Book Lounge by Libby

What should you read this Pride Month? 

In this Pride Month episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by Jananie K. Velu to share book recommendations that celebrate queer stories, queer joy, and the many ways LGBTQIA+ people find connection, community, and hope. 

As they discuss the books they're recommending this June, the conversation expands beyond reading lists to explore what it means to live Pride every day of the year. Together, Joe and Jananie reflect on the importance of making space for joy, remembrance, rest, and reflection, and how books can help us better understand ourselves and each other. 

Whether you're looking to discover new LGBTQIA+ authors, add more queer stories to your TBR, or simply find your next great read, this episode offers thoughtful recommendations and meaningful conversation about the power of reading during Pride Month and beyond. 

From stories that celebrate queer futures to books that honor the past, this is a conversation about reading, identity, community, and the many ways Pride can live on long after June ends. 

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 Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026! 

Book recommendations: 

Jananie’s Picks: 


Comedic Timing – Upasna Barath 


Tall Water – SJ Sindu 


Meeting Millie – Clare Ashton 


Honey Girl – Morgan Roges 


Perfume and Pain – Anna Dorn 


Fundamentally – Nussaibah Younis 


Big Swiss – Jen Beagin 


Local Heavens – K. M. Fajardo 


Devil of the Deep – Falencia Jean Francois 


House of Hunger - Alexis Henderson 

Joe’s Picks: 


Stag Dance & Detransition Baby – Torrey Peters 


Tell Me I’m Worthless – Alison Rumfitt 


Northranger – Rey Terciero 


Jackson Alone – Jose Ando 


Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous – Autumn K. England 


We Burned So Bright – TJ Klune 


Patricia Wants to Cuddle – Samantha Allen 


You Weren’t Meant to Be Human – Andrew Joseph White 

Who’s in this episode:  

Jananie K. Velu – Links  

Glad Day Lit, Toronto - website 

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:54 Welcome to Jananie K. Velu 00:01:26 What are your pride practices?  00:07:50 Our Pride Reading Recommendations 01:00:10 Thanks to Jananie 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

Pride Month is a celebration, but it's also a reminder of the journeys so many LGBTQ+ people take to find acceptance, belonging, and hope. 

In this special Pride Month episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by authors Kody Keplinger, Ryan Collett, and TJ Alexander for honest, heartfelt conversations about identity, community and the power of seeing yourself reflected in stories. 

In the first half of the episode, Kody Keplinger and Ryan Collett discuss the isolation and shame that many queer people experience, the importance of finding your people and how books can help readers feel less alone. Together, they explore the transformative power of connection, representation, and hope. 

In the second half, TJ Alexander joins Joe for a conversation about queer joy, love stories, and the importance of imagining futures where LGBTQIA+ people aren't simply surviving, they're thriving. From romance and community to the possibilities of a more inclusive world, this discussion celebrates the beauty and power of queer storytelling. 

This episode is a reminder that none of us are meant to navigate life alone. 

Book Lounge by Libby is a podcast for readers, book lovers, and anyone searching for their next great read. 

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 Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026) and June – October 2026! 

Who’s in this episode:  

Segment 1: 


Kody Keplinger – Website, WHERE LOST GIRLS GO 


Ryan Collett – Website, GEORGE FALLS THROUGH TIME 

Segment 2:  


TJ Alexander – Website, A LADY FOR ALL SEASONS 

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:41 Segment 1 with Kody Keplinger and Ryan Collett 00:45:06 Segment 2 with TJ Alexander 01:28:04 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

June is STACKED with incredible new releases, and this month’s Book Picks episode is here to help you build your summer TBR. Joe is joined by Kieran, founder of the Queer Liberation Library, to talk about the most exciting June 2026 book releases across genres — from buzzy literary fiction and swoony romances to twisty thrillers, queer stories, fantasy adventures, and everything in between. 

Along the way, Kieran also shares more about the mission behind the Queer Liberation Library, a digital library working to increase access to LGBTQIA+ books for readers across the United States. If you’re looking for more queer stories to add to your reading life, it’s an incredible resource worth exploring. 

Whether you’re planning beach reads, book club picks, or simply trying to stay ahead of the biggest releases of the month, this episode is packed with recommendations to keep your TBR thriving all summer long. 

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

Who’s in this episode:  

Check out the Queer Liberation Library (website)! You can show your support with a donation here (donation link) or just by supporting them on social media (Instagram). 

Link to our full book list: Find all the books mentioned in Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)! 

Book recommendations: 

Kieran’s Picks:  


Honorable Mention: The Fake Divination Offense – Sara Raasch 


Puck – Samantha Allen 


25 Days in Athens – Jack Strange 


Supergay! - Frankie Grande 


Double Dutch Fuss – Phill Branch 


Red X – David Demchuk  


Tillinghast – Clare Cavenagh 


Grief Eater – Emma Osborne  

 Joe’s Picks:  


Slasher Summer – E.L. Chen 


Mister Magic: The Graphic Novel – Kiersten White, Illustrated by Veronica & Andy Fish 


The Disaster Gay Detective Agency – Lev AC Rosen 


The Disco at the End of the World – Nathan Tavares 


We Hexed the Moon – Mollyhall Seeley 


Girl’s Girl – Sonia Feldman 


Valley of the Moms – Hannah Selinger 


Marion – Leah Rowan 


I am not a Vampire (Anymore) - Darcy Miller 

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:03 Welcome Kieran and the Queer Liberation Library 00:01:27 What is the Queer Liberation Library (QLL)?  00:03:24 Supporting QLL and the Pride month donation drive 00:04:44 June 2026 Book Picks 00:58:48 Thanks to Kieran 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

If your TBR is looking a little too well-behaved, consider this your official invitation to cause some chaos. 

Joe is joined by Abby from @crimebythebook to dive headfirst into a stack of mystery and thriller recommendations that are twisty, chilling, and completely unputdownable. From locked-room tension and atmospheric horror-leaning suspense to darkly clever whodunits and cult-favorite thrillers, this episode is packed with reads guaranteed to keep you guessing long after “just one more chapter.” 

If you’re searching for the best mystery books, psychological thrillers, dark academia vibes, or hidden gem crime fiction to add to your reading list, this episode is your next obsession.  

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 Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)! 

Book recommendations: 

Abby’s Picks:  


Nightwatching – Tracy Sierra 


You Are Fatally Invited  & The Library After Dark  – Ande Pliego 


The Treasure Hunters Club – Tom Ryan  


The Anniversary – Alex Finlay  


Hide & Seek - Søren Sveistrup  


The Possession of Alba Díaz - Isabel Cañas  

 Joe’s Picks:  


The Mill House Murders – Yukito Ayatsuji 


Dead & Breakfast & Summer Coven  - Kat Hillis & Rosiee Thor (Aug. 25) 


Murder in the Dressing Room & Missing in Soho – Holly Stars (Jun. 2) 


With My Little Eye – Joshilyn Jackson 


The Sister Holiday Series (Book 1: Scorched Grace, Book 3: Divine Ruin) - Margot Douaihy 

Who’s in this episode:  

Abby (Crime by the Book) - Links 

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:00:44 Welcome to Abby from CrimebytheBook! 00:01:06 Getting to know Abby and Crime by the Book 00:11:11 Our Mystery & Mayhem Recommendations 00:51:54 Thanks to Abby 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

What makes readers gasp out loud at the end of a thriller? How do authors plant clues without giving everything away? And why do some plot twists stay with us forever? 

This week on Book Lounge, Joe is joined by three powerhouse thriller writers — Clare Mackintosh, Jo Piazza, and Lisa Gardner — for an exciting conversation all about The Anatomy of a Twist. Together, they unpack the art of suspense, the challenge of surprising modern readers, and the careful balance between foreshadowing and deception. 

From unreliable narrators and shocking endings to pacing, character secrets, and the emotional impact of a perfectly executed reveal, this episode is a must-listen for thriller readers, mystery lovers, and aspiring writers alike. The group also discusses some of their favorite twists in fiction, the pressure of “outsmarting” readers in the age of online theories, and what they believe makes psychological thrillers so addictive. 

If you love mystery books, crime fiction, suspense novels, plot twists, and behind-the-scenes conversations with bestselling authors, this episode delivers plenty of intrigue, insight, and mayhem. 

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 Season 3 on Libby Life!  Here’s a recap of our Monthly Book Picks (Jan-May 2026)! 

Who’s in this episode:  

Clare Mackintosh - website Jo Piazza - website Lisa Gardner - website 

Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:23 Intro 00:01:11 Get to know today’s guests 00:02:51 Writing by the seat of your pants 00:03:31 Figuring as you go vs. Planning 00:06:53 The Architect vs. The Builder 00:08:48 Working backwards 00:15:48 Do you want the reader to have the chance to figure out the mystery?  00:22:17 Twists at the top of the book 00:39:14 Do they track body bags?  00:42:33 Do readers want to be surprised?  00:50:10 How do you balance plot + pacing with your twist?  00:57:35 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! 

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