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!  

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

We're wrapping up 2025 with a big, bookish bow! In this year-end celebration, Joe is joined by Carmen, Cece, Jananie K. Velu, Kayla, and Meara as everyone brings two of their favorite reads of the entire year. From unforgettable characters to gasp-worthy plots, these are the books that rose straight to the top of our 2025 lists.  

Whether you're building your 2026 TBR or reliving your favorite reads of the year, settle in — this is the coziest way to close out the season. 

✨ Don’t forget to take our podcast survey! 

Running now through January 5. We want to hear from you! 

Survey link: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8564187/2025-Book-Lounge-Listener-Survey  

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

Guest host recommendations: 

Carmen 

• Poppy State: A Labyrinth of Plants and a Story of Beginnings - Myriam Gurba 

• The Possession of Alba Diaz - Isabel Canas 

Cece 

• Listen to Your Sister – Neena Viel 

• The Luis Ortega Survival Club – Sonora Reyes 

Jananie 

• Dust Settles North – Deena ElGenaidi 

• Immaculate Conception – Ling Ling Huang 

Kayla 

• Julie Chan is Dead- Liann Zhang 

• The Compound- Aisling Rawle 

Meara 

• Girl Dinner – Olivie Blake 

• Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng - Kylie Lee Baker 

Joe  

• When the Wolf Comes Home – Nat Cassidy  

• Victorian Psycho – Virginia Feito 

• Hungerstone – Kat Dunn 

 Follow the guests & guest hosts:  

• Carmen – link 

• Cece - link 

• Jananie K. Velu – link 

• Kayla - link 

• Meara – link  

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:01:07 Intro 

00:03:54 Best Reads of 2025 

00:03:22 The Summer Book on KANOPY 

00:31:52 Best Reads of 2025 

01:03:01 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 [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

Season 2 is wrapping up with a bow! In this festive finale of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe gathers holiday-lit icons Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso, and Matthew Norman for a lively conversation about writing wintery stories across genres—from heartfelt romance to twisty mystery to big-hearted contemporary fiction. 

Then in Segment 2, our guest hosts slide down the chimney with their best holiday reading recommendations to keep your TBR merry and bright. 

Pour a mug of something warm, cozy up under your favorite blanket, and celebrate the end of another incredible season with us. And don’t forget—more great content is coming your way in the new year, so make sure you're subscribed! 

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 by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/festive-fiction-talking-holiday-reads-for-cozy-winter-nights-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-10  

Guest host recommendations: 

Cece 

• Make My Wish Come True - Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick  

• Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology - ed. Ellen Datlow 

Jananie 

• A Little Holiday Fling – Farah Heron 

• The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year – Ally Carter 

Meara 

• The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Cynthia Hand  

• The Christmas Murder Game - Alexandra Benedict 

Joe 

• You Better Watch Out – James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth 

• Season of Love – Helena Greer 

Follow the guests & guest hosts:  

Segment 1: 

• Alexandra Benedict – Instagram   

• Jenny Bayliss - Instagram 

• Maisha Oso - Website 

• Matthew Norman – Website 

Segment 2:  

• Cece - link 

• Jananie K. Velu – link 

• Meara - link 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:22 Intro 

00:01:53 Writing for the Season with Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso & Matthew Norman! 

01:01:29 BREAK – Some holiday reads from Kensington Books 

01:04:22 Holiday Reads with Cece, Jananie & Meara! 

01:41:22 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

Buckle up, book lovers — we’re going full Hollywood this week in an extended edition of Book Lounge! Joe kicks things off with the iconic Louis Sachar, who spills delightful behind-the-scenes tea about writing the Holes screenplay, hanging out on set, and the surreal experience of getting residual checks for his cameo.  

Then Danielle Valentine pops in to chat about Delicate Condition and its evolution into American Horror Story: Delicate.  

For the grand finale, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu and Meara for a joyfully nerdy celebration of book-to-screen adaptations. 

It’s big. It’s bookish. It’s cinematic. And it’s a blast. 

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 by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/page-to-screen-magic-authors-on-adaptations-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-9 

Guest host recommendations: 

Jananie 

• Howl’s Moving Castle - Dianna Wynne Jones 

• The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson 

• Frankenstein – Mary Shelley 

Meara 

• It’s Kind of a Funny Story – Ned Vizzini  

• Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion 

• The Long Walk - Stephen King as Richard Bachman 

Joe 

• Mommie Dearest – Christina Crawford & With Love, Mommie Dearest - A. Ashley Hoff 

• Watch Mommie Dearest on Kanopy 

• Into the Wild – Jon Krakauer 

• Watch Into the Wild on Kanopy 

Follow the guests & guest hosts:  

Segment 1: 

• Louis Sachar - website 

• Danielle Valentine – website 

Segment 2:  

• Jananie K. Velu – Links 

• Meara - Links 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:01:06 Intro 

00:02:47 Louis Sachar on HOLES 

00:42:47 Break! 

00:44:11 Danielle Valentine on DELICATE CONDITION & AHS: DELICATE 

01:33:15 Page to Screen Recs with Jananie K. Velu & Meara! 

02:28:17 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

Comedian, writer, and foodie extraordinaire Mamrie Hart joins Joe in the Book Lounge to talk about her new cookbook All I Think About Is Food, her must-haves for holiday hosting, and why laughter really is the secret ingredient.

Then, Carmen, Kevin Norman, and Meara pull up a chair to share the books they’re most thankful for this holiday season. A feast of laughs, stories, and reads you’ll want seconds of! 🦃📚 

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 by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/food-for-thought-holiday-feasts-mamrie-hart-and-the-books-we-re-thankful-for-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-8  

Follow the guests & guest hosts:  

Segment 1: 

• Mamrie Hart - Instagram , podcast: This Might Get Weird 

Segment 2:  

• Carmen - link 

• Kevin T. Norman – link 

• Meara - link 

Guest host recommendations: 

Carmen 

• Charlotte’s Web - E. B. White 

• Signal to Noise - Silvia Moreno-Garcia  

Kevin 

• Inferno’s Heir - Tiffany Wang 

• Black Salt Queen – Samantha Bansil 

Meara 

• Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Caitlin Doughty 

• UnWind - Neal Shusterman 

Joe  

• Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse - Kevin Henkes 

• The Bad Beginning - Lemony Snicket 

• Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging - Louise Rennison 

• You – Caroline Kepnes 

• Sailor Moon volume 1 – Naoko Takeuchi 

• Cardcaptor Sakura volume 1 - CLAMP 

• Tsubasa volume 1 - CLAMP 

• Holic volume 1 - CLAMP 

• I Think Our Son Is Gay volume 1 - Okura  

• The House in the Cerulean Sea – TJ Klune 

• Witchlings - Claribel A. Ortega 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:22 Intro 

00:01:20 Segment 1 with Mamrie Hart! 

00:53:54 BREAK – check out these cozy Fall Reads from Kensington Books 

00:56:08 Segment 2 with Carmen, Kevin Norman & Meara! 

01:42:06 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 [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

It’s time to go beyond the stars! In this episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Alex Segura, Daniel H. Wilson, and Ken Liu for a cosmic conversation on the ever-evolving world of science fiction. They dive into the genre’s growth, the art of writing in shared universes, and their own galaxy-sized reading recs. Then, Cece and Meara join for segment two with stellar sci-fi book recommendations to add to your TBR. 

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/science-fiction-double-feature-exploring-new-worlds-through-books-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-7  

Guest host recommendations: 

Cece 

• The Seep - Chana Porter 

• Salvation Day - Kali Wallace 

Meara 

• The End of Men - Christina Sweeney-Baird 

• Annie Bot - Sierra Greer 

Joe  

• August Kitko and the Mechas from Space – Alex White  

• The Bones Beneath My Skin – TJ Klune 

Follow the guests & guest hosts:  

Segment 1: 

• Alex Segura - website 

• Daniel H. Wilson - website 

• Ken Liu - website 

Segment 2:  

• Cece – links 

• Meara - links  

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:23 Intro 

00:01:23 Segment 1 with Alex Segura, Daniel H. Wilson & Ken Liu 

00:52:53 Break 

00:53:51 Segment 2 – Sci-Fi Recs with Cece & Meara! 

01:29:12 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

This episode is our ode to the library—the beating heart of every book lover’s story. In segment one, Joe is joined by authors (and librarians, both current and former!) Terah Shelton Harris, Eva Jurczyk, PJ Nelson, and Jenn McKinlay to talk about how their time in libraries shaped their writing and storytelling. 

Then, in segment two, Joe and our guest hosts share book recommendations by librarians, about librarians, and featuring that unmistakable library charm. 

Whether you’re a lifelong cardholder or just love the scent of a good book, this episode is for you. 

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/library-love-letters-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-6  

Guest host recommendations: 

Amy 

• The Lions of Fifth Avenue - Fiona Davis 

• The Reading List - Sarah Nisha Adams 

Carmen 

• The Next Best Fling - Gabriella Gamez 

• That Librarian - Amanda Jones 

Cece 

• Gay the Pray Away - Natalie Naudus 

• 84 Charing Cross Road - Helene Hanff 

Meara  

• If the Shoe Fits - Julie Murphy 

• The Archived - Victoria Schwab 

Follow the guests & guest hosts:  

Segment 1: 

• Eva Jurczyk - website 

• Jenn McKinlay - website 

• Phillip DePoy (PJ Nelson) - website 

• Terah Shelton Harris - website 

Segment 2:  

• Amy Allen Clark – links 

• Carmen – links 

• Cece – links 

• Meara - links 

Articles mentioned in this episode: 

https://www.libbylife.com/blog/2025-03-06-search-like-a-pro-expert-tips-for-finding-your-next-read-in-the-libby-app  

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:22 Intro 

00:02:10 Segment 1 with Eva Jurczyk, Jenn McKinlay, PJ Nelson & Terah Shelton Harris! 

01:02:27 Libby Tip: Search like a Pro! 

01:07:52 Segment 2 with Amy, Carmen, Cece & Meara! 

01:58:05 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

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 [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

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 [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, 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 [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

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 [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