Book Lounge by Libby

What's the difference between telling a good crime story and telling someone's story? This Noirvember, we're diving into the fascinating, sometimes complicated relationship between true crime and crime fiction.

I'm joined by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush and Sebastian Krahl for a conversation about what it means to work with crime as source material, whether you're writing fiction or exploring real-life cases. We talk about the responsibilities that come with telling these stories, navigating the fine line between entertainment and exploitation, respecting the people behind the headlines and finding a balance between the darkness of crime and the reasons we're drawn to these stories in the first place.

Because there's a lot more to a good crime story than just figuring out whodunit. So grab your magnifying glass, settle in and join us for a little Noirvember reading (and listening) room discussion!

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Jennifer Graeser Dornbush – website

•

Sebastian Krahl – links

Some books by our guests:

•

Coroner’s Daughter Mystery Series, Book 1: The Coroner - Jennifer Graeser Dornbush

•

50 True Stories That Will Scare You to Death – Sebastian Krahl

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Welcome and Intro
00:01:30 How do we feel about true crime and crime fic?
00:07:31 Some favorite horror movies
00:14:07 How do you position your content for your audience
00:28:08 Talking about risk factors and lowering risk
00:35:25 Jennifer on interviewing the daughters of The Ice Man
00:43:34 What’s your favorite part of how these stories are told?
00:56:45 Thank you and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

New month, new books, new reasons to let your TBR spiral completely out of control. 📚

Joe is joined by Bre for November 2026 Book Picks, our monthly look at the new book releases we're most excited about. From stories that caught our attention to books we're already counting down the days to read, we're sharing the upcoming releases we think deserve a spot on your radar.

Whether you're hunting for your next five-star read, filling your library holds list or just looking for a little inspiration for your November reading life, we've got recommendations for you. Consider this your friendly reminder that your TBR is a living document and there is always room for one more book.

Powered by libraries. Made for readers. Happy reading!

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Bre’s live conversation with Eriq La Salle - link

•

Bre’s Blackoween announcement - link

Book recommendations:

Bre's picks:

•

Peregrine Hill – Nina de Gramont

•

The Last Prince of Florence – Zoe Sivak

•

The Monster Hunter’s Librarian – Lauren Connolly

•

Salt Water Blood – Manuia Henrich

Joe's picks:

•

Take My Word for It – LeVar Burton

•

Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? – Judi Dench

•

Revenge Plot – Stephanie Wrobel

•

Luck of the Draw – Christine Suggs

•

Trove – Danie Stirling

•

There Used to be People Here – Kennedy Cole

•

Clear Water– Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes

•

Mr. Mendlebee’s Pandimensional Literary Repository (and Yarn) – Rebecca McKee

•

New Year’s Grieve – Elizabeth Foscue

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:19 Intro
00:00:57 Welcome to Bre!
00:09:27 Our November 2026 Book Picks
00:55:19 Thanks and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/42201

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a book podcast host, a paranormal expert and a cameraman walk into one of America's most haunted destinations? Hopefully, they make it out.

For the first time in Book Lounge by Libby history, Joe Skelley is leaving the comforts of the lounge behind for an overnight ghost hunt at Franklin Castle, one of the most notoriously haunted places in the United States! Joined by Christine Schiefer, former co-host of And That's Why We Drink, and Joe's partner Matt behind the camera, this spooky sleepover involves a historic castle, paranormal investigations and the question nobody wants to ask in the middle of the night: WHAT WAS THAT?!

We're getting into the history, the hauntings and what it's actually like to spend the night investigating a place with a seriously creepy reputation. Will we encounter something supernatural? Will Joe ever recover emotionally? Will Matt capture anything terrifying on camera?

Grab your flashlight, check the locks and join us for an overnight ghost hunt that takes Book Lounge by Libby somewhere we've never gone before. It's a little paranormal investigation, a little haunted-house horror and a whole lot of spooky-season chaos.

Powered by libraries. Made for readers. Occasionally, apparently, made for ghost hunters, too.

Happy reading... and maybe leave a light on. 👻

Check out our video with Christine over on the ParaPods Network: https://www.youtube.com/@ATWWDPodcast

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Christine Schiefer – Instagram

•

And That’s Why We Drink – Instagram

•

ParaPods Network – Instagram

Book recommendations:

•

The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson

•

We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson

•

Hell House – Richard Matheson

•

The Shining – Stephen King

•

The Turn of the Screw – Henry James

•

Burnt Offerings – Robert Marasco

•

The House Next Door – Anne Rivers Siddons

•

A Haunting on the Hill – Elizabeth Hand

•

Play Nice – Rachel Harrison

•

Diavola– Jennifer Throne

•

The Handyman Method – Nick Cutter and Andrew F. Sullivan

•

Something in the Walls – Daisy Pearce

•

The September House – Carissa Orlando

•

A House With Good Bones – T. Kingfisher

•

We Used to Live Here – Marcus Kliewer

•

The Haunting of Ashburn House – Darcy Coates

•

Wylding Hall – Elizabeth Hand

•

Episode Thirteen – Craig DiLouie

•

The House in the Pines– Ana Reyes

•

Incidents Around the House – Josh Malerman

•

Mazywood– Tananarive Due

•

Newbourne Park – Jennifer Thorne

•

The House Built on Alligator Bones – Sophia Honeycutt

•

The House That Eats the Dead – Max Doty

•

The Cracks – TH Huddleston

Film recommendations:

•

Sinister

•

House on Haunted Hill

•

Good Boy

•

The Messengers

•

The Inkeepers

•

1408

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:27 Introduction
00:02:29 The History of Franklin Castle
00:07:08 The Ghosts of Franklin Castle
00:09:28 Tour of Franklin Castle
00:11:08 Haunted House Reading & Film Recs
00:14:15 Welcome to Christine Schiefer
00:16:37 Setting up our equipment & starting the hunt!
01:11:33 Static footage and EVP review
01:32:32 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monsters! Ghosts! Trad wives! Oh my! 🎃👻

It's time to get a little monstrous in the Book Lounge. Joe is joined by Meara and Kenzie Deerin for a Halloween-ready conversation packed with monster horror books, creepy folklore, unsettling creatures and dark reads that crawl under your skin. From terrifying transformations to the things lurking in the shadows, we're serving up horror book recommendations for every kind of reader who likes their stories a little strange.

Whether you're a lifelong horror reader or looking for your next spooky-season obsession, we've got recommendations to add to your TBR. So, grab your favorite blanket, keep an eye on the shadows and join us for a delightfully creepy trip through the reading world.

Powered by libraries. Made for readers. Happy reading! 🖤

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Kenzie Deerin – Instagram

•

Meara – Links

Book Recommendations:

Kenzie’s Picks:

•

Ring Shout- P.Djèlí Clark

•

My Darling Dreadful Thing - Johanna van Veen

•

The Possession of Alba Dìaz - Isabel cãnas

•

On Sundays She Picked Flowers – Yah Yah Scholfield

Meara's Picks:

•

Girl Dinner & Masters of Death– Olivie Blake

•

Before the Devil Knows You're Here - Autumn Krause

•

Bad Cree - Jessica Johns

•

The Changing Man – Tomi Oyemakinde

•

Lute– Jennifer Thorne

•

The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror – Tori Bovalino

•

Woman, Eating - Claire Kohda

•

Bad Girls Don’t Die- Katie Alender

Joe's Picks:

•

Mongrels – Stephen Graham Jones

•

Man Made Monsters– Andrea L. Rogers, Illus. Jeff Edwards

•

Coffin Moon– Keith Rosson

•

From Below– Darcy Coates

•

Never Whistle at Night & Never Whistle at Night II: Back for Blood – ed. Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Welcome and Introductions
00:02:55 Some monster horror questions
00:17:07 Book recommendations
01:02:43 Comment question
01:03:00 Thank you and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41971

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to read horror but have absolutely no idea where to start? Welcome to your first step into the spooky side of the reading world! 🎃

Joe Skelley is joined by Amy Allen Clark and Kenzie Deerin to build the ultimate horror triptych: a grouping of recommendations designed to help you find your way into horror, whether you're a curious beginner, a certified scaredy-cat or a reader who just hasn't found the right nightmare yet.

From creepy and atmospheric to genuinely terrifying, we're talking about how to find horror books that match your comfort level, discover what scares you (in the best way) and figure out where to go next. Because horror isn't one-size-fits-all, and you absolutely do not have to start with the book that will keep you awake until 3 a.m.

Ready to dip your toes into the dark? Pull up a chair, grab your coziest blanket and let's find your next spooky read.

Book Lounge by Libby is powered by libraries and made for readers. Find your next favorite horror book with your library card and the Libby app.

Happy reading... and maybe leave a light on. 👻

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Amy Allen Clark – links

•

30 Modern Gothic Novels: https://momadvice.com/post/modern-gothic-novels

•

12 Classic Gothic Novels: https://momadvice.com/post/classic-gothic-novels

•

Kenzie Deerin – Instagram

•

Blackoween – Instagram

Book Recommendations:

Amy's Picks:

•

The Whitechapel Full Moon Society –Elizabeth DeLozier

•

Marion– Leah Rowan

•

On Sundays She Picked Flowers – Yah Yah Scholfield

•

The Sleeping Sisters – Jennifer Gibbon

Kenzie's Picks:

•

Hazelthorn– CG Drews

•

The Spirit Bares its Teeth – Andrew Joseph White

•

Play Nice – Rachel Harrison

•

The Winter Folk – Jen Julien

Joe's Picks:

•

Something in the Walls – Daisy Pearce

•

The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson

•

Episode Thirteen – Craig DiLouie

•

13 Months Haunted– Jimmy Juliano

•

Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia

•

Just Like Home – Sarah Gailey

•

The September House – Carissa Orlando

•

Victorian Psycho – Virginia Feito

•

Diavola – Jennifer Thorne

•

Cackle– Rachel Harrison

•

So Thirsty, Such Sharp Teeth, Black Sheep

•

The Bewitching – Silvia Moreno-Garcia

•

VenCo– Cherie Dimaline

•

Jackal– Erin E. Adams

•

The Broken Girls, The Book of Cold Cases, Ghost 19, The Sun Down Motel - Simone St. James

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Welcome and introductions
00:01:10 What drew you to horror?
00:09:42 Getting started with horror recommendations
01:01:17 Horror isn’t exactly what you think
01:01:55 Comment question
01:02:28 Thank you and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41970

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes us want to be scared? Why do we keep coming back for more? And how do you get started with horror if you're not sure where to begin?

This Halloween season, we're opening the door to the wonderfully weird world of horror with authors Tiffany D. Jackson, Jonny Sims and Jonathan Edward Durham! We're talking about what first drew them to horror, what excites them about the genre today and what's next for horror readers. From the stories that get under our skin to the possibilities that keep horror fresh, this is a thoughtful, lively conversation about why we love to be scared.

Whether you're a seasoned horror reader or just testing the waters before spooky season gets into full swing, pull up a chair. Your next favorite kind of scary might be waiting.

Book Lounge by Libby is powered by libraries and made for readers. Find your next read for FREE with your library card and the Libby app.

Happy haunting, horror fans!

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Tiffany D. Jackson – Website, Instagram

•

Jonny Sims – Website, Instagram

•

Jonathan Durham – Website, Instagram

Some books by our guests:

•

The Weight of Blood – Tiffany D. Jackson

•

Ghost in the Night – Tiffany D. Jackson

•

Winterset Hollow– Jonathan Edward Durham

•

The Burn Line– Jonathan Sims

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Intro and Welcome
00:03:01 What was your earliest introduction to horror?
00:18:41 Reading horror vs watching horror
00:27:21 What does horror give us?
00:40:50 Horror recognized in publishing
00:58:00 How future generations will continue horror
01:00:07 Lightning Round
01:04:45 Comment Question
01:05:10 Thank you and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when ancient myths meet modern storytelling? We get some VERY good books.

We're wrapping up Myth and Legends Week on Book Lounge by Libby with Meara and Kenzie Deerin, sharing epic reads inspired by mythology, folklore, fairy tales and urban legends. From reimagined gods and legendary figures to fresh takes on familiar stories, these books prove that there's always another way to tell a legend.

Whether you love seeing ancient tales through a new lens, discovering folklore from different traditions or finding fantasy stories that put an unexpected spin on the classics, we've got recommendations for your next great read.

Join us as we revisit the stories that have shaped generations and celebrate the authors giving them a whole new life.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Kenzie Deerin – Instagram

•

Meara – Links

Book Recommendations:

Kenzie's Picks:

•

A Dark and Wild Wood - Sarah Nicole Lemon

•

I, Medusa - Ayana Gray

•

Where the Dark Stands Still - A.B. Poranek

•

This Immortal Heart - Jennifer Saint

•

A Feather So Black - Lyra Selene

Meara's Picks:

•

Soul of Shadow – Emma Noyes

•

Body Count – Cody Crowley

•

A Spindle Splintered – Alix E. Harrow

•

A Mirror Mended – Alix E. Harrow

•

Small Favors – Erin A. Craig

•

Elatsoe– Darcie Little Badger

Joe's Picks:

•

The House with Chicken Legs– Sophie Anderson

•

The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break– Steven Sherrill

•

Kaikeyi– Vaishnavi Patel

•

The Vine That Ate the South– JD Wilkes

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Welcome and Intro
00:02:00 Catching up with Meara & Kenzie
00:03:14 Getting to know our guests’ mythology background!
00:16:33 Myth & Legend Book Recs
00:56:43 Comment question of the day!
00:57:02 Thank you & outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41741

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the thing keeping you up at night becomes a movie? 👀

Horror author Josh Malerman is in the Book Lounge, and we're getting into the deliciously terrifying world of Incidents Around the House and its film adaptation, Other Mommy.

From the inspiration behind one of modern horror's creepiest stories to the creative process that brings nightmares to life, Josh joins Joe for a conversation about horror writing, storytelling, the things that scare us most and what happens when your imagination gets a little too good at its job.

Whether you discovered Josh through Bird Box, devoured Incidents Around the House or are gearing up to experience Other Mommy, this is your chance to get inside the mind of the author behind the nightmares.

Consider this your warning: you might want to leave a light on.

Welcome to Book Lounge by Libby, your favorite corner of the reading world. Powered by libraries. Made for readers.

Happy reading! (And, you know, maybe sleep with the closet door closed.)

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Josh Malerman - Instagram

Some books by Josh Malerman:

•

Incidents Around the House

•

Bird Box

•

Daphne

•

Pictures of You

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:19 Welcome and Intro
00:02:10 What were you feeling seeing OTHER MOMMY
00:08:27 You can be shallow or deep within horror
00:16:05 What made you put us in a child’s POV
00:21:50 Writing soundscape
00:24:51 Changing the Title
00:30:29 Did Jessica Chastain’s portrayal change the story for you?
00:34:02 Comment Question
00:34:21 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when ancient myths meet modern perspectives? The stories we thought we knew get a whole new life.

This week on Book Lounge by Libby, Joe sits down with bestselling author Madeline Miller and poet and author Nikita Gill to explore the art of retelling mythology and ancient stories for modern readers. From reimagining legendary figures to finding new meaning in centuries-old tales, we’re diving into why these stories endure, whose voices deserve to be heard and what happens when we look at the ancient world through a contemporary lens.

Whether you love Greek mythology, mythological fiction, feminist retellings or discovering a fresh perspective on a familiar legend, this episode is for you.

Two incredible authors. Thousands of years of storytelling. So many reasons to revisit the classics.

Welcome to Book Lounge by Libby, your favorite corner of the reading world. Powered by libraries. Made for readers.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Madeline Miller - Links

•

Nikita Gill - Website

Some of our guests' books:

•

The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller

•

Circe– Madeline Miller

•

Galatea– Madeline Miller

•

Mestra– Madeline Miller

•

Hekate– Nikita Gill

•

Styx– Nikita Gill

•

Nyx– Nikita Gill

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Welcome to Segment 1 with Madeline Miller
00:01:30 What is your earliest memory with mythology?
00:19:35 Writing about mythology doesn’t have a responsibility to history
00:47:22 Storytelling and connecting to others
00:55:19 No one has to do homework before reading my books
01:01:11 Who would play Achilles?
01:03:28 Welcome Nikita Gill!
01:04:44 What was your introduction to mythology?
01:24:54 How do you tell your stories?
01:33:04 Americans can be so optimistic
01:41:30 Nikita’s advice to young writers
01:48:50 Comment question of the day
01:49:32 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41744

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adventure isn’t dead. It’s just waiting for you on the next page.

Host Joe Skelley is joined by Amy Allen Clark (@momadvice) and creator Joe Zawada (@joezawadareads) to keep the adventure conversation going with a stack of adventure stories that bring the danger, drama, twists and absolutely zero respect for your bedtime.

From high stakes journeys to impossible odds and the kind of books that make “I’ll read one chapter” a hilarious lie, we’re sharing adventure book recommendations that will keep you reading all night.

If you’re looking for your next great adventure read, consider this your very official excuse to ignore your sleep schedule.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Amy Allen Clark - Links

•

Joe Zawada - Links

Book Recommendations:

Amy's Picks:

•

Runner - Ashton Lattimore

•

Castle of Water - Dane Huckelbridge

•

My Sister’s Going to Kill Me - Nina Simon

•

The Force of Such Beauty - Barbara Bourland

•

Fishbone Cinderella - Elizabeth Lim

Joe Z's Picks:

•

Taipei Story – RF Kuang

•

The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig

•

Sublimation - Isabel J. Kim

•

Destiny’s Edge - M.L. Wang

•

Tempest- Victoria Aveyard

Joe S's Picks:

•

The Girl from the Sea – Lee Knox Ostertag

•

Gumshoe– Brenna Thummler

•

Millie of the Manor - Karina Evans, Andrea Bell

•

438 Days– Jonathan Franklin

•

Lost in the Valley of Death – Harley Rustad

•

Canon– Paige Lewis

•

Honey in Her Veins – Ruth McKell

•

Project V – Park Seolyeon

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Welcome and Intro
00:02:44 What our guests think of when they hear Adventure Story
00:11:56 Adventure Recommendations
01:14:43 Comment Question
01:15:03 Thank you and Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41743

Happy Reading!

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The Witchlings series has reached its magical finale, and we’re celebrating with the author herself!

In this bonus episode of Book Lounge by Libby, host Joe Skelley sits down with Claribel A. Ortega to look back at the Witchlings series as a whole, from its magical world and unforgettable characters to friendship, identity, growing up and all the twists and turns along the way.

With the final Witchlings book releasing today, this conversation celebrates the journey to the series finale, what Witchlings has meant to Claribel and what it feels like to bring this magical story to an end.

Spoiler note: The first 16 minutes are spoiler-free. Light spoilers begin around 16:09, and we’ll give you a warning before discussing any major spoilers.

If you’ve read the Witchlings series, are finishing the finale or simply love magical middle grade fantasy, come hang out with us!

If YOU want the chance to win the complete Witchlings series, go enter to win on our Instagram @BookLoungePod

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Claribel A. Ortega – Website, Instagram, Join the Witchlings Discord

Books by Claribel:

•

The Witchlings Series:

•

Witchlings

•

The Golden Frog Games

•

House of Elephants

•

Scepter of Memories

•

The Sea Witch Prophecy

•

Ghost Squad

•

Frizzy

•

The Girl and the Robobt– Oz Rodriguez, Claribel A. Ortega

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Intro and welcome to Claribel A. Ortega!
00:04:54 Writing the final book
00:10:09 Why five books felt right for Witchlings
00:11:40 What will Claribel miss most about the world of Witchlings
00:16:09 Spolier-light recap of the series
00:23:59 Monstruos mythology, identity and childhood storytelling
00:41:44 Spoiler discussion begins for book 5
00:55:12 The essence of Witchlings
00:55:43 A message to longtime readers
00:57:22 Comment question of the day!
00:57:32 GIVEAWAY DETAILS!
00:58:21 Thank you and farewell
00:59:39 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the classic adventure story dead, or has it simply gotten a serious makeover?

From treasure hunts and lost worlds to quests, monsters and impossible missions, adventure has always been one of the biggest reading pleasures around. But what happens when the genre collides with modern sci fi, fantasy and the wildest corners of contemporary storytelling?

Host Joe Skelley is joined by author John Scalzi to dig into why adventure books still have such a grip on readers, how the genre has transformed over time and why stories built around discovery, danger and a good old fashioned “let’s see what happens” continue to thrive.

We’re talking classic adventure, modern adventure books, science fiction, fantasy, quests, escapism and the enduring appeal of getting swept up in a story that refuses to sit still.

So grab your metaphorical map, pack some snacks and join us in the Book Lounge. Adventure isn’t dead. It just got weird.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Titles mentioned in this episode:

•

Starman Jones – Robert A. Heinlein

•

Hatchet– Gary Paulsen

•

Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir

•

Dungeon Crawler Carl – Matt Dinniman

•

A Winkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle

•

The Dark is Rising – Susan Cooper

•

The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

•

Uglies – Scott Westerfeld

•

Old Man’s War – John Scalzi

•

Monsters of Ohio – John Scalzi

•

Agent to the Stars – John Scalzi

•

When the Moon Hits Your Eye – John Scalzi

•

Redshirts– John Scalzi

•

All Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

John Scalzi – Website, Instagram

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Welcome and intro
00:01:30 The Adventure Stories that shaped us
00:07:42 How adventure evolved
00:19:06 The power of personal recommendations
00:33:55 Why adventure stories offer escape
00: 44:55 Why adventure isn’t dead
00:55:19 Comment question and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when readers get REALLY into a book? Sometimes… everyone starts reading it.

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, host Joe Skelley is joined by authors whose books found huge audiences through book clubs, BookTok, Bookstagram and online reading communities. We’re talking about the very real power of readers to turn a great book into a full-blown phenomenon and what it’s like for an author to watch that happen.

How does a book become the one everyone is recommending? Why do some stories take off in book clubs? And what makes readers want to pass a book along to everyone they know?

Plus, we’re getting into the joy, chaos and occasionally unhinged energy of being part of a reading community.

Whether you’re a lifelong book club member, a solo reader who lives in the group chat or someone who has ever said “I HAVE to make you read this,” this one is for you.

If you're part of a book club, tell us about it! How big is your group? How often do you meet? What's the best book you've ever read together? And, perhaps most importantly, what's the book that nearly started a civil war?

Listen or watch now, and join the conversation with Book Lounge by Libby.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Heather Morris – Website, Instagram

•

Morgan Elizabeth – Website, Instagram

•

Patti C. Henry – Website, Instagram

Guest Books:

Some of Heather Morris' books:

•

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

•

Cilka’s Journey

•

Three Sisters

•

Sisters Under the Rising Sun

•

The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse

Morgan Elizabeth's traditionally published book:

•

Meet Cute Magic

Some of Patti C. Henry's books:

•

Losing the Moon

•

The Story She Left Behind

•

The Secret Book of Flora Lea

•

Becoming Mrs. Lewis

•

Once Upon a Wardrobe

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:19 Welcome and Intro
00:01:24 When did you realize your book had become a book club hit?
00:11:56 Did a book club change the trajectory of your book?
00:26:35 What are some of the events that stick out to you?
00:36:18 What impact does reader response have on your writing?
00:46:00 The parasocial lines between author and reader
00:57:09 Thank you, comment question and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41711

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

October is here, and our TBR is looking positively haunted. 👻 Joe is joined by his coworker Nahomy to talk about the new books coming out in October 2026, from creepy haunted houses and witchy fantasy to vampires, horror graphic novels, dark mysteries and stories that will have you sleeping with the lights on.

Whether you're looking for your next spooky horror read, a magical fantasy adventure or a creepy thriller to curl up with this fall, we've got your October new book radar covered. Plus, we're sharing a few honorable mentions and unexpected picks to round out your reading list.

Find your next favorite read with Book Lounge by Libby, powered by libraries and made for readers.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Book recommendations:

Nahomy’s Picks:

•

The House Built on Alligator Bones – Sophia Huneycutt

•

Legends & Lattes: The Graphic Novel – Travis Baldree, adapted – Samuel Sattin, Illustrated – Shanti Rittgers and Sarah Webb

•

Peck & Peck – Bonnie Garmus

•

Until the Last Light Goes Out– Courtney Gould

•

A Court of Splintered Harmony– Sarah J. Maas

•

Look What the Cat Dragged In– Jason Rekulak

•

When the World Was Happy– Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Joe’s Picks:

Honorable mentions:

•

Stagtown vol. 1 – Punko

•

The Sea Witch Prophecy – Claribel A. Ortega

•

The Tarot Trials – Katee Robert

•

The Memory of Borrowed Books – Meg Anderson

Episode picks:

•

Solace House – Will Maclean

•

Carrying – Samantha Josephs

•

Bruja’s Nest – Brenda LaTorre

•

When the Night Comes Knocking – Katherine Daniel

•

The Chain House – JH Markert

•

Dive Bar at the End of the Road – Kelley Armstrong

•

Please Enjoy Your Stay – Tara Goedjen

•

Night of the Mallrats – Nicolina Torres

•

Fangs and All – Tas Mukanik

Who’s in this episode:

•

Joe – Instagram

•

Nahomy - Instagram

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Intro & Welcome
00:02:53 Joe’s Honorable Mentions list
00:05:41 Our October 2026 Book Picks
00:48:19 We want to hear from you! Comment Question
00:48:43 Thanks and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41715

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What actually makes a book club GOOD? And how do you get people to come back month after month without turning it into homework?

This week on Book Lounge by Libby, we're going behind the scenes of the book club. Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark of Book Gang Podcast and book club, Dave McNally, Adult Services Supervisor at Cuyahoga County Public Library, and Meara of (@mearaisreading) to talk about what makes a great book club, how groups choose what to read, the biggest barriers that keep people from joining and what happens when a book club meeting goes completely off the rails.

We're talking book club tips, discussion drama, choosing books, reading outside your comfort zone, building community and, naturally, some very important book club gossip.

Whether you're already a devoted book club person, thinking about joining one or wondering if you should finally start your own, this conversation has something for you.

And yes, we get into the books that brought people together, the ones that divided them and the stories that have become legendary around the book club table.

If you're watching or listening on Spotify, comment and let us know: If you're part of a book club, tell us about it! How big is your group? How often do you meet? What's the best book you've ever read together? And, perhaps most importantly, what's the book that nearly started a civil war?

OR come comment on today's post over on Instagram at @bookloungepod.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Book recommendations:

•

Jane Eyre– Charlotte Bronte

•

Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut

•

Heart the Lover – Lily King

•

Daughters of Shandong– Eve J. Chung

•

Woodworking– Emily St. James

•

The Rachel Incident – Caroline O’Donoghue

•

Sula – Toni Morrison

•

The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison

•

I See You’ve Called in Dead – John Kenney

•

Into Thin Air – Jon Krakauer

•

Into the Wild– Jon Krakauer

•

The Art Thief– Michael Finkel

•

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev – Dawnie Walton

•

Big Swiss– Jen Beagin

•

Death in Her Hands – Ottessa Moshfegh

•

The End of Men– Christina Sweeney-Baird

•

Tuesdays With Morrie– Mitch Albom

•

Crime and Punishment– Fyodor Dostoyevsky

•

The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

•

Chain-Gang All-Stars – Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

•

Guillotine– Delilah S. Dawson

Who’s in this episode:

•

Amy Allen Clark - Links

•

Meara - Links

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:19 Welcome and intro
00:12:10 Different styles and sizes of Book Clubs
00:21:48 Preparing for Discussion
00:47:24 Do you always finish the book?
01:01:57 What should you know before you walk into book club the first time?
01:05:52 Comment Question and Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What REALLY happens behind the reference desk? On this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, host Joe Skelley is joined by Becky Cameron and Kate Merlene from Cuyahoga County Public Library and Morgan Schultz from Lutheran West School for a very candid, very fun conversation about life as a librarian.

We're spilling the librarian tea on wild patron questions, unexpected library requests, book recommendations, overhyped authors, underrated reads and the services your library offers that you might not even know about.

Plus, we're getting into librarian superpowers, memorable library moments, favorite programs and the realities of working with readers of all ages.

Whether you're a lifelong library lover, a curious reader or someone who has ever wondered what librarians REALLY think, this is your invitation behind the scenes.

Get ready for library secrets, bookish hot takes, hilarious stories and plenty of reasons to visit your local library. Grab your library card and join the conversation!

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Intro
00:01:03 Getting to know our guests
00:05:12 Assumptions about librarians
00:15:55 The most checked-out authors
00:25:07 Let’s get shady
00:32:40 Strangest patron questions
00:55:06 What’s a favorite program or service?
00:59:27 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

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What happens when you let your local library surprise you? For the Season 4 premiere of Book Lounge by Libby, we're celebrating Library Card Sign-Up Month with a little literary mystery, a few unexpected projects and a whole lot of library love.

Joe is joined by Meara (@mearaisreading) for a Blind Date with a (Library) Book! We each head to our local libraries with three missions: get a book recommendation from a librarian, choose a book from a library display and discover a third surprise in the form of a unique activity, craft or project.

Then we come back together to reveal our picks, share what we got up to and compare notes on our library adventures. Expect book recommendations, library discoveries, creative chaos and a lil vlog moment because apparently talking about books wasn't enough.

Whether you're a lifelong library lover or haven't stepped into your local branch in a while, this episode is your invitation to explore, get curious and let your library surprise you.

Grab your library card and come hang out in the Book Lounge!

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Book recommendations:

•

We– Yevgeny Zamyatin

•

West with Giraffes – Lynda Rutledge

•

The Unfortunates – JK Chukwu

•

Checked Out – Katie Fricas

Who’s in this episode:

•

Meara - Links

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:20 Intro
00:02:06 Vlogging to the Library
00:04:40 Diving into our library prompts and experience
01:04:41 What’s next and outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What scares you? For bestselling author Jeneva Rose, the answer might be… literally anything. 👀

Jeneva joins Book Lounge by Libby to talk about her new horror collection, Sometimes I Scare Myself, a trio of twisted stories filled with séances gone wrong, creepy houses, cursed objects and the kind of decisions that make you want to yell at a character through the page.

We’re getting into what makes a horror story actually scary, why familiar settings can make the best nightmares and what happens when you take classic horror tropes and give them a Jeneva Rose twist. Plus, Jeneva reveals what scares her — because apparently even the person writing the nightmares has nightmares.

If you’re looking for your next horror book, spooky-season read or thriller to keep you up way too late, consider this your sign to add Sometimes I Scare Myself to your TBR.

Sometimes I Scare Myself is out September 22, 2026.

Book Lounge by Libby is your place for book conversations, recommendations and the people behind the stories. Grab your favorite drink, get cozy and meet us in the Lounge.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Who’s in this episode:

•

Jeneva Rose – links

Books by Jeneva:

•

Sometimes I Scare Myself(out September 22, 2026)

•

The Perfect Marriage

•

The Perfect Divorce

•

One of Us is Dead

•

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here

•

#CrimeTime

•

Home is Where the Bodies Are

•

The Girl I Was

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:23 Intro
00:01:07 Getting to know Jeneva Rose
00:02:01 Scaring Yourself
00:26:37 A trope you’re determined to reinvent
00:49:52 Horror Lightning Round
00:52:19 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel.

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41555

Happy Reading!

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Virginia Woolf has inspired generations of readers, but what happens when you take one of her novels and bring it to a modern audience?

This week, Joe is joined by Justine Waddell, writer and producer of Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day, to talk about her love of Woolf, the process of adapting a classic novel and the changes that have to be made when bringing an older story into the present day.

They dig into what makes Woolf’s work so enduring, the challenges of translating a classic for contemporary audiences and the decisions that come with adapting a beloved novel while staying true to its spirit. And yes, there are spoilers! Spoilers begin around 26:10 and run through 32:36.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Book recommendations:

•

Night and Day – Virginia Woolf (ebook)

•

Night and Day – Virginia Woolf (audiobook)

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:23 Welcome and Intro
00:00:45 Conversation with Justine Waddell
00:50:18 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://www.libbylife.com/booklounge

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378

Happy Reading!

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September is bringing some SERIOUS TBR temptation. This week, Joe is joined by Madison (@simon.says.read) to dive into the September 2026 book releases they’re most excited to read.

From gothic romantasy and fantasy to thrillers, romance, historical fiction and spooky season reads, there are way too many new books fighting for a spot on the TBR.

Plus, Joe and Madison reveal the books they’re already counting down the days to read, the titles they almost included and which September releases might become your next obsession.

What September 2026 book are you most excited to read? Add it to your TBR and let us know!

Book Lounge by Libby is your place for book conversations, recommendations and the people behind the stories.

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!

Follow Madison on Instagram!

Books Recommendations:

Madison's Picks:

•

The Knave and the Moon – Rachel Gillig

•

Taipei Story – RF Kuang

•

The Thoroughbreds – Elin Hilderbrand

•

Grim Tidings – BK Borison

•

The Pirate Queen – Ariel Lawhon

•

Tempest – Victoria Aveyard

•

Threshing Day – Rebecca Yarros

•

The Witches of Cambridge – Alice Hoffman

•

A Time of Witches – Madeline Martin

•

Fallow – Sarah Anderson

Joe’s Picks:
Honorable mentions:

•

The Most Dangerous Games – MrBeast, James Patterson

•

Building 903 – Lois Lowry

•

Hollywood, Ending – John Green

•

Incarnate – Alma Katsu

•

Sometimes I Scare Myself – Jeneva Rose

•

Kiss Slay Replay – Rachel Harrison

•

The Dating Game – Ally Zetterberg

•

Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist – Justine Pucella Winans

•

Scion – James Islington

•

Asmodeus – Rita Indiana (tr. Achy Obejas)

•

Mischief Girls – Aashna Avachat

•

Feeling Like an ADHD Alien – Pina Varnel

•

Pretty Evil – Rebekah McKendry, David Ian McKendry

•

The House of Gardenias – Isabel Cañas

Time stamps:
00:00:00 Title
00:00:23 Intro
00:05:51 Our September 2026 Book Picks
01:30:42 Outro

Enjoying the show? Follow Book Lounge by Libby, leave a rating or review, and watch every episode on the Libby App YouTube channel. Find us on https://pages.libbylife.com/BL-Links

Got a book recommendation, dream guest or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com.

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

Library friends: Add episodes of Book Lounge by Libby to your digital collection for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. You can also purchase the titles featured in today's episode in OverDrive Marketplace.

Browse our cumulative reading list for the season: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41378
Today's featured books: https://marketplace.overdrive.com/Marketplace/OneCopyOneUserAndMeteredAccess/SuggestedList/41379

Happy Reading!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices