Skip to content
Radio Logo
PodcastsArtsBook Lounge by Libby

Book Lounge by Libby

Book Lounge by Libby
Book Lounge by Libby
Latest episode

966 episodes

  • Book Lounge by Libby

    Monsters, Ghosts & Trad Wives, OH MY! | Monster Horror Book Recommendations

    26/10/2026 | 1h 7 mins.
    Monsters! Ghosts! Trad wives! Oh my! 🎃👻

    It's time to get a little monstrous in the Book Lounge. Joe is joined by Meara and Kenzie Deerin for a Halloween-ready conversation packed with monster horror books, creepy folklore, unsettling creatures and dark reads that crawl under your skin. From terrifying transformations to the things lurking in the shadows, we're serving up horror book recommendations for every kind of reader who likes their stories a little strange.

    Whether you're a lifelong horror reader or looking for your next spooky-season obsession, we've got recommendations to add to your TBR. So, grab your favorite blanket, keep an eye on the shadows and join us for a delightfully creepy trip through the reading world.

    Powered by libraries. Made for readers. Happy reading! 🖤

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

    Who’s in this episode:

    Joe – Instagram

    Kenzie Deerin – Instagram

    Meara – Links

    Book Recommendations:

    Kenzie’s Picks:

    Ring Shout - P.Djèlí Clark

    My Darling Dreadful Thing - Johanna van Veen

    The Possession of Alba Dìaz - Isabel cãnas

    On Sundays She Picked Flowers – Yah Yah Scholfield

    Meara's Picks:

    Girl Dinner & Masters of Death – Olivie Blake

    Before the Devil Knows You're Here - Autumn Krause

    Bad Cree - Jessica Johns

    The Changing Man – Tomi Oyemakinde

    Lute – Jennifer Thorne

    The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror – Tori Bovalino

    Woman, Eating - Claire Kohda

    Bad Girls Don’t Die - Katie Alender

    Joe's Picks:

    Mongrels – Stephen Graham Jones

    Man Made Monsters – Andrea L. Rogers, Illus. Jeff Edwards

    Coffin Moon – Keith Rosson

    From Below – Darcy Coates

    Never Whistle at Night & Never Whistle at Night II: Back for Blood – ed. Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

    Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Welcome and Introductions 00:02:55 Some monster horror questions 00:17:07 Book recommendations 01:02:43 Comment question 01:03:00 Thank you 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 at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

    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/41971

    Happy Reading!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
  • Book Lounge by Libby

    Build Your Horror Triptych: Horror Books for Beginners

    22/10/2026 | 1h 6 mins.
    Want to read horror but have absolutely no idea where to start? Welcome to your first step into the spooky side of the reading world! 🎃

    Joe Skelley is joined by Amy Allen Clark and Kenzie Deerin to build the ultimate horror triptych: a grouping of recommendations designed to help you find your way into horror, whether you're a curious beginner, a certified scaredy-cat or a reader who just hasn't found the right nightmare yet.

    From creepy and atmospheric to genuinely terrifying, we're talking about how to find horror books that match your comfort level, discover what scares you (in the best way) and figure out where to go next. Because horror isn't one-size-fits-all, and you absolutely do not have to start with the book that will keep you awake until 3 a.m.

    Ready to dip your toes into the dark? Pull up a chair, grab your coziest blanket and let's find your next spooky read.

    Book Lounge by Libby is powered by libraries and made for readers. Find your next favorite horror book with your library card and the Libby app.

    Happy reading... and maybe leave a light on. 👻

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

    Who’s in this episode:

    Joe – Instagram

    Amy Allen Clark – links

    30 Modern Gothic Novels: https://momadvice.com/post/modern-gothic-novels

    12 Classic Gothic Novels: https://momadvice.com/post/classic-gothic-novels

    Kenzie Deerin – Instagram

    Blackoween – Instagram

    Book Recommendations:

    Amy's Picks:

    The Whitechapel Full Moon Society –Elizabeth DeLozier

    Marion – Leah Rowan

    On Sundays She Picked Flowers – Yah Yah Scholfield

    The Sleeping Sisters – Jennifer Gibbon

    Kenzie's Picks:

    Hazelthorn – CG Drews

    The Spirit Bares its Teeth – Andrew Joseph White

    Play Nice – Rachel Harrison

    The Winter Folk – Jen Julien

    Joe's Picks:

    Something in the Walls – Daisy Pearce

    The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle – Shirley Jackson

    Episode Thirteen – Craig DiLouie

    13 Months Haunted – Jimmy Juliano

    Mexican Gothic – Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    Just Like Home – Sarah Gailey

    The September House – Carissa Orlando

    Victorian Psycho – Virginia Feito

    Diavola – Jennifer Thorne

    Cackle – Rachel Harrison

    So Thirsty, Such Sharp Teeth, Black Sheep

    The Bewitching – Silvia Moreno-Garcia

    VenCo – Cherie Dimaline

    Jackal – Erin E. Adams

    The Broken Girls, The Book of Cold Cases, Ghost 19, The Sun Down Motel - Simone St. James

    Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Welcome and introductions 00:01:10 What drew you to horror? 00:09:42 Getting started with horror recommendations 01:01:17 Horror isn’t exactly what you think 01:01:55 Comment question 01:02:28 Thank you 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 at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

    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/41970

    Happy Reading!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
  • Book Lounge by Libby

    Getting Started with Horror: Why We Love to Be Scared

    19/10/2026 | 1h 8 mins.
    What makes us want to be scared? Why do we keep coming back for more? And how do you get started with horror if you're not sure where to begin?

    This Halloween season, we're opening the door to the wonderfully weird world of horror with authors Tiffany D. Jackson, Jonny Sims and Jonathan Edward Durham! We're talking about what first drew them to horror, what excites them about the genre today and what's next for horror readers. From the stories that get under our skin to the possibilities that keep horror fresh, this is a thoughtful, lively conversation about why we love to be scared.

    Whether you're a seasoned horror reader or just testing the waters before spooky season gets into full swing, pull up a chair. Your next favorite kind of scary might be waiting.

    Book Lounge by Libby is powered by libraries and made for readers. Find your next read for FREE with your library card and the Libby app.

    Happy haunting, horror fans!

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

    Who’s in this episode:

    Joe – Instagram

    Tiffany D. Jackson – Website, Instagram

    Jonny Sims – Website, Instagram

    Jonathan Durham – Website, Instagram

    Some books by our guests:

    The Weight of Blood – Tiffany D. Jackson

    Ghost in the Night – Tiffany D. Jackson

    Winterset Hollow – Jonathan Edward Durham

    The Burn Line – Jonathan Sims

    Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Intro and Welcome 00:03:01 What was your earliest introduction to horror? 00:18:41 Reading horror vs watching horror 00:27:21 What does horror give us? 00:40:50 Horror recognized in publishing 00:58:00 How future generations will continue horror 01:00:07 Lightning Round 01:04:45 Comment Question 01:05:10 Thank you 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 at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

    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
  • Book Lounge by Libby

    Epic Reads Inspired by Myths, Legends and Folklore

    15/10/2026 | 1h
    What happens when ancient myths meet modern storytelling? We get some VERY good books.

    We're wrapping up Myth and Legends Week on Book Lounge by Libby with Meara and Kenzie Deerin, sharing epic reads inspired by mythology, folklore, fairy tales and urban legends. From reimagined gods and legendary figures to fresh takes on familiar stories, these books prove that there's always another way to tell a legend.

    Whether you love seeing ancient tales through a new lens, discovering folklore from different traditions or finding fantasy stories that put an unexpected spin on the classics, we've got recommendations for your next great read.

    Join us as we revisit the stories that have shaped generations and celebrate the authors giving them a whole new life.

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

    Who’s in this episode:

    Joe – Instagram

    Kenzie Deerin – Instagram

    Meara – Links

    Book Recommendations:

    Kenzie's Picks:

    A Dark and Wild Wood - Sarah Nicole Lemon

    I, Medusa - Ayana Gray

    Where the Dark Stands Still - A.B. Poranek

    This Immortal Heart - Jennifer Saint

    A Feather So Black - Lyra Selene

    Meara's Picks:

    Soul of Shadow – Emma Noyes

    Body Count – Cody Crowley

    A Spindle Splintered – Alix E. Harrow

    A Mirror Mended – Alix E. Harrow

    Small Favors – Erin A. Craig

    Elatsoe – Darcie Little Badger

    Joe's Picks:

    The House with Chicken Legs – Sophie Anderson

    The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break – Steven Sherrill

    Kaikeyi – Vaishnavi Patel

    The Vine That Ate the South – JD Wilkes

    Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:20 Welcome and Intro 00:02:00 Catching up with Meara & Kenzie 00:03:14 Getting to know our guests’ mythology background! 00:16:33 Myth & Legend Book Recs 00:56:43 Comment question of the day! 00:57:02 Thank you & 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 at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

    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/41741

    Happy Reading!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
  • Book Lounge by Libby

    Josh Malerman on Other Mommy, Incidents Around the House & Fear

    13/10/2026 | 37 mins.
    What happens when the thing keeping you up at night becomes a movie? 👀

    Horror author Josh Malerman is in the Book Lounge, and we're getting into the deliciously terrifying world of Incidents Around the House and its film adaptation, Other Mommy.

    From the inspiration behind one of modern horror's creepiest stories to the creative process that brings nightmares to life, Josh joins Joe for a conversation about horror writing, storytelling, the things that scare us most and what happens when your imagination gets a little too good at its job.

    Whether you discovered Josh through Bird Box, devoured Incidents Around the House or are gearing up to experience Other Mommy, this is your chance to get inside the mind of the author behind the nightmares.

    Consider this your warning: you might want to leave a light on.

    Welcome to Book Lounge by Libby, your favorite corner of the reading world. Powered by libraries. Made for readers.

    Happy reading! (And, you know, maybe sleep with the closet door closed.)

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

    Who’s in this episode:

    Joe – Instagram

    Josh Malerman - Instagram

    Some books by Josh Malerman:

    Incidents Around the House

    Bird Box

    Daphne

    Pictures of You

    Time stamps: 00:00:00 Title 00:00:19 Welcome and Intro 00:02:10 What were you feeling seeing OTHER MOMMY 00:08:27 You can be shallow or deep within horror 00:16:05 What made you put us in a child’s POV 00:21:50 Writing soundscape 00:24:51 Changing the Title 00:30:29 Did Jessica Chastain’s portrayal change the story for you? 00:34:02 Comment Question 00:34:21 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 at https://www.instagram.com/bookloungepod/

    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
More Arts podcasts
About Book Lounge by Libby
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!
Podcast website

Listen to Book Lounge by Libby, Dish and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features