Book Lounge by Libby

Book Lounge by Libby
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Book Lounge by Libby is your cozy reading corner of the internet. Hosted by Joe Skelley, each episode invites you into candid and thoughtful conversations about books, writing, publishing and the trends shaping what we read (plus reading recommendations you won't want to miss).  Brought to you by ⁠Libby⁠, the library app.  Find more at: https://pages.libbylife.com/BL-Links  Book Lounge airs year-round, with two 10-week seasons each year, featuring publishing conversations on Mondays and paired book recommendations on Thursdays- plus monthly Book Release Radar episodes. We release 1–3 episodes per month between seasons.  Reach out to us at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Happy Reading!

  1. 19h ago ·  Bonus

    Reimagining Virginia Woolf: Adapting Night & Day with Justine Waddell

    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 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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Reimagining Virginia Woolf: Adapting Night & Day with Justine Waddell

  2. 19h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing EILEEN GU: “The Ground Was Cracking Beneath Me.” from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Jay sits down with Eileen Gu, the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, to go behind the resume and into the mindset that built it all. Eileen opens up about the grandmother and mother who shaped her, why direction matters more than raw effort, her “evidence over affirmation” approach to fearless competition, and the devastating personal loss she carried in the very same hour as her Olympic gold medal win. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty PURPOSE10 for 10% at altrarunning.com⁠/onpurpose. Free Shipping and Free 30-Day Trial. Mazda crafts cars for people who do more than simply move. Visit Mazdausa.com to learn more. Consumer reports does not endorse products or services. JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 01:25 Who Are You Beyond Your Achievements? 03:12 The Childhood Curiosity That Shaped Everything 05:52 What Her Childhood Journals Reveal Now 09:20 Rethinking Masculinity, Femininity & Fashion 11:30 The Weekend Trips That Built an Olympian 14:37 The Two Women Who Shaped Who She Became 17:38 Even Olympians Can Feel “Behind” In Their 20s 19:37 Hard Work Vs. Direction And Momentum 22:38 Finding Direction Amid Unlimited Opportunities 26:29 Learning As A Superpower 31:22 Train Like You’ve Never Won 36:06 Seperating Your Identity From Your Craft 41:34 Evidence Over Affirmation 43:34 The Physics And 4D Visualization of Freeskiing 49:42 Inside the Milan Olympics 55:13 Highest Highs And Lowest Lows 01:00:02 Eileen Gu On Final Five Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. Aug 27 ·  Bonus

    September 2026 Book Releases We Can’t Wait to Read

    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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

    September 2026 Book Releases We Can’t Wait to Read

  4. Aug 13 ·  Bonus

    We Read the Wildest Reviews of Books We Love

    What happens when you take the Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet approach to books? Absolute chaos.  Joe is joined by Meara to dig through reviews of books they love and discover what happens when readers have opinions. From hilarious hot takes to reviews that make absolutely no sense, this episode is full of laughs, nonsense and some truly unforgettable book commentary.  Want us to do this again? Tell us what books we should hunt for or send us random reviews to react to!  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Meara – link  Check out Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet here: https://www.beachtoosandy.com/  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:02:22 What’s your relationship with book reviews?  00:06:00 How do you write your reviews?  00:09:50 A conversation about negative reviews 00:13:50 We dive into reading reviews! 01:30:03 Wrapping up 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 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.  Happy Reading! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    We Read the Wildest Reviews of Books We Love

  5. Jul 30 ·  Bonus

    August 2026 Book Releases We're Adding to Our TBRs

    August 2026 books are here, and Joe is joined by Bre (@locd_booktician_) to share the new releases they're most excited to add to their TBRs. Covering everything from horror, thrillers, romance, fantasy, literary fiction, and beyond, they're highlighting some of the month's biggest releases alongside a few books that deserve more attention.  As always, the recommendations are only part of the fun. Expect plenty of laughs, bookish tangents, and chaotic energy as Joe and Bre count down the August titles they can't stop thinking about.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book Recommendations  Bre’s Picks:  Clean Slate – Brianna Labuskes  Ghost in the Night – Tiffany D. Jackson  Murder at University Park – Cheryl Miller Dellasega  Death Card – Jasmine Smith   The Secrets We Hide – Karin Slaughter   Stay Buried – Jennifer McMahon  The Butcher Legacy – Alaina Urquhart   Bound by Fury – Noelle Monet  These Walls Remember – Del Sandeen   Joe’s Picks:   Barbie: Dreamscape – Alex Aster  Queens of the Crypt, Vol 1 – Dom & Ink  Devil Inside – Clay McLeod Chapman  Survival Show – Juno Dawson  My Killer Family Reunion – Dinesh Thiru  (Mostly) Human Resources – Grace Viall  Killing Sadie – Rachel Peterson   Summer Coven – Kat Killis, Rosiee Thor  Who’s in this episode:   Bre - Links  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:11 Welcome and catchup with Bre! 00:13:27 August 2026 Book Picks 01:38:28 Thanks and 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

    August 2026 Book Releases We're Adding to Our TBRs

  6. Jul 16 ·  Bonus

    Plot Twists & Playlists: Audiobooks, Romance Reads & 2026 Book Talk with Destinee

    What's better than talking about great books? Talking about all the great books.  This week, Joe is joined by romance novel matchmaker, bookseller, and creator Destinee for a delightfully bookish conversation that bounces around bookish things everyone can't stop talking about.  Grab your headphones, your library card, and maybe a notebook—you'll definitely leave with a longer TBR.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Who’s in this episode:   Destinee - links  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Welcome and Introductions 00:01:52 A chatty episode with Destinee 01:03:55 Wrapping up and 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.   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

    Plot Twists & Playlists: Audiobooks, Romance Reads & 2026 Book Talk with Destinee

  7. Jul 9 ·  Bonus

    Summerween 2026: The Best Horror Books to Kick Off Spooky Season Early

    Summer is heating up... so naturally it's time for ghosts, monsters, haunted camps, cursed lakes, and things that go bump in the night.  Joe is joined by Bre to celebrate Summerween 2026, the growing tradition of bringing spooky season into the middle of summer. Whether horror readers are looking for gothic classics, unsettling literary horror, creepy middle grade adventures, camp slashers, psychological thrillers, or terrifying short story collections, this episode is packed with recommendations to fill every Summerween TBR.  From vampires and haunted campgrounds to folk horror, cosmic dread, ghost stories, and nostalgic Halloween favorites, this conversation explores horror across every age and subgenre. Along the way, Bre also shares details about her July Noir 2026 reading weekend and Discord community for readers looking to celebrate all month long.  Whether Summerween is already an annual tradition, or this is the first spooky-season celebration in July, this episode is full of horror book recommendations perfect for every kind of reader.  Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Links:  Bre’s links  July Noir 2026 Announcement  July Noir Discord  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/locd_booktician_/   Titles mentioned:  Bre’s Picks:  Carmilla – Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu  Dead First – Johnny Compton  On Sundays She Picked Flowers – Yah Yah Scholfield  Gyo – Junji Ito  You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight – Kalynn Bayron  The Jumbies & Rise of the Jumbies – Tracey Baptiste  Why I Love Horror – ed. Becky Siegel Spratford  Joe’s Picks:   How to Survive Camping Series (Book 1: How to Survive Camping) - Bonnie Quinn   The Lady in Chains  The Ancient Things (September 2026)  The Unmothers – Leslie J. Anderson  The Bog Wife – Kay Chronister   Smothermoss – Alisa Alering  Don’t Turn Out the Lights – ed. Jonathan Maberry  Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark – Alvin Schwartz  Our Shadows Have Claws – ed. Yamile Saied Méndez, Amparo Ortiz  The Lake House – Sarah Beth Durst  Tastes Like Candy – Jessica Lacy   Camp Scare – Delilah S. Dawson  Summer’s Never Over – Darby Bozeman   A Murder Most Camp – Nicolas DiDomizio  13 Months Haunted – Jimmy Juliano  Chasing the Boogeyman – Richard Chizmar  80s Ghosts – VS Lawrence  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro & Seasonal Update 00:01:40 Thoughts on Summerween 00:07:24 Our Summerween 2026 picks! 01:28:46 Thank you to Bre and 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

    Summerween 2026: The Best Horror Books to Kick Off Spooky Season Early

  8. Jul 2 ·  Bonus

    How President Lincoln Would Celebrate America 250 (and the books he'd read)

    As the United States prepares to commemorate America 250, how can we celebrate the nation's history while also making room for reflection, honesty, and meaningful conversation?  This week on Book Lounge by Libby, Cameron Walpole, Associate Director of Interpretation and Public Programs, and Callie Hawkins, Executive Director of President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, DC, join the show to explore how their organization is approaching America's 250th anniversary with thoughtfulness, curiosity, and a commitment to telling a fuller story of our shared history.  The conversation dives into Abraham Lincoln's enduring legacy, why President Lincoln's Cottage remains such an important place today, and how books help us better understand both the past and the present. Then, for a fun twist, Cameron and Callie recommend books they think President Lincoln would have loved reading if he were browsing a library today.  Whether you're a history enthusiast, a Lincoln admirer, or simply looking for thought-provoking nonfiction and historical fiction recommendations, this episode offers fresh perspectives on American history, civic engagement, and the power of reading.  For more info, check out: https://www.lincolncottage.org/   Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel!  Book recommendations:  Cameron’s Titles:   Differ We Must – Steve Inskeep   Macbeth – William Shakespeare   Wonder – R.J. Palacio  Callie’s Titles:  Joyful Anyway – Kate Bowler  You Better Be Lightning – Andrea Gibson  James – Percival Everett  Everywhere Still – MH Clark  Joe’s Titles:   Feeding Ghosts – Tessa Hulls   A Manual for Cleaning Women – Lucia Berlin   Separation of Church and Hate – John Fugelsang  Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Welcome and introductions 00:02:23 What is President Lincoln’s Cottage?  00:22:56 Our recommended reads 00:51:08 Final Thoughts and 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.  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

    How President Lincoln Would Celebrate America 250 (and the books he'd read)
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About

Book Lounge by Libby is your cozy reading corner of the internet. Hosted by Joe Skelley, each episode invites you into candid and thoughtful conversations about books, writing, publishing and the trends shaping what we read (plus reading recommendations you won't want to miss).  Brought to you by ⁠Libby⁠, the library app.  Find more at: https://pages.libbylife.com/BL-Links  Book Lounge airs year-round, with two 10-week seasons each year, featuring publishing conversations on Mondays and paired book recommendations on Thursdays- plus monthly Book Release Radar episodes. We release 1–3 episodes per month between seasons.  Reach out to us at bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. Happy Reading!

Information

  • Creator
    Book Lounge by Libby
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    952
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved 2026
  • Show Website
    Book Lounge by Libby

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