

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

Apr 10, 2023 • 51min
The Revival of Romantic Comedies with Curtis Sittenfeld
Emma chat with Curtis Sittenfeld about her newest book and the latest Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick, Romantic Comedy, and the inspiration behind it, including Saturday Night Live, and the hope that this book would be lighthearted and fun. Spoiler alert: It is!They also chat about how personal Google search history can be, how the book acknowledges the unattractive elements of life and dating, "The Danny Horst Rule," and the design process for the cover art in the US and the UK.Books mentioned in this episode:
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Live from New York by James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
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. 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

Apr 6, 2023 • 31min
PBN's Favorite Libby Features
Joe and Emma mix things up this week and share their favorite features in Libby, the library reading app. There's a lot to enjoy about Libby, but some of their favorite features include:
Tags
Navigation bar labels
Multi-library search
Deep search
Notify Me tags
Customizing your notifications
Sending to Kindle (US only)
Filter cloud
Patrons can sign up for a Libby training with Joe and Marissa here. Watch our Libby how-to videos here. Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. 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

Apr 3, 2023 • 53min
Talking Breakfast Pastries with Megan Miranda
Today Emma and Joe are joined by Megan Miranda, author of The Only Survivors. They talk about finding missing cell phones in the sand, crafting strong casts of characters, setting stories in small towns, and what Pop Tart flavors are key to Megan's writing process.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. 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

Mar 30, 2023 • 49min
April's Biggest Books
Joe and Emma are back to share the books they're most looking forward to in April 2023. From misleading covers, to West Side Story (the 60s version ONLY), to adding to your never-ending TBR, this episode has it all!Books mentioned in this episode:Joe’s Titles:
With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson
Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman
Camp Zero by Michelle Min Sterling
Sisters of the Lost Nation by Nick Medina
We Love to Entertain by Sarah Strohmeyer
Chita: A Memoir by Chita Rivera
The Big Reveal by Sasha Velour
Spell Bound by FT Lukens
Hungry Ghost by Victoria Ying
Emma’s Titles:
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes
This Bird Has Flown by Susanna Hoffs
Never Vacation with Your Ex by Emily Wibberley, Austin Siegemund-Broka
Funeral Songs for Dying Girls by Cherie Dimaline
House of Cotton by Monica Brashears
The Lake House by Sarah Beth Durst
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. 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

Mar 23, 2023 • 41min
Ch-Ch-Changes
It's the end of an era as Jill has decided to retire from PBN (but don't worry, she's not leaving OverDrive so you'll still hear her voice on some episodes!). Emma and Joe announce some big and exciting changes to the podcast! This episode also contains some nostalgia, reflection, and book recommendations based on what they've read recently.Emma’s recent reads:
The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
Joe’s recent reads:
The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro
The Three of Us by Ore Agbaje-Williams
Jill’s recent reads:
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
The Only One Left by Riley Sager
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

Mar 20, 2023 • 54min
Food Obsessions with Dan Ahdoot, author of Undercooked
Today on the podcast Joe is joined by actor, writer, and comedian Dan Ahdoot to talk about his new book Undercooked: How I let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That's a Dumb Way to Live. They talk about what cuisine Dan would live off of for the rest of his life, pitch podcast ideas to Shark Tank, and discuss what it's like to meet your word count when you thought you were already finished writing.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. 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

Mar 16, 2023 • 38min
Young Adult Botanical Books
Jill is joined by OverDrive librarian, Claire, to chat about all things delicate and dangerous with this botanical cover trend. While the floral trend has been around for awhile, there's been an uptick in covers that have botanical elements that look more alluring and dangerous. They discuss what is it about these covers, what genres seem to use this style, and a whole host of book recs if you've been meaning to check out something creepy and covered in flowers. Emma was unable to join but Jill calls out some of her favorite picks, too! Jill’s Picks:
Horrid by Katrina Leno
The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah
Claire’s Picks:
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
Emma’s Picks:
Blood and Moonlight by Erin Beaty
Foxglove by Adalyn Grace
The Depths by Nicole Lesperance
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

Mar 13, 2023 • 31min
Getting educated on The Teachers with Alexandra Robbins
On today's episode, Jill is joined by investigative journalist Alexandra Robbins to discuss her new book The Teachers. Told over the course of one school year, The Teachers follows three teachers from across the United States as they navigate the classroom. Alexandra discusses the challenges face in the classroom -- and speaks from her own experience as a substitute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 9, 2023 • 40min
Greek Myth Retellings
Looking for ideas for the "Greek Myth Retellings" category of the Professional Book Nerds 2023 Reading Challenge? Emma, Joe, and Jill share their recommendations if you're in the mood for a classic Greek myth with a twist. They also chat about Sailor Moon, Hadestown, the influence of BookTok, the Clytemnestra fire, and more.Emma’s Picks:
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
The Shadow of Perseus by Claire Hollywood
Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson
We Can Be Heroes by Kyrie McCauley
Joe’s Picks:
Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Daughter of Sparta by Claire M. Andrews
Elektra by Jennifer Saint
Jill’s Picks:
Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes
Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera
Other books mentioned in this episode:
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
Dark Olympus series by Katee Roberts
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Circe by Madeline Miller
Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati
Blood of Troy by Claire Andrews
Storm of Olympus by Claire Andrews
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

Mar 2, 2023 • 54min
GUESS THAT CLASSIC
On today's episode, we're trying something new. Join us for everyone's favorite game, GUESS THAT CLASSIC! We wrote up descriptions of classic literature in modern day gossip, and then we quizzed each other. Guess along with us or sit back and enjoy the hot tea! (To avoid spoilers, titles are not included in the episode description)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. 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


