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.


All Episodes

Episode 117 – Year One

We read Year One by Nora Roberts so you don’t have to!

Episode 116 – How The Secret Changed My Life

We Read How The Secret Changed My Life so you don’t have to!

Episode 115 – Bests & Worsts of 2018 (Part 2, Adult & Graphic Novels)

Episode 114 – Bests & Worsts of 2018 (Part 1, Children’s & YA)

Episode 113 – The Thorn Birds

As the weather outside grows frightful, we decided to have our editor Becca join us for a trip Down Under. We read The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough, the 700-page epic saga of the Cleary family, who have almost as … Continue reading →

Episode 112 – Queer Thoughts on Having It All

How do you get and keep a man? Hell if Kait knows, even after reading Having It All by Helen Gurley Brown. Once again, Kait has gathered some queer friends to see if Helen Gurley Brown’s worldview falls apart if … Continue reading →

Episode 111 – Stranger than Fanfiction

Have you been wondering what Chris Colfer has been up to since Glee? Are you ready to read some self-insert celebrity real person fanfiction written by an actual celebrity? Honestly, you’re probably not, and we weren’t either,

Episode 110 – Red Rising

  Did you ever read a science fiction book and think, “I wish I knew more about these characters’ bathroom usage?” If so, Red Rising by Pierce Brown is the book for you! Children’s librarian Anna (@opinionsbyanna) joined us for … Continue reading →

Episode 109 – Five Night’s At Freddy’s: The Silver Eyes

Happy Halloween! We faced the scariest thing imaginable for a bad books podcast: a video game tie-in novel that turned out to be actually like, really good? We know: we were shocked too. Almost as shocked as the teen protagonists … Continue reading →

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