

Book Lounge by Libby
Book Lounge by Libby
Book Lounge by Libby is your cozy reading corner of the internet. Hosted by Joe Skelley, each episode invites you into candid and thoughtful conversations about books, writing, publishing and the trends shaping what we read (plus reading recommendations you won't want to miss).
Brought to you by Libby, the library app.
Find more at: https://pages.libbylife.com/BL-Links
Book Lounge airs year-round, with two 10-week seasons each year, featuring publishing conversations on Mondays and paired book recommendations on Thursdays- plus monthly Book Release Radar episodes. We release 1–3 episodes per month between seasons.
Reach out to us at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Happy Reading!
Brought to you by Libby, the library app.
Find more at: https://pages.libbylife.com/BL-Links
Book Lounge airs year-round, with two 10-week seasons each year, featuring publishing conversations on Mondays and paired book recommendations on Thursdays- plus monthly Book Release Radar episodes. We release 1–3 episodes per month between seasons.
Reach out to us at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Happy Reading!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 18, 2024 • 1h 1min
PBN's Hyper-Specific Reading Moods & Recommendations
Emma and Joe talk about some VERY specific reading moods and offer recommendations to match! Emma’s moods & book picks: A romance book that’s 10/10 and has Easter eggs a plenty
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
A cozy fantasy book that's equal parts wholesome and magical
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
A memoir written by the cast member of a 2000s mega-sensation tv show
Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop
Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly
The Next Chapter by Jana Kramer
A book with a couple that are murders/serial killers/contract killers
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver **
They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
Joe’s moods & book picks: A secluded cabin in the woods or small town were something creepy is definitely going on
The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan
The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger
Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey
Misery by Stephen King
Books that feel like a hug/cozy vibes
The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emile Lang
The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley
Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? By Lizzie Damilola Blackburn
Gentrification thrillers
When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
The Blade Between by Sam J. Miller
Uh-oh, there’s a stalker
With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall
Watching You by Lisa Jewell
The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2024 • 1h 21min
Don't Lose Your Whimsy - Coming of Ages Stories for All Readers
Today on the pod, Joe is joined by Jane, Quinton and Sarah to chat coming of age stories. Today's recommendations run the gamut from middle grade through adult fiction, from graphic novels to fantasy. These character-driven narratives open our eyes to the many ways we all experience life. There's a story here for everyone, and we hope you enjoy!Titles mentioned in this episode:Quinton’s Titles:
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Sarah’s Titles:
Tumble by Celia Perez
Huda F are You? By Huda Fahmy
Mid-Air Alicia D Williams
Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow
Jane’s Titles:
Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley
Joe’s Titles:
Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez
If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla
Damned by Chuck Palahniuk
What the Fireflies Know by Kai Harris
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 8, 2024 • 48min
Adventuring Through The Wide World with Douglas Westerbeke
On this episode, Joe talks with fellow Clevelander Douglas Westerbeke about his debut novel A Short Walk Through a Wide World (out April 2 from Avid Reader Press).They talk about writing an adventure story, the difficulties between writing strong "walk-on" characters versus writing your main character's whole life story, and of course, what the library means to Doug.Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2024 • 46min
Nerd Chat: April 2024
Emma and Joe are back for their casual nerd chat. The nerds discuss what they've been reading, audiobook preferences, comfort reads, the upcoming solar eclipse, reading pauses, and live events at Cuyahoga County Public Library.Emma’s books:
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Just for the Summer by Abby JImenez
House of Earth and Blood (GraphicAudio)
A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn
To Sir Phillip with Love by Julia Quinn
Think Twice by Harlan Coben (Tickets for the CCPL event here)
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
Joe's books:
Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
The Long Walk by Stephen King
The Running Man by Stephen King
The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul
And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler (Register for the CCPL event here)
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 2024 • 49min
High Standards & Vanilla Cappuccinos with Abby Jimenez
Emma welcomes Abby Jimenez to the podcast to discuss her new book, Just for the Summer! In this casual chat, they also talk high standards, "if he wanted to he would, " drawing inspiration from pop culture, Easter eggs galore, how being a reader made Abby a writer, vanilla cappuccinos, book tour with baby goats, and so much more!Books mentioned in this episode:
Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 28, 2024 • 54min
April Book Picks
Emma and Joe return for their monthly round up of books they're most looking forward to in the upcoming month! Settle in for a long list of great books due to release in April 2024.Author interviews:
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke
Joe’s Picks:
A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon
Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee
The Black Girl Survives in This One Edited by Desiree S. Evans & Saraciea J. Fennell
Women! In! Peril! by Jessie Ren Marshall
Ocean’s Godori by Elaine U. Cho
The Harrowing by Kristen Kiesling
Henry Henry by Allen Bratton
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge by Matthew Hubbard
We’re Never Getting Home by Tracy Badua
Emma’s Picks:
Funny Story by Emily Henry
She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica
The Rule Book by Sarah Adams
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
The Darkness Rises by Stacy Stokes
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
The Book That Broke the World by Mark Lawrence
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 2024 • 55min
These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things (Libby Features)
In this episode, Emma and Joe are joined by their coworker Katie to discuss their favorite new features of the Libby app. They talk about the evolution of Libby over the years and how user feedback has played a crucial role in shaping the app. They also highlight features like multi-library search, deep search, and notify me tags that make it easier for readers to find and access titles! Come and listen to hear this and so much more on today's episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast.Titles mentioned in this episode:
The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh
House of Earth and Blood (GraphicAudio Dramatization) by Sarah J. Maas
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Think Again by Adam Grant
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 18, 2024 • 51min
Romance on Mars - A Conversation with Natasha Pulley
Joe is joined by Natasha Pulley to talk about her new book, The Mars House (out March 19). Natasha shares how her high school astronomy class inspired her first dive into Sci-Fi writing, writing a marriage of convenience plot to save a character's political aspirations, her deep love of science and doing your own calculations (even if they might be wrong). Come and hear how Natasha's experiences in life, academia and travel shaped her writing of this work.Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 14, 2024 • 40min
Borrow, Buy, Bin
On this episode, Joe and Emma play a little game of Borrow, Buy, Bin, a bookish take on the infamous game, Snog, Marry, Avoid. They've provided each other with authors to choose from, but without knowing what the books will be, Emma and Joe have to decide if they're going to Borrow the book for a little bit, Buy it to add to the collection at home, or put it in the donate Bin!Titles in this game:Sarah J Maas
A Court of Thorns and Roses
House of Earth and Blood
Throne of Glass
Stephenie Meyer
New Moon
The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner
Midnight Sun
Meg Cabot
The Princess Diaries Series
The Mediator Series
Queen of Babble
Rachel Harrison
Black Sheep
Such Sharp Teeth
The Return
Tana French
In the Woods
The Searcher
The Secret Place
Caroline Kepnes
You
You Love Me
For You and Only You
Penny Reid
Truth or Beard
Beard Science
Beard Necessities
Lemony Snicket
The Bad Beginning
The Hostile Hospital
The End
Emily Henry
Book Lovers
People We Meet on Vacation
Happy Place
Riley Sager
The House Across the Lake
The Only One Left
The Last Time I Lied
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 2024 • 37min
How to Be Bold With Tarryn Fisher
Emma catches up with Tarryn Fisher to discuss her new book, Good Half Gone. Tarryn also shares the inspiration behind the story, her fascination with siblings and the dynamic between twins, how women nurture in different ways, her friendship with Colleen Hoover, and being BOLD.Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


