Book Lounge by Libby

Emma chats with Maria and Laura to recommend some of their favorite historical fantasy books. They talk a lot about Divine Rivals, go on a bit of a Leigh Bardugo tangent, and share why they love escapism in fiction. Maria’s Picks:   The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft Laura’s Picks:   The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo  Divine Rivals b...

Ever picked up a book solely because its cover was too captivating to resist? Join us in this episode of Cover Story as we dive into the world of eye-catching book covers that made us swipe our library cards without a second thought. From stunning designs to irresistible artwork, we’ll share our favorite cover-driven picks. Tune in for a fun discussion on the books we picked just for the look! Tit...

Emma interviews Ava Reid about her newest book, Lady Macbeth. Emma and Ava also chat about the writing process, A Series of Unfortunate Events, capricious lords, avoiding reviews, and so much more. You can keep up with Ava Reid on Instagram. Lady Macbeth audiobook. You can listen to Pro Book Nerds Most Anticipated Books of 2024 episode here and find more gothic reads in The House That Gothic Reads...

Staying cool this summer? Whether you're looking for a book to end the summer by the beach with, or you want to steam things up in the AC, we've got some recommendations for you! Come and join Joe and Emma as they go through the books they're looking forward to this August. August author interviews: Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid  Daydream by Hannah Grace Nerds' catch-up mentions: It Had to Be You by El...

On this episode, Joe is joined by Content Creator, Women's Rights Advocate, Podcast Host, Author and Virgo Drew Afualo! They talk about Drew's new book LOUD, what got Drew online, what motivates her throughout her career, how writing worked in her intense schedule and just have an all-out great time yapping! Drew’s new book LOUD: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve publishes July 30th an...

Emma and Joe recommend The Film Library podcast! Follow the show: The Film Library: a Kanopy Podcast. Watch season 1 here. Dive into the rich world of cinema with The Film Library, a brand-new podcast presented by Kanopy, the free streaming service available through participating public and academic libraries. Join hosts Alonso Duralde and Daniel Thompson as they explore the diverse universe of fi...

Emma welcomes debut author Sarah Crouch to the podcast to discuss her book, Middletide! They chat about the book, the writing process, how Sarah found her agent, 90s nostalgia, inspiration from Harlan Coben and Frieda McFadden, the value of libraries, and escapism in reading. Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can sho...

Joe is joined by the mysterious, masked Chuck Tingle to talk about his new, traditionally published book BURY YOUR GAYS (out July 9 from Tor Nightfire). Chuck and Joe talk about absurdist art balanced with sincerity, the impact and meaning of AI on art, how Chuck's faceless persona effects his work, and Chuck's thoughts around separating the art from the artist. Readers can sample and borrow the t...

Get ready to dive into a treasure trove of captivating stories as we unveil the most anticipated book releases of July 2024! Join Emma and Joe on a thrilling journey through the pages of upcoming novels, where every plot twist and character arc awaits discovery. Titles mentioned in this episode: July Author Interviews:   Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle  Loud by Drew Afualo Emma’s Titles:  The Grand...

On today's episode, Emma and Joe share some tips and tricks to completing your 2024 Pro Book Nerds Reading Challenge. They also discuss the prompts they've completed and what books they read. Finally, they offer some suggestions for, perhaps, some harder to complete prompts. Let us know, have you done your 2024 reading challenge yet? What's your progress? 2024 PBN Reading Challenge: A genre you do...

Join Joe for a dive into the world of horror with acclaimed author Paul Tremblay as he unveils details of his new book Horror Movie (out June 11 from HarperCollins). Paul shares his inspirations, challenges, and thrills of crafting a story that carries you through time and just wondering how impacted you'll be by that cursed film. Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episo...

Marissa joins Joe today to talk about graphic memoirs, biographies and novels inspired by life events. They talk about the importance of sharing your story, how we can find community and a sense of self, and learn so much by listening to the stories of others. Come for the recommendations, stay for a full aside on The Salem Witch Trials. Article mentioned in our Salem Witch Trials aside: From New...

On today's episode, Emma is joined by NYT bestselling author, Katherine Center, to chat about her newest book, The Rom-Commers. They also discuss the craft of writing a romance novel, reading from your heart, the impact of libraries, line dancing 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 titl...

Emma and Joe are joined by Andrea and Meghan to discuss a new era of vampire reads! We've seen a huge increase in books featuring vampires in the last few years and wanted to share some recent books and upcoming releases we're most excited about to usher in a new era. Emma’s Picks:   So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft   To You Shall All Flesh Come by Lumen R...

In this episode, Joe sits down for a live conversation with Daniel Handler AKA Lemony Snicket, for the release of his memoir And Then? And Then? What Else?, hosted at Cuyahoga County Public Library! Joe and Daniel talk about Tim Curry, sharing your personal life publicly, and what it's like being Lemony Snicket. Special thanks to Cuyahoga County Public Library for hosting this incredible event. Th...

Emma and Joe's monthly round-up of books is back with June picks! Grab a beverage and get ready for a long-list of summer-y picks! For Emma and Joe that usually means mystery and romance, but there's also a dash of cooking, graphic novels, YA, and family sagas. Author Interviews:   The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center  Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay    Joe’s Picks:   Middle of the Night by Riley Sag...

On today's episode, Emma sits down for a live conversation with the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Harlan Coben, for the release of Think Twice. Hosted at Cuyahoga County Public Library, Emma and Harlan chat about the writing process, his plans for Myron, being the "twist guy," his Netflix adaptations, Stephen King, and Queen Camilla. Special thanks to Cuyahoga County Public Library for hos...

Join us as we dive into the captivating world of cults! We're recommending both fiction and nonfiction titles that explore that mysterious and chilling allure... From gripping thrillers to eye-opening accounts, we've got recommendations that will keep you on the edge of your seat. We'll wax poetic on cult dynamics and discuss the enduring fascination with these enigmatic communities. Titles mentio...

Emma and Joe welcome back Claire and Kristin to chat about modern gothic reads. They discuss the characteristics they enjoy in a modern gothic and share a wide variety of books to get your creepy, vibey, gothic fix! Emma’s Picks:   The Clinic by Cate Quinn  A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat  The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins   One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (Sheperd King series)   Claire’s Picks...

The mean girl gets murdered in this one (not a spoiler)! Dive into the mind of Cindy RX He as she delves deep into her debut title, Perfect Little Monsters. Find out why it's hard to trick thriller readers with your twists, what makes the queen bee so compelling, and where Cindy's inspiration came from for this story. Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby....

Join Joe and Emma on this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast as they dive deep into the ever-evolving landscape of the literary canon. They shine a spotlight on contemporary books that challenge traditional notions of what it means to be considered "canonical" and explore the complexities of defining literary greatness. Emma and Joe offer up some modern works and their potential to res...

Emma is thrilled to welcome Carley Fortune to talk about her new book, This Summer Will Be Different. In this fun chat, you'll also hear about Carley's life-changing writing advice from Taylor Jenkins Reid, writing about different kinds of family dynamics and dreamy male leads, Anne of Green Gables, long-distance best friends, the power of libraries, and how romance books can and do save and chang...

Emma is joined by Sydney and Jane to discuss 1990s nostalgia, essential books of the 90s, and share a list of fresh books set in their favorite decade! This episode is packed full of book recommendations and waxing poetic about malls, layered tank tops, time travel, and revisiting our favorite decade from a 2024 perspective. Emma’s Picks:   Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid   This Time To...

It's that magical time again - Joe and Emma are sharing the books being released this May (2024) that they're most looking forward to. The Nerds talk about the eclipse, catch up, and have a silly, goofy time! Titles mentioned in this episode: Author Interviews for May:  This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune  Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy RX He  Think Twice by Harlan Coben   And Then?...

Emma and Joe talk about some VERY specific reading moods and offer recommendations to match!  Emma’s moods & book picks:   A romance book that’s 10/10 and has Easter eggs a plenty   Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez  Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez  Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez   A cozy fantasy book that's equal parts wholesome and magical   Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree  The Honey Witch...