Season 2 is wrapping up with a bow! In this festive finale of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe gathers holiday-lit icons Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso, and Matthew Norman for a lively conversation about writing wintery stories across genres—from heartfelt romance to twisty mystery to big-hearted contemporary fiction. 

Then in Segment 2, our guest hosts slide down the chimney with their best holiday reading recommendations to keep your TBR merry and bright. 

Pour a mug of something warm, cozy up under your favorite blanket, and celebrate the end of another incredible season with us. And don’t forget—more great content is coming your way in the new year, so make sure you're subscribed! 

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 by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/festive-fiction-talking-holiday-reads-for-cozy-winter-nights-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-10  

Guest host recommendations: 

Cece 


  
Make My Wish Come True - Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick  





  
Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology - ed. Ellen Datlow 




Jananie 


  
A Little Holiday Fling – Farah Heron 





  
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year – Ally Carter 




Meara 


  
The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Cynthia Hand  





  
The Christmas Murder Game - Alexandra Benedict 




Joe 


  
You Better Watch Out – James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth 





  
Season of Love – Helena Greer 




Follow the guests & guest hosts:  

Segment 1: 


  
Alexandra Benedict – Instagram   





  
Jenny Bayliss - Instagram 





  
Maisha Oso - Website 





  
Matthew Norman – Website 




Segment 2:  


  
Cece - link 





  
Jananie K. Velu – link 





  
Meara - link 




Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:22 Intro 

00:01:53 Writing for the Season with Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso & Matthew Norman! 

01:01:29 BREAK – Some holiday reads from Kensington Books 

01:04:22 Holiday Reads with Cece, Jananie & Meara! 

01:41:22 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 bookloungebylibby@overdrive.com. 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

Book Lounge by Libby

Book Lounge by Libby

Festive Fiction: Talking Holiday Reads for Cozy Winter Nights

DEC 4, 2025106 MIN
Book Lounge by Libby

Festive Fiction: Talking Holiday Reads for Cozy Winter Nights

DEC 4, 2025106 MIN

Description

Season 2 is wrapping up with a bow! In this festive finale of Book Lounge by Libby, Joe gathers holiday-lit icons Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso, and Matthew Norman for a lively conversation about writing wintery stories across genres—from heartfelt romance to twisty mystery to big-hearted contemporary fiction.  Then in Segment 2, our guest hosts slide down the chimney with their best holiday reading recommendations to keep your TBR merry and bright.  Pour a mug of something warm, cozy up under your favorite blanket, and celebrate the end of another incredible season with us. And don’t forget—more great content is coming your way in the new year, so make sure you're subscribed!  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 by our guests and mentioned in this episode here: https://www.libbylife.com/blog/festive-fiction-talking-holiday-reads-for-cozy-winter-nights-book-lounge-by-libby-season-2-episode-10   Guest host recommendations:  Cece  Make My Wish Come True - Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick   Christmas and Other Horrors: A Winter Solstice Anthology - ed. Ellen Datlow  Jananie  A Little Holiday Fling – Farah Heron  The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year – Ally Carter  Meara  The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Cynthia Hand   The Christmas Murder Game - Alexandra Benedict  Joe  You Better Watch Out – James S. Murray, Darren Wearmouth  Season of Love – Helena Greer  Follow the guests & guest hosts:   Segment 1:  Alexandra Benedict – Instagram    Jenny Bayliss - Instagram  Maisha Oso - Website  Matthew Norman – Website  Segment 2:   Cece - link  Jananie K. Velu – link  Meara - link  Time stamps:  00:00:00 Title  00:00:22 Intro  00:01:53 Writing for the Season with Alexandra Benedict, Jenny Bayliss, Maisha Oso & Matthew Norman!  01:01:29 BREAK – Some holiday reads from Kensington Books  01:04:22 Holiday Reads with Cece, Jananie & Meara!  01:41:22 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