Monthly Reading List

Every month, Emma, Joe, and Jill offer up their favorite new books coming out. Check out the list to see what new titles they can’t wait to dive into and be sure to come back next month for more great reads.

Reading list

Who we are

We’re not just book nerds, we’re Professional Book Nerds® (PBN) who work at OverDrive, the industry-leading app for eBooks and audiobooks through your local library and school.

With over 1 million downloads, readers and librarians turn to the PBN team for weekly expert book recommendations, author interviews and all things books.

Our team has a deep knowledge for the literary world and helps thousands of libraries with collection development, making us uniquely positioned to provide suggestions and recommendations for readers around the world. The Professional Book Nerds podcast is available through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, Radio FM and anywhere people download their podcasts.

Featured authors

Meet the nerds

Joe Skelley

Joe Skelley

Joe manages the tour route for OverDrive’s Digital Bookmobile and helps introduce new users to Libby through virtual training sessions. In college, Joe majored in promotional communications, and literature reading everything from the classics to local authors in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.

Joe has always been a lover of reading and passionate about the library, and his first job was as a library page, shelving books at the Cuyahoga County Public Library. He enjoys reading African American literature, Mystery & Thriller, True Crime, Magical Realism, a touch of fantasy, Dystopian reads, and the broad genre of young adult fiction. Joe’s favorite book is Beloved by Toni Morrison. When he isn’t working, Joe loves to listen to audiobooks and podcasts, watch YouTube, get too involved in a DIY project, and (most importantly) play with his Boston Terrier, Roscoe.

Emma Dwyer

Emma Dwyer

Emma is a Product Trainer at OverDrive, where she provides support to Public Library partners. Prior to joining the Training team, Emma was an OverDrive Content Specialist and she brings a great deal of library, publishing, and book knowledge to her current team.

She enjoys reading British fiction, mystery, thriller, romance, and young adult. Her favorite book is House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas. When Emma is not working, she enjoys reading, Love Island (UK), travel (to warmer climates like her home state of California), coffee, and hanging out with her family and dog.

Jill Grunewald

Jill Grunenwald

Jill is the creator and other half of the Professional Book Nerds Podcast. She joined OverDrive in 2015 as a Collection Development Analyst, helping libraries select and purchase content for their users.

Jill’s favorite genres are social sciences, humanities, memoir, health & fitness, dystopian science fiction, and fantasy.

1,000,000+

downloads

4.5

iTunes star rating

40,000+

monthly listeners

100

countries listening

Interesting info

Ranked as high as #1 in the Arts category and #6 overall in iTunes rankings

First year highlights include James Patterson, Brad Meltzer, Nathan Hill, David Levithan and Leigh Bardugo interviews

We host live author events upon request at local libraries. These interviews are live in front of 500+ readers

Past author interviews include Kwame Alexander, Alan Cumming, James Dashner, Lee Child and Jodi Picoult