The Worst Bestsellers

Writer Kait and librarian Renata read bestselling books in an attempt to understand their appeal and, barring that, to become the Crow and Servo of the book world. New episodes every other Monday. Visit WorstBestsellers.com for our readers advisory booklists and other fun stuff.

Episode 254 – Uglies

On occasion, listeners have suggested Uglies by Scott Westerfeld as a Flashback Summer title, but since we’re all Crumblies here, we were full adults when this contemporary classic YA dystopian novel was released.  Our book club hostess/cult leader Grace … Continue reading →

11-18
01:22:31

Episode 253 – Lessons in Chemistry

Our Beloved Patrons voted for us to read Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. We invited a woman in STEM, returning guest Sarah, to join us for this episode. Pour yourself a travel cup of C8H10N4O2 and listen to this … Continue reading →

11-04
01:33:50

Episode 252 – Carrie

Hold onto your tampons: we read Carrie by Stephen King. Our friend Nicole returned to the podcast to read this classic horror novel that’s even bloodier than Gerald’s Game. Listen to this episode while honing your telekinetic powers! Content … Continue reading →

10-21
01:37:02

Episode 251 – Bride

It’s spooky season, and what could be scarier than heterosexual werewolf knotting erotica? The fact that we both might have…liked it? Eek! We read Bride by Ali Hazelwood and we still aren’t sure exactly how we felt about it. Listen … Continue reading →

10-07
01:13:43

Episode 250 – House of Earth and Blood

Thanks to Porter Square Books for hosting our 250th Anniversary live show! And thanks to everyone who turned out in person or for the livestream! If you missed it, or just want to relive it without all that pesky visual … Continue reading →

09-26
01:33:24

Episode 249 – Crush

We’ve come so far from our first episode, and yet we’re still talking about teen vampires with Carrie. Unfortunately, we’re still out of Stephenie Meyer content so we had to read Crush by Tracy Wolff. If the cliffhanger ending of … Continue reading →

09-09
01:35:29

Episode 248 – The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

Hot Evelyn Summer comes to a bewildering conclusion with The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. We were joined by writer and standup comedian Laura Merli (@passiveabrasive) to discuss this time loop locked room mystery. Fun fact: … Continue reading →

08-26
01:15:37

Episode 247 – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

Don’t cry because Flashback Summer is over; smile because Hot Evelyn Summer is beginning! Returning bisexual icon Margaret H. Willison (1/3 of Two Bossy Dames, don’t check the math) joined us to discuss The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by … Continue reading →

08-12
01:44:48

Episode 246 – Stacey and the Bad Girls

Hold on to your sock wine, because we’re ending this year’s Flashback Summer with a real rager! We were joined by Courtney Summers, author of I’m The Girl and other rad books, to discuss Stacey and the Bad Girls … Continue reading →

07-29
01:13:25

Episode 245 – Alanna: The First Adventure

By popular demand, we took Flashback Summer to the land of Tortall. Rebecca Kim Wells, author of Briar Girls and other great queer fantasy books, joined us to discuss Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. Put on your purple … Continue reading →

07-15
01:43:20

Episode 244 – Stonewords

We were digging through some boxes in our totally not-haunted attic and found Stonewords by Pam Conrad. It seemed like a chill Flashback Summer vibe, so we had our friend KL join us to discuss it. Be careful not to … Continue reading →

07-01
01:08:13

Episode 243 – No Coins Please

Flashback summer, eh? Ann Foster of Vulgar History joined us to read No Coins, Please, an early work by the venerable Canadian author Gordon Korman. Listen to this episode while driving cross-country with a van full of chaotic tweens! … Continue reading →

06-17
01:13:49

Episode 242 – The Discovery

It’s Morphin’ Time! We’re kicking off Flashback Summer Animal Style. We returned to the world of the Animorphs by reading the three books in the iconic David Saga–The Discovery (#20), The Threat (#21) and The Solution (#22), all by K.A. … Continue reading →

06-03
01:24:06

Episode 241 – Open Book

We continue Celebrity Memoir May with another wronged woman of the early 00s, Ms. Jessica Simpson. Annie Cardi, author of Red, joined us in righteous indignation on behalf of our favorite former Newlywed after reading her memoir Open Book. Listen … Continue reading →

05-20
01:34:21

Episode 240 – Troublemaker

Unlike Scientology, Celebrity Memoir May is inescapable. Known Suppressive Person, librarian, and author Angie Manfredi (@MissKubelik) joined us to discuss Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Leah Remini. Join us as we swear oaths of fealty to the Queen … Continue reading →

05-06
01:38:30

Episode 239 – Ice Planet Barbarians

Horny dragons were fun, but we’ve moved on. Onto another planet, actually. Lily Sparks, author of The Merciless King of Moore High, joined us to discuss Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon. Upload this episode directly to your alien … Continue reading →

04-22
01:17:51

Episode 238 – Fourth Wing

Y’all horny for some dragons? We forged a soul bond with comedian, writer, and Scary Mommy Sarah Aswell by reading Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros together. Listen to this episode while pondering ways to legally murder your classmates! Content warning: Here … Continue reading →

04-08
01:37:46

Episode 237 – This Present Darkness

The devil made us read This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. Fortunately, we were #blessed to be joined by Izzy Wasserstein, author of These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart, who helped safely guide us through this Christian thriller. Listen … Continue reading →

03-25
01:22:38

Episode 236 – Icebreaker

Ice, ice, baby! Annie Cardi, author of Red, returned to the podcast to discuss the sexy skater Booktok sensation Icebreaker by Hannah Grace. Join us as we skate back to college and dirty talk our way into the Olympics! Content … Continue reading →

03-13
01:32:50

Episode 235 – Sanctuary

Nora Roberts Month continues! Heidi and Emily from Romancing the Shelf podcast returned and took us back to the 90s with the vintage romantic thriller Sanctuary. Sadly, this book has zero plates of casual pasta but it does have … Continue reading →

02-26
01:34:06

em k

but why isn't doing D&D with Scully an option though

06-27 Reply

Windy Pineda

yasss, Kaith is baaaack!

10-07 Reply

Kateryna Kyselova

* gasps in Candor* you guys just can't handle the truth! xD

09-12 Reply

CJ

oh God. I forgot he was so graphic on the gory parts

03-25 Reply

CJ

hahaha. Thanks. I made my sister put on an audio version of Patterson to calm me when we were driving across the Midwest trying to escape a coming tornado.

03-25 Reply

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