Book Lounge by Libby

Latest Episodes:

Food for Thought: Holiday Feasts, Mamrie Hart, and the Books We’re Thankful For Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

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

Science Fiction Double Feature: Exploring New Worlds through Books Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

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

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!

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

Library Love Letters Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

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

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!

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: Cozy & Witchy Reads for Fall Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

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

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!

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

Haunted Pages: A Halloween Book Lounge Special Oct 16, 2025

Show notes

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

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!

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

Beyond the Label: Stories of Disability & Awareness Oct 09, 2025

Show notes

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

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!

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

Back to School, Back to Books: Comfort Reads for Kids (and their grown-ups) Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

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

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!

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

Finding Inspiration Again: Breaking out of Reading Ruts & Writing Slumps Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

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

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!

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

Live from ALA: Book Lounge by Libby on the Pop-Top Stage Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

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

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

Reading Andy Warhol with Daniel Henning Sep 04, 2025

Show notes

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!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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