Book Lounge by Libby

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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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

In this special bonus episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe sits down with Daniel Henning to dive deep into the writings and ideas of Andy Warhol. From The Philosophy of Andy Warhol to Popism: The Warhol Sixties to a: a novel, this conversation explores the iconic artist’s impact on art, culture, and how we see the world today. Whether you’re a longtime Warhol fan or new to his work, you’ll walk away seeing his brilliance—and contradictions—in a whole new light. You can find out more about Daniel and his work on his website. Time Stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:16 Intro 00:01:52 Interview with Daniel Henning 01:00:20 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Season 1 of Book Lounge by Libby comes to a close, we’re getting you ready to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with thoughtful conversations featuring Ann Dávila Cardinal, Isabel Cañas, Cleyvis Natera, Isabel Ibañez, and Tamara Yajía. 🌎 Together, they explore how heritage and identity shape their writing and the stories they share with the world. In Segment 2, Bre, Carmen, and Cece return with their top book recommendations to keep your shelves stacked with incredible Hispanic voices. 📚✨ ✨ Season 2 of Book Lounge by Libby arrives at the end of September! Want to watch the show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel. Articles Mentioned and referenced in the Intro & Episode: https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/hispanic-heritage-month.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAbout%20National%20Hispanic%20Heritage%20Month,and%20Central%20and%20South%20America. https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/why-fiction-from-latin-america-is-growing-in-popularity https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/community/blog/posts/the-obscured-roots-of-magical-realism/#:~:text=Magical%20Realism%20is%20a%20genre,those%20that%20were%20not%20literate. https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/what-is-magical-realism https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/community/blog/posts/the-obscured-roots-of-magical-realism/ https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2022/10/latin-american-literary-traditions-through-time https://www.fountaindale.org/magical-realism-and-the-latin-american-boom/ https://bookriot.com/new-latino-boom/ https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/why-fiction-from-latin-america-is-growing-in-popularity https://coughtibridge.medium.com/alejo-carpentier-surrealism-and-the-birth-of-magical-realism-ca87f029040c Guest Host Recommendations: Bre The Cemetery Boys - Aiden Thomas The Spy - Paulo Coelho Vampires of El Norte - Isabel Cañas The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina - Zoraida Cordova Carmen Saints of the Household - Ari Tison Children of the Land - Marcelo Hernandez Castillo Magical/Realism - Vanessa Angelica Villarreal The Bewitching - Silvia Moreno-Garcia Cece The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo Cantoras - Caro de Robertis Wild Beauty - Anna-Marie McLemore Fever Dream - Samanta Schweblin Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts: Segment 1: Ann Dávila Cardinal - Website Isabel Cañas - Website Cleyvis Natera - Website Isabel Ibañez - Website Tamara Yajía - Instagram Segment 2: Bre - Links Carmen – Links Cece – Links Time Stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:16 Intro 00:12:29 Segment 1- Part 1: Ann Dávila Cardinal & Isabel Cañas 00:48:31 Segment 1 – Part 2: Cleyvis Natera, Isabel Ibañez & Tamara Yajía 01:33:18 BREAK – Libby Tip: Creating & Using Tags! 01:39:05 Segment 2 – Book Recs with Bre, Carmen & Cece! 02:32:08 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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