Professional Book Nerds

Joe is joined by his colleague and friend Nahomy for a fresh stack of June 2025 book picks—perfect for summer reading season. Whether you’re soaking up the sun or curled up in the AC, they’ve got something for every kind of reader.  Nahomy shares queer coming-of-age tales, romantic comedies, twisty thrillers, and empowering debuts, while Joe's picks run the gamut from eerie horror to thoughtful sci-fi , with plenty of speculative fiction and heartwarming surprises along the way.  Hit play and load up your Libby shelf with summer reads.  Mark your calendars for June 12 when we debut the podcast rebrand!  Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!  Titles mentioned in this episode:  Nahomy's Picks:  Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid   If We Survive This - Racquel Marie   Sounds Like Love - Ashley Poston   The Ex-Girlfriend Murder Club - Gloria Chao   The Summer We Ran - Audrey Ingram   The Other Side of Now - Paige Harbison   We Could Be Magic - Marissa Meyer   Girls Girl Girls – Shoshana von Blanckensee   Under the Neon Lights - Arriel Vinson   Joe’s Picks:  With a Vengeance – Riley Sager   A Girl Walks into the Forest – Madeleine Roux   Kill the Lax Bro – Charlotte Lillie Balogh   Dan in Green Gables – Rey Terciero   Love, Misha – Askel Aden   Arcana: The Lost Heirs – Sam Prentice-Jones  Best of All Worlds - Kenneth Oppel   The Second Chance Convenience Store – Kim Ho-Yeon (Shout-Out: The Dallergut Dream-Making District - Miye Lee) The Listeners – Maggie Stiefvater  Of Monsters and Mainframes – Barbara Truelove  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 podcast. 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 some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring has officially sprung and so have the May 2025 book releases! Joe is joined by colleague and fellow book lover Rachel to share their top picks for this May's freshest reads. From swoony romances and thrilling mysteries to heartfelt queer YA and buzzy debuts, they’ve got a little something for every reader. Plus, stick around for Joe’s rapid-fire lightning round of even more May titles you won’t want to miss! Whether you're loading up your Libby shelf or just need help picking your next favorite read, we've got you covered with big book energy and plenty of laughs along the way. 🌸📚 Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel! Titles mentioned in this episode:  Rachel’s Picks:   The Tenant - Freida McFadden   The Love Haters - Katherine Center   Problematic Summer Romance - Ali Hazelwood  One Golden Summer - Carley Fortune  Big Dumb Eyes - Nate Bargatze   The Missing Half - Ashley Flowers   Run for the Hills - Kevin Wilson   It's a Love Story - Annabel Monaghan   Joe’s Picks:  The Art of Exile – Andrea Max   Death in the Cards – Mia P. Manansala  When Love Gives You Lemons – Steven Salvatore   The Thrashers – Julie Soto   The Starving Saints – Caitlin Starling   Disco Witches of Fire Island – Blair Fell   The Dark Maestro – Brendan Slocumb   Karen: A Brother Remembers – Kelsey Grammer   Marsha – Tourmaline   Trans History by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett Shoutouts section:  Murder Land – Carlyn Greenwald  Everyone Sux But You – K. Wroten   And They Were Roommates – Page Powars   Shampoo Unicorn – Sawyer Lovett   The Rebel’s Guide to Pride – Matthew Hubbard   The Busybody Book Club – Freya Sampson   The Manor of Dreams – Christina Li    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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

April is here, and with it comes a fresh lineup of must-read new books! Join Joe and Madison as they dive into the most exciting releases of the month. From long-awaited sequels to unexpected gems, our TBRs are taking us on quite the journey—just like the changing season! Whether you're in the mood for something light and breezy or deep and thought-provoking, we've got the perfect springtime read for you. Grab a cozy spot in the sunshine and let’s talk books! 🌿📖✨ You can follow Madison's Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/simon.says.read/Titles mentioned in this episode: Madison’s Picks:  Gifted and Talented – Olivie Blake   The Amalfi Curse – Sarah Penner   Their Monstrous Hearts – Yigit Turhan   The Page Turner – Viola Shipman   When the Tides Held the Moon - Venessa Vida Kelley   House of Blight - Maxym M. Martineau   Enigma - RuNyx   The Wind Weaver - Julie Johnson   The Book Club for Troublesome Women - Marie Bostwick   Great Big Beautiful Life – Emily Henry   Joe’s Picks:  The Cat Who Saved the Library – Sosuke Natsukawa   A/S/L - Jeanne Thornton   The Staircase in the Woods – Chuck Wendig   The Cut – CJ Dotson   Make Sure You Die Screaming – Zee Carlstrom   The Last Session – Julia Bartz   Polybius – Collin Armstrong   Deadstream – Mar Romasco-Moore  Run Away with Me – Brian Selznick   Boys with Sharp Teeth – Jenni Howell  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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Joe is joined by Nahomy to recommend books for fans of The Hunger Games, whether you're eagerly awaiting Sunrise on the Reaping or need more dystopian reads after devouring it. From high-stakes competitions and oppressive regimes to survival in broken worlds, these books will keep you on the edge of your seat. Tune in for thrilling recommendations featuring deadly trials, futuristic rebellions, twisted social experiments, and resilient heroes fighting for freedom.Nahomy’s Titles:  Scythe - Neal Shusterman  The Selection - Kiera Cass  The Grace Year - Kim Liggett   Cinder - Marissa Meyer  Joe’s Titles:  Survive the Dome – Kosoko Jackson  Together in a Broken World – Paul Michael Winters   After the Fall – Ellen Parent  The Art Thieves – Andrea L. Rogers   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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring is in the air, and so are a fresh batch of must-read books! In this episode, Joe is joined by Amy Clark from MomAdvice.com to dive into the most exciting new releases hitting shelves in March 2025. From highly anticipated fiction to captivating nonfiction, they’re sharing the books they can’t wait to read this month. Whether you’re looking for your next page-turner or adding to your never-ending TBR, this episode has something for every book lover.Tune in and get ready to update your reading list! 📚✨Make sure you follow Amy on Instagram and check out the Book Gang podcast! Title’s mentioned in this episode: Amy’s Titles:  Red Dog Farm - Nathaniel Ian Miller  Dream Count - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie   The Jackal's Mistress - Chris Bohjalian  All the Other Mothers Hate Me - Sarah Harman   This Book Will Bury Me - Ashley Winstead   Jane and Dan at the End of the World - Colleen Oakley   Broken Country - Clare Leslie Hall   I Leave It Up to You - Jinwoo Chong   Hot Air - Marcy Dermansky   Promise Me Sunshine - Cara Bastone  Joe’s Titles:  Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert – Bob the Drag Queen   A Wizard of Earthsea  - Ursula K. Le Guin, Fred Fordham   How to Survive a Slasher – Justine Pucela Winans   The Bane Witch – Ava Morgyn   Everything is Tuberculosis – John Green   The Unworthy – Agustina Bazterrica   The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – Stephen Graham Jones   The Keeper of Lonely Spirits – EM Anderson  I’ll Love You Forever – Giaae Kwon  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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waiting for Scythe & Sparrow to hit your shelf? We’ve got you covered! In this episode, Joe is joined by his colleague Meghan to share a list of must-read romances that will keep you hooked while you wait. These books capture the same vibes you love but each offers a unique journey of its own. Whether you’re craving heart-pounding twists, thought-provoking themes, or unforgettable characters, we’ve got the perfect recommendations to tide you over. Tune in and find your next great read!If you’d like to watch the video of this episode, check out the Libby App YouTube channel!Titles mentioned in today’s episode:Meghan’s Titles:   Desperate Measures by Katee Robert    The Awakening by Caroline Peckham and Suzane Valenti   Beautiful Villain by Rebecca Kenney Truly, Madly, Deeply by LJ Shen Joe’s Titles:  Lights Out – Navessa Allen The Hollow and the Haunted – Camilla Raines The Deer and the Dragon – Piper CJ My Funny Demon Valentine – Aurora Ascher 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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The nominees are in! 🎉 Joe is joined by his coworker Gabi to unveil the 2025 Libby Book Awards nominees, including some exciting new categories. From the book club books to the hidden gems readers can’t stop raving about, we’re breaking down the top picks of the year. Who made the list? Tune in to find out!Check out the nominees on our Libby Life Blog: https://www.libbylife.com/2025-01-29-announcing-the-finalists-for-the-2025-libby-book-awards 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, the Libby App YouTube Channel, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Love is in the air… and so are killer thrillers, swoon-worthy romances, out-of-this-world sci-fi, and so much more! Joe is joined by his friend and coworker Nahomy to chat about the most exciting books hitting shelves this February. Whether you’re in the mood for a chilling horror, a heart-racing fantasy, a cozy graphic novel, or a memoir that stays with you, we’ve got your next great read covered.Looking for even more bookish fun? Follow Nahomy on Instagram at @nahomyslibrary and subscribe to her YouTube channel Nahomy’s Library for more amazing book recommendations!If you'd like to watch the video of this episode, check out the Libby App YouTube channel!Titles mentioned in today's episode:Nahomy’s Titles:   Listen to Your Sister - Neena Viel  We All Live Here - Jojo Moyes  Three Days in June -Anne Tyler  The Bones Beneath My Skin - TJ Klune  All Better Now - Neal Shusterman  The History of Everything - Victoria Evans  But Not Too Bold - Hache Pueyo  Joe’s Titles:  The Dollhouse Academy – Margarita Montimore  The Crime Brûlée Bake Off – Rebecca Connolly  Hungerstone – Kat Dunn  Something in the Walls – Daisy Pearce  Fearless and Free – Josephine Baker  Hunger’s Bite - Taylor Robin  You Are Fatally Invited – Ande Pliego  Greenteeth - Molly O’Neill  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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Professional Book Nerds podcast, Joe is joined by the fabulous Holly Stars! 🎭 Holly dives into her debut queer crime fiction novel, Murder in the Dressing Room (out January 14 from Berkley), sharing the inspiration behind this thrilling whodunit. We also chat about her incredible work on the West End and her advice on embracing your inner drag queen. 💄 Whether you’re a fan of crime fiction, the theater, or just love a little sparkle in your day, this episode is not to be missed! 🌈✨Check out Holly online: Holly's Instagram & Holly's websiteReaders 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! You can follow Libby on Instagram here!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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Big changes are coming to the Professional Book Nerds podcast! In this special end-of-year episode, we’re sharing important updates about the future of the show that you won’t want to miss. Plus, Joe reflects on the final Professional Book Nerds Reading Challenge and how he wrapped up the year of reading. Tune in for all the details and to celebrate the end of this chapter with us!We hope you enjoy our last episode of the year this Monday, December 23 with drag queen Holly Stars! Hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and we'll see you in the new year!You can follow Libby on Instagram here!Joe’s Titles:  A Genre you don’t normally read -   The Mars House – Natasha Pulley  A book with MCs a different age than you –   Why is This Night Different from All Other Nights – Lemony Snicket  A book on your TBR longer than 1 year -  Gone Girl – Gillian Flynn  An audiobook (full cast or dramatized) -   The Golden Spoon – Jessa Maxwell  A book in translation –   Marigold Mind Laundry – Jungeun Yun  Reread a childhood favorite  Pure Dead Magic – Debi Gliori  Book with a dual POV  The Boyfriend – Freida McFadden  A book out of season  The Christmas Guest – Peter Swanson  Read a duology  The Dreamblood Duology – The Killing Moon & The Shadowed Sun – NK Jemisin  A book with a one-word title  Cher - Cher  A book from any bestseller list  Somewhere Beyond the Sea – TJ Klune  A book you heard about first on PBN   Diavola – Jennifer Thorne  Thank you to every one who participated in the 2024 PBN Reading Challenge and a shout out to the Queer Liberation Library for sending along their completed list! Check out Joe's episode with Kieran from QLL here.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 and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices