The Worst Bestsellers

This March, Worst Bestsellers is celebrating our neighbor to the north with our first ever Canada Month. We’re kicking it off by talking to Canadian treasure Ann Foster (host of Vulgar History, author of Rebel of the Regency:  The Scandalous Saga of Caroline of Brunswick, Britain’s Queen Without a Crown) about another Canadian treasure: Bear by Marian Engel. This book walked so that shifter romances could gallop. Listen to this episode while you’re alone in the woods.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Canada’s Most Controversial Novel” by Emily Zarevich.

Kanata Classics

Coming up next: Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid.

This podcast ain’t big enough for two guests, but we were fortunate enough to squeeze in both Heidi and Emily from Romancing the Shelf for another round of Nora Roberts Month. This time, we went back in time with one of Nora’s rare historical romances: Lawless. So saddle up, pardner, and get ready for a trip to the Wild West! Listen to this podcast while traveling to the nearest town for dry goods.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Romancing the Shelf: Loving Jack series

Quora: What is the average speed of a horse-drawn carriage?

Lisa’s Date with Density

Coming up next: Bear by Marian Engel.

If you’ve been watching us with binoculars, waiting for the podcast to return: well, here we are! (But you already knew that, didn’t you? Because you saw it coming with your binoculars.) Anyway, Christine Ricketts, author of The Ship and Nora Roberts expert, joined us for this year’s Nora Roberts Month to discuss The Collector. It’s the story of a housesitter/voyeur who peeps her way into an international criminal conspiracy involving Faberge eggs and a sexy painter. Listen to this episode while you bake one (1) muffin.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: “Riverdale’s 10 Most Amazing Fake Brands” by Kristin Baldwin.

Coming up next: Lawless by Nora Roberts.

Another year has come and (almost) gone, and we’ve once again managed to read some good books. Let us tell you about them!

Coming up next: A January hiatus. Happy New Year! We’ll see you in February!

Kait’s Top 5 Best

5.) The Woods all Black by Lee Mandelo

4.) Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zheng by Kylie Lee Baker

3.) The Drowning House by Cherie Priest

2.) Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff

1.) What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher



Bonus: Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt



Renata’s Top 5 Best

5.) The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

4.) Joyride by Susan Orlean

3.) Swordheart by T. Kingfisher

2.) Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green

1.) Racebook by Tochi Onyebuchi

Bonus: To Ride a Rising Storm by Moniquill Blackgoose

You may be thinking that you haven’t heard of The Company of Vengeful Crows by Lana Pecherczyk, and that’s fair. But perhaps you’ve heard of Plastic Girl vs Dangerous Crow Boy? Well, that’s this. We were joined by writer, podcaster, and corvid enthusiast Margaret H. Willison to discuss this truly wild shifter romance. If you happen to be listening to this episode 2,000 years in the future, you must have figured out a way to stream it without using plastic or metal, because those materials are illegal.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Lana Pechercyzk’s TikTok

Lana Pechercyzk’s Plastic Girl vs. Dangerous Crow Boy FAQ

Dangerous Crow Boy meme

Coming up next: Bests of 2025.