the key takeaways at the end of most chapters are a great resource, offering actionable tips for both teens and parents. All in all, it's well written and offers valuable insights. There were no teachings about spiritual guidance. I wonder if that was never brought up by her kids. Although a lot of readers may say it's not intended to be a religious book, I can't help but think about the struggles teenagers face today - depression, anxiety, feeling lost. While it's great to teach them how to navigate society, we humans are wired for a deeper connection. There's a sense of belonging that only One can truly fill.

[MICHEAL DOANE]

Jen Shoemaker Davidson’s Keep Talking delivers a focused and practical framework for one of the most complex dynamics in parenting: maintaining meaningful communication with teenagers. The book is grounded in real-life application, using structured “life lesson” conversations as a repeatable method for building trust over time.

What distinguishes the work is its emphasis on consistency and emotional presence rather than control. Davidson reframes communication as an ongoing investment, prioritizing listening, patience, and adaptability over immediate outcomes. This makes the approach both realistic and sustainable for parents navigating resistance or disengagement.

At its core, the book functions as a communication toolkit. Through actionable strategies and example dialogues, it equips parents to handle difficult conversations with clarity and empathy. The result is a resource that moves beyond theory, offering a practical system for strengthening long-term parent-child relationships.

[Kristina Koser]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Finally a parenting book that doesn’t feel like I’m being talked “at” or down to. The author has obviously been through it and while her experiences are not going to be like everyone else, the book provides insight on different scenarios and approaches. It is written in a format perfect for busy moms using organization and humor to glide you beautifully through until the end. I wish I would have been able to read this as my daughter was growing up but found myself using some of the ideas when I recently went and visited her at college. Parenting is such a hard job and I appreciated feeling like the author understood. Awesome read!

[Juliana Garza-James]

4.25⭐️

📖Format: Kindle

I found this book super insightful about how to have conversations with your teenage kids and navigating the teenage years through the increase of technology. I was a sassy teenager once and definitely related to a few of the stories and can see how the parent shifting the conversation can help incredibly.

I have a 2 year old boy with another on the way and will definitely be coming back to this book when they get a little older!

Thank you Goodreads & Jen Shoemaker Davidson for this giveaway!

[Megan]

A few nice ideas but overall nothing new.

I received this book through a giveaway and would like to give a big thank you to the author and publisher. My honest review as a mom of four is that this is likely a great book for parents of a few kids who feel really new to everything. If you’ve read a lot of parenting books or even just done a lot of parenting, there may not be a lot of new ideas here for you. I did get a few nuggets out of it and I did like the way each chapter summarized ideas as “take aways.”

[Heidi Davis]

This book is a great, easy read and feels like a conversation I would have with any of my mom friends when we are comparing parenting notes. I love the reminder that we need to keep the lines of communication open even when we are getting shut out by our teens or getting those dreaded one word responses or eye rolls. Davidson does an excellent job of keeping it real and I enjoyed her own experiences sprinkled in.

[Jill Hammond]

This little gem of a book has stayed with me since reading it. I find myself thinking about the author’s advice when my teenage son says something in casual conversation. Take every moment to keep him talking. This book includes useful wording for entry into difficult conversations in a casual way including, yes, condom how-to’s and consent. I’m happy to report I’ve had the talk!

[Julius Miller]

Keep Talking is an insightful and practical guide for parents navigating the teenage years. Jen Shoemaker Davidson shares strategies that truly work for building trust and meaningful communication. Her “life lesson lunches” idea is brilliant and easy to implement. This book is full of heart, humor, and guidance every parent needs.

[Victoria Reads]

There's nothing revelatory here, but it felt as though a good friend was gently reminding not to take the actions of my tweens/teens personally and to keep talking and listening to them. Solid advice.

Thanks to Sole Publishing, via NetGalley, for the ARC!

[Deanna]

If you are interested in the author and parenting tips you could try this book.

[Sophia Darling]

Thank you for the ARC!

[Hannah Elizabeth]

Nothing groundbreaking, but great reminders for this stage of life.