What started as a search for representation turned into a movement. 

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Dessa Carroll, founder of Brown Babies n' Books, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to creating culturally rooted literacy experiences for families. 

Together, they explore: 

• The inspiration behind launching Brown Babies n’ Books  

• What it takes to build a grassroots community from the ground up  

• Why representation in books matters—for kids and caregivers  

• How storytelling can foster belonging, identity, and connection  

• What’s next for this growing organization  

This is a heartfelt, energizing conversation about the power of books to shape lives. 

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

Connect with Dessa & Brown Babies n’ Books:  

• Brown Babies n’ Books website 

• Brown Babies n’ Books Instagram 

• Dessa Carroll’s Instagram 

Titles mentioned in this episode: 

• Freedom Braids – Monique Duncan 

• Amazing Grace – Mary Hoffman 

• Saturday – Oge Mora 

• The History of We – Nikkolas Smith 

• Soca Baby – Qef Johnson, Ariful Mowla 

• Black. Single. Mother. - Jamilah Lemieux 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 
00:00:23 Intro 
00:01:17 Meet Brown Babies n’ Books 
00:24:43 Some book reflections & recommendations 
00:33:55 Making your own community groups 
00:38:32 Advice for new and existing groups 
00:45:12 Wrapping up & 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 [email protected]. 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

April is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of incredible new reads! 🌸 

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by returning guest (and friend) Emma to talk through the April 2026 book releases they’re most excited to add to their TBR. 

 Together, they explore a wide range of upcoming titles—from highly anticipated bestsellers to under-the-radar gems—perfect for spring reading. 

If you’re looking to refresh your reading list, discover new authors, or stay on top of the latest releases, this episode has you covered. Expect lively conversation, thoughtful picks, and plenty of bookish enthusiasm to inspire your next great read. 

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

Book recommendations: 

Emma’s Titles:  

• Rites of the Starling – Devney Perry  

• The Ending Writes Itself – Evelyn Clarke 

• American Fantasy – Emma Straub  

• Mad Mabel – Sally Hepworth 

• The Paris Match – Kate Clayborn 

• Unbound- Peyton Corine 

• Go Gentle- Maria Semple  

• The Name Game – Beth O’ Leary  

• The Radiant Dark - Alexandra Oliva 

Joe’s Titles: 
To Mention: We Burned So Bright – TJ Klune 

• Bodies of Work – Clay McLeod Chapman 

• The Escape Game – Marissa Meyer, Tamara Moss  

• The Subtle Art of Folding Space – John Chu 

• American Spirits – Anna Dorn 

• The Neverending Book – Naoki Matayoshi 

• Thrall – Rebecca Mahoney 

• Project V – Park Seolyeon 

• The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances – Glenn Dixon 

• Break Room – Miye Lee 

And Joe’s horror round-up:  

• The Caretaker – Marcus Kliewer 

• Molka – Monika Kim 

• Odessa – Gabrielle Sher 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 
00:00:23 Intro 
00:01:15 Catching up with Emma 
00:02:52 April 2026 Book Picks 
01:13:19 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 [email protected]. 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, Joe is joined by a true multi-hyphenate talent—acclaimed audiobook narrator and producer Daniel Henning, whose voice you’ve almost certainly heard bringing stories to life. 

Now, Daniel is stepping into the publishing world with his bold new imprint, Starshells of Madness, dedicated to reviving forgotten, unconventional, and culturally significant works. At the heart of this mission is his first release: Queer People by Carroll and Garrett Graham—a madcap, jazz age satire of Hollywood’s most scandalous eccentrics. 

Joe and Daniel dive into: 

• The origins and vision behind Starshells of Madness 

• The rediscovery of Queer People 

• Why this novel still feels fresh, funny, and subversive today 

• Daniel’s journey from celebrated narrator to publisher 

If you love audiobook storytelling, hidden literary gems, and juicy Old Hollywood drama, this conversation is not to be missed. 

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

Here’s just some of Daniel’s work: 

• Queer People – Carroll and Garrett Graham 

• Better the Devil – Erik J. Brown 

• Bath Haus – PJ Vernon 

• The Body in the Back Garden – Mark Waddell 

• The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune 

• Somewhere Beyond the Sea – TJ Klune 

• In the Lives of Puppets – TJ Klune 

• Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! - TJ Klune 

• The Wig, The Bitch & The Meltdown – Jay Manuel 

Follow Daniel & Starshells of Madness:  

You can find Daniel Henning on Instagram 

Check out the Starshells of Madness website and Starshells of Madness Instagram 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:23 Intro 
00:02:06 Catching up with Daniel Henning 
00:14:46 Starshells of Maddness 
00:21:07 Queer People  
01:06:26 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 of titles voiced by Daniel Henning! 

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 [email protected]. 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

Witchy books have completely cast a spell on readers—and in this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Meara to explore the magic behind the genre. 

From cozy magical stories to darker tales of witchcraft and power, Meara shares how she first fell in love with witchy reads and why the genre keeps pulling readers back for more. Meara shares her hallmarks of a great witchy book: beloved tropes, magical vibes, found family, spellwork, atmospheric settings, and the storytelling elements that make these books so irresistible. 

Along the way, she highlights some of her favorite witchy reads and offer plenty of book recommendations. 

Whether you’re a longtime lover of witchy books or just looking for your next enchanting read, this episode is full of magical inspiration. 

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

Link to our full book list: 

Find all the books mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/meara-s-best-witchy-books-to-read-cozy-magical-must-read-witch-books-book-lounge-by-libby  

Who’s in this episode:  

Find Meara online here! 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 
00:00:22 Intro 
00:01:00 Witchy Q&A with Meara 
00:41:57 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 [email protected]. 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

March is bringing the heat 🔥 

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark of the Book Gang Podcast to talk about the March 2026 book releases they cannot wait to read. 

From buzzy debuts to powerhouse authors returning with new stories, we’re breaking down the titles climbing to the top of our TBR piles. Whether you love literary fiction, thrillers, romance, or genre-bending surprises, this month is stacked. 

Get your Libby tag ready — we’re giving you plenty of reasons to hit “borrow” and build out your holds list. 

Looking for even more ideas? Browse Amy’s curated guides: 

• 2026 Debut Books (43 Incredible Titles) 

• 2026 New Releases (47 Book Ideas From Seasoned Voices) 

Your March reading mood? Officially handled. 

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

Book recommendations: 

Amy’s Picks:  

• The Shock of the Light – Lori Inglis Hall  

• The Beheading Game – Rebecca Lehmann 

• The Fountain – Casey Scieszka  

• Where the Girls Were – Kate Schatz  

• Lady Tremaine – Rachel Hochhauser 

• Under Water – Tara Menon  

• That's What Friends Are For – Wade Rouse  

• The Truth About Ruby Cooper – Liz Nugent  

• The Night We Met – Abby Jimenez  

• Once and Again – Rebecca Serle 

Joe’s Picks:  

• Now I Surrender – Álvaro Engrigue 

• 200 Monas – Jan Saenz 

• The Disappointment – Scott Broker 

• Adult Braces – Lindy West 

• The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts – Kim Fu 

• You With the Sad Eyes – Christina Applegate 

• Strange Girls – Sarvat Hasin 

• Sisters in Yellow – Mieko Kawakami 

• Hooked – Asako Yuzuki 

• Wretch – Eric LaRocca 

Who’s in this episode:  

• Amy Allen Clark – Links 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Check out How to Shoot a Ghost on Kanopy! 
00:01:36 Title 
00:02:00 Intro 
00:02:30 Chatting with Amy Allen Clark 
00:09:12 March 2026 Book Picks 
01:17:47 Closing & 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 [email protected]. 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

On this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, we’re trying something a little different—and we’re very excited about it. Joe is joined by Amy Allen Clark from the Book Gang podcast to dive deep into One’s Company by Ashley Hutson, a book Amy has been completely obsessed with. 

We start with a breakdown of the book (mostly spoiler-free), unpacking what worked, what lingered, and why One’s Company gets under your skin in the best way. Then, at the 25-minute mark we do a quick spoiler breakdown, then we’re joined by Ashley Hutson herself for a spoiler-filled conversation about the book, her inspirations, the emotional core of the story, and what it was like bringing this unsettling, unforgettable novel to life. 

📚 Spoiler warning: The author interview includes spoilers—so read One’s Company first, then come hang out with us. 

If you love this book-club-style episode (or want us to do more like it with different books or formats), we want to hear from you! Email Joe at [email protected] with your thoughts. 

Check out Ashley’s recent publication “Our Whole History” here! 

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

Link to our full book list: 

Find all the books mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/inside-one-s-company-obsession-isolation-and-talking-with-ashley-hutson-book-lounge-by-libby  

Who’s in this episode:  

• Amy Allen Clark – Links  

  Find Book Gang on Patreon 

• Ashley Hutson - Website 

  Check out Ashley’s recent publication “Our Whole History” here! 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:22 Intro 
00:02:13 Talking One’s Company with Amy Allen Clark 
00:25:55 Spoiler breakdown of One’s Company 
00:30:12 Conversation with Ashley Hutson, author of One’s Company 
01:19:55 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 [email protected]. 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

Not everyone grows up a reader—and that’s okay. 

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe talks with his friend Sam about what it’s like when reading finally works for you. They dig into unlearning what reading is “supposed” to look like, finding joy without pressure, and how discovering books later in life can quietly change how you see yourself. 

Along the way, Sam shares how becoming a reader also sparked the beginning of her journey as a writer. This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt outside of reading culture—and is finding their way in. 

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

Who’s in this episode:  

• Find Sam’s Bookstagram @worldwakerreads  

• Check out @lizabethanneauthor 

• Check out Forget Me Not 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:23 Intro 

00:01:10 Becoming a Reader 

00:46:46 Becoming an Author 

01:06:03 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 [email protected]. 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

New month, new books, and a very full TBR. 📖✨ 

In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Meara to dive into the most exciting books releasing in February 2026. From buzzy new novels to under-the-radar gems, we’re breaking down what’s catching our attention, what we’re most hyped to read, and which releases are moving straight to the top of our TBRs. 

If you love tracking upcoming book releases, planning your reading life, or just want to know what February’s literary lineup has in store, consider this your official February 2026 Book Release Radar. 

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

Book recommendations: 

Meara’s Picks: 

• A Little Buzzed – Alys Murray 

• The Sun and the Starmaker – Rachel Griffin 

• Greedy - Callie Kazumi 

• Books & Bewitchment - Isla Jewell 

• How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates - Shailee Thompson 

• Cruelty Free - Caroline Glenn 

• For Human Use - Sarah G Pierce   

• Weavingshaw – Heba Al-Wasity  

• The Hospital at the End of the World - Justin C. Key 

• The Forest on the Edge of Time – Jasmin Kirkbride  

• The Red Winter - Cameron Sullivan  

Joe’s Picks: 

• Operation Bounce House – Matt Dinniman 

• Heap Earth Upon It – Chloe Michelle Howarth  

• Murder Bimbo – Rebecca Novack 

• Superfan – Jenny Tinghui Zhang 

• She Made Herself a Monster – Anna Kovatcheva 

• I am the Ghost Here – Kim Samek 

• Good People – Patmeena Sabit  

• The Jills – Karen Parkman  

• Dollface – Lindy Ryan 

• Language as Liberation – Toni Morrison 

 Who’s in this episode:  

• Meara - Links 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:22 Intro 

00:01:02 Catching up with Meara 

00:05:38 February 2026 Book Picks 

01:08:35 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 [email protected]. 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

Winter is a vibe—and so is the way we read during it. 

In this episode, Joe is joined by Cece and Meara to talk all things winter reading vibes, from how mood reading works for us to whether TBRs ever stand a chance. We get honest about DNFing books (when we quit, why we quit, and how we make peace with it) and then wrap things up with book recommendations that feel just right for the colder months—think cozy, atmospheric, emotional, and immersive reads. 

If your winter reading life looks nothing like your reading goals… you’re in good company. 

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

Book recommendations: 

Cece’s Picks: 

• The Boys in the Valley – Philip Fracassi 

• Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear (Wayward Children series – Book 1 Every Heart a Doorway) – Seanan McGuire 

• The Forgotten Girl – India Hill Brown 

• Echo After Echo – A.R. Capetta 

 Meara’s Picks: 

• The Hush – Sara Foster 

• These Immortal Truths - R. Raeta 

• These Godly Lies – R. Raeta 

• Cold - Drew Hayden Taylor 

• One Dark Window - Rachel Gillig 

 Joe’s Picks:  

• Strange Pictures - Uketsu 

• Strange Houses - Uketsu  

• Bad Dolls – Rachel Harrison  

• The Writing Retreat – Julia Bartz  

• Breathe In, Bleed Out – Brian McAuley  

• The Staircase in the Woods – Chuck Wendig  

• Idle Grounds - Krystelle Bamford  

• Old Country by Matt & Harrison Query 

• The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson  

• Bochica – Carolina Florez-Cerchiaro  

• Play Nice – Rachel Harrison  

• The Apartment Across the Hall – Jack Dane  

• The Most – Jessica Anthony  

• The Three of Us – Ore Agbaje-Williams 

 Who’s in this episode:  

• Cece – Links 

• Meara - Links 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:23 Intro 

00:01:13 Diving into winter vibes & mood reading with Cece & Meara! 

00:16:05 Meara’s tracker spreadsheet & fixing a reading slump 

00:20:33 Do TBRs exist anymore?  

00:35:10 How do your reading habits change with the season? 

00:38:41 DNF’ing books 

00:48:41 Some recommended reads for the vibe 

01:05:03 Wrap 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. 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 [email protected]. 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

New year, new books, and SO many reasons to freak out (in the best way). 

In this bonus episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu and Meara to kick off 2026 with a full-on Book Release Radar—highlighting the upcoming titles they’re most excited to read this year. 

From buzzy new releases to books that already feel like future favorites, they're sharing what’s climbing to the very top of the TBRs and why 2026 is shaping up to be an exceptional year for readers. Consider this your official permission slip to start planning your holds early. 

Season 3 is coming in April but make sure you’re following us so you don’t miss out on our monthly episodes while you wait! 

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

Book recommendations: 

Jananie’s Picks:  

• A Kiss of Crimson Ash – Anuja Varghese  

• We Dance Upon Demons – Vaishnavi Patel  

• TRAD WIFE – Saratoga Schaefer 

• The Rise of the Celestials – Kritika H. Rao 

• Read Between the Lies – Jesse Q. Sutanto 

• Aicha – Soraya Bouazzaoui  

• Burn the Sea – Mona Tewari  

• Seasons of Glass and Iron – Amal El-Mohtar  

 Meara’s Picks:  

• A Vow in Vengeance - Jaclyn Rodriguez 

• Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke 

• She Haunts Me Still - De Elizabeth  

• Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It – Brooke Averick  

• The Wretched Divine – Adalyn Grace 

• Clara & the Devil – Olivie Blake & Little Chmura  

• Dead Beat - Leigh Bardugo 

• Light Wielder - Rachel Schneider 

• Victorious – VE Schwab 

 Joe’s Picks:  

• Nothing Tastes as Good – Luke Dumas 

• Japanese Gothic – Kylie Lee Baker 

• We Burned so Bright – TJ Klune 

• Spoiled Milk – Avery Curran  

• Plastic, Prism, Void – Violet Allen 

• Fruitcake – Rex Ogle 

• Missing in Soho – Holly Stars 

• Lights! Camera! Frendo! - Adam Cesare 

 Who's in this episode:  

• Jananie K. Velu – Links 

• Meara - Links 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:23 Intro 

00:01:55 Gettin’ chatty with Jananie & Meara 

00:03:14 Relationships with book releases 

00:07:54 2026 Book Release Radar 

01:04:59 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. 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 [email protected]. 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 we head into the holiday season, we’re already looking ahead—because nothing pairs better with cocoa and cozy time off than planning your next year’s TBR 🎄📚 

For our January 2026 Book Picks (and the final Book Lounge episode of 2025!), I'm joined by Madison to break down the new releases we cannot wait to snag in the new year. These are the books we’re placing holds and adding to notify me tags in Libby, lining up for holds, and mentally reading before the wrapping paper’s even recycled ✨ 

This episode is equal parts holiday sendoff and new year reading hype. We’re taking a short break, soaking up the season, and coming back in January 2026 with all-new episodes. 

🎁 One last thing before the year ends! 
Help shape the future of Book Lounge by completing our listener survey by January 5: 
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8564187/2025-Book-Lounge-Listener-Survey 

Happy holidays, happy reading, and may your holds come in early. ✨📖 

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

Titles mentioned in this episode: 

Madison’s picks: 

• Graceless Heart – Isabel Ibañez 

• The Midnight Carousel – Fiza Saeed McLynn 

• Silver & Blood – Jessie Mihalik 

• The Elsewhere Express – Samantha Sotto Yambao 

• Women of a Promiscuous Nature – Donna Everhart 

• Dragon Cursed – Elise Kova 

• When Trees Testify – Beronda L. Montgomery 

Joe’s picks:  

• Half His Age – Jennette McCurdy 

• Is This a Cry for Help? - Emily Austin 

• How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder – Nina McConigley 

• Meet the Newmans – Jennifer Niven 

• Fustuk – Robert Mgrdich Apelian 

• Gaslit – Megan Davidhizar 

• Better the Devil – Erik J. Brown 

Check out Madison’s Bookstagram 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:01:07 Intro 

00:07:33 January 2026 Book Picks with Madison!’ 

01:17:11 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!  

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