Book Lounge by Libby

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book recommendations:

We – Yevgeny Zamyatin

West with Giraffes – Lynda Rutledge

The Unfortunates – JK Chukwu

Checked Out – Katie Fricas

Who’s in this episode:

Meara - Links

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

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

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

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sometimes I Scare Myself is out September 22, 2026.

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

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

Who’s in this episode:

Jeneva Rose – links

Books by Jeneva:

Sometimes I Scare Myself (out September 22, 2026)

The Perfect Marriage

The Perfect Divorce

One of Us is Dead

You Shouldn’t Have Come Here

#CrimeTime

Home is Where the Bodies Are

The Girl I Was

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

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

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

Looking for Book Lounge merch? Visit Plot Threads.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book recommendations:

Night and Day – Virginia Woolf (ebook)

Night and Day – Virginia Woolf (audiobook)

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

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

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!
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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