Episodes

  • January 2026 Book Picks: New Year, New TBRs

    January 2026 Book Picks: New Year, New TBRs
    Dec 18 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Our Favorite Reads of 2025

    Our Favorite Reads of 2025
    Dec 11 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Festive Fiction: Talking Holiday Reads for Cozy Winter Nights

    Festive Fiction: Talking Holiday Reads for Cozy Winter Nights
    Dec 4 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 47 mins
  • Page to Screen Magic: Authors on Adaptations

    Page to Screen Magic: Authors on Adaptations
    Nov 20 2025
    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
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    2 hrs and 33 mins
  • Food for Thought: Holiday Feasts, Mamrie Hart, and the Books We’re Thankful For

    Food for Thought: Holiday Feasts, Mamrie Hart, and the Books We’re Thankful For
    Nov 13 2025
    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 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
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    1 hr and 47 mins
  • Science Fiction Double Feature: Exploring New Worlds through Books

    Science Fiction Double Feature: Exploring New Worlds through Books
    Nov 6 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 33 mins
  • Library Love Letters

    Library Love Letters
    Oct 30 2025
    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
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    2 hrs and 2 mins
  • Witch Please: Cozy & Witchy Reads for Fall

    Witch Please: Cozy & Witchy Reads for Fall
    Oct 23 2025
    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
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    1 hr and 47 mins