Festive Fiction: Talking Holiday Reads for Cozy Winter Nights | Book Lounge by Libby Season 2 Episode 10

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! 

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 – 

• Jenny Bayliss - 

• Maisha Oso - 

• Matthew Norman – 

Segment 2:  

• Cece - 

• Jananie K. Velu – 

• Meara - 

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!  

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Book List for the Episode: 

(Some) Books by Alexandra Benedict:  

The Christmas Cracker Killer – Alexandra Benedict 

The Christmas Jigsaw Murders – Alexandra Benedict 

The Merry Christmas Murders – Alexandra Benedict 

Murder on the Christmas Express – Alexandra Benedict 

Books by Jenny Bayliss: 

A December to Remember – Jenny Bayliss 

I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Jenny Bayliss 

Kiss Me at Christmas – Jenny Bayliss 

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe – Jenny Bayliss 

A Season for Second Chances – Jenny Bayliss 

The Twelve Dates of Christmas – Jenny Bayliss 

(Some) Books by Maisha Oso: 

Before the Ships – Maisha Oso 

It’s Almost Time for Christmas! – Maisha Oso 

It’s Almost Time for Easter! – Maisha Oso 

It’s Almost Time for Halloween! – Maisha Oso 

Venus Washington and the Birthday Blowout – Maisha Oso 

Venus Washington and the Lasagna Drama – Maisha Oso 

(Some) Books by Matthew Norman: 

All Together Now – Matthew Norman 

Charm City Rocks – Matthew Norman 

Domestic Violets – Matthew Norman 

Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon – Matthew Norman 

Last Couple Standing – Matthew Norman 

Titles mentioned in this episode: 

Make My Wish Come True - Rachael Lippincott, Alyson Derrick  

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

A Little Holiday Fling – Farah Heron 

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year – Ally Carter 

The Afterlife of Holly Chase - Cynthia Hand  

The Christmas Murder Game - Alexandra Benedict 

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

Season of Love – Helena Greer