Book Lounge by Libby

Latest Episodes:

Dreaming Big with Carley Fortune May 06, 2024

Show notes

Emma is thrilled to welcome Carley Fortune to talk about her new book, This Summer Will Be Different. In this fun chat, you'll also hear about Carley's life-changing writing advice from Taylor Jenkins Reid, writing about different kinds of family dynamics and dreamy male leads, Anne of Green Gables, long-distance best friends, the power of libraries, and how romance books can and do save and change lives.

Books mentioned in this episode:

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune
Meet Me At the Lake by Carley Fortune

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).

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All That and a Bag of Chips: 1990s Book Recs May 02, 2024

Show notes

Emma is joined by Sydney and Jane to discuss 1990s nostalgia, essential books of the 90s, and share a list of fresh books set in their favorite decade! This episode is packed full of book recommendations and waxing poetic about malls, layered tank tops, time travel, and revisiting our favorite decade from a 2024 perspective.

Emma’s Picks:

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Jane’s Picks:

How to Build a Girl - Caitlin Moran
Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai

Sydney’s Picks:

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
The Crow Road by Iain Banks

If you want to listen to our conversation with Rainbow Rowell, you can listen here. If you want to listen to the conversation with Emma Straub, that's here. If you're a librarian and you're looking to shop more 90s reads in OverDrive Marketplace, check out As If: Modern Books Featuring 80s and 90s Nostalgia, Books of the 90s, and Smells Like Teen Spirit.

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!

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May 2024 Book Picks Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

It's that magical time again - Joe and Emma are sharing the books being released this May (2024) that they're most looking forward to. The Nerds talk about the eclipse, catch up, and have a silly, goofy time!

Titles mentioned in this episode:

Author Interviews for May:

This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy RX He
Think Twice by Harlan Coben
And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler

Emma’s Titles:

You Never Know by Tom Selleck
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton
Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown
When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum
Evocation by S.T. Gibson
When We Were Silent by Fiona McPhillips
The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson
Swiped by L.M. Chilton

Joe’s Titles:

Cunning Folk by Tabitha Stanmore
Keepers of the Stones and Stars by Michael Barakiva
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler
In Our Stars by Jack Campbell
Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall
Ghostroots by ‘Pemi Aguda
If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley
Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life by Helen Fisher

Need a refresher on what our most anticipated books of the year are? Listen here: PBN’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024 episode

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!

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PBN's Hyper-Specific Reading Moods & Recommendations Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

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.

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Don't Lose Your Whimsy - Coming of Ages Stories for All Readers Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

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!

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Adventuring Through The Wide World with Douglas Westerbeke Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

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!

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Nerd Chat: April 2024 Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

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.

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High Standards & Vanilla Cappuccinos with Abby Jimenez Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

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!

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April Book Picks Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

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!

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These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things (Libby Features) Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

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: