

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, 2023 • 51min
The Stories You've Never Heard Before with Sarah Pekkanen
On today's episode, Emma is joined by the #1 NYT bestselling author, Sarah Pekkanen, to discuss her new book, Gone Tonight, out on August 1st. Sarah dives into how much this book was a gift to write, the tightknit author community she's a part of, her connection to Colleen Hoover, the ideal writing setup, the audiobook's narrator, Kate Mara, the working title of her next book, and so much more.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.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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2023 • 46min
Summer Camp Reads
Today Emma, Joe and Kristin are taking you to summer camp! Whether you want to make friendship bracelets, lay out by the dock, or run from the serial killer through the mess hall, they've got the recommendations for you. Want to know which of us went to summer camp? Listen to this ep and find out the answer plus catch a great list of summer camp books and books that match the summertime vibes.Kristin’s Titles:
You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron
Really Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick
Lumberjanes by ND Stevenson
Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol
The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore by Kim Fu
Something Wild & Wonderful by Anita Kelly
Emma’s Titles:
You Have a Match by Emma Lord
The Wild One by Colleen McKeegan
Wildfire by Hannah Grace
The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen
Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor
Joe’s Titles:
The Last Time I Lied by Riely Sager
Surrender Your Sons by Adam Sass
Flamer by Mike Curato
To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg-Sloan
Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland
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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 31, 2023 • 43min
A Five-Star Conversation with Elin Hilderbrand
Queen of the beach read, Elin Hilderbrand, speaks with Emma about her newest release, The Five-Star Weekend. They also discuss Elin's retirement, her new 2-book deal with her daughter, what readers can expect from Swan Song, TikTok recipes, social media, her new podcast, and her return to Cleveland, Ohio! Books mentioned in this episode:
The Perfect Couple
The Blue Bistro
28 Summers
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 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, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 27, 2023 • 48min
August Book Picks
In this episode, Emma and Joe share another big ole list of books they're most excited for in August 2023. Come and catch the vibe for their end of summer picks!Titles mentioned in this episode:Emma’s Titles:
Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney
The Breakaway by Jennifer Weiner
Under the Influence by Noelle Crooks
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
The Brothers Hawthorne by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
Never Enough by Jennifer Breheny Wallace
Joe’s Titles:
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Forged by Blood by Ehigbor Okosun
Zhara by S. Jae-Jones
Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas
Holly Horror by Michelle Jabes Corpora
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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 24, 2023 • 47min
Taking a Glimpse into the Future with Christopher Hartland
Joe is joined by Christopher Hartland to talk about his debut novel Against the Stars, an LGBTQIA+, young adult, science fiction romance. Joe and Chris also talk about Dungeons & Dragons, Musicals, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2023 • 48min
Big Library Read Interview with Sierra Godfrey, author of A Very Typical Family
Emma and Joe are joined by author, Sierra Godfrey, to chat about her book A Very Typical Family, which is our latest Big Library Read (BLR) pick. From July 13-27, the ebook and audiobook of A Very Typical Family will be available to readers all over the world without waitlists or holds. Sierra shares more about the inspiration behind the book, being a young docent in a marine lab, how Santa Cruz feels like home, the joy of a perfect croissant, and what she's working on next!Check out Sierra's upcoming book, The Second Chance Hotel, 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.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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 snips
Jul 13, 2023 • 33min
PBN Reading Challenge 2023 Midyear Check-in
Joe and Emma share suggested books to complete your PBN 2023 reading challenge! They also discuss how they rate books (mostly based on vibes and mood) and how they can't resist an eye-catching book cover. Books mentioned in this episode: Book with a mapThe Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Book with a bilingual character/Popular YA series One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus One of Us is Next by Karen M. McManus One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus Friend’s favorite book A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan Me Before You by Jojo Moyes When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill Book you only picked for the cover Lady MacBethad by Isabelle Schuler Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman Other books: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan 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 here. 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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 10, 2023 • 54min
A Forget Me Not Summer with Julie Soto
Emma welcomes debut author, Julie Soto, to the podcast to discuss her novel, Forget Me Not. They also discuss the importance of hometowns, redefining failure, the grumpy sunshine trope, Julie's transition from writing fanfiction to novels, Sacramento, and so much more.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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 29, 2023 • 1h 4min
July Book Picks
Emma and Joe share a huge list of books they're most excited for in July 2023. Today's picks fit the peak summer reading vibes, so grab a snack and a cold drink and buckle in for this ep!Titles mentioned in this episode:Joe’s Picks:
Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena
A Song of Salvation by Alechia Dow
Overemotional by David Fenne (UK Only)
Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins
One of Us is Back by Karen M. McManus
Their Vicious Games by Joelle Wellington
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Infested by Angel Luis Colon
Frontera by Julio Anta & Jacoby Salcedo
A Guide to the Dark by Meriam Metoui
There’s a Beach in My Bedroom by Kevin and Danielle Jonas, Illustrated by Courtney Dawson
Emma’s Picks:
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
Prom Mom by Laura Lippman
Immortal Longings by Chloe Gong
A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing
The St. Ambrose School for Girls by Jessica Ward
A Game of Gods by Scarlett St. Clair
The Duchess Effect by Tracey Livesay
Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery
Ripe by Sarah Rose Etter
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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 22, 2023 • 29min
GUESS THAT CLASSIC - Beach Read Edition
Today we're returning to everyone's favorite game: GUESS THAT CLASSIC: Beach Read Edition! After writing plot summaries of classic novels as gossip, we wanted to try a new approach. This time, we rewrote classic descriptions as buzzy Beach Read descriptions and quizzed each other! Guess along with Joe and Emma, and get ready for your next, great beach read.(To avoid spoilers, titles for the game are not included)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). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


