Bad Words

"A book that could only ever have been written by Rioghnach Robinson, whose clear, clever voice and incisive social commentary elevate the book's irresistible will-they-won't-they romance to a once-in-a-lifetime read about truth, art, vulnerability, and all the sticky places they intersect. BAD WORDS LEFT ME BUZZING." - EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author

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.

"A genre-redefining romance that sets a thrilling new standard... Easily one of my favourites of the year, if not the decade." - Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Full of blistering barbs, incisive takedowns and searing gazes, Bad Words is smart and propulsive." - Mary H.K. Choi, New York

From the publisher

Macmillan / St. Martin's Press | Oct 6, 2026 | 400 Pages | ISBN-13 9781250431295 | Women's Fiction

1. Selina Chan is known for her tough but honest reviews, especially her criticism of Parker Navarro's books. Do you think a critic's main responsibility is to be completely honest with readers,

2. Parker and Selina's conflict becomes something the public watches, comments on, and takes sides in. What does the novel suggest about our tendency to turn other people's conflicts into entertainment?

3. Parker and Selina disagree over the difference between depicting something in fiction and endorsing it. How did this debate shape their conflict, and did either character change the way you thought about the issue?

4. After Parker's highly publicized flop, how does his fear of another failure affect his identity as a writer? Do you think he is still writing for himself, or has success...and the pressure to sell books-changed what he creates?

5. When did you first feel that Parker and Selina's relationship had shifted from a public feud to something more genuine? What changed between them?

6. Did your feelings about Parker or Selina change as you learned more about what was happening behind their public personas? Who did you understand differently by the end? 7. How does Selina use humor in her relationships? When does it protect her, and when does it help her connect with others

Book Club Talking Points:
Bad Words is a strong book club pick because it gives readers plenty to disagree about. The clash between a writer and a critic opens up conversations about honesty, artistic freedom, public judgment, internet culture, and how much responsibility we have for the effect our words have on others. Add in the complicated relationship between Parker and Selina, and there should be plenty for book clubs to debate beyond the central romance.ut her past and explores deep themes like loneliness and the impact of reading on our lives, making it rich for discussion.

The #1 Indie Next Pick for October! "A rom-com with plenty of heft, in the way it nails the effects of social media on how we talk, read, and even think; in its prescient landscape of bookstores' and City's fight to survive; in how Selina and Parker each struggle to fit into their very different families; and in its heady, romantic toppling of its protagonists' expectations."- Booklist (starred)

"A smart, thought-provoking adult debut that's perfect for bibliophiles. [Robinson] toys with a slow-burn romance, but the love story ultimately takes a back seat to a conversation about craft, ambition, and what it means to truly love and stand by what you create. A unique and complex commentary about being perceived." - Kirkus

"Robinson's enemies-to-lovers rom-com follows Parker, a struggling author whose debut novel was torched by a bad review, and Selina, the critic who panned his work. When their confrontation over Selina's equally scathing assessment of Parker's second novel goes viral, the pair find themselves sucked into a very public rivalry-even as they realize they may not despise each other after all." - The New York Times

"Meet your new favorite romance writer: This buzzy new romance...also asks poignant questions about art and ambition, probing the motivations behind why artists create." - Harper's Bazaar

"This smart, funny gem of a novel is a valentine to books and the words within them. Robinson's spot-on descriptions of the publishing industry are catnip for bibliophiles, and the enemies-to-lovers storyline feels fresh and completely genuine. But it is Robinson's deep love of the written word as the path to understanding and connecting with others that shines through every page." - Shelf Awareness

"Bad Words doesn't fall neatly into the rom-com genre, and that's what I love about it. Robinson manages to tickle my love for a literary, intellectual read that asks big questions about a society or system, with lovely, lively prose-all while still being laugh-out-loud hilarious." - PureWow, "I Hate Rom-Com Novels, But This 'Once-in-a-Lifetime Read' Gets 5 Stars From Me"

"If Emily Henry is calling this a 'once-in-a-lifetime read,' there's no way I'm missing it. This is one of the fall's buzziest romances, following a novelist and critic who can't stop hashing out their differences online. After Selina Chan's scathing review made Parker Navarro's debut novel a flop, the rivals are back at it again 10 years later, when Chan takes down his second book. This is the kind of drama I'm here for." -Margo Ghertner, via The Skimm

"I devoured this book in two days with a smile dancing on my face. Have I ever been so entertained? Rioghnach Robinson is a writer with serious chops showing us what is possible within the bounds of romance. Bad Words is an absolute delight." - Holly Brickley, bestselling author of Deep Cuts

"Attraction between enemies is one thing, attraction between enemies in the petty panopticon of online literary skirmishes is another entirely. Full of blistering barbs, incisive takedowns and searing gazes, Bad Words is smart, horny, and propulsive. A sapiosexual's wet dream." - Mary H.K. Choi, New York Times bestselling author of Pool House

"Bad Words is a triumph for anyone who cares about art and all that goes into the creation and consumption of it. It's virtuosically told, utterly fresh, and chock full of sharp-as-hell observations that make the romance even more delicious. I was captivated from cover to cover." - Tarah DeWitt, USA Today bestselling author of Lost and Found

"With Bad Words, Rioghnach Robinson has written something truly spectacular - a precisely crafted, genre-redefining romance that sets a thrilling new standard for greatness. Easily one of my favorites of the year, if not the decade." - Carley Fortune, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Our Perfect Storm

"Emotional, poignant, and deeply romantic, Bad Words is impossible to put down. Brimming with decadent yearning, sizzling tension, and honest vulnerability, Parker and Selina's story will stay with me long into the future. I'm madly in love with this book." - Jordan Stephanie Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Bitten and The Wicked Sea

"I was two percent into Bad Words when I realized I was reading something special, the rare kind of book that not only treads new, fresh territory but does so in a way that feels startlingly inevitable. The kind of book I can't believe doesn't already exist, because it is just so right, so the thing I've been waiting for. It's also a book that could only ever have been written by Rioghnach Robinson, whose clear, clever voice and incisive social commentary elevate the book's punchy premise and irresistible will-they-won't-they romance to a once-in-a-lifetime read about truth, art, vulnerability and all the sticky places they intersect. Bad Words left me buzzing." - Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Great Big Beautiful Life

"I loved this book. The freshest literary romance I've read in ages, full of gorgeous prose and agonizing chemistry, culminating in a delicious, torturous slow burn that had me on the edge of my seat. A reminder that the thin between love and hate is a (literal) matter of opinion and for the people who have to write to understand where they went wrong. This story really touched me and its characters will stay with me for a long time. A beautifully written, emotionally poignant romance." - Iman Hariri-Kia, author of Female Fantasy

"Bad Words is truly a one-of-a-kind love story. Warm and witty, razor sharp and painstakingly meticulous in its observations, Robinson has crafted a novel that manages to combine a page-turning plot with undeniable literary prowess. The portrayal of her characters is so deeply and unflinchingly intimate, by the end of the book, I felt as though I would know them if I met them in the street. Truly captivating." - Lindsey Kelk, Sunday Times bestselling author of Love Story

"Smart, deep, and heartfelt. I adored it!" - Gillian McAllister, New York Times bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time

"I don't even know where to begin - I'm genuinely writing this through tears. I have thought of little else since starting the book; I feel it's reminded me of why I read, in a way I didn't even realize I needed. I simply passionately loved it. It's searingly insightful, captivatingly romantic, and one of the best love stories I have ever read." - Beth O'Leary, international bestselling author of The Flatshare and Swept Away

"Robinson's wit cuts deep, her characters burn bright, and every page crackles with tension. A dazzling, razor-edged love story." - Louise O'Neill, international bestselling author of Idol and Asking For It

"Bad Words is Deep Cuts for the publishing industry. A really great romance and an even better book about books. I loved it." - Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg

"Full of wit, warmth, and deliciously sharp observations on books and the people who love them, Bad Words is a love story about two people who could not be worse-or better-for each other. I didn't want it to end." - Stacey Yu, author of Kitten