Book Lounge by Libby

Witch please! In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re leaning all the way into fall vibes with cozy and witchy reads that’ll keep you warm as the weather cools.  In segment one, Joe is joined by Claribel A. Ortega, Liz Montague, HB Akumiah, and Travis Baldree for a fireside chat about all things cozy fantasy, witchy worlds, and why we can’t get enough of stories that feel like a soft blanket and a spellbook in one.  Then in segment two, Bre, Kayla, and Meara stop by to share their favorite cozy and witchy reads to add to your TBR cauldron.  Whether you love small-town magic, talking familiars, or books that smell like cinnamon and candle wax, this episode will enchant your fall reading list.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/witch-please-cozy-witchy-reads-for-fall-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-5   Guest host recommendations:  Bre  A Murder for Miss Hortense - Mel Pennant   Snapdragon - Kat Leyh  Kayla  The Ex Hex – Erin Sterling  We Ride Upon Sticks – Quan Barry  Meara  The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna  Sweet and Bitter Magic - Adrienne Tooley  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Claribel A. Ortega - Website  H.B. Akumiah - Instagram  Liz Montague - Website  Travis Baldree - Website  Segment 2:   Bre - Links  Kayla - Links  Meara – Links   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:21 Intro  00:02:48 Segment 1 with Claribel A. Ortega, Liz Montague, HB Akumiah & Travis Baldree!  00:56:43 BREAK  00:58:42 Segment 2 – Book Recs with Bre, Kayla & Meara!  01:42:13 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a monster-mash of an episode! We’re going big for spooky season with horror favorites, eerie insights, and enough book recommendations to haunt your TBR straight through Halloween.  In this king-sized candy bar of a Halloween special, Joe is joined by horror icons Rachel Harrison and Ryan La Sala to chat about how the horror space has evolved, what sets YA apart from Adult horror, and why readers are craving fear like never before.   Then, stick around for a double feature of horror recommendations from Amy, Bre, Jananie, and Kayla—plus during the mid-episode break Joe shares a few not-so-scary reads from our friends at Kensington Books.  Whether you’re a longtime horror lover or a scaredy cat in search of your next gateway read, this episode is packed with chills, laughs, and plenty of books to keep you up all night.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/haunted-pages-a-halloween-book-lounge-special-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-4  Guest host recommendations:  Amy Allen Clark  One Yellow Eye - Leigh Radford  The Scald-Crow - Grace Daly  Bre   Cutthroat – Octavia Grant  This Cursed House by Del Sandeen  Flowers of the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn  Jananie K. Velu  An Academy for Liars – Alexis Henderson  Natural Beauty - Ling Ling Huang  Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia  Kayla  I Was a Teenage Slasher – Stephen Graham Jones  When the Wolf Comes Home – Nat Cassidy  Rest Stop – Nat Cassidy  Joe  Bad Dreams in the Night & Let Me in Your Window – Adam Ellis  Haunted – Chuck Palahniuk  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Rachel Harrison – Website  Ryan La Sala - Website  Segment 2:   Amy Allen Clark - Links  Bre – Links  Jananie K. Velu – Links  Kayla – Links   Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:24 Intro  00:02:52 Segment 1 with Rachel Harrison & Ryan La Sala  01:00:36 BREAK – Some not-so-scary Halloween Recs  01:03:15 Segment 2 pt. 1 Horror Recs with Kayla & Jananie  01:38:22 Segment 2 pt. 2 Horror Recs with Amy & Bre  02:21:11 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re going Beyond the Label to explore stories of disability, neurodivergence, and chronic illness — both on and off the page.  In Segment 1, Joe is joined by Marie Myung-Ok Lee, who opens up about her experiences as a mother to a child with disabilities. She reflects on the fears, challenges, and moments of triumph that have shaped her perspective as both a parent and a writer. Marie also shares how her Korean-American identity and personal experiences influence her work and the stories she tells.  Then, in Segment 2, Joe, Cece, and Meara highlight books that feature characters who go beyond the label — stories where differences drive the narrative and reveal the beauty in experiencing the world another way.  ✨ A heartfelt, thoughtful episode celebrating empathy, awareness, and the power of storytelling to expand our understanding of others — and ourselves.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/beyond-the-label-stories-of-disability-awareness-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-3  Guest host recommendations:  Cece's Picks:  On the Edge of Gone – Corinne Duyvis  What Moves the Dead – T. Kingfisher  Meara’s Picks:   Vespertine – Margaret Rogerson  How to Kill Your Family – Bella Mackie  Joe’s Picks:   The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet – Jake Maia Arlow  Never the Wind – Francesco Dimitri  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Marie Myung-Ok Lee - TikTok  Segment 2:   Cece (problemsofabooknerd) - Links  Meara (mearaisreading) - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:23 Intro  00:01:52 Segment 1 with Marie Myung-Ok Lee  01:01:27 Break Libby Holds Update  01:07:22 Segment 2 Book Recs with Cece & Meara  01:38:06 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s back-to-school season, which means new routines, new books, and maybe even a little extra stress for kids (and the adults who love them). To help ease the transition, we’re diving into comfort reads for Middle Grade and YA readers.  In this episode, Joe is joined by the incredible Rex Ogle, author of heartfelt and vulnerable stories for young readers. Rex opens up about his writing process, how books can help kids navigate tough times, the importance of watching for signs of bullying, and what’s next for both him and his alter ego, Rey Terciero.  Then, in segment two, Joe and Meara share their latest Middle Grade and YA favorites—full of witches, hauntings, and just the right amount of spooky fun.  From meaningful conversations to magical book picks, this episode has something for everyone: whether you have kids in your life or you’re a kid at heart.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Link to our full book list:  https://www.libbylife.com/blog/back-to-school-back-to-books-comfort-reads-for-kids-and-their-grown-ups-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-2   Guest host recommendations:  Meara:  The Flicker – H.E. Edgmon  Lovely Dark and Deep – Elisa A. Bonnin  The Witch Boy – Molly Knox Ostertag    Joe:  Making Friends, Volume 1 – Kristen Gudsnuk  The Supernatural Society – Rex Ogle  The Okay Witch – Emma Steinkellner  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Rex Ogle – Website  Segment 2:   Meara (mearaisreading) - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:02:25 Segment 1 – Back to School with Rex Ogle  00:52:54 Break – Check out our Book Lounge Merch!  00:54:38 Segment 2 Middle Grade & YA Recs with Meara  01:31:46 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 2 kicks off with a deep dive into those all-too-familiar reading ruts and writing slumps. In this episode, we explore how to find inspiration again—both on the page and in life.  In Segment 1, join me with Neal Shusterman, New York Times bestselling author of over thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, as he shares his strategies for breaking out of creative ruts and staying inspired in writing and life.  In Segment 2, our fantastic guest host Amy Allen Clark reveals her personal approach to reading ruts: how she navigates them, embraces them, and ultimately finds joy in getting back into the flow of books.  Whether you’re a reader, a writer, or just someone looking to reignite your spark, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a few laughs along the way.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Check out the full book list for our episode here! Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Neal Shusterman – Website | Instagram  Segment 2:   Amy Allen Clark - Links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:02:00 Segment 1 – Conversation with Neal Shusterman on Writing Slumps  00:59:13 Break  01:01:24 Segment 2 with Amy Allen Clark (About Season 1 of Book Lounge)  01:07:07 Segment 2 – Getting Out of Reading Ruts with Amy Allen Clark  01:45:02 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Season 1 of Book Lounge by Libby comes to a close, we’re getting you ready to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with thoughtful conversations featuring Ann Dávila Cardinal, Isabel Cañas, Cleyvis Natera, Isabel Ibañez, and Tamara Yajía. 🌎 Together, they explore how heritage and identity shape their writing and the stories they share with the world.  In Segment 2, Bre, Carmen, and Cece return with their top book recommendations to keep your shelves stacked with incredible Hispanic voices. 📚✨  ✨ Season 2 of Book Lounge by Libby arrives at the end of September!  Want to watch the show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel.  Articles Mentioned and referenced in the Intro & Episode:  https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/hispanic-heritage-month.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAbout%20National%20Hispanic%20Heritage%20Month,and%20Central%20and%20South%20America.  https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/why-fiction-from-latin-america-is-growing-in-popularity  https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/community/blog/posts/the-obscured-roots-of-magical-realism/#:~:text=Magical%20Realism%20is%20a%20genre,those%20that%20were%20not%20literate.  https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/what-is-magical-realism   https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/english/community/blog/posts/the-obscured-roots-of-magical-realism/   https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2022/10/latin-american-literary-traditions-through-time  https://www.fountaindale.org/magical-realism-and-the-latin-american-boom/  https://bookriot.com/new-latino-boom/  https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/features/why-fiction-from-latin-america-is-growing-in-popularity  https://coughtibridge.medium.com/alejo-carpentier-surrealism-and-the-birth-of-magical-realism-ca87f029040c    Guest Host Recommendations:  Bre  The Cemetery Boys - Aiden Thomas  The Spy - Paulo Coelho  Vampires of El Norte - Isabel Cañas  The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina - Zoraida Cordova  Carmen  Saints of the Household - Ari Tison  Children of the Land - Marcelo Hernandez Castillo  Magical/Realism - Vanessa Angelica Villarreal  The Bewitching - Silvia Moreno-Garcia  Cece  The Poet X - Elizabeth Acevedo  Cantoras - Caro de Robertis  Wild Beauty - Anna-Marie McLemore  Fever Dream - Samanta Schweblin   Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:  Ann Dávila Cardinal - Website  Isabel Cañas - Website  Cleyvis Natera - Website  Isabel Ibañez - Website  Tamara Yajía - Instagram  Segment 2:   Bre - Links  Carmen – Links  Cece – Links   Time Stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:16 Intro  00:12:29 Segment 1- Part 1: Ann Dávila Cardinal & Isabel Cañas  00:48:31 Segment 1 – Part 2: Cleyvis Natera, Isabel Ibañez & Tamara Yajía  01:33:18 BREAK – Libby Tip: Creating & Using Tags!  01:39:05 Segment 2 – Book Recs with Bre, Carmen & Cece!  02:32:08 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Romantasy is everywhere right now — and we’re diving deep into the magic, monsters, and swoon-worthy romance fueling its meteoric rise. In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe sits down with three of the biggest names in the genre — Jennifer L. Armentrout, Olivia Rose Darling, and Katee Robert — to talk about how romantasy took over bookshelves, why it resonates with readers, and where it’s headed next.  Then Meara shares romantasy recommendations to load up your TBR.   Plus, in a Libby Life exclusive, our guests play a rapid-fire round of Romantasy Trope: Love It or Hate It — with some delightfully unexpected answers.   Want to watch the show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel.  Articles Mentioned in the Intro & Episode:  https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/what-is-romantasy-anyway   Guest Host Recommendations:  Meara  Metal Slinger - Rachel Schneider  Lore of the Wilds - Analeigh Sbrana  Sorcery of Thorns - Margaret Rogerson  Bring Me Your Midnight - Rachel Griffin   Devils Like Us - L.T. Thompson  Joe   Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon – Ann Mare  Captive Prince – CS Pascat  Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:  Jennifer L. Armentrout - Website  Olivia Rose Darling - Website  Katee Robert - Website  Segment 2:   Meara - Links  Time Stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:16 Intro  00:06:12 Segment 1 – Jennifer L. Armentrout, Olivia Rose Darling & Katee Robert  01:14:47 BREAK – Libby Tip: Early Return Reward!  01:18:04 Segment 2 – Romantasy Recs with Meara  01:49:01 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re joined by celebrated Indigenous authors Angeline Boulley (Firekeeper’s Daughter, Warrior Girl Unearthed) and Carole Lindstrom (We Are Water Protectors, Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior) for a powerful conversation on legacy, language, and literature. Together, we discuss what it means to write from and for their communities, the responsibility of storytelling, and how their work connects generations past, present, and future.  This episode is a celebration of Indigenous identity, survival, and the resilience of story — and an invitation to listen, learn, and uplift.  Plus, Bre and Cece stop by with a few incredible book recs from Indigenous voices you won't want to miss.  📲 Libby Life Exclusive: Head to LibbyLife.com for a bonus moment from the Lounge, where Angeline and Carole share how their ancestors live on through their words.  Want the video episode? Check it out now on the Libby Life YouTube channel! Articles Mentioned in the Intro & Episode:  https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day https://indigenousreadsrising.com/   Guest Host Recommendations:  Bre  Never Whistle at Night - ed. Shane Hawk  The Marrow Thieves - Cherie Dimaline  White Horse - Erika T. Wurth  The Buffalo Hunter Hunter - Stephen Graham Jones   Cece  #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women - ed. Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale  The Break - Katherena Vermette  Sabrina & Corina - Kali Fajardo-Anstine  Ready When You Are - Gary Lonesborough  Joe   Métis Like Me – Tasha Hilderman  My Life: Growing Up Native in America – ed. IllumiNative  Fierce Aunties! - Laurel Goodluck, Ill. Steph Littlebird   Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:  Angeline Boulley - Website  Carole Lindstrom - Website  Segment 2:   Bre - Links  Cece - Links  Time Stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:16 Intro  00:04:51 Segment 1 – Angeline Boulley & Carole Lindstrom  00:58:09 BREAK – Libby Tip: Audiobook Tips & Tricks  01:00:58 Segment 2 – Indigenous Recs with Bre & Cece  01:46:52 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Book bans are rising at an alarming rate—but librarians, authors, and publishers are fighting back. In this powerful episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by librarian and intellectual freedom advocate Amanda Jones, bestselling author Kalynn Bayron (This Poison Heart), veteran librarian and censorship expert Pat R. Scales, and Skip Dye, SVP at Penguin Random House. Together, they dive into the impact of censorship on libraries, communities, and the future of publishing.  Plus, stick around for a banned books spotlight featuring Joe, Bre, and Meara, where they share a few of their must-read titles that have faced bans or challenges.  📚 Let’s talk about what it means to protect the freedom to read.  Want the video version of the show? Visit the Libby App YouTube channel! Articles Mentioned in the Intro & Episode:  What's a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask  Manuscripts Don’t Burn: a Timeline of Literary Censorship, Destruction, and Liberation  American Library Association Names Skip Dye Honorary Member  The Persistent Problem of Colorism: Skin Tone, Status, and Inequality  Under fire from state, Hillsborough’s Ayres pledges to pull more books  Guest Host Recommendations:  Bre  The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison  Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison  Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston  Meara  Pet - Akwaeke Emezi  The Midnight Lie - Marie Rutkoski  Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury  Joe  Flamer – Mike Curato  The Magic Fish – Trung Le Nguyen  All Boys Aren’t Blue - George M. Johnson   Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:  Amanda Jones - Links  Kalynn Bayron - Website  Pat R. Scales - LinkedIn  Skip Dye – Penguin Random House  Segment 2:   Bre - Links  Meara - Links  Time Stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:16 Intro  00:05:54 Segment 1, Part 1: Amanda Jones, Kalynn Bayron, Pat R. Scales  00:50:33 Segment 1, Part 2: Skip Dye  01:17:54 BREAK  01:19:01 Segment 2: Book Recommendations with Bre, Meara & Joe  02:11:38 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we explore the powerful world of graphic novels. In our first segment, Joe is joined by a brilliant panel of creators—mother-daughter duo Hallie Bateman & Suzy Hopkins, Maia Kobabe, and Mattie Lubchansky—to discuss how graphic novels have evolved, the importance of accessibility, the unique creative process behind visual storytelling, and the lasting impact of their work.  Then in segment two, guest hosts Bre, Carmen, and Cece stop by with stellar graphic novel recommendations for your TBR—whether you’re a long-time fan or just getting started.  Articles Mentioned in the Intro:  The rise of the graphic novel: Mainstream and small screen, they're not just for kids anymore  History of Graphic Novels: Ancient Times to 1920  Guest Host Recommendations:  Carmen  Tales from La Vida edited by Frederick Luis Aldama  Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo  Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler  On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder  Cece  Camp Prodigy by Caroline Palmer  On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden  Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (author) & Lisa Sterle (illustrator)  Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu  Bre  Monster by Naoki Urasawa  Bitterroot by Walker, Brown, Greene, Renzi, and Cowles  Earthdivers by Stephen Graham Jones  The Best we Could Do by Thi Bui  Joe  Animorphs vol. 1 – KA Applegate, Michael Grant  Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:  Hallie Bateman - Website  Suzy Hopkins - Instagram  Maia Kobabe - Website  Mattie Lubchansky - Website  Segment 2:  Bre – Links  Carmen – Links  Cece - Links  Time Stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:16 Intro  00:05:52 Segment 1 – Hallie Bateman & Suzy Hopkins, Maia Kobabe & Mattie Lubchansky  00:54:50 BREAK – Check out PlotThreadsShop.com & a Libby Tip – Deep Search!  00:57:55 Segment 2 – Bre, Carmen & Cece  01:43:11 Outro    Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a book the perfect beach read? In this sunny episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by authors Clémence Michallon, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, Megan Miranda, and Sara Hamdan for a lively conversation about the art of crafting a summer page-turner. From thrillers to romances and everything in between, they unpack what “beach read” really means, how they keep readers hooked, and—crucially—their go-to writing snacks.  Then in segment two, Amy, Bre, Cece, Jananie, and Kayla stop by with top-tier book recommendations to toss in your tote bag, whether you're headed to the coast or just catching rays on your lunch break.  Pack your sunscreen and press play!  Check out the video version of this episode on the Libby App YouTube Channel. Article mentioned in the intro: What Makes a Book a Beach Read? Guest Host Recommendations:  Amy Allen Clark   Sister, Sinner by Claire Hoffman (biography)  Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje  Bre  The Oath – TM Richardson   The Wishing Pool – Tananarive Due  Jananie  Never Been Better – Leanne Toshiko Simpson  The Bandit Queens – Parini Shroff  Cece  Cleat Cute – Meryl Wilsner  Guillotine – Delilah S. Dawson  Drowning – TJ Newman  Kayla  Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies - Catherine Mack  Sweethand- N.G. Peltier  A House on the Bottom of the Lake – Josh Mallerman    Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1  Clémence Michallon - Website  Jonathan Parks-Ramage - Website  Megan Miranda - Website  Sara Hamdan - Website  Segment 2  Amy Allen Clark - Links  Bre - Links  Cece - Links  Jananie K. Velu - Links  Kayla - Links  Time Stamps:   00:00:00 Title  00:00:16 Intro  00:08:18 Segment 1 - Clémence Michallon, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, Megan Miranda, Sara Hamdan  00:54:57 BREAK – Check out Plot Threads Shop!  00:56:10 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Amy, Bre and Jananie!  01:30:24 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Cece and Kayla!  01:44:46 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes a summer read unforgettable for kids and teens? In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by authors Jamie Sumner, Kelsey Impicciche, and Julie Soto for a sunny conversation all about Summer Reading Magic.   They explore what defines a great summer book across different age groups, how they tailor their writing to young readers, and the power of stories to inspire, comfort, and reflect today’s youth.   The group also shares nostalgic memories of library reading programs, talks about trends and representation in current kidlit and YA, and offers insight into helping young readers fall in love with books—this summer and beyond.  Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!  Guest Host Recommendations:    Part 1:  Carmen  Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa  A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya  Ballad & Dagger-An Outlaw Saints Novel by Daniel José Older  Cece  To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan & Meg Wolitzer  This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow   Fireborne by Rosaria Munda   Joe  Witchlings – Claribel A. Ortega  Scepter of Memories – Claribel A. Ortega  The 99 Boyfriends of Micah Summers – Adam Sass  Cursed Boys and Broken Hearts – Adam Sass  Surrender Your Sons – Adam Sass  Your Lonely Nights Are Over – Adam Sass  Part 2:  Bre  The Last Dragon on Mars by Scott Reintgen  Hide and Seeker by Daka Harmon  Root Magic by Eden Royce  Meara  The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin  The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron   We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride   Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:  Jamie Sumner - Website  Julie Soto - Website  Kelsey Impicciche - Website  Segment 2:  Bre - Links  Carmen - Links  Cece - Links  Meara - Links  Time Stamps:   00:00:00 Title  00:00:16 Intro  00:05:09 Segment 1 – Jamie Sumner & Kelsey Impicciche   00:55:47 Segment 1 – Julie Soto  01:25:30 BREAK – Libby Tip: Read Alongs, Filters and more!  01:31:01 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Carmen & Cece  02:00:36 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Bre & Meara!  02:43:21 Outro  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Book Lounge, we're handing the mic to the readers behind the recs! Meet our guest hosts who'll be joining us all season long to share their themed picks! To get to know everyone, they'll be answering our version of the New BookTuber Tag - diving into their reading tastes, love of libraries and vibe essentials - so you can get to know the people helping you grow your TBR. Whether you're into horror, romance, fantasy or anything in between, there's a guest you're about to fall in love with! Find our guest hosts online: Amy Allen Clark Bre Carmen Cece Jananie K. Velu Kayla Meara Time Stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:16 Intro 00:01:26 Amy Allen Clark - Mom Advice 00:14:01 Carmen - Tomes and Textiles 00:21:07 Cece - Problems of a Book Nerd 00:26:45 Mid Way Break 00:28:20 Bre - Loc'd Booktician 00:36:18 Kayla - Books and Lala 00:40:59 Meara - Meara is Reading 00:50:05 Jananie K. Velu - This Story Ain't Over 00:54:56 Outro Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Pride 🌈💖! In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re celebrating LGBTQ+ voices and the power of queer storytelling.  In the first half of the show, Joe sits down for heartfelt, honest conversations with authors Andrew Joseph White, Juno Dawson, Susie Dumond, and Emily Austin. Each shares their unique experience as a queer writer—what inspires them, the challenges they face, and the joy of connecting with readers who see themselves in their stories.  Then, our guest hosts Carmen, Cece, Jananie, Kayla, and Meara return to the lounge with a list of incredible Pride Month reads to add to your TBR—this year and every year.  Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!    Time Stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:16 Intro 00:07:56 Juno Dawson & Susie Dumond 00:53:10 Andrew Joseph White 01:27:56 Emily Austin 01:51:19 Midroll Break - Plot Threads 01:52:36 Book Recommendations 02:55:36 Outro Guest Host Recommendations:   Carmen's Picks:  Blackouts - Justin Torres  The Sunbearer Trials - Aiden Thomas  These Vengeful Gods – Gabe Cole Novoa  Bad Girls – Camila Sosa Villada  Cece’s Picks:   Juliet Takes a Breath - Gabby Rivera  Love & Other Disasters - Anita Kelly  Hell Followed With Us – Andrew Joseph White  Jananie’s Picks:  Fundamentally – Nussaibah Younis  The Legend of Meneka – Kritka H. Rao  Marriage of a Thousand Lies – SJ Sindu  Kayla’s Picks:   Felix Ever After- Kacen Callender  Monstrilio- Gerardo Sámano Córdova  It Came from the Closet – ed. Joe Vallese  Meara’s Picks:  This Princess Kills Monsters - Ry Herman  The Space Between Worlds - Micaiah Johnson  That Inevitable Victorian Thing - E.K. Johnston  Joe’s Picks:  Messy Roots – Laura Gao  Bath Haus – PJ Vernon  Hombrecito – Santiago Jose Sanchez  Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:  Part 1:  Juno Dawson - ⁠Instagram⁠  Susie Dumond - ⁠Website⁠  Part 2:  Andrew Joseph White - Website  Part 3:   Emily Austin - Website  Segment 2:   Carmen - @tomesandtextiles Linktree   Cece -  @ceceewing_ Linktree  Jananie K. Velu – @thisstoryaintover Website   Kayla - @booksandlala Linktree   Meara -  @mearaisreading Links  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!    Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the very first episode of Book Lounge by Libby! We’re kicking things off with an ode to audiobooks—the voices, the stories, and the behind-the-scenes magic that makes them so special.  First up, our host Joe chats with thriller author Carter Wilson, narrators Allyson Ryan and Patrick Zeller, and audiobook producers Catherin Bucaria and Almeda Beynon from Sourcebooks Audio to dig into what it really takes to bring a story from the page to your headphones and their work on Carter’s book TELL ME WHAT YOU DID. Then, Jason Reynolds and Dan Zitt join the lounge to talk about the creative process behind Jason’s audio-exclusive project, SOUNDTRACK.  In the second half of the show, guest hosts Carmen, Jananie K. Velu, Kayla, and Meara stop by with some truly excellent audiobook recommendations to keep you listening all year long.  Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!  Time Stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:16 Intro 00:10:48 Carter Wilson, Allyson Ryan, Patrick Zeller & Sourcebooks Audio 00:55:30 Jason Reynolds & Dan Zitt 01:35:28 Midroll Tip - Find Audiobooks By Duration 01:40:15 Audiobook Recommendations 02:21:11 Outro Guest Host Recommendations:   Carmen's Picks:  Oye - Melissa Mogollon   You Dreamed of Empires - Alvaro Enrigue   Jananie’s Picks:  Enter Ghost – Isabella Hammad  If An Egyptian Cannot Speak English – Noor Naga   Kayla’s Picks:   Recitatif- Toni Morrison  The Favorites- Layne Fargo  Meara’s Picks:   Everything is Tuberculosis  – John Green  The Weight of Blood – Tiffany D Jackson   Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts:  Segment 1:   Part 1:   Carter Wilson – Website  Allyson Ryan – Website  Patrick Zeller – Website  Catherine Bucaria & Almeda Beynon, Sourcebooks Audio – Instagram  Part 2:   Jason Reynolds – Website  Dan Zitt, Penguin Random House Audio – Instagram  Segment 2:   Carmen – @tomesandtextiles Linktree  Jananie K. Velu – @thisstoryaintover Website   Kayla – @booksandlala Linktree  Meara - @mearaisreading Links  Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season, or this list for today’s episode!  Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!  We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!   Want to reach out? Send an email to bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices