Flashback Summer is kicking off with a Code Green: LEPrecon alert! We read Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer with our returning guest Mackenzi Lee, author of of many books including Teela: Daughter of Eternos. If this book is Die Hard with fairies, then this episode is technically a Christmas special.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Artemis Fowl on Wikipedia

Coming up next: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey.

The whole internet has been talking about Adult Braces by Lindy West, so we decided to join the conversation. And who better to join us than Friend of the Show Margaret H. Willison (@MrsFridayNext)? You can find Margaret at Culture Study and you can find us in Key West, petting Ernest Hemingway’s polydactyl cats. Listen now to find out our legally binding ruling on whether or not Lindy West needs a divorce!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Love Letters: Meredith & Margaret on Lindy West’s Adult Braces

“Lindy West’s How-Not-To Guide to Polyamory” by Scaachi Koul

AMA: Nonmonogamy Edition from Lindy West’s Substack

The Lindy West Deep Dive from Ashley Ray’s Substack

“Big Love” from Jennifer Weiner’s Substack

Ijeoma Oluo on Threads

Coming up next: Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

May the 4th be with you! (If you’re listening to this on the day it comes out! If not: may the Force be with you.) In honor of this faux Star Wars holiday, we read Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry. We were joined by writer and Star Wars enthusiast Nanci Schwartz to discuss this story that’s more than a video game and less than a movie. Many Bothans died to bring you this episode.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 173 – The Courtship of Princess Leia

The Birth of Cheesoid

Gungans and Daddies: All That Jizz

Coming up next: Adult Braces by Lindy West.

We’re crawling out of our coffins and we’re doing just fine. We were joined by Rebecca Mahoney, author of Thrall, to discuss The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice. Please do not play this episode in the presence of Akasha, Queen of the Damned–the audio waves will only agitate her.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Thrall Book Launch event at Porter Square Books on April 24th

Episode 125 – Interview With the Vampire

Savage Garden on Wikipedia

Lestat the Musical

Coming up next: Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry.

Two of the greatest minds of our generation, Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan, have joined forces to give the world this extremely mid book: Remain. Fortunately, we were joined by the delightful Annie Cardi, author of Winter White, for a walk to remember through Cape Cod, led by a beautiful ghost whose purpose on earth is to teach an entitled man how to do basic chores. Listen to this episode while you research property law.

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Episode 25 – True Believer

Episode 70 – The Notebook

Tate Donovan on IMDB

Rocky on Wikipedia

Coming up next: The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice.

We conclude our arbitrary celebration of Canada Month with a playoff episode that went into overtime. Yes: we read Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. We needed two guests to handle a title of this magnitude, so we were joined by fangirl in STEM Sarah and authentic Canadian/Canadien Kathleen Gros, author and artist of several books including Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of). Listen to this episode while driving to the cottage!

Readers advisory: Here.

Footnotes: Canadian Heritage Minutes

“Heated Rivalry Is Chess” by Rebecca Alter

“Weapons’ Hot Dog Scene Is Actually a Heartfelt Tribute to Zach Cregger’s Late Friend” by Tai Gooden

“Those Tuna Melts in Heated Rivalry are So Gay” by John Birdsall

Important Heated Rivalry Fan Art

Coming up next: Remain by Nicholas Sparks with M. Night Shyamalan.

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!

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

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