Book Lounge by Libby

Summer is heating up... so naturally it's time for ghosts, monsters, haunted camps, cursed lakes, and things that go bump in the night.  Joe is joined by Bre to celebrate Summerween 2026, the growing tradition of bringing spooky season into the middle of summer. Whether horror readers are looking for gothic classics, unsettling literary horror, creepy middle grade adventures, camp slashers, psychological thrillers, or terrifying short story collections, this episode is packed with recommendations to fill every Summerween TBR.  From vampires and haunted campgrounds to folk horror, cosmic dread, ghost stories, and nostalgic Halloween favorites, this conversation explores horror across every age and subgenre. Along the way, Bre also shares details about her July Noir 2026 reading weekend and Discord community for readers looking to celebrate all month long.  Whether Summerween is already an annual tradition, or this is the first spooky-season celebration in July, this episode is full of horror book recommendations perfect for every kind of reader.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Links:  Bre’s links  July Noir 2026 Announcement  July Noir Discord  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/locd_booktician_/   Titles mentioned:  Bre’s Picks:  Carmilla – Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu  Dead First – Johnny Compton  On Sundays She Picked Flowers – Yah Yah Scholfield  Gyo – Junji Ito  You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight – Kalynn Bayron  The Jumbies & Rise of the Jumbies – Tracey Baptiste  Why I Love Horror – ed. Becky Siegel Spratford  Joe’s Picks:   How to Survive Camping Series (Book 1: How to Survive Camping) - Bonnie Quinn   The Lady in Chains  The Ancient Things (September 2026)  The Unmothers – Leslie J. Anderson  The Bog Wife – Kay Chronister   Smothermoss – Alisa Alering  Don’t Turn Out the Lights – ed. Jonathan Maberry  Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – Alvin Schwartz  Our Shadows Have Claws – ed. Yamile Saied Méndez, Amparo Ortiz  The Lake House – Sarah Beth Durst  Tastes Like Candy – Jessica Lacy   Camp Scare – Delilah S. Dawson  Summer’s Never Over – Darby Bozeman   A Murder Most Camp – Nicolas DiDomizio  13 Months Haunted – Jimmy Juliano  Chasing the Boogeyman – Richard Chizmar  80s Ghosts – VS Lawrence  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro & Seasonal Update 00:01:40 Thoughts on Summerween 00:07:24 Our Summerween 2026 picks! 01:28:46 Thank you to Bre and outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the United States prepares to commemorate America 250, how can we celebrate the nation's history while also making room for reflection, honesty, and meaningful conversation?  This week on Book Lounge by Libby, Cameron Walpole, Associate Director of Interpretation and Public Programs, and Callie Hawkins, Executive Director of President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, DC, join the show to explore how their organization is approaching America's 250th anniversary with thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a commitment to telling a fuller story of our shared history.  The conversation dives into Abraham Lincoln's enduring legacy, why President Lincoln's Cottage remains such an important place today, and how books help us better understand both the past and the present. Then, for a fun twist, Cameron and Callie recommend books they think President Lincoln would have loved reading if he were browsing a library today.  Whether you're a history enthusiast, a Lincoln admirer, or simply looking for thought-provoking nonfiction and historical fiction recommendations, this episode offers fresh perspectives on American history, civic engagement, and the power of reading.  For more info, check out: https://www.lincolncottage.org/   Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Cameron’s Titles:   Differ We Must – Steve Inskeep   Macbeth – William Shakespeare   Wonder – R.J. Palacio  Callie’s Titles:  Joyful Anyway – Kate Bowler  You Better Be Lightning – Andrea Gibson  James – Percival Everett  Everywhere Still – MH Clark  Joe’s Titles:   Feeding Ghosts – Tessa Hulls   A Manual for Cleaning Women – Lucia Berlin   Separation of Church and Hate – John Fugelsang  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Welcome and introductions 00:02:23 What is President Lincoln’s Cottage?  00:22:56 Our recommended reads 00:51:08 Final Thoughts and Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy.  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new month means a new stack of books to obsess over.  In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by the wonderful Emma to chat about the July 2026 book releases they're most excited to add to their TBRs. From buzzy fiction and page-turning mysteries to heartfelt romances and unforgettable literary reads, they're sharing the upcoming titles that have already captured their attention.  Whether you're planning your summer reading list, looking for the next great library hold or simply love keeping up with the latest book releases, this episode is packed with recommendations to help fill your TBR.  Tune in for a fun conversation celebrating the most anticipated books hitting shelves in July 2026 and discover which titles deserve a spot at the top of your reading list.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026!  Book recommendations:  Emma’s Picks:   Prince of Swords – Elise Kova   A Forsaken Prophecy – Stacey McEwan   In the Wake of the Ruined – Kalie Cassidy  Hot Girl Murder Club – Ashley Winstead  Foxx – Paisley Hope   The MASH Up – Laura Marie Meyers   If Books Could Kill – Kate Eberle   Daggermouth – HM Wofle  Joe’s Picks:  Helpless – Jessica Knoll  My Tokyo Summer – Abby Denson   Coming Out Perfect – Richard Mercado   Case Closed, Vol. 99 – Gosho Aoyama  Witch’s Inheritance – Paige Hender  The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance  – Chiara Bullen  The Masala Chai Mystery Club – MJ Soni  Ghost Girl – Eva Benefield  Alex, by Proxy – Karen Myna Cantor  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:20 Catching up with Emma 00:06:50 July 2026 Book Picks 01:20:23 Final thoughts and outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The temperature is rising, and so is the romance stack. In the Season 3 finale of Book Lounge by Libby, romance novel matchmaker, experienced bookseller, and bookish creator Destinee (@yourromancedestinee) joins the lounge to share the steamy romance books that deserve a spot on your summer TBR.  From slow burns that leave readers desperate for more, to romances packed with chemistry, banter, longing, and unforgettable love stories, Joe & Destinee share recommendations for every kind of romance reader. The conversation dives into what makes a great romance novel, why the genre continues to captivate millions of readers, and how finding the perfect romance book is all about matching the right story to the right reader.  Season 3 may be coming to a close, but Book Lounge by Libby isn’t going anywhere! After this episode, the podcast will move to a monthly rhythm of three episodes per month through the end of September when Season 4 launches with even more author conversations, reading recommendations and behind-the-scenes book world discussions.  Whether searching for spicy romance books, summer romance reads, or a brand-new favorite love story, this episode is the perfect way to heat up a reading list.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026!  Book recommendations:  Destinee’s picks:  Never Seduce a Scot – Maya Banks  High Seas Heat – Sarah Blue  Die for Me – Shirlene Obuobi  By the Bootstraps – Alexa Martin  Rebel Heiress – Amalie Howard  Just a Highland Fling – Naina Kumar  Psy-Changeling Series (Book 1: Slave to Sensation) - Nalini Singh  Joe’s picks:  Extracurricular – Rachel Lynn Solomon  Goliaths of Wrestling Series (Book 4: False Comeback) - Lily Mayne   Jacksonville Rays Series (Book 4: Pucking Strong) - Emily Rath  Shoutout: Puckboys Series (Book 1:  Egotistical Puckboy) – Eden Finley & Saxon James  Night at the Vampire Castle – Hari Conner  The Hades Calculus – Maria Ying  Time and Time Again – Chatham Greenfield  Lost Boys series (Book 1: The Skeptic) – Kelly Fox  Who’s in this episode:   Destinee (yourromancedestinee) - Links  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:16 Welcome to Destinee 00:02:15 Get to know Destinee and what got her into romance! 00:04:30 The change of the romance reader landscape 00:07:33 What are your favorite/least favorite tropes?  00:11:24 What are your favorite questions to be asked as a bookseller?  00:15:30 Romance Recommendations! 00:54:05 Thank you and outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer reading is getting steamy! Today, Joe is joined by bestselling romance authors Ann Liang and BK Borison for a conversation about creating unforgettable love stories, building electric chemistry, writing yearning and intimacy, and why romance continues to captivate readers around the world.  The conversation also briefly features romance author Sara Cate, who joined at the start of the episode before technical difficulties cut her time short.  From the balance of tension and tenderness to the art of crafting a perfect happily ever after, Ann and BK share a behind-the-scenes look at their writing process, the emotional core of romance novels, and what makes a love story linger long after the final page. Whether you’re searching for your next spicy summer romance, a fan of contemporary love stories, or curious about how romance authors bring fictional relationships to life, this episode is a must-listen.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026!  Who’s in the episode:  Ann Liang: https://www.annliang.com/  BK Borison: https://bkborison.com/  Sara Cate: https://saracatebooks.com/  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:03:21 Diving into romance 00:50:58 Romance Lightning Round 00:54:52 Thanks and outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June is Audiobook Month, and we're celebrating one of our favorite ways to experience stories.  This week Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark, host of the BOOK GANG podcast, to talk about the audiobooks they've been loving lately. From unforgettable narrations to stories that are impossible to pause, they're sharing recent audiobook recommendations that deserve a spot on your listening list.  This conversation is packed with recommendations, listening inspiration, and plenty of appreciation for the magic of audiobooks.  Tune in to discover new audiobook recommendations, celebrate Audiobook Month, and find your next favorite listen.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026!  Titles for Episode:   Amy’s Picks:   Enormous Wings - Laurie Frankel  Good People - Patmeena Sabit  Lady Tremaine - Rachel Hochhauser  My Lady Jane - Cynthia Hand  Skin Contact - Elisa Faison  Invasive Species - Ellery Adams  Joe’s Picks:   Swift and Saddled – Lyla Sage  The Daisy Chain Flower Shop – Laurie Gilmore  Headlights – CJ Leede  Witches of Dubious Origin - Jenn McKinlay  God of the Woods - Liz Moore   Our Last Resort - Clémence Michallon  A Fortune of Sand – Ruta Sepetys  The Taking of Jake Livingston – Ryan Douglass  Bath Haus – PJ Vernon  The Perfect Home – Daniel Kenitz   Don’t Let the Forest In – CG Drews   The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends – Jamie D’Amato  Legends & Lattes Series - Travis Baldree  Operation Bounce House – Matt Dinniman  The Diviners – Libba Bray  Believing – Anita Hill  The Autumn Sprints Retirement Home Massacre - Philip Fracassi  Home is Where the Bodies Are – Jeneva Rose  MindWorks – Neal Shusterman  Out There – Kate Folk  Bubblegum – Adam Levin   The Dresden Files  – Jim Butcher  A Series of Unforunate Events – Lemony Snicket  Vagabond – Tim Curry  NOS4ATU – Joe Hill  Rosemary’s Baby – Ira Levin  Charlotte’s Web – EB White   The Curseworkers Series - Holly Black   How to Train Your Dragon series – Cressida Cowell  Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing – Lauren Hough  Who’s in this episode:   Amy Allen Clark – Links  Discover your next favorite read with the NEW 2026 MomAdvice Summer Reading Guide! Dive into 70 handpicked titles—featuring upcoming releases, fresh new reads, and beloved backlist gems. Flip through 57 pages packed with bookish inspiration to create your ultimate summer reading stack.  LINK: https://buymeacoffee.com/bookgangpodcast/e/535779  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:43 Welcome and catching up with Amy Allen Clark 00:06:06 A reminder of our seasonal schedule 00:07:11 We talk about our love of audiobooks 00:19:06 Our audiobook recommendations 01:12:50 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June is Audiobook Month, and we're celebrating with two of the most beloved voices in the industry.  This week on Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by acclaimed audiobook narrators Saskia Maarleveld and Michael Crouch for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the art of bringing stories to life through audio.  From developing character voices to recording emotional scenes, Saskia and Michael share what really goes into creating an unforgettable listening experience. Together, they explore the unique magic of audiobooks, the relationship between narrator and listener, and why hearing a story can feel so different from reading one on the page.  Saskia Maarleveld has narrated more than 700 audiobooks and is known for her remarkable ability to perform a wide range of accents and characters across genres including historical fiction, fantasy, mystery, and young adult literature. Listeners may recognize her work on bestselling titles like The Alice Network, The Rose Code, and The God of the Woods.   Michael Crouch has recorded more than 500 audiobooks and is an AudioFile Golden Voice narrator whose work has earned Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, and widespread acclaim from listeners and critics alike. He's particularly celebrated for his performances in young adult fiction, LGBTQ+ stories, and contemporary literary fiction.   Whether you're a lifelong audiobook fan, a devoted Book Lounge listener, or someone who's been curious about trying audiobooks for the first time, this conversation offers a fascinating look inside one of publishing's most beloved formats.  Celebrate Audiobook Month with us and discover why a great narrator can transform a great book into an unforgettable experience.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026!  Who’s in this episode:   Michael Crouch - Website  Saskia Maarleveld– Instagram Check out Saskia’s Medium article – The Voice in Your Ears  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:39 Welcome to Saskia Maarleveld and Michael Crouch 00:03:05 What does it feel like to work on IP books vs. Original Content?  00:06:30 What does creative freedom look like to you in narration?  00:15:05 What brought you into audiobook work?  00:25:03 What genre feels like home?  00:30:08 How are people getting into narration today?  00:40:41 Is there a standard for what you’re paid for your work?  00:50:03 Working on pronunciations 00:53:32 Lightning Round 00:59:55 Thanks and Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should you read this Pride Month?  In this Pride Month episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu to share book recommendations that celebrate queer stories, queer joy, and the many ways LGBTQIA+ people find connection, community, and hope.  As they discuss the books they're recommending this June, the conversation expands beyond reading lists to explore what it means to live Pride every day of the year. Together, Joe and Jananie reflect on the importance of making space for joy, remembrance, rest, and reflection, and how books can help us better understand ourselves and each other.  Whether you're looking to discover new LGBTQIA+ authors, add more queer stories to your TBR, or simply find your next great read, this episode offers thoughtful recommendations and meaningful conversation about the power of reading during Pride Month and beyond.  From stories that celebrate queer futures to books that honor the past, this is a conversation about reading, identity, community, and the many ways Pride can live on long after June ends.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026!  Book recommendations:  Jananie’s Picks:  Comedic Timing – Upasna Barath  Tall Water – SJ Sindu  Meeting Millie – Clare Ashton  Honey Girl – Morgan Roges  Perfume and Pain – Anna Dorn  Fundamentally – Nussaibah Younis  Big Swiss – Jen Beagin  Local Heavens – K. M. Fajardo  Devil of the Deep – Falencia Jean Francois  House of Hunger - Alexis Henderson  Joe’s Picks:  Stag Dance & Detransition Baby – Torrey Peters  Tell Me I’m Worthless – Alison Rumfitt  Northranger – Rey Terciero  Jackson Alone – Jose Ando  Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous – Autumn K. England  We Burned So Bright – TJ Klune  Patricia Wants to Cuddle – Samantha Allen  You Weren’t Meant to Be Human – Andrew Joseph White  Who’s in this episode:   Jananie K. Velu – Links   Glad Day Lit, Toronto - website  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:54 Welcome to Jananie K. Velu 00:01:26 What are your pride practices?  00:07:50 Our Pride Reading Recommendations 01:00:10 Thanks to Jananie and Outro!  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pride Month is a celebration, but it's also a reminder of the journeys so many LGBTQ+ people take to find acceptance, belonging, and hope.  In this special Pride Month episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by authors Kody Keplinger, Ryan Collett, and TJ Alexander for honest, heartfelt conversations about identity, community and the power of seeing yourself reflected in stories.  In the first half of the episode, Kody Keplinger and Ryan Collett discuss the isolation and shame that many queer people experience, the importance of finding your people and how books can help readers feel less alone. Together, they explore the transformative power of connection, representation, and hope.  In the second half, TJ Alexander joins Joe for a conversation about queer joy, love stories, and the importance of imagining futures where LGBTQIA+ people aren't simply surviving, they're thriving. From romance and community to the possibilities of a more inclusive world, this discussion celebrates the beauty and power of queer storytelling.  This episode is a reminder that none of us are meant to navigate life alone.  Book Lounge by Libby is a podcast for readers, book lovers, and anyone searching for their next great read.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026!  Who’s in this episode:   Segment 1:  Kody Keplinger – Website, WHERE LOST GIRLS GO  Ryan Collett – Website, GEORGE FALLS THROUGH TIME  Segment 2:   TJ Alexander – Website, A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:41 Segment 1 with Kody Keplinger and Ryan Collett 00:45:06 Segment 2 with TJ Alexander 01:28:04 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June is STACKED with incredible new releases, and this month’s Book Picks episode is here to help you build your summer TBR. Joe is joined by Kieran, founder of the Queer Liberation Library, to talk about the most exciting June 2026 book releases across genres — from buzzy literary fiction and swoony romances to twisty thrillers, queer stories, fantasy adventures, and everything in between.  Along the way, Kieran also shares more about the mission behind the Queer Liberation Library, a digital library working to increase access to LGBTQIA+ books for readers across the United States. If you’re looking for more queer stories to add to your reading life, it’s an incredible resource worth exploring.  Whether you’re planning beach reads, book club picks, or simply trying to stay ahead of the biggest releases of the month, this episode is packed with recommendations to keep your TBR thriving all summer long.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Check out the Queer Liberation Library (website)! You can show your support with a donation here (donation link) or just by supporting them on social media (Instagram).  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)!  Book recommendations:  Kieran’s Picks:   Honorable Mention: The Fake Divination Offense – Sara Raasch  Puck – Samantha Allen  25 Days in Athens – Jack Strange  Supergay! - Frankie Grande  Double Dutch Fuss – Phill Branch  Red X – David Demchuk   Tillinghast – Clare Cavenagh  Grief Eater – Emma Osborne    Joe’s Picks:   Slasher Summer – E.L. Chen  Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel – Kiersten White, Illustrated by Veronica & Andy Fish  The Disaster Gay Detective Agency – Lev AC Rosen  The Disco at the End of the World – Nathan Tavares  We Hexed the Moon – Mollyhall Seeley  Girl’s Girl – Sonia Feldman  Valley of the Moms – Hannah Selinger  Marion – Leah Rowan  I am not a Vampire (Anymore) - Darcy Miller  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:03 Welcome Kieran and the Queer Liberation Library 00:01:27 What is the Queer Liberation Library (QLL)?  00:03:24 Supporting QLL and the Pride month donation drive 00:04:44 June 2026 Book Picks 00:58:48 Thanks to Kieran and Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your TBR is looking a little too well-behaved, consider this your official invitation to cause some chaos.  Joe is joined by Abby from @crimebythebook to dive headfirst into a stack of mystery and thriller recommendations that are twisty, chilling, and completely unputdownable. From locked-room tension and atmospheric horror-leaning suspense to darkly clever whodunits and cult-favorite thrillers, this episode is packed with reads guaranteed to keep you guessing long after “just one more chapter.”  If you’re searching for the best mystery books, psychological thrillers, dark academia vibes, or hidden gem crime fiction to add to your reading list, this episode is your next obsession.   Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)!  Book recommendations:  Abby’s Picks:   Nightwatching – Tracy Sierra  You Are Fatally Invited  & The Library After Dark  – Ande Pliego  The Treasure Hunters Club – Tom Ryan   The Anniversary – Alex Finlay   Hide & Seek - Søren Sveistrup   The Possession of Alba Díaz - Isabel Cañas    Joe’s Picks:   The Mill House Murders – Yukito Ayatsuji  Dead & Breakfast & Summer Coven  - Kat Hillis & Rosiee Thor (Aug. 25)  Murder in the Dressing Room & Missing in Soho – Holly Stars (Jun. 2)  With My Little Eye – Joshilyn Jackson  The Sister Holiday Series (Book 1: Scorched Grace, Book 3: Divine Ruin) - Margot Douaihy  Who’s in this episode:   Abby (Crime by the Book) - Links  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:44 Welcome to Abby from CrimebytheBook! 00:01:06 Getting to know Abby and Crime by the Book 00:11:11 Our Mystery & Mayhem Recommendations 00:51:54 Thanks to Abby and Outro!  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes readers gasp out loud at the end of a thriller? How do authors plant clues without giving everything away? And why do some plot twists stay with us forever?  This week on Book Lounge, Joe is joined by three powerhouse thriller writers — Clare Mackintosh, Jo Piazza, and Lisa Gardner — for an exciting conversation all about The Anatomy of a Twist. Together, they unpack the art of suspense, the challenge of surprising modern readers, and the careful balance between foreshadowing and deception.  From unreliable narrators and shocking endings to pacing, character secrets, and the emotional impact of a perfectly executed reveal, this episode is a must-listen for thriller readers, mystery lovers, and aspiring writers alike. The group also discusses some of their favorite twists in fiction, the pressure of “outsmarting” readers in the age of online theories, and what they believe makes psychological thrillers so addictive.  If you love mystery books, crime fiction, suspense novels, plot twists, and behind-the-scenes conversations with bestselling authors, this episode delivers plenty of intrigue, insight, and mayhem.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)!  Who’s in this episode:   Clare Mackintosh - website Jo Piazza - website Lisa Gardner - website  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:11 Get to know today’s guests 00:02:51 Writing by the seat of your pants 00:03:31 Figuring as you go vs. Planning 00:06:53 The Architect vs. The Builder 00:08:48 Working backwards 00:15:48 Do you want the reader to have the chance to figure out the mystery?  00:22:17 Twists at the top of the book 00:39:14 Do they track body bags?  00:42:33 Do readers want to be surprised?  00:50:10 How do you balance plot + pacing with your twist?  00:57:35 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Book Lounge, Joe is joined by Meara for a celebration of all things adventure as they talk about adult books that perfectly capture the feeling of reading The Magic Tree House. Whether it’s characters being pulled into another time and place, epic quests across strange worlds, hidden mysteries, or stories filled with wonder and discovery, these are the books that recreate that unforgettable reading experience for grown-up readers.  From fantasy adventures and historical twists to books that feel immersive, magical, and impossible to put down, Joe and Meara share the titles giving them major Magic Tree House energy and explain why these stories still tap into the same excitement that made so many readers fall in love with books in the first place. If you’ve ever wanted stories that make you feel like you’ve stepped through a portal into another world, this episode is for you.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)!  Book recommendations:  Meara’s Picks:  These Immortal Truths – R. Raeta  How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America – Clint Smith  The Keeper of Night - Kylie Lee Baker  The Scarlet Throne - Amy Leow  The Dead Cat Tail Assassins - P. Djèlí Clark  In Universes - Emet North  The Time Traveler’s Passport Collection  Joe’s Picks:  Vampires in the Lemon Grove – Karen Russell  Found Audio – NJ Campbell  Peaces – Helen Oyeyemi   Under the Whispering Door – TJ Klune  The Elsewhere Express – Samantha Sotto Yambao  Sheets – Brenna Thummler  Who’s in this episode:   Meara - Links  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:50 Welcome Meara! 00:01:06 What was your relationship to the Magic Tree House? 00:02:11 Reading Magic Tree House as an adult 00:11:57 Instilling recognition of cultures 00:19:40 Do you see similarities between your regular reads and the MTH books you enjoyed?  00:24:09 Our reading recommendations! 00:53:58 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Joe sits down with legendary children’s author Mary Pope Osborne to celebrate the legacy of the Magic Tree House books and the generations of readers who grew up with Jack and Annie’s adventures.  Together, they discuss the original spark that inspired the series, how the personalities of Jack and Annie developed over time and the early days of writing for young readers during the rise of early chapter books. Mary also shares behind-the-scenes stories about adapting the series into graphic novels, audiobooks, musicals, and animation, along with the process of designing some of the most recognizable covers in children’s literature.  The conversation also explores Mary’s writing routine, the books that challenged her most creatively, the incredible memories she’s collected from readers over the years and what it means to see The Magic Tree House continue to connect with new generations of kids today.  Filled with nostalgia, creativity, laughter, and heartfelt reflection, this episode is a celebration of storytelling, imagination, and one of the most beloved children’s series of all time.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)!  Who’s in this episode:   Mary Pope Osborne – YouTube, Website, Instagram  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:15 What was the spark that lead to the Magic Tree House?  00:03:48 The idea of writing for younger readers and inspiration in the classroom 00:07:35 How did Jack & Annie’s personalities take shape?  00:09:00 How has change happened over the years?  00:13:21 The start of Early Chapter Books 00:22:09 Animating the Magic Tree House 00:25:47 Designing the cover 00:30:25 The Magic Tree House Graphic Novels 00:35:30 What is your process for writing? 00:41:06 Kids informed titles and covers live! 00:42:48 Magic Tree House: History Heroes  00:47:25 What book pushed you most while writing?  00:50:00 Recording the Magic Tree House audiobooks 00:51:26 Magic Tree House Musicals 00:52:58 What memories over the years have truly stuck with you?  00:57:54 Lightning Round! 00:59:59 What do you hope your readers take with them?  01:00:10 What does the series mean to you now?  01:00:31 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Continuing our celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month episode, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu to share some of their favorite books that center mental health, healing, growth, and emotional honesty.  Together, they talk about the stories that stay with us, the comfort books can provide during difficult seasons and the powerful role reading can play in helping people feel understood and less alone. The conversation also explores Jananie’s Anti-Brain Rot reading challenge, the idea of mindful reading, and the challenge of staying intentional with our habits, goals, and attention spans in a world full of distractions.  This episode is packed with recommendations, from emotional contemporary stories to hopeful, comforting reads, and the full episode description includes an even bigger list of titles that didn’t make it into the conversation.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!   Book recommendations:  (Includes picks not mentioned but picked for this episode)  Jananie’s Picks:   Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead - Mai Nguyen  An Academy for Liars - Alexis Henderson  Alone With You in the Ether - Olivie Blake  Haldol and Hyacinths -  Melody Moezzi  An Unquiet Mind - Kay Redfield Jamison  How to Keep House While Drowning – KC Davis   Challenger Deep - Neal Shusterman  Darius the Great is Not Okay – Adib Khorram My Year of Rest and Relaxation – Ottessa Moshfegh  Turtles All the Way Down - John Green  What My Bones Know – Stephanie Foo  Evil Eye - Etaf Rum  The Secret World of Briar Rose - Cindy Pham  Between Friends and Lovers - Shirlene Obuobi  Before I Let Go - Kennedy Ryan  Cleopatra and Frankenstein - Coco Mellors  Big Swiss - Jen Beagin  Joe’s Picks:  Puzzled – Pan Cooke  What’s Wrong? - Erin Williams  Anxietyland – Gemma Correll  Past Tense – Sacha Mardou   Dear Scarlet – Teresa Wong   In. - Will McPhail   Everything is OK – Debbie Tung   Verona Comics – Jennifer Dugan  Sunflowers – Keezy Young  Who’s in this episode:   Jananie K. Velu - Links  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:52 Catching up with Jananie & Mental Health Awareness Month 00:01:10 What role does reading play in your mental health journey?  00:02:15 Anti-Brain Rot Reading Challenge and Mindful Reading 00:04:48 When you’re going through it mentally, it’s hard to stick to goals and plans 00:07:36 Mental Health Awareness Month Reading Recs 01:07:27 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re reflecting on Mental Health Awareness Month. Today, Joe sits down with two mental health professionals to explore the powerful connection between reading, emotional well-being, and community.  Split into two thoughtful segments, this episode invites listeners to reflect on how books, libraries, and small daily habits can support healing, growth, and a sense of stability in an often-overwhelming world.  In the first segment, Joe is joined by Monica Hobson (aka: @thebookeduptherapist), a therapist and licensed clinical social worker whose work centers on the role of reading in our healing journeys. Together, they explore the idea that distraction isn’t avoidance; it's a meaningful part of processing and recovery. They discuss the importance of self-care, how books can act as connectors between people and experiences, and how to quiet the pressure of “what should I read” in favor of what truly serves you.  In the second segment, Joe speaks with Dr. Suzan Song, MD, PhD, about the broader impact of reading on both individuals and communities. Their conversation touches on personal and collective agency, building stability in uncertain times, and what Dr. Song wishes more people understood about mental health. She also shares why one of her first priorities in any new place is getting a library card and what that represents beyond just access to books.  This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and consider the role stories play in our lives; not just as entertainment, but as tools for connection, understanding, and healing.  We hope this conversation offers a sense of comfort and possibility. You are not alone.  If you are seeking support, please find a list of resources below:  Psychology Today Find a Therapist tool: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org  Maternal Mental Health: call or text 1-833-852-6262  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations: call or text 1-800-985-5990  The Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ Youth: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Segment 1:  Monica Hobson – Instagram, Psychology Today  Segment 2:   Dr. Suzan Song – Website, Instagram, book: Why We Suffer and How We Heal  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)!  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro – Welcome to Mental Health Awareness Month 00:00:43 Segment 1 with Monica Hobson, LCSW 00:06:37 Distraction is an important part of our healing process 00:08:22 Making time and giving power to self-care 00:19:55 Books are a connector 00:35:39 What are the immediate benefits to reading for mental health?  00:38:30 How can you make a more stress-free reading life?  00:43:53 How can we contribute to our JOY while reading?  00:48:12 Segment 2 with Dr. Suzan Song, MD, PhD 00:49:07 How does reading help heal communities?  00:52:58 Personal and collective agency  00:53:58 How can you build your own sense of agency? 00:57:48 Escapism versus alignment 00:59:05 What does Dr. Song wish more people understood about mental health? 01:05:46 Resilience is not just enduring 1:09:03 Book club is an experience of connection 01:11:16 We’re missing a lot of shared spaces 01:13:36 Getting a library card 01:14:15 Where do stories and reading fit within a healing journey? 01:15:26 Privatized suffering and healing 01:19:02 Thinking about death and dying 01:23:36 Through reading, we feel more safe and understood 01:27:17 How can someone start reflecting through the day (easily) 01:29:36 The emotional GPS 01:31:04 What’s a message you hope readers carry with them?  01:32:21 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu of thisstoryaintover to celebrate AAPI Month with a stack of incredible Asian lit you’ll want to add to your TBR immediately.  Together, they dive into a wide range of must-read books highlighting stories that span genres, perspectives, and lived experiences. From deeply personal narratives to sweeping, unforgettable storytelling, this conversation is all about discovering books that stay with you and expanding your reading list to celebrate these voices all year long.  Whether you’re looking to build out your AAPI Month reading list, discover new favorite authors, or simply find your next great read, this episode is packed with recommendations that bring heart, perspective, and unforgettable storytelling.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Book recommendations:  Jananie’s Picks:  We Dance Upon Demons - Vaishnavi Patel  Burn the Sea - Mona Tewari  Capitalists Must Starve - Park Seolyeon  Natural Beauty & Immaculate Conception - Ling Ling Huang  Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead - Mai Nguyen  A Kiss of Crimson Ash - Anuja Varghese  Breasts and Eggs – Mieko Kawakami  Tall Water – SJ Sindu  Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop - Hwang Bo-reum   Joe’s Picks:  Counterattacks at Thirty & Almond – Won-Pyung Sohn  Séance Tea Party – Reimena Yee  What You Are Looking For is in the Library – Michiko Aoyama  The Midnight Taxi – Yosha Gunasekera  Convenience Store Woman & Earthlings - Sayaka Murata  Detective Aunty & Moonlight Murder - Uzma Jalaluddin  Shoutout: Strange Pictures, Strange Houses & Strange Buildings - Uketsu  Who’s in this episode:  Jananie K. Velu - Links  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:06 Catching up with Jananie K. Velu! 00:02:20 What are Jananie’s guiding lights when choosing for her imprint 00:03:57 Starting the reading recs 01:03:46 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe celebrates Asian Heritage Month by spotlighting the global impact of Asian voices in storytelling. Joined by bestselling authors Lisa See and Zoulfa Katouh, the conversation explores how heritage, identity, and lived experience shape the stories we read and why those stories resonate far beyond any one place or perspective.  From the influence of cultural traditions to the responsibility of telling stories rooted in personal and collective history, Lisa and Zoulfa share how their backgrounds inform their writing and connect with readers around the world. This episode highlights the power of global storytelling, the importance of representation in literature, and the way deeply personal narratives can feel universal.  If you’re looking to celebrate Asian Heritage Month through books, discover globally resonant stories, or better understand how culture shapes the stories that stay with us, this conversation is a meaningful place to start.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Lisa See - Website Daughters of the Sun and Moon – coming June 9, 2026 Lady Tan’s Circle of Women    Zoulfa Katouh - Website The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue - coming June 2, 2026 As Long as the Lemon Tree Grows  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:57 Welcome to Lisa See and Zoulfa Katouh 00:02:22 A conversation on Asian heritage, culture and the impact on writing 00:23:41 Being Authentic and Intentional 00:29:02 Lisa See reflects on conversations about racism with her father 00:40:47 What does home mean to you in your work?  00:47:07 What do you hope readers take with you from your work?  00:51:51 Thank you and outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Be honest, how many books have you borrowed purely because the cover looked amazing?  This week on Book Lounge, Joe is joined by Bre for a very honest, slightly chaotic, and deeply relatable conversation about judging books by their covers. Before diving into our recommendations, we get into what Bre loves in a cover design.  We also talk about the covers that live rent-free in for Bre, and how special editions have completely changed the way readers collect (and display) books. Plus, a love-filled detour into The Diviners series and why its design continues to stand out.  Then, we get to recommending books we only read BECAUSE of the cover.  We didn’t read the synopsis.  We didn’t check reviews.  We saw the cover… and that was enough.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Bre’s Picks:  How to Solve Your Own Murder – Kristen Perrin  The Jumbies - Tracey Baptiste   To Steal a Throne - Gabi Burton  On Sundays She Picked Flowers - Yah Yah Scholfield   Joe’s Picks:   Sky Daddy – Kate Folk  Just Like Mother – Anne Heltzel  Dollface – Lindy Ryan  Butter – Asako Yuzuki   Who’s in this episode:   Bre - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:40 Welcome to Bre The Loc’d Booktician 00:01:02 What are some of your favorite cover designs? 00:05:56 Do you have a book cover that comes to mind when you think of a good design? 00:06:57 Thoughts on special editions 00:19:11 Here’s our recommendations! 01:17:35 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your TBR is about to get longer.  In this episode of Book Lounge, Joe is joined by Rachel to break down the most exciting book releases coming in May 2026 by sharing what they’re adding to their to-be-read piles. From buzzy debuts and fan-favorite authors to under-the-radar titles you’ll want to grab early, they’re sorting through the chaos of new releases so you don’t have to.  Expect strong opinions, a few surprises, and plenty of “place hold now” energy as they build their May reading lists.  Whether you’re planning your next great read or just love staying ahead of the book buzz, this episode is your go-to guide for what’s hitting shelves this May.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Rachel’s Titles:   Our Perfect Storm - Carley Fortune  A Parade of Horribles – Matt Dinniman  The Final Target – Nora Roberts  Caller Unknown – Gillian McAllister  The Shippers  - Katherine Center  Good Joy, Bad Joy – Mikki Brammer  The Last Page – Katie Holt  The Midnight Train – Matt Haig  Joe’s Titles:  Homebound – Portia Elan  Bromantasy – Maire Roche  Opting Out – Maia Kobabe, Lucky Srikumar  Until Death – Mary Berman  Murder Most Delicious - Danielle Postel-Vinay  Landing in Place – Sherine Hamdy, art by Myra El Mir  Gay Mormon Dad – Chad Anderson  Body Count – Codie Crowley  Not Your Final Girl – Mikayla Randolph  Femme Feral – Sam Beckbessinger  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:48 A warm welcome to Rachel! 00:01:23 Breaking out of a bit of a slump 00:06:10 Our May 2026 Book Picks! 01:05:06 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge, Joe goes behind the scenes of one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of publishing: book cover design.  In the first segment, Erin Fitzsimmons (Sourcebooks) and Karina Granda (Hachette Book Group) join Joe to talk about how they got their start in design, what their creative process looks like today, and how book covers have evolved alongside trends, formats, and reader expectations.  Then, in the second segment, Kathryn G. English (Blackstone Publishing) and Ryan Willwerscheid (Podium Audio) dive into how design shifts across formats, from print to audio, and share some of the biggest surprises that go into creating a cover that connects with readers.  From concept to final product, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the art, strategy, and collaboration behind the covers you can’t stop staring at.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Segment 1:  Erin Fitzsimmons - Instagram  Karina Granda – Instagram   Segment 2:   Kathryn G. English - Instagram  Ryan Willwerscheid – Instagram   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro with Karina Granda and Erin Fitzsimmons 00:03:50 How did you get into this space?  00:09:09 What does on the job training look like for a cover designer?  00:27:54 When do you start desiging covers?  00:39:57 What is a trendy cover vs. A timeless cover?  00:47:07 Thank you to Karina and Erin! 00:47:19 Intro with Ryan Willwerscheid and Kathryn G. English 00:51:03 How do you approach cover design? 01:02:39 Where do you find inspiration when creating covers?  01:06:45 How often do you push comps and trends over author wants?  01:18:11 Do you ever have to change covers right before print? 01:37:50 What would you want people to take away from creating book covers? 01:39:46 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for your next great historical fiction read? Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark, host of the Book Gang Podcast, to share standout historical fiction recommendations to add to your TBR.  From immersive, character-driven stories to sweeping narratives that bring the past to life, this episode highlights books that will stick with you long after the final page. Amy brings her expertise in discovering buzzy and noteworthy titles, while Joe adds a few picks of his own—including one unexpected curveball.  Whether you’re a longtime historical fiction reader or just looking for a place to start, this episode is packed with compelling recommendations across time periods and styles.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations: Amy’s Picks:  The Half Life - Rachel Beanland  Scandalous Women - Gill Paul  The Final Revival of Opal and Nev - Dawnie Walton  The Foursome - Christina Baker Kline  Happy Land - Dolen Perkins-Valdez  Joe’s Picks:  Let's Call Her Barbie – Renée Rosen  Disco Witches of Fire Island – Blair Fell  The Hounding – Xenobe Purvis  Dead Eleven – Jimmy Juliano  Silver Nitrate – Silvia Moreno-Garcia  Flung out of Space – Grace Ellis & Hannah Templer  Stage Dreams – Melanie Gillman  The Legend of Auntie Po – Shing Yin Khor  Parallel – Matthias Lehmann    Who’s in this episode:   Amy Allen Clark, Book Gang Podcast – links  Articles referenced:   https://bookriot.com/what-makes-a-book-historical-fiction/   https://celadonbooks.com/what-is-historical-fiction/   https://historicalnovelsociety.org/defining-the-genre-2/  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:53 Hello to Amy!  00:01:30 What is Historical Fiction, and what defines it?  00:04:28 Amy’s thoughts on Historical Fiction 00:12:11 Historical Fiction Recommendations 01:07:28 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Baker Kline, Heather Webb and Lauren Tarshis join Joe for a wide-ranging conversation on the enduring appeal of historical fiction and why readers keep coming back for stories rooted in the past.  From immersive research to emotional storytelling, they explore how historical fiction brings real moments to life while still leaving room for imagination. The conversation also dives into the challenges of writing in difficult time periods, how authors maintain hope when their subject matter gets heavy and what it means to responsibly shape narratives based on real events.  Plus, each author shares insight into their creative process and how they build vivid, unforgettable worlds across genres and age group.  Whether you're a lifelong historical fiction reader or just starting to explore the genre, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the stories that help us better understand where we’ve been and where we’re going.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Christina Baker Kline  Website  The Foursome  Heather Webb  Website  The Hope Keeper  Lauren Tarshis  Website  I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935  I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018 Graphic Novel  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro to Historical Fiction 00:01:08 Hello from Christina Baker Kline, Heather Webb & Lauren Tarshis 00:05:07 Diving into the conversation – why historical fiction?  00:49:26 How do you balance the heaviness of historical with maintaining light in your life? 00:58:44 Thank you and outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Looking for your next favorite author before they blow up? This episode is for you.  Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark of the Book Gang Podcast, an expert in spotlighting debut authors, for a conversation that starts with a little podcast inside baseball. From prepping interviews to working with first-time authors, they dig into what makes debut conversations so special.  Then, it’s all about the books.  Joe and Amy share standout debut novels from 2022 through 2026 that completely delivered. These are the first books that don’t feel like first books: bold, buzzworthy, and absolutely worth adding to your TBR.  If you loved the Dazzling Debuts conversation, this is your official reading list follow-up.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Amy’s Picks:  The Sunflower Boys by Sam Wachman  Harvesting Rosewater by Paria Hassouri  The Sign for Home by Blair Fell  With Friends Like You by Amy Chozick  If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett  Joe’s Picks:   Mayra – Nicky Gonzalez  The Dallergut Dream Department Store – Miye Lee  Cactus Country – Zoe Bossiere  The September House – Carissa Orlando  I Want You More – Swan Huntley  The Compound – Aisling Rawle  Julie Chan is Dead – Liann Zhang  How to Survive a Horror Story – Mallory Arnold  Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – Anais Flogny   Fitting Indian – Jyoti Chand  Homebody – Theo Parish  Who’s in this episode:   Amy Allen Clark – Links     Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro to Dazzling Debuts 00:05:00 Inside baseball – talking to debut authors and the art of the interview 00:25:35 Dazzling Debut Recommendations 01:19:35 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Season 3 of Book Lounge by Libby! We’re kicking things off with a celebration of debut authors; the moment when years of writing, revising, and hoping finally turn into a book on shelves.  Joe is joined by Casey Scieszka, Katie Bernet, and Leia Ham to talk about what it really takes to publish a first novel. From early drafts and rejections to finding an agent, navigating edits, and seeing their books in the world for the first time, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the debut experience.  They also dive into the emotional side of publishing: imposter syndrome, creative pressure, and the surreal moment of becoming a “published author.” Whether you’re an aspiring writer or just love discovering new voices, this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at where every author’s journey begins.  Make sure you’re following the show so you don’t miss our next episode where we give you debut recommendations!  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Casey Scieszka - website  The Fountain  Katie Bernet - website  Beth is Dead  Leia Ham - website  The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Updates for Season 3 00:02:26 Intro 00:10:13 Sharing your book with the world 00:28:15 Getting into book two 00:42:17 What do you want most for your first release? 00:48:35 Does being a published author feel different? 00:52:04 Lightning Round 00:59:43 Farewell to our debut guests 01:00:10 Outro Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathleen, known online as KathleenIllustrated, joins Joe for a cozy, creativity-filled conversation. As an illustrator, thrifter, and passionate reader, Kathleen shares the early reading moments that shaped her, her deep love of libraries and Libby, and how storytelling influences her creative life.  The episode also explores her passion for thrifting and sustainability, and the joy of discovering meaningful, unexpected finds. It’s a warm, relaxed chat about books, creativity, and building a life rooted in what inspires.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Find Kathleen online:   YouTube - link  Instagram – link  Website- link  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 A brief interruption from Joe & Season 3 updates 00:04:46 Intro 00:05:20 Getting to know Kathleen 00:07:22 Creativity and Vision 00:36:14 Kathleen’s Reading Hot Takes 00:48:06 Not a Re-Reader 00:58:02 Recent Thrift Finds 00:59:28 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What really happens behind the scenes in publishing—and how does an editor make the leap to author?  In this bonus episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe sits down with Emma Brodie—Executive Editor at Clarkson Potter and author of Into the Blue—for a conversation that blends industry insight with creative inspiration.  In the first half, Emma pulls back the curtain on her career in publishing, sharing what a day in the life of an editor looks like, how the industry has evolved, and some tricks of the trade.   Then, the conversation shifts to Emma’s own writing journey. She dives into the inspiration behind Into the Blue, her creative process, and how she balances editing with making space for her own storytelling. Along the way, Joe and Emma also bond over a certain iconic vampire saga.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Books by Emma Brodie:   Songs in Ursa Major  Into the Blue  Who’s in this episode:   Emma Brodie   Instagram  Website  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:14 Talking publishing & editing with Emma Brodie 00:20:24 Oops, Joe mentions Twilight 00:21:57 Tricks of the trade 00:29:19 Emma’s editing essentials 00:33:18 Making space for creativity 00:37:35 Into INTO THE BLUE 00:55:30 Lightning Round 00:57:49 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog.  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What started as a search for representation turned into a movement.  In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Dessa Carroll, founder of Brown Babies n' Books, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to creating culturally rooted literacy experiences for families.  Together, they explore:  The inspiration behind launching Brown Babies n’ Books   What it takes to build a grassroots community from the ground up   Why representation in books matters—for kids and caregivers   How storytelling can foster belonging, identity, and connection   What’s next for this growing organization   This is a heartfelt, energizing conversation about the power of books to shape lives.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Connect with Dessa & Brown Babies n’ Books:   Brown Babies n’ Books website  Brown Babies n’ Books Instagram  Dessa Carroll’s Instagram  Titles mentioned in this episode:  Freedom Braids – Monique Duncan  Amazing Grace – Mary Hoffman  Saturday – Oge Mora  The History of We – Nikkolas Smith  Soca Baby – Qef Johnson, Ariful Mowla  Black. Single. Mother. - Jamilah Lemieux  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:17 Meet Brown Babies n’ Books 00:24:43 Some book reflections & recommendations 00:33:55 Making your own community groups 00:38:32 Advice for new and existing groups 00:45:12 Wrapping up & outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

April is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of incredible new reads! 🌸  In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by returning guest (and friend) Emma to talk through the April 2026 book releases they’re most excited to add to their TBR.   Together, they explore a wide range of upcoming titles—from highly anticipated bestsellers to under-the-radar gems—perfect for spring reading.  If you’re looking to refresh your reading list, discover new authors, or stay on top of the latest releases, this episode has you covered. Expect lively conversation, thoughtful picks, and plenty of bookish enthusiasm to inspire your next great read.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Emma’s Titles:   Rites of the Starling – Devney Perry   The Ending Writes Itself – Evelyn Clarke  American Fantasy – Emma Straub   Mad Mabel – Sally Hepworth  The Paris Match – Kate Clayborn  Unbound- Peyton Corine  Go Gentle- Maria Semple   The Name Game – Beth O’ Leary   The Radiant Dark - Alexandra Oliva  Joe’s Titles: To Mention: We Burned So Bright – TJ Klune  Bodies of Work – Clay McLeod Chapman  The Escape Game – Marissa Meyer, Tamara Moss   The Subtle Art of Folding Space – John Chu  American Spirits – Anna Dorn  The Neverending Book – Naoki Matayoshi  Thrall – Rebecca Mahoney  Project V – Park Seolyeon  The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances – Glenn Dixon  Break Room – Miye Lee  And Joe’s horror round-up:   The Caretaker – Marcus Kliewer  Molka – Monika Kim  Odessa – Gabrielle Sher  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:15 Catching up with Emma 00:02:52 April 2026 Book Picks 01:13:19 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by a true multi-hyphenate talent—acclaimed audiobook narrator and producer Daniel Henning, whose voice you’ve almost certainly heard bringing stories to life.  Now, Daniel is stepping into the publishing world with his bold new imprint, Starshells of Madness, dedicated to reviving forgotten, unconventional, and culturally significant works. At the heart of this mission is his first release: Queer People by Carroll and Garrett Graham—a madcap, jazz age satire of Hollywood’s most scandalous eccentrics.  Joe and Daniel dive into:  The origins and vision behind Starshells of Madness  The rediscovery of Queer People  Why this novel still feels fresh, funny, and subversive today  Daniel’s journey from celebrated narrator to publisher  If you love audiobook storytelling, hidden literary gems, and juicy Old Hollywood drama, this conversation is not to be missed.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Here’s just some of Daniel’s work:  Queer People – Carroll and Garrett Graham  Better the Devil – Erik J. Brown  Bath Haus – PJ Vernon  The Body in the Back Garden – Mark Waddell  The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune  Somewhere Beyond the Sea – TJ Klune  In the Lives of Puppets – TJ Klune  Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! - TJ Klune  The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown – Jay Manuel  Follow Daniel & Starshells of Madness:   You can find Daniel Henning on Instagram  Check out the Starshells of Madness website and Starshells of Madness Instagram  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Intro 00:02:06 Catching up with Daniel Henning 00:14:46 Starshells of Maddness 00:21:07 Queer People  01:06:26 Outro   Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list of titles voiced by Daniel Henning!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Witchy books have completely cast a spell on readers—and in this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Meara to explore the magic behind the genre.  From cozy magical stories to darker tales of witchcraft and power, Meara shares how she first fell in love with witchy reads and why the genre keeps pulling readers back for more. Meara shares her hallmarks of a great witchy book: beloved tropes, magical vibes, found family, spellwork, atmospheric settings, and the storytelling elements that make these books so irresistible.  Along the way, she highlights some of her favorite witchy reads and offer plenty of book recommendations.  Whether you’re a longtime lover of witchy books or just looking for your next enchanting read, this episode is full of magical inspiration.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/meara-s-best-witchy-books-to-read-cozy-magical-must-read-witch-books-book-lounge-by-libby   Who’s in this episode:   Find Meara online here!  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:22 Intro 00:01:00 Witchy Q&A with Meara 00:41:57 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

March is bringing the heat 🔥  In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark of the Book Gang Podcast to talk about the March 2026 book releases they cannot wait to read.  From buzzy debuts to powerhouse authors returning with new stories, we’re breaking down the titles climbing to the top of our TBR piles. Whether you love literary fiction, thrillers, romance, or genre-bending surprises, this month is stacked.  Get your Libby tag ready — we’re giving you plenty of reasons to hit “borrow” and build out your holds list.  Looking for even more ideas? Browse Amy’s curated guides:  2026 Debut Books (43 Incredible Titles)  2026 New Releases (47 Book Ideas From Seasoned Voices)  Your March reading mood? Officially handled.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Amy’s Picks:   The Shock of the Light – Lori Inglis Hall   The Beheading Game – Rebecca Lehmann  The Fountain – Casey Scieszka   Where the Girls Were – Kate Schatz   Lady Tremaine – Rachel Hochhauser  Under Water – Tara Menon   That's What Friends Are For – Wade Rouse   The Truth About Ruby Cooper – Liz Nugent   The Night We Met – Abby Jimenez   Once and Again – Rebecca Serle  Joe’s Picks:   Now I Surrender – Álvaro Engrigue  200 Monas – Jan Saenz  The Disappointment – Scott Broker  Adult Braces – Lindy West  The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts – Kim Fu  You With the Sad Eyes – Christina Applegate  Strange Girls – Sarvat Hasin  Sisters in Yellow – Mieko Kawakami  Hooked – Asako Yuzuki  Wretch – Eric LaRocca    Who’s in this episode:   Amy Allen Clark – Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Check out How to Shoot a Ghost on Kanopy! 00:01:36 Title 00:02:00 Intro 00:02:30 Chatting with Amy Allen Clark 00:09:12 March 2026 Book Picks 01:17:47 Closing & Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re trying something a little different—and we’re very excited about it. Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark from the Book Gang podcast to dive deep into One’s Company by Ashley Hutson, a book Amy has been completely obsessed with.  We start with a breakdown of the book (mostly spoiler-free), unpacking what worked, what lingered, and why One’s Company gets under your skin in the best way. Then, at the 25-minute mark we do a quick spoiler breakdown, then we’re joined by Ashley Hutson herself for a spoiler-filled conversation about the book, her inspirations, the emotional core of the story, and what it was like bringing this unsettling, unforgettable novel to life.  📚 Spoiler warning: The author interview includes spoilers—so read One’s Company first, then come hang out with us.  If you love this book-club-style episode (or want us to do more like it with different books or formats), we want to hear from you! Email Joe at [email protected] with your thoughts.  Check out Ashley’s recent publication “Our Whole History” here!  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/inside-one-s-company-obsession-isolation-and-talking-with-ashley-hutson-book-lounge-by-libby   Who’s in this episode:   Amy Allen Clark – Links   Find Book Gang on Patreon  Ashley Hutson - Website  Check out Ashley’s recent publication “Our Whole History” here!  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro 00:02:13 Talking One’s Company with Amy Allen Clark 00:25:55 Spoiler breakdown of One’s Company 00:30:12 Conversation with Ashley Hutson, author of One’s Company 01:19:55 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not everyone grows up a reader—and that’s okay.  In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe talks with his friend Sam about what it’s like when reading finally works for you. They dig into unlearning what reading is “supposed” to look like, finding joy without pressure, and how discovering books later in life can quietly change how you see yourself.  Along the way, Sam shares how becoming a reader also sparked the beginning of her journey as a writer. This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt outside of reading culture—and is finding their way in.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Find Sam’s Bookstagram @worldwakerreads   Check out @lizabethanneauthor  Check out Forget Me Not  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Intro  00:01:10 Becoming a Reader  00:46:46 Becoming an Author  01:06:03 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New month, new books, and a very full TBR. 📖✨  In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Meara to dive into the most exciting books releasing in February 2026. From buzzy new novels to under-the-radar gems, we’re breaking down what’s catching our attention, what we’re most hyped to read, and which releases are moving straight to the top of our TBRs.  If you love tracking upcoming book releases, planning your reading life, or just want to know what February’s literary lineup has in store, consider this your official February 2026 Book Release Radar.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Meara’s Picks:  A Little Buzzed – Alys Murray  The Sun and the Starmaker – Rachel Griffin  Greedy - Callie Kazumi  Books & Bewitchment - Isla Jewell  How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates - Shailee Thompson  Cruelty Free - Caroline Glenn  For Human Use - Sarah G Pierce    Weavingshaw – Heba Al-Wasity   The Hospital at the End of the World - Justin C. Key  The Forest on the Edge of Time – Jasmin Kirkbride   The Red Winter - Cameron Sullivan   Joe’s Picks:  Operation Bounce House – Matt Dinniman  Heap Earth Upon It – Chloe Michelle Howarth   Murder Bimbo – Rebecca Novack  Superfan – Jenny Tinghui Zhang  She Made Herself a Monster – Anna Kovatcheva  I am the Ghost Here – Kim Samek  Good People – Patmeena Sabit   The Jills – Karen Parkman   Dollface – Lindy Ryan  Language as Liberation – Toni Morrison   Who’s in this episode:   Meara - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:01:02 Catching up with Meara  00:05:38 February 2026 Book Picks  01:08:35 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winter is a vibe—and so is the way we read during it.  In this episode, Joe is joined by Cece and Meara to talk all things winter reading vibes, from how mood reading works for us to whether TBRs ever stand a chance. We get honest about DNFing books (when we quit, why we quit, and how we make peace with it) and then wrap things up with book recommendations that feel just right for the colder months—think cozy, atmospheric, emotional, and immersive reads.  If your winter reading life looks nothing like your reading goals… you’re in good company.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Cece’s Picks:  The Boys in the Valley – Philip Fracassi  Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear (Wayward Children series – Book 1 Every Heart a Doorway) – Seanan McGuire  The Forgotten Girl – India Hill Brown  Echo After Echo – A.R. Capetta   Meara’s Picks:  The Hush – Sara Foster  These Immortal Truths - R. Raeta  These Godly Lies – R. Raeta  Cold - Drew Hayden Taylor  One Dark Window - Rachel Gillig   Joe’s Picks:   Strange Pictures - Uketsu  Strange Houses - Uketsu   Bad Dolls – Rachel Harrison   The Writing Retreat – Julia Bartz   Breathe In, Bleed Out – Brian McAuley   The Staircase in the Woods – Chuck Wendig   Idle Grounds - Krystelle Bamford   Old Country by Matt & Harrison Query  The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson   Bochica – Carolina Florez-Cerchiaro   Play Nice – Rachel Harrison   The Apartment Across the Hall – Jack Dane   The Most – Jessica Anthony   The Three of Us – Ore Agbaje-Williams   Who’s in this episode:   Cece – Links  Meara - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Intro  00:01:13 Diving into winter vibes & mood reading with Cece & Meara!  00:16:05 Meara’s tracker spreadsheet & fixing a reading slump  00:20:33 Do TBRs exist anymore?   00:35:10 How do your reading habits change with the season?  00:38:41 DNF’ing books  00:48:41 Some recommended reads for the vibe  01:05:03 Wrap up and outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New year, new books, and SO many reasons to freak out (in the best way).  In this bonus episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu and Meara to kick off 2026 with a full-on Book Release Radar—highlighting the upcoming titles they’re most excited to read this year.  From buzzy new releases to books that already feel like future favorites, they're sharing what’s climbing to the very top of the TBRs and why 2026 is shaping up to be an exceptional year for readers. Consider this your official permission slip to start planning your holds early.  Season 3 is coming in April but make sure you’re following us so you don’t miss out on our monthly episodes while you wait!  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Jananie’s Picks:   A Kiss of Crimson Ash – Anuja Varghese   We Dance Upon Demons – Vaishnavi Patel   TRAD WIFE – Saratoga Schaefer  The Rise of the Celestials – Kritika H. Rao  Read Between the Lies – Jesse Q. Sutanto  Aicha – Soraya Bouazzaoui   Burn the Sea – Mona Tewari   Seasons of Glass and Iron – Amal El-Mohtar    Meara’s Picks:   A Vow in Vengeance - Jaclyn Rodriguez  Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke  She Haunts Me Still - De Elizabeth   Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It – Brooke Averick   The Wretched Divine – Adalyn Grace  Clara & the Devil – Olivie Blake & Little Chmura   Dead Beat - Leigh Bardugo  Light Wielder - Rachel Schneider  Victorious – VE Schwab   Joe’s Picks:   Nothing Tastes as Good – Luke Dumas  Japanese Gothic – Kylie Lee Baker  We Burned so Bright – TJ Klune  Spoiled Milk – Avery Curran   Plastic, Prism, Void – Violet Allen  Fruitcake – Rex Ogle  Missing in Soho – Holly Stars  Lights! Camera! Frendo! - Adam Cesare   Who's in this episode:   Jananie K. Velu – Links  Meara - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Intro  00:01:55 Gettin’ chatty with Jananie & Meara  00:03:14 Relationships with book releases  00:07:54 2026 Book Release Radar  01:04:59 Final thoughts and outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we head into the holiday season, we’re already looking ahead—because nothing pairs better with cocoa and cozy time off than planning your next year’s TBR 🎄📚  For our January 2026 Book Picks (and the final Book Lounge episode of 2025!), I'm joined by Madison to break down the new releases we cannot wait to snag in the new year. These are the books we’re placing holds and adding to notify me tags in Libby, lining up for holds, and mentally reading before the wrapping paper’s even recycled ✨  This episode is equal parts holiday sendoff and new year reading hype. We’re taking a short break, soaking up the season, and coming back in January 2026 with all-new episodes.  🎁 One last thing before the year ends! Help shape the future of Book Lounge by completing our listener survey by January 5: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8564187/2025-Book-Lounge-Listener-Survey  Happy holidays, happy reading, and may your holds come in early. ✨📖  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Titles mentioned in this episode:  Madison’s picks:  Graceless Heart – Isabel Ibañez  The Midnight Carousel – Fiza Saeed McLynn  Silver & Blood – Jessie Mihalik  The Elsewhere Express – Samantha Sotto Yambao  Women of a Promiscuous Nature – Donna Everhart  Dragon Cursed – Elise Kova  When Trees Testify – Beronda L. Montgomery  Joe’s picks:   Half His Age – Jennette McCurdy  Is This a Cry for Help? - Emily Austin  How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder – Nina McConigley  Meet the Newmans – Jennifer Niven  Fustuk – Robert Mgrdich Apelian  Gaslit – Megan Davidhizar  Better the Devil – Erik J. Brown  Check out Madison’s Bookstagram  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:01:07 Intro  00:07:33 January 2026 Book Picks with Madison!’  01:17:11 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're wrapping up 2025 with a big, bookish bow! In this year-end celebration, Joe is joined by Carmen, Cece, Jananie K. Velu, Kayla, and Meara as everyone brings two of their favorite reads of the entire year. From unforgettable characters to gasp-worthy plots, these are the books that rose straight to the top of our 2025 lists.   Whether you're building your 2026 TBR or reliving your favorite reads of the year, settle in — this is the coziest way to close out the season.    ✨ Don’t forget to take our podcast survey!  Running now through January 5. We want to hear from you!  Survey link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8564187/2025-Book-Lounge-Listener-Survey   Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Guest host recommendations:  Carmen  Poppy State: A Labyrinth of Plants and a Story of Beginnings - Myriam Gurba  The Possession of Alba Diaz - Isabel Canas  Cece  Listen to Your Sister – Neena Viel  The Luis Ortega Survival Club – Sonora Reyes  Jananie  Dust Settles North – Deena ElGenaidi  Immaculate Conception – Ling Ling Huang  Kayla  Julie Chan is Dead- Liann Zhang  The Compound- Aisling Rawle  Meara  Girl Dinner – Olivie Blake  Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng - Kylie Lee Baker  Joe   When the Wolf Comes Home – Nat Cassidy   Victorian Psycho – Virginia Feito  Hungerstone – Kat Dunn   Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Carmen – link  Cece - link  Jananie K. Velu – link  Kayla - link  Meara – link   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:01:07 Intro  00:03:54 Best Reads of 2025  00:03:22 The Summer Book on KANOPY  00:31:52 Best Reads of 2025  01:03:01 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 2 is wrapping up with a bow! In this festive finale of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe gathers holiday-lit icons Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso, and Matthew Norman for a lively conversation about writing wintery stories across genres—from heartfelt romance to twisty mystery to big-hearted contemporary fiction.  Then in Segment 2, our guest hosts slide down the chimney with their best holiday reading recommendations to keep your TBR merry and bright.  Pour a mug of something warm, cozy up under your favorite blanket, and celebrate the end of another incredible season with us. And don’t forget—more great content is coming your way in the new year, so make sure you're subscribed!  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/festive-fiction-talking-holiday-reads-for-cozy-winter-nights-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-10   Guest host recommendations:  Cece  Make My Wish Come True - Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick   Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology - ed. Ellen Datlow  Jananie  A Little Holiday Fling – Farah Heron  The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year – Ally Carter  Meara  The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Cynthia Hand   The Christmas Murder Game - Alexandra Benedict  Joe  You Better Watch Out – James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth  Season of Love – Helena Greer  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Alexandra Benedict – Instagram    Jenny Bayliss - Instagram  Maisha Oso - Website  Matthew Norman – Website  Segment 2:   Cece - link  Jananie K. Velu – link  Meara - link  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:01:53 Writing for the Season with Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso & Matthew Norman!  01:01:29 BREAK – Some holiday reads from Kensington Books  01:04:22 Holiday Reads with Cece, Jananie & Meara!  01:41:22 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Buckle up, book lovers — we’re going full Hollywood this week in an extended edition of Book Lounge! Joe kicks things off with the iconic Louis Sachar, who spills delightful behind-the-scenes tea about writing the Holes screenplay, hanging out on set, and the surreal experience of getting residual checks for his cameo.   Then Danielle Valentine pops in to chat about Delicate Condition and its evolution into American Horror Story: Delicate.   For the grand finale, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu and Meara for a joyfully nerdy celebration of book-to-screen adaptations.  It’s big. It’s bookish. It’s cinematic. And it’s a blast.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/page-to-screen-magic-authors-on-adaptations-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-9  Guest host recommendations:  Jananie  Howl’s Moving Castle - Dianna Wynne Jones  The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson  Frankenstein – Mary Shelley  Meara  It’s Kind of a Funny Story – Ned Vizzini   Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion  The Long Walk - Stephen King as Richard Bachman  Joe  Mommie Dearest – Christina Crawford & With Love, Mommie Dearest - A. Ashley Hoff  Watch Mommie Dearest on Kanopy  Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer  Watch Into the Wild on Kanopy  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Louis Sachar - website  Danielle Valentine – website  Segment 2:   Jananie K. Velu – Links  Meara - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:01:06 Intro  00:02:47 Louis Sachar on HOLES  00:42:47 Break!  00:44:11 Danielle Valentine on DELICATE CONDITION & AHS: DELICATE  01:33:15 Page to Screen Recs with Jananie K. Velu & Meara!  02:28:17 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian, writer, and foodie extraordinaire Mamrie Hart joins Joe in the Book Lounge to talk about her new cookbook All I Think About Is Food, her must-haves for holiday hosting, and why laughter really is the secret ingredient. Then, Carmen, Kevin Norman, and Meara pull up a chair to share the books they’re most thankful for this holiday season. A feast of laughs, stories, and reads you’ll want seconds of! 🦃📚  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  Find all the books by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/food-for-thought-holiday-feasts-mamrie-hart-and-the-books-we-re-thankful-for-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-8   Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Mamrie Hart - Instagram , podcast: This Might Get Weird  Segment 2:   Carmen - link  Kevin T. Norman – link  Meara - link  Guest host recommendations:  Carmen  Charlotte’s Web - E. B. White  Signal to Noise - Silvia Moreno-Garcia   Kevin  Inferno’s Heir - Tiffany Wang  Black Salt Queen – Samantha Bansil  Meara  Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Caitlin Doughty  UnWind - Neal Shusterman  Joe   Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse - Kevin Henkes  The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket  Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging - Louise Rennison  You – Caroline Kepnes  Sailor Moon volume 1 – Naoko Takeuchi  Cardcaptor Sakura volume 1 - CLAMP  Tsubasa volume 1 - CLAMP  Holic volume 1 - CLAMP  I Think Our Son Is Gay volume 1 - Okura   The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune  Witchlings - Claribel A. Ortega  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:01:20 Segment 1 with Mamrie Hart!  00:53:54 BREAK – check out these cozy Fall Reads from Kensington Books  00:56:08 Segment 2 with Carmen, Kevin Norman & Meara!  01:42:06 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time to go beyond the stars! In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Alex Segura, Daniel H. Wilson, and Ken Liu for a cosmic conversation on the ever-evolving world of science fiction. They dive into the genre’s growth, the art of writing in shared universes, and their own galaxy-sized reading recs. Then, Cece and Meara join for segment two with stellar sci-fi book recommendations to add to your TBR.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/science-fiction-double-feature-exploring-new-worlds-through-books-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-7   Guest host recommendations:  Cece  The Seep - Chana Porter  Salvation Day - Kali Wallace  Meara  The End of Men - Christina Sweeney-Baird  Annie Bot - Sierra Greer  Joe   August Kitko and the Mechas from Space – Alex White   The Bones Beneath My Skin – TJ Klune  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Alex Segura - website  Daniel H. Wilson - website  Ken Liu - website  Segment 2:   Cece – links  Meara - links   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Intro  00:01:23 Segment 1 with Alex Segura, Daniel H. Wilson & Ken Liu  00:52:53 Break  00:53:51 Segment 2 – Sci-Fi Recs with Cece & Meara!  01:29:12 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is our ode to the library—the beating heart of every book lover’s story. In segment one, Joe is joined by authors (and librarians, both current and former!) Terah Shelton Harris, Eva Jurczyk, PJ Nelson, and Jenn McKinlay to talk about how their time in libraries shaped their writing and storytelling.  Then, in segment two, Joe and our guest hosts share book recommendations by librarians, about librarians, and featuring that unmistakable library charm.  Whether you’re a lifelong cardholder or just love the scent of a good book, this episode is for you.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/library-love-letters-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-6   Guest host recommendations:  Amy  The Lions of Fifth Avenue - Fiona Davis  The Reading List - Sarah Nisha Adams  Carmen  The Next Best Fling - Gabriella Gamez  That Librarian - Amanda Jones  Cece  Gay the Pray Away - Natalie Naudus  84 Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff  Meara   If the Shoe Fits - Julie Murphy  The Archived - Victoria Schwab  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Eva Jurczyk - website  Jenn McKinlay - website  Phillip DePoy (PJ Nelson) - website  Terah Shelton Harris - website  Segment 2:   Amy Allen Clark – links  Carmen – links  Cece – links  Meara - links  Articles mentioned in this episode:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/2025-03-06-search-like-a-pro-expert-tips-for-finding-your-next-read-in-the-libby-app   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:02:10 Segment 1 with Eva Jurczyk, Jenn McKinlay, PJ Nelson & Terah Shelton Harris!  01:02:27 Libby Tip: Search like a Pro!  01:07:52 Segment 2 with Amy, Carmen, Cece & Meara!  01:58:05 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Witch please! In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re leaning all the way into fall vibes with cozy and witchy reads that’ll keep you warm as the weather cools.  In segment one, Joe is joined by Claribel A. Ortega, Liz Montague, HB Akumiah, and Travis Baldree for a fireside chat about all things cozy fantasy, witchy worlds, and why we can’t get enough of stories that feel like a soft blanket and a spellbook in one.  Then in segment two, Bre, Kayla, and Meara stop by to share their favorite cozy and witchy reads to add to your TBR cauldron.  Whether you love small-town magic, talking familiars, or books that smell like cinnamon and candle wax, this episode will enchant your fall reading list.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/witch-please-cozy-witchy-reads-for-fall-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-5   Guest host recommendations:  Bre  A Murder for Miss Hortense - Mel Pennant   Snapdragon - Kat Leyh  Kayla  The Ex Hex – Erin Sterling  We Ride Upon Sticks – Quan Barry  Meara  The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna  Sweet and Bitter Magic - Adrienne Tooley  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Claribel A. Ortega - Website  H.B. Akumiah - Instagram  Liz Montague - Website  Travis Baldree - Website  Segment 2:   Bre - Links  Kayla - Links  Meara – Links   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:21 Intro  00:02:48 Segment 1 with Claribel A. Ortega, Liz Montague, HB Akumiah & Travis Baldree!  00:56:43 BREAK  00:58:42 Segment 2 – Book Recs with Bre, Kayla & Meara!  01:42:13 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a monster-mash of an episode! We’re going big for spooky season with horror favorites, eerie insights, and enough book recommendations to haunt your TBR straight through Halloween.  In this king-sized candy bar of a Halloween special, Joe is joined by horror icons Rachel Harrison and Ryan La Sala to chat about how the horror space has evolved, what sets YA apart from Adult horror, and why readers are craving fear like never before.   Then, stick around for a double feature of horror recommendations from Amy, Bre, Jananie, and Kayla—plus during the mid-episode break Joe shares a few not-so-scary reads from our friends at Kensington Books.  Whether you’re a longtime horror lover or a scaredy cat in search of your next gateway read, this episode is packed with chills, laughs, and plenty of books to keep you up all night.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/haunted-pages-a-halloween-book-lounge-special-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-4  Guest host recommendations:  Amy Allen Clark  One Yellow Eye - Leigh Radford  The Scald-Crow - Grace Daly  Bre   Cutthroat – Octavia Grant  This Cursed House by Del Sandeen  Flowers of the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn  Jananie K. Velu  An Academy for Liars – Alexis Henderson  Natural Beauty - Ling Ling Huang  Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia  Kayla  I Was a Teenage Slasher – Stephen Graham Jones  When the Wolf Comes Home – Nat Cassidy  Rest Stop – Nat Cassidy  Joe  Bad Dreams in the Night & Let Me in Your Window – Adam Ellis  Haunted – Chuck Palahniuk  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Rachel Harrison – Website  Ryan La Sala - Website  Segment 2:   Amy Allen Clark - Links  Bre – Links  Jananie K. Velu – Links  Kayla – Links   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:24 Intro  00:02:52 Segment 1 with Rachel Harrison & Ryan La Sala  01:00:36 BREAK – Some not-so-scary Halloween Recs  01:03:15 Segment 2 pt. 1 Horror Recs with Kayla & Jananie  01:38:22 Segment 2 pt. 2 Horror Recs with Amy & Bre  02:21:11 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re going Beyond the Label to explore stories of disability, neurodivergence, and chronic illness — both on and off the page.  In Segment 1, Joe is joined by Marie Myung-Ok Lee, who opens up about her experiences as a mother to a child with disabilities. She reflects on the fears, challenges, and moments of triumph that have shaped her perspective as both a parent and a writer. Marie also shares how her Korean-American identity and personal experiences influence her work and the stories she tells.  Then, in Segment 2, Joe, Cece, and Meara highlight books that feature characters who go beyond the label — stories where differences drive the narrative and reveal the beauty in experiencing the world another way.  ✨ A heartfelt, thoughtful episode celebrating empathy, awareness, and the power of storytelling to expand our understanding of others — and ourselves.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/beyond-the-label-stories-of-disability-awareness-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-3  Guest host recommendations:  Cece's Picks:  On the Edge of Gone – Corinne Duyvis  What Moves the Dead – T. Kingfisher  Meara’s Picks:   Vespertine – Margaret Rogerson  How to Kill Your Family – Bella Mackie  Joe’s Picks:   The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet – Jake Maia Arlow  Never the Wind – Francesco Dimitri  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Marie Myung-Ok Lee - TikTok  Segment 2:   Cece (problemsofabooknerd) - Links  Meara (mearaisreading) - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Intro  00:01:52 Segment 1 with Marie Myung-Ok Lee  01:01:27 Break Libby Holds Update  01:07:22 Segment 2 Book Recs with Cece & Meara  01:38:06 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s back-to-school season, which means new routines, new books, and maybe even a little extra stress for kids (and the adults who love them). To help ease the transition, we’re diving into comfort reads for Middle Grade and YA readers.  In this episode, Joe is joined by the incredible Rex Ogle, author of heartfelt and vulnerable stories for young readers. Rex opens up about his writing process, how books can help kids navigate tough times, the importance of watching for signs of bullying, and what’s next for both him and his alter ego, Rey Terciero.  Then, in segment two, Joe and Meara share their latest Middle Grade and YA favorites—full of witches, hauntings, and just the right amount of spooky fun.  From meaningful conversations to magical book picks, this episode has something for everyone: whether you have kids in your life or you’re a kid at heart.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/back-to-school-back-to-books-comfort-reads-for-kids-and-their-grown-ups-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-2   Guest host recommendations:  Meara:  The Flicker – H.E. Edgmon  Lovely Dark and Deep – Elisa A. Bonnin  The Witch Boy – Molly Knox Ostertag    Joe:  Making Friends, Volume 1 – Kristen Gudsnuk  The Supernatural Society – Rex Ogle  The Okay Witch – Emma Steinkellner  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Rex Ogle – Website  Segment 2:   Meara (mearaisreading) - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:02:25 Segment 1 – Back to School with Rex Ogle  00:52:54 Break – Check out our Book Lounge Merch!  00:54:38 Segment 2 Middle Grade & YA Recs with Meara  01:31:46 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into those all-too-familiar reading ruts and writing slumps. In this episode, we explore how to find inspiration again—both on the page and in life.  In Segment 1, join me with Neal Shusterman, New York Times bestselling author of over thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, as he shares his strategies for breaking out of creative ruts and staying inspired in writing and life.  In Segment 2, our fantastic guest host Amy Allen Clark reveals her personal approach to reading ruts: how she navigates them, embraces them, and ultimately finds joy in getting back into the flow of books.  Whether you’re a reader, a writer, or just someone looking to reignite your spark, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a few laughs along the way.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Check out the full book list for our episode here! Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Neal Shusterman – Website | Instagram  Segment 2:   Amy Allen Clark - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:02:00 Segment 1 – Conversation with Neal Shusterman on Writing Slumps  00:59:13 Break  01:01:24 Segment 2 with Amy Allen Clark (About Season 1 of Book Lounge)  01:07:07 Segment 2 – Getting Out of Reading Ruts with Amy Allen Clark  01:45:02 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re bringing you something extra special this week—a live recording from the ALA 2025 Pop-Top Stage! Join Joe in conversation with: Henry H. Neff - ⁠website⁠ Mary Roach - ⁠website⁠ Michelle Jabès-Corpora - ⁠website⁠ Olivia Worley - ⁠website⁠ Rex Ogle - ⁠website⁠ Sasha Bonét - ⁠website⁠ Terah Shelton Harris - ⁠website⁠ as they talk books, libraries, and the joy of connecting readers with stories. This bonus episode is a celebration of community and a peek inside the excitement of ALA. Book Lounge by Libby will be back with Season 2 next week—stay tuned for more amazing conversations with authors, narrators, and book lovers. Time Stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:19 Intro 00:02:15 LIVE At ALA! 00:49:12 Outro Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in ⁠Libby⁠. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy⁠!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the ⁠Libby Life Blog⁠!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the ⁠Libby App YouTube channel⁠. Keep up with us on social media by following the ⁠Libby App on Instagram⁠!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices