Book Lounge by Libby

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 f...

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 map The 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...

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...

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...

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...

PBN favorite, Riley Sager, returns to the podcast to discuss his new book, The Only One Left. Emma and Riley also discuss Duran Duran, "twist overkill," why he set the book in the 1980s, his intense writing schedule, the writer's strike in Hollywood, and some BREAKING NEWS for the next book that's still being written. Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDri...

Joe, Emma, and Jill chat all things Mockingjay in the conclusion to the Hunger Games retrospective series. They share their feelings on the final installment, whether they're happy with the ending, the characters they loved and lost, and some bonus hot takes on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes! Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Li...

Emma welcomes back author, Claire Legrand, to chat about A Crown of Ivy and Glass, writing unlikeable characters, the ballet inspiration behind the story, believing in your creative process, Crimson Peak era Tom Hiddleston, writing romance scenes, and so much more! Books mentioned in this episode: A Crown of Ivy and Glass audiobook Circe by Madeline Miller Piranesi by Susanna Clarke The Secret His...

Grab your water bottles and sunscreen- today, Joe and Holly are sharing some recommended reads for Pride month 🌈 From rom-coms to memoirs, light to deep, these titles are sure to add to your Pride reflections and celebrations.  Titles mentioned in this episode: Holly's Titles:  The 2000s Made Me Gay: Essays on Pop Culture by Grace Perry  Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail (Bright Falls, #2) by Ashley Her...

Today's guest is a DREAM come true! It's audiobook narrator, actor, performer, and all around talent, Santino Fontana. Emma and Joe have a lively chat about For You and Only You (and the rest of the You series), killing superstitions, trenta coffee orders, keeping it different, Cleveland love, and more! Audiobooks mentioned in this episode: You by Caroline Kepnes For You and Only You by Caroline K...

Emma and Joe share a big list of books they're most excited about for June. They also chat about vacation, book mail, the cultural impact of "Juno," fake dating, barn moms, and what types of books they like to read the most during the summer season. Emma’s Picks:    The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand   Unfortunately, Yours by Tessa Bailey   Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood   The Whisper...

Grab the popcorn and join Joe and Rachel as Christian from Kanopy returns to share more films to add to your watch list! Come for the films, stay for the book recs in this double-trouble for your TBR episode of Professional Book Nerds! Titles mentioned in this episode: The Phantom of the Opera (1925) The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux The Phantom of the Opera (2004) Ruinsong by Julia Ember...

Today, Joe chats with Ore Agbaje-Williams about her debut title, The Three of Us (out May 16). Ore shares about her work as an editor and her creative process. Ore and Joe talk about writing what you think will sell versus what you enjoy, NaNoWriMo, and of course Twilight. Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop t...

Emma, Joe, and Maria chat about Romantic Fantasy aka "Romantasy," Queen Sarah J. Maas, reading things when they're trendy or not, and share a bunch of recommendations. Book's Mentioned: Emma’s Picks:   From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout  A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas  Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross    Maria’s Picks:   Throne of Glass series by SJM  The Bright and Breaking Sea a...

Today on the pod, Joe is joined by Chloe Spencer, author of Monstersona. They talk about writing road trip stories, unpacking grief, parental backstories, and Supernatural. Books mentioned in this episode: Against the Stars by Christopher Hartland Out of Character by Jenna Miller Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can...

Today Joe is joined by author Grace M. Cho to chat about her book Tastes Like War, which is our latest Big Library Read (BLR) pick. From May 3-17, the ebook and audiobook of Tastes Like War will be available to readers all over the world without waitlists or holds. In Tastes Like War, Grace shares stories of her and her mother's lives, the impact of food, small town life, war, and mental illness....

Emma and Joe chat with podcast regular guest, Kristin, about their most anticipated releases for May 2023! They also discuss Little Mermaid retellings, their book buzzwords that signal immediate interest in a title, Jessica Fletcher, mall kid nostalgia, urban legends, the Winchester brothers, and more. Books mentioned in this episode: Emma’s picks:   The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis   Meet Me at the L...

Emma is delighted to welcome back Emily Henry and Julia Whelan to the podcast today to discuss their involvement with Happy Place, out on April 25th! They have lively conversation about the book, their favorite romance tropes, conquering every industry, their happy places, and more. Books mentioned in today's episode: Beach Read by Emily Henry (audiobook here) People We Meet on Vacation by Emily H...

In today's episode, Jill returns for the second part in our Hunger Games retrospective. This time, the trio discusses Catching Fire. From fake weddings to very real relationships, new alliances, and more, it's no wonder Catching Fire is PBN's favorite book in the series. Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop the...

Emma and Joe chat with Caroline Kepnes about FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU. They also chat about Joe Goldberg's character growth, how dreamy Santino Fontana's narration is, what Caroline's go-to coffee order is at Dunkin' and Starbucks, and so much more. Books mentioned in this episode: You by Caroline Kepnes Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes For You and Only You by Caroline K...

Today on the pod, Emma and Joe are joined by Marissa to talk about one of Joe and Marissa's favorite genres - magical realism. They chat about the history of the genre, what they love most about it, and the CW hit, Jane the Virgin. Books mentioned in this episode: Vapor by Amanda Filipacchi The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger Marissa’s Titles:   Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore ...

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,...

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...

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 tit...

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...