Emma and Joe share their favorite books of 2023!
Emma’s picks:  


For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes 


Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams  


None of This is True by Lisa Jewell 


Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros  


The Woman in Me by Britney Spears 


The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth  


The September House by Carissa Orlando  


The Quiet Tenant by Clemence Michallon 


Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll 


Happy Place by Emily Henry 


Joe’s picks:  


Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison 


The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes 


The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell (narrated by Daniel Henning) 


Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine 


Love, Pamela by Pamela Anderson 


Pageboy by Elliot Page 


Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward 


With My LIttle Eye by Joshilyn Jackson 


Behind the Seams by Dolly Parton 


The Big Reveal by Sasha Velour 

Bonus pick: Meet me at the Lake by Carley Fortune 
For our favorite YA picks of 2023, be sure to listen to our episode here. 
If you want to go back and listen to any of the author interviews or episodes we’ve mentioned, we’ll link them below. 
Rachel Harrison & Clay McLeod Chapman 
Caroline Kepnes 
Santino Fontana 
Ana Reyes 
Rebecca Yarros  
Jessica Knoll 
Emily Henry & Julia Whelan 
Joe Reads a Big Romance 
Emma Reads a Horror
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.
We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. 
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PBN's Best Books of 2023

We're not just book nerds. We're professional book nerds! We are staff librarians who work at OverDrive, the leading app for eBooks and audiobooks from public libraries and schools. It's our job to discuss books all day long so we thought, "Why not share the conversation!" Hear about the best books we've read, get recommendations, and learn about the hottest books coming out that we can't wait to dive into. Titles discussed are available to borrow through public libraries. Get started reading at overdrive.com and subscribe to our podcast today!

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Books

It's that magical time again - Joe and Emma are sharing the books being released this May (2024) that they're most looking forward to. The Nerds talk about the eclipse, catch up, and have a silly, goofy time!
Titles mentioned in this episode: 
Author Interviews for May: 


This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune 


Perfect Little Monsters by Cindy RX He 


Think Twice by Harlan Coben  


And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler  

 
Emma’s Titles: 


You Never Know by Tom Selleck  


The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren 


The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton 


Mistakes We Never Made by Hannah Brown  


When Among Crows by Veronica Roth 


Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum 


Evocation by S.T. Gibson  


When We Were Silent by Fiona McPhillips 


The Ballad of Darcy and Russell by Morgan Matson 


Swiped by L.M. Chilton  

 
Joe’s Titles:  


Cunning Folk by Tabitha Stanmore 


Keepers of the Stones and Stars by Michael Barakiva 


The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley 


How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler 


In Our Stars by Jack Campbell 


Have You Seen This Girl by Nita Tyndall 


Ghostroots by ‘Pemi Aguda 


If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay 


The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley 


Joe Nuthin’s Guide to Life by Helen Fisher 


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May 2024 Book Picks

Emma and Joe talk about some VERY specific reading moods and offer recommendations to match! 
Emma’s moods & book picks:  
A romance book that’s 10/10 and has Easter eggs a plenty  


Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez 


Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez 


Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez  


A cozy fantasy book that's equal parts wholesome and magical  


Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree 


The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields  


The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst


A memoir written by the cast member of a 2000s mega-sensation tv show  


Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz  


The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop  


Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly  


The Next Chapter by Jana Kramer 


A book with a couple that are murders/serial killers/contract killers 


My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing  


Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver  


Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver ** 


They Never Learn by Layne Fargo  

 
Joe’s moods & book picks:  
A secluded cabin in the woods or small town were something creepy is definitely going on 


The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan 


The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf 


The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay 


Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger 


Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey 


Misery by Stephen King 


Books that feel like a hug/cozy vibes 


The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth 


Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance by Ruth Emile Lang 


The People on Platform 5 by Clare Pooley 


Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? By Lizzie Damilola Blackburn 


Gentrification thrillers 


When No One is Watching by Alyssa Cole 


Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older 


The Blade Between by Sam J. Miller 


Uh-oh, there’s a stalker 


With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson 


Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall 


Watching You by Lisa Jewell 


The Good Girl by Mary Kubica  


Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron 


Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.
We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. 
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PBN's Hyper-Specific Reading Moods & Recommendations

Today on the pod, Joe is joined by Jane, Quinton and Sarah to chat coming of age stories. Today's recommendations run the gamut from middle grade through adult fiction, from graphic novels to fantasy. These character-driven narratives open our eyes to the many ways we all experience life. There's a story here for everyone, and we hope you enjoy!
Titles mentioned in this episode:
Quinton’s Titles:  


The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien


Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card 


Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher 


The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi  

Sarah’s Titles:  


Tumble by Celia Perez  


Huda F are You? By Huda Fahmy  


Mid-Air Alicia D Williams  


Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow 

Jane’s Titles:  


Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton 


Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifka Brunt 


Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau 


Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley 

Joe’s Titles: 


Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez 


If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla 


Damned by Chuck Palahniuk 


What the Fireflies Know by Kai Harris 


Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.
Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!
We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse).
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Don't Lose Your Whimsy - Coming of Ages Stories for All Readers

On this episode, Joe talks with fellow Clevelander Douglas Westerbeke about his debut novel A Short Walk Through a Wide World  (out April 2 from Avid Reader Press).
They talk about writing an adventure story, the difficulties between writing strong "walk-on" characters versus writing your main character's whole life story, and of course, what the library means to Doug.
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.
Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!
We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. We’ve got merch! Check out our two shirts in The OverDrive Shop (all profits are donated to the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adventuring Through The Wide World with Douglas Westerbeke

Emma and Joe are back for their casual nerd chat. The nerds discuss what they've been reading, audiobook preferences, comfort reads, the upcoming solar eclipse, reading pauses, and live events at Cuyahoga County Public Library.
Emma’s books:  


Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez 


Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez 


Just for the Summer by Abby JImenez 


House of Earth and Blood (GraphicAudio)  


A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas 


This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune 


Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn 


To Sir Phillip with Love by Julia Quinn


Think Twice by Harlan Coben (Tickets for the CCPL event here)


So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison 


Joe's books:


Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin 


The Long Walk by Stephen King


The Running Man by Stephen King 


The Night of the Storm by Nishita Parekh 


The House of Hidden Meanings by RuPaul


And Then? And Then? What Else? by Daniel Handler (Register for the CCPL event here)


Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today's episode on OverDrive.com or in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.
We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. 
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PBN's Best Books of 2023

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