

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

Feb 1, 2024 • 52min
The One Where We Talk A Lot
Emma and Joe try something new in this chatty, casual episode. They discuss some recent life updates, new hobbies, books they've been reading lately, mood reading, and more.Joe’s recent reads:
All Good People Here by Ashley Flowers
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Released by Gypsy Rose Blanchard
The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell
#CrimeTime by Jeneva Rose & Drew Pine
The Coworker by Freida McFadden –
Emma’s recent reads:
Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas (inspired by @newlynovabooks )
Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
Emma’s want to reads:
Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle Jensen
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter
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

Jan 25, 2024 • 49min
February 2024 Book Picks!
It's that magical time again - let's see what books Emma and Joe are most looking forward to in February 2024. Join the Nerds as they talk about the cold weather, the February blahs, and of course, eagerly awaited reads.Titles mentioned in this episode:Emma’s Titles:
The Women by Kristin Hannah
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
The Guest by B.A. Paris
A Fate Inked in Blood by Danielle L. Jensen
At First Spite by Oiivia Dade
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams
The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden
Fate Breaker by Victoria Aveyard
Where the Dark Stands Still by A.B. Poranek
The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers by Sarah Tomlinson
Joe’s Titles:
Ways and Means by Daniel Lefferts
The Fortune Seller by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
The Antique Hunter’s Guide to Murder by CJ Miller
The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond
Out of Body by Nia Davenport
No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub
Bunt! By Ngozi Ukazu (shoutout Freshman Year by Sarah Mai)
Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead by Jenny Hollander
Relit edited by Sandra Proudman
The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert
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

Jan 22, 2024 • 48min
Worldbuilding and Writing with Saara El-Arifi
Emma chats with Saara El-Arifi about her new book, Faebound. They also chat about world-building, writing sex scenes, the book's original title, the plan for this new trilogy, fated mates, enemies to lovers, 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

Jan 18, 2024 • 1h 13min
PBN's Most Anticipated Books of 2024
Emma and Joe are back for their first recorded episode of 2024 and it's a BIG one. They share their most anticipated books of the year (as they know it so far). Grab a drink, a snack, and get your reading tracker of choice ready to write down some amazing releases coming out this year.Emma’s picks:
Faebound by Saara El-Arifi
Funny Story by Emily Henry
This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J Maas
The Book of Love by Kelly Link
So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison
The Hunter by Tana French
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli
Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe
Nothing Like the Movies by Lynn Painter
An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson
Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft
Joe’s picks:
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
House of Elephants by Claribel A. Ortega
The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul
The Mythical Cookbook by Josh Scherer
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
Youthjuice by EK Sathue
Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay
Home is Where the Bodies Are by Jeneva Rose
Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews
A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft
The House that Horror Built by Christina Henry
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Only Say Good Things by Crystal Hefner
Knife by Salman Rushdie
Other titles mentioned:
The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
The Battle Drum by Saara El-Arifi
The Ending Fire by Saara El-Arifi
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

Jan 15, 2024 • 1h 4min
Surviving Capitalism with Madeline Pendleton
Today Joe chats with Madeline Pendleton about her new book I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt (out Jan. 16)! They chat about how Madeline's life experiences shaped her path forward, the importance of found family, releasing grief and odd relationships with money and forging a unique company like Tunnel Vision. They also chat about living full on a small grocery budget, spray painting found furniture, and the importance of a sturdy board in an old couch.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

Jan 11, 2024 • 40min
Joe Reads Emily Henry
Following the fun of Joe Reads a Big Romance and Emma Reads a Horror, on this episode Joe reads Book Lovers by Emily Henry! Emma and Joe talk about their loves in the genre, misconceptions Joe had to break down when thinking romance, and so much more.Have a suggestion for our next installment? Send your suggestions to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com or comment on the post for this episode on Instagram @probooknerds.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

Jan 4, 2024 • 57min
The Nerds Talk About Fantastical Fandoms
Emma and Joe talk with fellow OverDrive book lovers about which bookish fandoms they love to love! Morgan, Sydney, Christina, Laura, Sarah, and Andrea share their passion for Sherlock, Emily Henry, Fourth Wing, Star Wars, Serpent & Dove, and more in this very chatty episode.Books mentioned in this episode:
Sherlock Holmes series
Emily Henry
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Star Wars series
Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Gods & Monsters by Shelby Mahurin
The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
The Remnant Chronicles series by Mary E. Pearson
Dance of Thieves series by Mary E. Pearson
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

Dec 21, 2023 • 49min
New Year, New Reads - January 2024 Book Picks!
New Year, New Reads! Join Joe and Emma as they discuss the books they're most looking forward to in January 2024 🎉 We hope you're enjoying this holiday season and that this episode can keep you company while wrapping, baking, prepping, or just enjoying the chilly weather under a warm and cozy blanket.Books mentioned in this episode:Emma’s Titles:
House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberly and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
One in a Millennial by Kate Kennedy
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
One of the Good Guys by Arminta Hall
Sugar, Baby by Celine Saintclare
The Immortal Games by Annaliese Avery
Joe’s Titles:
The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland
My Fair Brady by Brian D. Kennedy
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh
Only If You’re Lucky by Stacy Willingham
Witchcraft by Marion Gibson
Ghost Roast by Shawnee Gibbs
Cool Foods by Robert Downey Jr. & Thomas Kostigen
The Clinic by Cate Quinn
What Mother Won’t Tell Me by Ivar Leon Menger
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

Dec 18, 2023 • 49min
Finding a Home Inside Stories with Rebecca Ross
Emma is joined by author, Rebecca Ross, to chat about the epic conclusion to her Letters of Enchantment duology, Ruthless Vows. They also discuss symmetry in duologies, the book's original title, finding inspiration from Bronte, Austen, and Tolkien, and more. For more info on Rebecca's book tour, check out her website. 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

Dec 14, 2023 • 40min
Introducing the 2024 PBN Reading Challenge!
Come and join Emma and Joe as they share results from the 2023 PBN Reading Challenge and introduce the prompts for 2024! You can download the PDF version of our challenge here and the social sharing size here.This year's challenge includes:A genre you don’t normally read
The Humans – Matt Haig A book with main characters that are a different age than you
The Marlow Murder Club – Robert Thorogood A book on your TBR longer than 1 year
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
An audiobook (full cast or dramatized!)
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev – Dawnie Walton
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – Holly Jackson
One of Us is Dead – Jeneva Rose
Sadie – Courtney Summers
A book in translation
Shoko’s Smile – Choi Eunyoung
The Dinner – Herman Koch
The Good Son – You-Jeong Jeong
Your Second Life Begins When You Realize You Only Have One – Raphaelle Giordano
Reread a childhood favorite
Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series - Louise Rennison
Stranger with My Face – Lois Duncan
Howl’s Moving Castle – Diana Wynne Jones
A Series of Unfortunate Events – Lemony Snicket
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - Alvin Schwartz
The Princess Diaries - Meg Cabot
1-800-Where-R-U series - Meg Cabot/Jenny Carroll
A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray (Gemma Doyle series)
Book with dual POV
Betting on You - Lynn Painter
Icebreaker - Hannah Grace
Beard Science - Penny Reid
The Quiet Tenant - Clemence Michallon
A book out of season Read a duology
Letters of Enchantment - Rebecca Ross
Six of Crows - Leigh Bardugo
All the Stars and Teeth - Adalyn Grace
A book with a one-word title
Tombs – Junji Ito
Maame – Jessica George
You – Caroline Kepnes
Sadie - Courtney Summers
Haunted by Meg Cabot
A book from any bestseller list
Malibu Rising – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Untamed – Glennon Doyle
Then She Was Gone – Lisa Jewell
The Queen’s Gambit – Walter Tevis
The Storyteller – Dave Grohl
Lessons in Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus
Every Summer After – Carley Fortune
The Invisible Kingdom – Meghan O’Rourke
A book you heard about first on PBN 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