Book Lounge by Libby

Books That Feel Like Falling Into Another World


Listen Later

This week on Book Lounge, Joe is joined by Meara for a celebration of all things adventure as they talk about adult books that perfectly capture the feeling of reading The Magic Tree House. Whether it’s characters being pulled into another time and place, epic quests across strange worlds, hidden mysteries, or stories filled with wonder and discovery, these are the books that recreate that unforgettable reading experience for grown-up readers. 

From fantasy adventures and historical twists to books that feel immersive, magical, and impossible to put down, Joe and Meara share the titles giving them major Magic Tree House energy and explain why these stories still tap into the same excitement that made so many readers fall in love with books in the first place. If you’ve ever wanted stories that make you feel like you’ve stepped through a portal into another world, 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: 
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: 

Meara’s Picks: 

  • These Immortal Truths – R. Raeta 

    • How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America – Clint Smith 

      • The Keeper of Night - Kylie Lee Baker 

        • The Scarlet Throne - Amy Leow 

          • The Dead Cat Tail Assassins - P. Djèlí Clark 

            • In Universes - Emet North 

              • The Time Traveler’s Passport Collection 

                Joe’s Picks: 

                • Vampires in the Lemon Grove – Karen Russell 

                  • Found Audio – NJ Campbell 

                    • Peaces – Helen Oyeyemi  

                      • Under the Whispering Door – TJ Klune 

                        • The Elsewhere Express – Samantha Sotto Yambao 

                          • Sheets – Brenna Thummler 

                            Who’s in this episode:  

                            Meara - Links 


                            Time stamps: 
                            00:00:00 Title 
                            00:00:23 Intro 
                            00:00:50 Welcome Meara! 
                            00:01:06 What was your relationship to the Magic Tree House? 
                            00:02:11 Reading Magic Tree House as an adult 
                            00:11:57 Instilling recognition of cultures 
                            00:19:40 Do you see similarities between your regular reads and the MTH books you enjoyed?  
                            00:24:09 Our reading recommendations! 
                            00:53:58 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 PodcastsSpotify, 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

                            ...more
                            View all episodesView all episodes
                            Download on the App Store

                            Book Lounge by LibbyBy Book Lounge by Libby

                            • 4.6
                            • 4.6
                            • 4.6
                            • 4.6
                            • 4.6

                            4.6

                            331 ratings


                            More shows like Book Lounge by Libby

                            View all
                            The Book Review by The New York Times

                            The Book Review

                            3,917 Listeners

                            What Should I Read Next? by Anne Bogel

                            What Should I Read Next?

                            5,171 Listeners

                            All the Books! by Book Riot

                            All the Books!

                            1,222 Listeners

                            Book Riot - The Podcast by Book Riot

                            Book Riot - The Podcast

                            1,021 Listeners

                            Well-Read by Ann Cox and Halle Carlson

                            Well-Read

                            242 Listeners

                            The Next Best Picture Podcast by Evergreen Podcasts

                            The Next Best Picture Podcast

                            515 Listeners

                            Recruiting Future with Matt Alder - What's Next For Talent Acquisition, HR & Hiring? by Matt Alder

                            Recruiting Future with Matt Alder - What's Next For Talent Acquisition, HR & Hiring?

                            78 Listeners

                            From the Front Porch by The Bookshelf Thomasville

                            From the Front Porch

                            1,229 Listeners

                            Novel Conversations by Evergreen Podcasts

                            Novel Conversations

                            98 Listeners

                            The Chad & Cheese Podcast by Evergreen Podcasts

                            The Chad & Cheese Podcast

                            91 Listeners

                            Reading Glasses by Brea Grant and Mallory O'Meara

                            Reading Glasses

                            2,054 Listeners

                            GenXGrownUp Podcast by Evergreen Podcasts

                            GenXGrownUp Podcast

                            100 Listeners

                            Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories by Evergreen Podcasts | The Honor Project

                            Warriors In Their Own Words | First Person War Stories

                            656 Listeners

                            Bad On Paper by Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter

                            Bad On Paper

                            4,106 Listeners

                            The Currently Reading Podcast by Meredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb

                            The Currently Reading Podcast

                            1,792 Listeners

                            Sarah's Bookshelves Live by Sarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves

                            Sarah's Bookshelves Live

                            787 Listeners

                            The Stacks by Traci Thomas

                            The Stacks

                            1,788 Listeners

                            Banking Transformed with Jim Marous by Evergreen Podcasts

                            Banking Transformed with Jim Marous

                            88 Listeners

                            FIVE MINUTE NEWS by Evergreen Podcasts

                            FIVE MINUTE NEWS

                            425 Listeners

                            Conflicted: A History Podcast by Evergreen Podcasts

                            Conflicted: A History Podcast

                            542 Listeners

                            Poured Over by Barnes & Noble

                            Poured Over

                            317 Listeners

                            Book Talk, etc. by Tina @tbretc and Hannah @hanpickedbooks

                            Book Talk, etc.

                            642 Listeners

                            NPR's Book of the Day by NPR

                            NPR's Book of the Day

                            678 Listeners

                            The Book Case by ABC News | Charlie Gibson, Kate Gibson

                            The Book Case

                            933 Listeners