Tag Archives: podcast

by | April 26, 2021 · 12:00 pm

Episode 170 – Didn’t See That Coming

Didn't See That Coming by Rachel Hollis

We learned so much from discussing Rachel Hollis’s book Girl, Wash Your Face with Margaret H. Willison (of Two Bossy Dames, Appointment Television, and NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour) that we simply had to reunite to discuss her latest book, Didn’t See That Coming. Brace yourself for the most shocking revelation: this book made us cry.

Our friends at Porter Square Books hosted us for this virtual live show! If you watched it on Crowdcast: thank you so much for joining us! This is just the audio from that event for those of you who prefer not to see our faces. (The video is still archived and you can watch it here if you’d like.)

Content warning: This book contains discussion of suicide.

Note: This episode was recorded before Rachel’s whole “comparing herself to Harriet Tubman” thing.

Readers advisory: Here (via Porter Square Books).

Footnotes: Episode 144 – Girl, Wash Your Face

Coming up next: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | April 12, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 169 – Divine Evil

Divine Evil by Nora Roberts

It’s been a scary year, so we returned to the loving embrace of Our Lady Nora Roberts. Even though her 1992 novel Divine Evil is about a Satanic cult, we still felt safe in the small town of Emmitsboro, especially with our returning guest, Christine. Listen to this podcast on the long drive back to your charming hometown from the Big City.

Content warning: This book contains sexual assault, murder, and potential suicide.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: You’re Wrong About: The Satanic Panic

You’re Wrong About Book Club: Michelle Remembers

American Hysteria: The Satanic Panic

Coming up next: Didn’t See That Coming by Rachel Hollis.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | March 29, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 168 – The Duke And I (Bridgerton #1)

The Duke & I (Bridgerton #1) by Julia Quinn

 

We teamed up with Anna and Alene of the Bellwether Friends again! We reconvened the Worst Best Friends to discuss the important topic of Bridgerton. Not the Netflix series, but one of the books that inspired it–The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. Unfortunately, the book is neither as horny nor as diverse as the series, but we persevered. Listen to this episode to drown out the sound of your seven siblings squabbling!

Announcement: Worst Bestsellers is doing a live virtual show hosted by Porter Square Books with special guest Margaret H. Willison! It will be Wednesday, March 31st at 8PM ET. And it’s free! Sign up here.

Content warning: This book contains child abuse and dubious sexual consent.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Bridgerton‘s Controversial Sex Scene Needs a Trigger Warning” by McKenzie Jean-Philippe

“Bridgerton Has a Lot to Learn About Consent, and So Does Everyone Else” by Princess Weekes

“Phoebe Dynevor Responded to All the People Talking About Her Neck on Bridgerton” by Elizabeth Logan

“How Bridgerton Officially Became Netflix’s Biggest Hit Ever” by Joanna Robinson

Coming up next: Divine Evil by Nora Roberts.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | March 1, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 166 – The Big Sleep

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

 

You’re not dreaming–we did read a bestseller that’s widely considered to be “good,” The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. We teamed up with Amanda and Geoffrey from the podcast Dirt Cheap to investigate: is it actually a good book? Who is the murderer? Where can a guy find some good pornographic material in this town? Listen to this episode on your next stakeout!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Dirt Cheap 

Wolverine: The Long Night podcast

Coming up next: The Vanishings (Left Behind: The Kids #1) by Jerry B. Jenkins & Tim LaHaye.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | February 15, 2021 · 12:01 pm

Episode 165 – Foxhole Court

Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic

We’re back from our hiatus! We spent the off-season training hard so we’d be better at *checks notes* Exy, the cool co-ed sport favored by characters in The Foxhole Court by Nora Sakavic. We were joined by Rachel and Adrienne of the podcast After Adult to read the first novel by this self-published superstar. Listen to this episode while doing your fake sports warmups. Good hustle!

Content warnings: This book contains child abuse, sexual assault, stigmatization of mental health care, and violence. Our discussion of it touches on these topics though not in graphic detail.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: After Adult: Talking Fanfic with Worst Bestsellers

Fanfiction 101

“Sports-Themed Queer YA Series an Indie Hit” by Jennifer McCartney

Boys In Our Books Q&A With Nora Sakavic

The Foxhole Court on Smashwords

Candy pairing: Adrienne says Japanese rice cracker candy, Kait says Raven’s Revenge, Rachel says candy cigarettes, Renata says a candy prepared by Bitterblue’s Graced chef for her nemesis.

Coming up next: The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | December 21, 2020 · 12:00 pm

Episode 164 – Bests of 2020

In more precedented years, we’ve picked our favorite and least favorite books that we read each year outside of the podcast. But in 2020, we were too busy just trying to get through the year to do much recreational reading. Instead,  Kait and Renata convened to discuss the top ten things that helped each of them make it through this year. Tune in to hear us discuss all of these things, and keep reading to see links and pictures!

Note: after this episode, we’re taking a short hiatus to attempt to recover from 2020. We’ll be back in February 2021!

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by | December 7, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 163 – Go Ask Alice

Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

 

Per the request of our wonderful Patreon patrons, our editor Becca joined us to discuss the anti-drug cautionary tale Go Ask Alice by Anonymous (aka Beatrice Sparks). Reading it in 2020, we’re not sure what’s harder to believe: that this ever deterred anyone from using drugs, or that anyone ever believed it was actually the diary of a human teenager. We’re grateful to our patrons for supporting us, and just as grateful that we’ve never been invited to any parties where someone slipped LSD into our soda.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Paul F. Tompkins – “Go Ask Alice”

“Lines From Go Ask Alice That, In Hindsight, Should Have Tipped Me Off That This Was Not A True Story” by Daniel Lavery

“The Book That Defined My Teen Anxiety Turned Out to Be a Lie” by Sloane Tanen

“A Queer Reading of Go Ask Alice” by Frankie Thomas

Amazon review of Go Ask Alice by the author of Drugs Make You Un-Smarter

Candy pairing: Becca says any candy that isn’t secretly acid, Kait says pot gummies, Renata says orange yeast rolls.

Coming up next: Bests of 2020.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | November 23, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 162 – The Awakening (Vampire Diaries #1)

The Awakening (Vampire Diaries #1) by L. J. Smith

Like a newborn vampire, we’re always thirsty for more supernatural teen drama around here. We turned to a finely-aged vintage, The Awakening (Vampire Diaries #1) by L. J. Smith, and we were thrilled to be joined by Lily Sparks (@lilyroro), author of non-vampire, but still high stakes, YA novel Teen Killers Club. Join us as we extoll all the ways L. J. Smith’s teen vampires are cooler than Stephenie Meyer’s teen vampires, including the best take on a love triangle we’ve ever seen in our storied history.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Carmilla (YouTube series)

“Italy’s annual calcio storico tournament — part football, part MMA — is a brutal sight to behold” by Paolo Bandini

Candy pairing: Kait says Hershey’s Special Dark Kisses, Lily says a vanished spicy-sour candy of her youth, Renata says mini Milky Way Midnights.

Coming up next: Go Ask Alice by Anonymous.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | November 9, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 161 – The Wig, The Bitch, And The Meltdown

The Wig, The Bitch, And The Meltdown by Jay Manuel

We read a semi-fictional, semi-self-published, completely bonkers book about the inner workings of the reality show Model Muse which is, of course, legally distinct from the long-running reality show America’s Next Top Model. Bestselling author and ANTM superfan Mackenzi Lee joined us to discuss The Wig, The Bitch, And The Meltdown by Jay Manuel.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 161.5 – Extra Video Footage of Kait, Renata, and Mackenzi discussing The Wig, The Bitch, And The Meltdown

“The real reason Jay Manuel from ‘ANTM’ made his debut novel fiction, not a memoir” by KC Ifeanyi

“Jay Manuel’s Truth is Out There” by Rich Juzwiak

“Jay Manuel’s satirical ‘America’s Next Top Model’ novel angers Tyra Banks’ by Carlos Greer

“Tyra Banks Was ‘Hurt’ After Hearing About Jay Manuel’s Novel Inspired by ‘America’s Next Top Model’” by Meredith Nardino

“The 15 Craziest Tyra Banks Moments on America’s Next Top Model” by Kelsea Stahler

“The real reason why Jay Manuel left America’s Next Top Model” by Brent Furdyk

‘Tyra Banks Wouldn’t Have Made It If Her Mom Didn’t Support Her Booty in ‘Any Shape or Form'” by Stephanie Eckardt

Pod Ledom Podcast

Coming up next: The Awakening (Vampire Diaries #1) by L.J. Smith.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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by | October 26, 2020 · 12:01 pm

Episode 160 – Wait Till Helen Comes


Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

It’s spooky season, so we revisited a classic of our childhoods: Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn. It was a nice change of pace to read a competently-written book, so we had to spend most of our time raging against the poor parenting on display in this book. Our guest Rebecca Mahoney (@cafecliche)’s debut novel, The Valley and the Flood, comes out in February 2021, so listen to this episode while pre-ordering your copy! PS: Sorry for some extra sound issues on this episode. It was a ghost probably?

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Wait Till Helen Comes movie trailer

Candy Pairing:  Kait says a candy apple, Rebecca says Tootsie Roll pops, Renata says sour apple Jolly Ranchers.

Coming up next: The Wig, The Bitch, and The Meltdown by Jay Manuel.

 

* Worst Bestsellers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

(But no pressure, we’re also happy if you get these items from your local library or independent bookstore.)

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