Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson: What happens when the person who publicly tore your book apart becomes the person who understands you best?
Parker Navarro was on his way to literary success until critic Selina Chan’s brutal review sent his debut novel crashing. Four years later, he’s hoping his next book will turn things around. Selina gets another chance to review his work, and she doesn’t hold back. When their latest clash goes viral, the literary world takes sides, and their public feud becomes a spectacle. But behind the headlines and sharp exchanges, a more personal conversation begins to change everything.
A romance between an author and the critic who helped derail his career? Sign me up!
The author-versus-critic setup in BAD WORDS immediately caught my attention. Books are so personal, both for the people who write them and for the readers who connect with them, so I was curious to see how Parker and Selina would navigate the line between honest criticism and personal hurt. And when that tension starts turning into something neither of them expected? Even better!
I was particularly drawn to the questions at the heart of the story: what does it mean to be honest, how much power should our words hold, and can understanding someone change the way we see them?
BAD WORDS was a sharp, thoughtful romance with plenty to say about books, ambition, and the power of words. I especially appreciated the story’s focus on what happens when the public version of a person starts to give way to a more complicated reality. If you enjoy romances with sharp exchanges, professional rivalry, and plenty to think about beyond the relationship, this one is worth adding to your list.
Finally, if you’ve ever passionately defended a book—or written off a story because of a review—this book gives you plenty to chew on.
TROPES & VIBES 💘
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
✍️ Author x book critic
🔥 Intellectual sparring
📣 Public feud
💬 Private conversations
💕 Unexpected connection
📚 Books about books
✍️ The creative process
#GMABookClub pick for October!
Book Info:
Publication: October 6, 2026 | St. Martin’s Press |
A sharp and deeply felt debut about the connections that both inspire and undo us.
Parker Navarro’s debut novel was meant to define his career – until critic Selina Chan’s blistering review made it the flop of the decade. Four years later, his new book is his shot at redemption; for Selina, reviewing him again is a professional risk she can’t refuse. When her second takedown ignites a viral feud, both their fortunes shift overnight. But as the literary world feeds on their public sparring, a quieter dialogue begins – one that challenges everything they thought they knew about success, sincerity, and each other.
Both incisive and tender, Bad Words lays bare the costs of creation – the pull between ambition and integrity, the vulnerability of being seen, and the unexpected closeness that can grow in the space between critique and care.
Please leave a comment