What makes a book the perfect beach read? In this sunny episode of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe is joined by authors Clémence Michallon, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, Megan Miranda, and Sara Hamdan for a lively conversation about the art of crafting a summer page-turner. From thrillers to romances and everything in between, they unpack what “beach read” really means, how they keep readers hooked, and—crucially—their go-to writing snacks. 

Then in segment two, Amy, Bre, Cece, Jananie, and Kayla stop by with top-tier book recommendations to toss in your tote bag, whether you're headed to the coast or just catching rays on your lunch break. 

Pack your sunscreen and press play! 

Check out the video version of this episode on the Libby App YouTube Channel.

Article mentioned in the intro:

What Makes a Book a Beach Read?

Guest Host Recommendations: 

Amy Allen Clark  

Sister, Sinner by Claire Hoffman (biography) 

Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje 

Bre 

The Oath – TM Richardson  

The Wishing Pool – Tananarive Due 

Jananie 

Never Been Better – Leanne Toshiko Simpson 

The Bandit Queens – Parini Shroff 

Cece 

Cleat Cute – Meryl Wilsner 

Guillotine – Delilah S. Dawson 

Drowning – TJ Newman 

Kayla 

Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies - Catherine Mack 

Sweethand- N.G. Peltier 

A House on the Bottom of the Lake – Josh Mallerman 

Follow the Guests & Guest Hosts: 

Segment 1 

Clémence Michallon - Website 

Jonathan Parks-Ramage - Website 

Megan Miranda - Website 

Sara Hamdan - Website 

Segment 2 

Amy Allen Clark - Links 

Bre - Links 

Cece - Links 

Jananie K. Velu - Links 

Kayla - Links 

Time Stamps:  

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:16 Intro 

00:08:18 Segment 1 - Clémence Michallon, Jonathan Parks-Ramage, Megan Miranda, Sara Hamdan 

00:54:57 BREAK – Check out Plot Threads Shop! 

00:56:10 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Amy, Bre and Jananie! 

01:30:24 Segment 2 – Book Recommendations with Cece and Kayla! 

01:44:46 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