Improvably Bad: Books

Saddle up, listeners—this week, it’s just Jill holding down the fort, and she’s taking us deep into the dust and danger of the Weird West! We’re cracking open Six-Gun Tarot by R.S. Belcher, a genre-blending tale packed with cowboys, magic, ancient evils, and plenty of eerie surprises. How well does this book balance Western grit with supernatural thrills? What makes the Wei

Welcome to Improvably Bad Books, the podcast where we throw logic out the window and dive into books with only the cover, the blurb, and our best (often terrible) guesses. Each episode, our improv crew attempts to reconstruct a book's plot before our library experts swoop in to set the record straight. Expect mystery, hilarity, and just the right amount of chaos as we piece togethe

"The Other Boleyn Girl – Sisters, Scandals, and Steve Buscemi?" In this episode of Improvably Bad Books, the team tackles The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory—but not before a deep dive into pen names, Henry VIII’s lack of appeal, and some questionable Star Wars takes. Andrea skims, Aaron knits, and somehow Steve Buscemi becomes a contender for King Henry himself. Meanwh

In this special episode of Improvably Bad Books, we mix urban fantasy with a dash of tabletop RPG chaos! Join Jill, Zoe, and Erin as they dive into A Blade So Black by L.L. McKinney—a reimagined Alice in Wonderland with a thrilling urban twist. Zoe leads as Dungeon Master in a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired campaign, guiding our improv actors through Wonderland’s magical and p

Would you survive Coldtown, or would you join the chaos? In this episode of Improvably Bad Books, library staff dive into The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black, a YA paranormal tale set in a world where vampires reign and humanity teeters on the edge of control. As they unravel the story of Tana, a girl caught between a deadly infection, a haunted past, and the opulent danger

Merry Crisis and Happy Honda-days! We’re revisiting a fan favorite from last season with a fresh peppermint twist. This time, it’s double the Zoe and a dash more Jill as we take a shot at narrating the audiobook ourselves. Because honestly, who wouldn’t rather hear their friends read to them—especially during the holidays—than some AI? Tune in for some festive fun!

What happens when you escape a cult but can't escape your past? In this episode of Improvably Bad Books, library staff unravel the haunting story of The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes. This gripping Cult Fiction follows Minnow, a girl with no hands, a mysterious past, and a chilling connection to the Prophet of the cult she fled. As they piece together the clues, the

Is that a dragonfly necklace, or is it just a ghost whispering to you? Join Jill and Sam on Improbably Bad Books as they dive into Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella—a tale of ghosts, fashion, and a feisty great-aunt from the Roaring Twenties. Together, they navigate the highs and lows of this charming chick-lit novel, from flapper dresses in modern-day London to secondhand embarra

Welcome back, dearest listener. Our latest scandal involves a fallen reality TV star and an off-season NFL player. Do these two have what it takes? Anna PS: This is a romance. Don't play this in front of your kids. Fake it Till You Bake It Jamie Wesley

The suspense has been killing us. Join us in our final episode of season one. Relive that time you forgot to do your homework and had to wing it. Is it "serial" or "cereal" or "surreal"? My Sister the Serial Killer Oyinkan Braithwaite