Emma chats with Brigid Kemmerer about the second book in her Defy the Night series, Defend the Dawn. They also talk about parenting, writing messy characters because people are messy, and what it's like to engage with readers IRL after a few years of virtual only events.
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Interview with Brigid Kemmerer, author of Defend the Dawn

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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Emma and Joe's monthly round-up of books is back with June picks! Grab a beverage and get ready for a long-list of summer-y picks! For Emma and Joe that usually means mystery and romance, but there's also a dash of cooking, graphic novels, YA, and family sagas.

Author Interviews:  


The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center 


Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay 

 
Joe’s Picks:  

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager 


Willie, Waylon, and the Boys by Brian Fairbanks 


Birds Aren’t Real by Peter McIndoe, Connor Gaydos 


Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller 


The Salad Lab by Darlene Schrijver (TikTok Tie In) 


Annie LeBlanc is Not Dead Yet by Molly Morris 


Hombrecito by Santiago Jose Sanchez 


One Killer Problem by Justine Pucella Winans 


Now, Conjurers by Freddie Kolsch 


Brownstone by Samuel Teer 


One of our Kind by Nicola Yoon 

 
Emma’s Picks:  


Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand 


Leather & Lark by Brynne Weaver 


A Novel Love Story by Ashely Poston 


A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson 


Blood in the Cut by Alejandro Nodarse 


Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle 


Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter  


A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd 


The Unwedding by Ally Condie 


A Love Like the Sun by Riss M. Neilson 


Need a refresher on what our most anticipated books of the year are? Listen here: PBN’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024 episode 
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).
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June 2024 Book Picks

On today's episode, Emma sits down for a live conversation with the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Harlan Coben, for the release of Think Twice. Hosted at Cuyahoga County Public Library, Emma and Harlan chat about the writing process, his plans for Myron, being the "twist guy," his Netflix adaptations, Stephen King, and Queen Camilla.
Special thanks to Cuyahoga County Public Library for hosting this amazing event. The live event was recorded on Monday, May 20, 2024 at the Parma-Snow Library Branch to a sold-out auditorium of 400 fantastic readers.
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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Live Interview with Harlan Coben, author of Think Twice

Join us as we dive into the captivating world of cults! We're recommending both fiction and nonfiction titles that explore that mysterious and chilling allure... From gripping thrillers to eye-opening accounts, we've got recommendations that will keep you on the edge of your seat. We'll wax poetic on cult dynamics and discuss the enduring fascination with these enigmatic communities.

Titles mentioned in this episode:
Jill’s Titles:  


The Road to Jonestown by Jeff Guinn 


The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead 


The Sullivanians by Alexander Stille 


The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi 

Joe’s Titles: 


Member of the Family by Dianne Lake 


Those Who Prey by Jennifer Moffett 


The Project by Courtney Summers 


Sex Cult Nun by Faith Jones 

Emma’s Titles:  


The Girls by Emma Cline  


Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose 


The Lightness by Emily Temple 


Heartbreaker by Claudia Dey  

Meredith’s Titles:  


Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult That Bound My Life by Sarah Edmondson 


Fierce Little Thing by Miranda Beverly-Whittmore  


A Billion Years by Mike Rinder  


Don’t Call It a Cult by Sarah Berman 


Cults & Exteme Belief - A&E (Kanopy)  


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).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cults: A Dive into Fiction and Nonfiction Reads

Emma and Joe welcome back Claire and Kristin to chat about modern gothic reads. They discuss the characteristics they enjoy in a modern gothic and share a wide variety of books to get your creepy, vibey, gothic fix!
Emma’s Picks:  


The Clinic by Cate Quinn 


A Place for Vanishing by Ann Fraistat 


The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins  


One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (Sheperd King series)  


Claire’s Picks:  


Diavola by Jennifer Thorne 


The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste 


A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock 


Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk 


Kristin’s Picks:  


Bluebeard’s Castle by Anna Biller 


The Black Tree Atop the Hill by Karla Yvette 


House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson 


When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen 


Joe’s Picks:  


Vampires of el Norte by Isabel Canas 


House of Cotton by Monica Brashears 


Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas 


House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland 


Check out our Botanical Books episode from 2023 here. Other books mentioned in this episode included The Hacienda by Isabel Canas, The Only One Left by Riley Sager, and Home Before Dark by Riley Sager.
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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The House That Gothic Reads Built

The mean girl gets murdered in this one (not a spoiler)! Dive into the mind of Cindy RX He as she delves deep into her debut title, Perfect Little Monsters. Find out why it's hard to trick thriller readers with your twists, what makes the queen bee so compelling, and where Cindy's inspiration came from for this story.
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).
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interview with Brigid Kemmerer, author of Defend the Dawn

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