Book Lounge by Libby

Latest Episodes:

Interview with Bill Konigsberg, author of The Bridge Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #481 - On today's episode, Adam interviews Bill Konigsberg, awarding-winning and bestselling author of countless important books. Bill's work in writing LGBTQIA+ stories have been read by millions but his new book, The Bridge, may be his most essential story yet. In this conversation, Bill and Adam discuss mental health, the implications of teenage suicide, and the intricacies of our brains. If you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts or tendencies, please dial 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Thank you to Scholastic for helping bring this important conversation to light.

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Read an Ebook Day recommendations! Sep 17, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #480 - On today's episode, we're sharing what our coworkers are reading for Read an Ebook Day! September 18th (Friday) is Read an Ebook Day and what better way to prepare than with a bunch of book recs!?!?

Today's episode is sponsored by Fast Growing Trees. Visit FastGrowingTrees.com/PBN for 10% orders through November 15th!

Books mentioned in this episode

His & Hers By Alice Feeney

The Evening and the Morning By Ken Follett

Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie

Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Serpent and Dove & Blood & Honey by Shelby Mahurin

Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman

The Organ Thieves By Chip Jones

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

American Royals by Katharine McGee

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Book of the Little Axe By Lauren Francis-Sharma

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Interview with Caroline B. Cooney Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

#479 - On today's episode, Jill interviews Caroline B. Cooney, author of the iconic Face on the Milk Carton, about her new adult book Before She Was Helen. Caroline talks about the "What if?" question that inspired her to write Before She Was Helen, transitioning creatively from writing young adult to adult, and tells the best librarian story ever (according to Jill).

Today's episode is sponsored by Freshly. Get $40 off your first two orders at freshly.com/probooknerds

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Back to school... but with murder! Sep 10, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #478 - Back to school time has arrived and who doesn't love books set around fancy private schools? Also, there is a lot of murdery mysteries in these selections.

Books mentioned in this episode

The Sidekicks By Will Kostakis

The Secret History By Donna Tartt

Truly Devious By Maureen Johnson

Black Chalk By Christopher J. Yates

The Tenth Girl By Sara Faring

Catherine House By Elisabeth Thomas

A Spy in the House By Y. S. Lee

Special Topics in Calamity Physics By Marisha Pessl

Echo After Echo By Amy Rose Capetta

Undead Girl Gang By Lily Anderson

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Interview with Yaa Gyasi, author of Transcendent Kingdom Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

Ep 477 - On today's episode, Jill talks with Yaa Gyasi about her new book Transcendent Kingdom. The pair discuss the opioid crisis, family relationships, and the differences in her research process between this contemporary novel and her historical fiction debut Homegoing (which was Jill's favorite book of the previous decade!)

Interview was recorded in person at PLA 2020

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Gather ye round... It's a book rec grab bag episode! Sep 03, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #476 - On today's episode, Jill and Adam catch you up on what they've been reading lately! It's pretty straightforward. They also discuss the amazing Fall book bingo template that Jill made which you can find at professionalbooknerds.com or on our instagram (@probooknerds)

Books mentioned in this episode

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

Even If We Break by Marieke Nijkamp

Slay by Brittany Morris

A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor By Hank Green

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare

Shit, Actually by Lindy West

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue By V. E. Schwab

You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria

The Bridge By Bill Konigsberg

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Getting spooky with Christina Henry, author of The Ghost Tree Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #475 - On today's episode, Adam interviews Christina Henry about her newest book, The Ghost Tree. They chat about how Christina lets character choices drive her plot, discovering them in real time, and the various subgenres within horror. They also discuss re-imagining existing titles and making it your own, and how scary stories are best when they're shared.

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September might be the best new book month ever Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #474 - On today's episode, Adam and Jill preview the new books coming out in September that they can't wait to read. Buckle up, because there are so many! This month features books ABOUT books, spooky mysteries, stories by some of our favorite writers of all time, and more than a few ghosties.

Books mentioned in this episode

The Evening and the Morning By Ken Follett

Transcendent Kingdom By Yaa Gyasi

A Deadly Education By Naomi Novik

Before She Was Helen By Caroline B. Cooney

Piranesi By Susanna Clarke

The Lying Life of Adults By Elena Ferrante

The Ghost Tree by Christina Henry

His Only Wife By Peace Adzo Medie

Cemetery Boys By Aiden Thomas

Daughters of the Wild By Natalka Burian

Eat a Peach By David Chang

The Book of Hidden Wonders By Polly Crosby

Punching the Air By Ibi Zoboi

And Now She's Gone By Rachel Howzell Hall

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London By Garth Nix

The Loop By Jeremy Robert Johnson

It Will Just Be Us By Jo Kaplan

Fable By Adrienne Young

Night of the Mannequins By Stephen Graham Jones

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Bone Magic and Birds all the way down with Margaret Owen, author of The Merciful Crow and The Faithless Hawk Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #473 - On today's episode, Adam interviews Margaret Owen about her books The Merciful Crowand The Faithless Hawk. They talk about her unique magical systems, the caste structure she developed, the similarities between her fantasy world and current world, and how Dungeons and Dragons has helped her writing process. They also have some fun chatting about absolutely wild birds.

Today's episode is sponsored by GiveWell. Visit givewell.org/probooknerds to have your first donation matched up toe $100.

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So you want to start a new book series... #PBNread2020 Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

Ep. #472 - On today's episode, Adam and Jill share some book recommendations for another task in the Professional Book Nerds 2020 Reading Challenge. This time, they're sharing some of their favorite first books in a series!

Get your special "Libby Brings Readers Together" shirt here: http://shop.overdrive.com/

Books mentioned on this episode

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

Neanderthal Seeks Human by Penny Reid

Suspicious Minds: The First Official Stranger Things Novel

Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower

Seafire Series, Book 1 by Natalie C. Parker

The Darkness Knows by Cheryl Honigford

Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen