A piece of creative work, especially a book, created solely for quick financial gain by appealing to widespread, popular opinions and taste, as opposed to striving for any artistic integrity or merit. She's been able to crank out two to three potboilers a year, which has given her the financial freedom to pursue her true passion—sculpting. When I'm stretched out on the beach, the only thing I have the patience to read is a trashy potboiler that doesn't require any emotional investment on my part.