

Book Lounge by Libby
Book Lounge by Libby
The Professional Book Nerds podcast is now, Book Lounge by LibbyBook Lounge by Libby is the podcast where authors, book lovers, and industry insiders come together to talk about the stories we love and the impact they have. Hosted by Joe Skelley, each episode invites you into a cozy, candid conversation about books, writing, publishing, and the trends shaping the literary world.PLUS, every episode features book recommendations from some of your favorite online content creators.Book Lounge airs two seasons per year, along with special monthly episodes. Whether you're into sweeping romances, chilling thrillers, epic fantasies, or powerful memoirs, there's something in the Lounge for every reader. So, grab your favorite drink, get cozy, and meet us in the Book Lounge.Find more at: https://pages.libbylife.com/BL-Links Brought to you by Libby, the library app.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 52min
Narratives of Legacy: Indigenous Writers on History, Identity, and Survival
In this special episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re joined by celebrated Indigenous authors Angeline Boulley (Firekeeper’s Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed) and Carole Lindstrom (We Are Water Protectors, Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior) for a powerful conversation on legacy, language, and literature.
Together, we discuss what it means to write from and for their communities, the responsibility of storytelling, and how their work connects generations past, present, and future.
This episode is a celebration of Indigenous identity, survival, and the resilience of story — and an invitation to listen, learn, and uplift.
Plus, Bre and Cece stop by with a few incredible book recs from Indigenous voices you won't want to miss.
📲 Libby Life Exclusive: Head to LibbyLife.com for a bonus moment from the Lounge, where Angeline and Carole share how their ancestors live on through their words.
Want the video episode? Check it out now on the Libby Life YouTube channel!
Articles Mentioned in the Intro & Episode:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day
https://indigenousreadsrising.com/
Guest Host Recommendations:
Bre
Never Whistle at Night - ed. Shane Hawk
The Marrow Thieves - Cherie Dimaline
White Horse - Erika T. Wurth
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham Jones
Cece
#NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women - ed. Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale
The Break - Katherena Vermette
Sabrina & Corina - Kali Fajardo-Anstine
Ready When You Are - Gary Lonesborough
Joe
Métis Like Me – Tasha Hilderman
My Life: Growing Up Native in America – ed. IllumiNative
Fierce Aunties! - Laurel Goodluck, Ill. Steph Littlebird
Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:
Segment 1:
Angeline Boulley - Website
Carole Lindstrom - Website
Segment 2:
Bre - Links
Cece - Links
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:04:51 Segment 1 – Angeline Boulley & Carole Lindstrom
00:58:09 BREAK – Libby Tip: Audiobook Tips & Tricks
01:00:58 Segment 2 – Indigenous Recs with Bre & Cece
01:46:52 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

Jul 31, 2025 • 2h 16min
The Battle Over Books: Publishers, Libraries & Banned Authors Speak Out
Book bans are rising at an alarming rate—but librarians, authors, and publishers are fighting back. In this powerful episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by librarian and intellectual freedom advocate Amanda Jones, bestselling author Kalynn Bayron (This Poison Heart), veteran librarian and censorship expert Pat R. Scales, and Skip Dye, SVP at Penguin Random House. Together, they dive into the impact of censorship on libraries, communities, and the future of publishing.
Plus, stick around for a banned books spotlight featuring Joe, Bre, and Meara, where they share a few of their must-read titles that have faced bans or challenges.
📚 Let’s talk about what it means to protect the freedom to read.
Want the video version of the show? Visit the Libby App YouTube channel!
Articles Mentioned in the Intro & Episode:
What's a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask
Manuscripts Don’t Burn: a Timeline of Literary Censorship, Destruction, and Liberation
American Library Association Names Skip Dye Honorary Member
The Persistent Problem of Colorism: Skin Tone, Status, and Inequality
Under fire from state, Hillsborough’s Ayres pledges to pull more books
Guest Host Recommendations:
Bre
The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison
Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
Meara
Pet - Akwaeke Emezi
The Midnight Lie - Marie Rutkoski
Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
Joe
Flamer – Mike Curato
The Magic Fish – Trung Le Nguyen
All Boys Aren’t Blue - George M. Johnson
Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:
Segment 1:
Amanda Jones - Links
Kalynn Bayron - Website
Pat R. Scales - LinkedIn
Skip Dye – Penguin Random House
Segment 2:
Bre - Links
Meara - Links
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:05:54 Segment 1, Part 1: Amanda Jones, Kalynn Bayron, Pat R. Scales
00:50:33 Segment 1, Part 2: Skip Dye
01:17:54 BREAK
01:19:01 Segment 2: Book Recommendations with Bre, Meara & Joe
02:11:38 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

Jul 24, 2025 • 1h 47min
Panels with Purpose: Creators on the Power of Graphic Novels
In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we explore the powerful world of graphic novels. In our first segment, Joe is joined by a brilliant panel of creators—mother-daughter duo Hallie Bateman & Suzy Hopkins, Maia Kobabe, and Mattie Lubchansky—to discuss how graphic novels have evolved, the importance of accessibility, the unique creative process behind visual storytelling, and the lasting impact of their work.
Then in segment two, guest hosts Bre, Carmen, and Cece stop by with stellar graphic novel recommendations for your TBR—whether you’re a long-time fan or just getting started.
Articles Mentioned in the Intro:
The rise of the graphic novel: Mainstream and small screen, they're not just for kids anymore
History of Graphic Novels: Ancient Times to 1920
Guest Host Recommendations:
Carmen
Tales from La Vida edited by Frederick Luis Aldama
Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder
Cece
Camp Prodigy by Caroline Palmer
On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (author) & Lisa Sterle (illustrator)
Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu
Bre
Monster by Naoki Urasawa
Bitterroot by Walker, Brown, Greene, Renzi, and Cowles
Earthdivers by Stephen Graham Jones
The Best we Could Do by Thi Bui
Joe
Animorphs vol. 1 – KA Applegate, Michael Grant
Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:
Segment 1:
Hallie Bateman - Website
Suzy Hopkins - Instagram
Maia Kobabe - Website
Mattie Lubchansky - Website
Segment 2:
Bre – Links
Carmen – Links
Cece - Links
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:05:52 Segment 1 – Hallie Bateman & Suzy Hopkins, Maia Kobabe & Mattie Lubchansky
00:54:50 BREAK – Check out PlotThreadsShop.com & a Libby Tip – Deep Search!
00:57:55 Segment 2 – Bre, Carmen & Cece
01:43:11 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

Jul 17, 2025 • 1h 49min
Sun, Sand & Stories: Authors on Crafting the Perfect Summer Read
What makes a book the perfect beach read? In this sunny episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by authors Clémence Michallon, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, Megan Miranda, and Sara Hamdan for a lively conversation about the art of crafting a summer page-turner. From thrillers to romances and everything in between, they unpack what “beach read” really means, how they keep readers hooked, and—crucially—their go-to writing snacks.
Then in segment two, Amy, Bre, Cece, Jananie, and Kayla stop by with top-tier book recommendations to toss in your tote bag, whether you're headed to the coast or just catching rays on your lunch break.
Pack your sunscreen and press play!
Check out the video version of this episode on the Libby App YouTube Channel.
Article mentioned in the intro:
What Makes a Book a Beach Read?
Guest Host Recommendations:
Amy Allen Clark
Sister, Sinner by Claire Hoffman (biography)
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje
Bre
The Oath – TM Richardson
The Wishing Pool – Tananarive Due
Jananie
Never Been Better – Leanne Toshiko Simpson
The Bandit Queens – Parini Shroff
Cece
Cleat Cute – Meryl Wilsner
Guillotine – Delilah S. Dawson
Drowning – TJ Newman
Kayla
Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies - Catherine Mack
Sweethand- N.G. Peltier
A House on the Bottom of the Lake – Josh Mallerman
Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:
Segment 1
Clémence Michallon - Website
Jonathan Parks-Ramage - Website
Megan Miranda - Website
Sara Hamdan - Website
Segment 2
Amy Allen Clark - Links
Bre - Links
Cece - Links
Jananie K. Velu - Links
Kayla - Links
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:08:18 Segment 1 - Clémence Michallon, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, Megan Miranda, Sara Hamdan
00:54:57 BREAK – Check out Plot Threads Shop!
00:56:10 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Amy, Bre and Jananie!
01:30:24 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Cece and Kayla!
01:44:46 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

Jul 10, 2025 • 2h 48min
Summer Reading Magic: Authors on Writing for Young Readers
What makes a summer read unforgettable for kids and teens? In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by authors Jamie Sumner, Kelsey Impicciche, and Julie Soto for a sunny conversation all about Summer Reading Magic.
They explore what defines a great summer book across different age groups, how they tailor their writing to young readers, and the power of stories to inspire, comfort, and reflect today’s youth.
The group also shares nostalgic memories of library reading programs, talks about trends and representation in current kidlit and YA, and offers insight into helping young readers fall in love with books—this summer and beyond.
Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!
Guest Host Recommendations:
Part 1:
Carmen
Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa
A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya
Ballad & Dagger-An Outlaw Saints Novel by Daniel José Older
Cece
To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer
This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow
Fireborne by Rosaria Munda
Joe
Witchlings – Claribel A. Ortega
Scepter of Memories – Claribel A. Ortega
The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers – Adam Sass
Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts – Adam Sass
Surrender Your Sons – Adam Sass
Your Lonely Nights Are Over – Adam Sass
Part 2:
Bre
The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen
Hide and Seeker by Daka Harmon
Root Magic by Eden Royce
Meara
The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin
The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron
We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride
Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:
Segment 1:
Jamie Sumner - Website
Julie Soto - Website
Kelsey Impicciche - Website
Segment 2:
Bre - Links
Carmen - Links
Cece - Links
Meara - Links
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:05:09 Segment 1 – Jamie Sumner & Kelsey Impicciche
00:55:47 Segment 1 – Julie Soto
01:25:30 BREAK – Libby Tip: Read Alongs, Filters and more!
01:31:01 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Carmen & Cece
02:00:36 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Bre & Meara!
02:43:21 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

Jul 3, 2025 • 59min
Who’s Behind Your Next Favorite Read? Meet Our Guest Hosts!
In this episode of Book Lounge, we're handing the mic to the readers behind the recs! Meet our guest hosts who'll be joining us all season long to share their themed picks!
To get to know everyone, they'll be answering our version of the New BookTuber Tag - diving into their reading tastes, love of libraries and vibe essentials - so you can get to know the people helping you grow your TBR.
Whether you're into horror, romance, fantasy or anything in between, there's a guest you're about to fall in love with!
Find our guest hosts online:
Amy Allen Clark
Bre
Carmen
Cece
Jananie K. Velu
Kayla
Meara
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:01:26 Amy Allen Clark - Mom Advice
00:14:01 Carmen - Tomes and Textiles
00:21:07 Cece - Problems of a Book Nerd
00:26:45 Mid Way Break
00:28:20 Bre - Loc'd Booktician
00:36:18 Kayla - Books and Lala
00:40:59 Meara - Meara is Reading
00:50:05 Jananie K. Velu - This Story Ain't Over
00:54:56 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!
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

Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 7min
From Beach Bags to Bedside Tables: July’s Must-Read Picks
It’s a bonus episode, book lovers! Joe is joined by friend and fellow bookworm Emma to chat about the July 2025 releases they're most excited to add to their TBR piles.
Whether you’re craving rom-coms, thrillers, fantasy, or something a little spooky, here's a stack of reads to keep your summer sizzling.
From campus drama and romantic tension to magical greenhouses, haunted tunnels, and dragon-slaying heroines—there’s something for everyone this month. Add these titles to your TBR and check them out on Libby!
Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:01:11 Guest Intro - Emma!
00:03:01 Catching up with Emma
00:13:45 July Book Release Recommendations
01:03:21 Outro
Titles mentioned in this episode
Emma’s Picks:
Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum
Rose in Chains by Julie Soto (https://share.libbyapp.com/title/11316498)
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
Wrath of the Dragons by Olivia Rose Darling
A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon
Arcana Academy by Elise Kova
Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter
Overruled by Lana Ferguson
Joe's Picks:
The Enchanted Greenhouse – Sarah Beth Durst
Rush Week – Michelle Brandon
The Art of Vanishing – Morgan Pager
Mayra – Nicky Gonzalez
The Bewitching – Silva Moreno-Garcia
Miss Camper – Kat Fajardo
Predatory Natures – Amy Goldsmith
The Yomigaeri Tunnel – Kelly Murashige
This is Where We Die – Cindy RX He
Links from this episode:
You can follow Emma's bookish updates on Instagram
Find out more about Amy Allen Clark's 2025 Summer Reading Guide!
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 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 (including swag for our podcast)? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2025 • 3h 1min
Pride in Publishing: How Queer Stories Shape Readers
Happy Pride 🌈💖! In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re celebrating LGBTQ+ voices and the power of queer storytelling.
In the first half of the show, Joe sits down for heartfelt, honest conversations with authors Andrew Joseph White, Juno Dawson, Susie Dumond, and Emily Austin. Each shares their unique experience as a queer writer—what inspires them, the challenges they face, and the joy of connecting with readers who see themselves in their stories.
Then, our guest hosts Carmen, Cece, Jananie, Kayla, and Meara return to the lounge with a list of incredible Pride Month reads to add to your TBR—this year and every year.
Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:07:56 Juno Dawson & Susie Dumond
00:53:10 Andrew Joseph White
01:27:56 Emily Austin
01:51:19 Midroll Break - Plot Threads
01:52:36 Book Recommendations
02:55:36 Outro
Guest Host Recommendations:
Carmen's Picks:
Blackouts - Justin Torres
The Sunbearer Trials - Aiden Thomas
These Vengeful Gods – Gabe Cole Novoa
Bad Girls – Camila Sosa Villada
Cece’s Picks:
Juliet Takes a Breath - Gabby Rivera
Love & Other Disasters - Anita Kelly
Hell Followed With Us – Andrew Joseph White
Jananie’s Picks:
Fundamentally – Nussaibah Younis
The Legend of Meneka – Kritka H. Rao
Marriage of a Thousand Lies – SJ Sindu
Kayla’s Picks:
Felix Ever After- Kacen Callender
Monstrilio- Gerardo Sámano Córdova
It Came from the Closet – ed. Joe Vallese
Meara’s Picks:
This Princess Kills Monsters - Ry Herman
The Space Between Worlds - Micaiah Johnson
That Inevitable Victorian Thing - E.K. Johnston
Joe’s Picks:
Messy Roots – Laura Gao
Bath Haus – PJ Vernon
Hombrecito – Santiago Jose Sanchez
Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:
Segment 1:
Part 1:
Juno Dawson - Instagram
Susie Dumond - Website
Part 2:
Andrew Joseph White - Website
Part 3:
Emily Austin - Website
Segment 2:
Carmen - @tomesandtextiles Linktree
Cece - @ceceewing_ Linktree
Jananie K. Velu – @thisstoryaintover Website
Kayla - @booksandlala Linktree
Meara - @mearaisreading Links
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: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19, 2025 • 2h 26min
Behind the Mic: Narrators, Authors, and Producers on the Magic of Audiobooks
Welcome to the very first episode of Book Lounge by Libby! We’re kicking things off with an ode to audiobooks—the voices, the stories, and the behind-the-scenes magic that makes them so special.
First up, our host Joe chats with thriller author Carter Wilson, narrators Allyson Ryan and Patrick Zeller, and audiobook producers Catherin Bucaria and Almeda Beynon from Sourcebooks Audio to dig into what it really takes to bring a story from the page to your headphones and their work on Carter’s book TELL ME WHAT YOU DID. Then, Jason Reynolds and Dan Zitt join the lounge to talk about the creative process behind Jason’s audio-exclusive project, SOUNDTRACK.
In the second half of the show, guest hosts Carmen, Jananie K. Velu, Kayla, and Meara stop by with some truly excellent audiobook recommendations to keep you listening all year long.
Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!
Time Stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:16 Intro
00:10:48 Carter Wilson, Allyson Ryan, Patrick Zeller & Sourcebooks Audio
00:55:30 Jason Reynolds & Dan Zitt
01:35:28 Midroll Tip - Find Audiobooks By Duration
01:40:15 Audiobook Recommendations
02:21:11 Outro
Guest Host Recommendations:
Carmen's Picks:
Oye - Melissa Mogollon
You Dreamed of Empires - Alvaro Enrigue
Jananie’s Picks:
Enter Ghost – Isabella Hammad
If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English – Noor Naga
Kayla’s Picks:
Recitatif- Toni Morrison
The Favorites- Layne Fargo
Meara’s Picks:
Everything is Tuberculosis – John Green
The Weight of Blood – Tiffany D Jackson
Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:
Segment 1:
Part 1:
Carter Wilson – Website
Allyson Ryan – Website
Patrick Zeller – Website
Catherine Bucaria & Almeda Beynon, Sourcebooks Audio – Instagram
Part 2:
Jason Reynolds – Website
Dan Zitt, Penguin Random House Audio – Instagram
Segment 2:
Carmen – @tomesandtextiles Linktree
Jananie K. Velu – @thisstoryaintover Website
Kayla – @booksandlala Linktree
Meara - @mearaisreading Links
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

Jun 12, 2025 • 10min
Welcome to Book Lounge by Libby — A New Chapter Begins
Say hello to Book Lounge by Libby, the new name for the podcast formerly known as Professional Book Nerds!
In this intro, host Joe Skelley shares updates on the rebrand, what’s staying the same, and what new vibes you can expect in this next chapter. Plus, get a sneak peek at our first season - episode 1 is dropping next week, featuring a celebration of all things audiobooks.
Pull up a chair—it’s going to be a great season.
--
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: https://plotthreadsshop.com/! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices