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Bad Words
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Expected 6 Oct 26“The rare kind of book I can’t believe doesn’t already exist . . . [a] 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 of Great Big Beautiful Life
A sharp and deeply felt debut about art, ambition, and 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.
When words can make or break us, how do you stay true to what matters most?
A sharp and deeply felt debut about art, ambition, and 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.
When words can make or break us, how do you stay true to what matters most?
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 6, 2026
13540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
February 27, 2026
WHEW WEEEE I AM HOLLERING
Selina Chan I would wage battles on your behalf (and win)
Bad Words is the romance novel of all time. A startling look at why we create, critique, and the tenuous publishing landscape, all through the perspectives of a feuding author and book critic. It’s a book that knows the power on the page, the page itself a series of deliberate choices and writing a tremendously public act. All of that is a testament to author Ríoghnach Robinson who unfolds her public feud between novelist Parker and critic Selina, one that prompts a path towards change and unforeseen connection. With their impassioned back and forth—each convinced they are right—a romance first appears out of the question, if not for a kernel of familiarity uncovered after every heated argument. Like the love they share for an obscure novel from their teen years or a favorite, slightly pretentious drink they both order. Bad Words had me waiting on bated breath for Selina and Parker’s next exchange, to fight or to give in to the intense connection at the heart of all of their interactions. But like any true enemies to lovers, these two have to wade through the issues that led up to their quarrel. Bad Words finds its place in the literary landscape, challenging our views on criticism in the book space and interrogating the essential question: why do we create and how do we connect? Bad Words is as bracing as opening ourselves up to criticism can be, where to be known is to be seen for the totality of who we are.
This is the only true enemies to lovers I’ve ever read in a contemporary setting and I lost myself in every single line.
Read my review
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
Selina Chan I would wage battles on your behalf (and win)
Bad Words is the romance novel of all time. A startling look at why we create, critique, and the tenuous publishing landscape, all through the perspectives of a feuding author and book critic. It’s a book that knows the power on the page, the page itself a series of deliberate choices and writing a tremendously public act. All of that is a testament to author Ríoghnach Robinson who unfolds her public feud between novelist Parker and critic Selina, one that prompts a path towards change and unforeseen connection. With their impassioned back and forth—each convinced they are right—a romance first appears out of the question, if not for a kernel of familiarity uncovered after every heated argument. Like the love they share for an obscure novel from their teen years or a favorite, slightly pretentious drink they both order. Bad Words had me waiting on bated breath for Selina and Parker’s next exchange, to fight or to give in to the intense connection at the heart of all of their interactions. But like any true enemies to lovers, these two have to wade through the issues that led up to their quarrel. Bad Words finds its place in the literary landscape, challenging our views on criticism in the book space and interrogating the essential question: why do we create and how do we connect? Bad Words is as bracing as opening ourselves up to criticism can be, where to be known is to be seen for the totality of who we are.
This is the only true enemies to lovers I’ve ever read in a contemporary setting and I lost myself in every single line.
Read my review
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
Want to read
October 12, 2025if emily henry calls a book special, you best believe i'll be reading it
Thank you to St. Martins Press for the copy via Goodreads giveaway!
Thank you to St. Martins Press for the copy via Goodreads giveaway!
October 18, 2025
Do you ever read a book and think, "this was needed right now?" Bad Words is a propulsive read, with the type of tension and commentary that urge you to read past your bedtime. Rioghnach's prose is sharp, witty, and honest, with imagery and characters that draw you in from page one. Parker and Selina's feud made me think a lot about how authors engage with reviewers, and how reviews often need to be written in good faith to be honest. The thing I appreciated the most about Selina is how she never wavered from her principles and didn't allow anyone to bully her into retracting her criticism. The familial and friend relationships brought depth to both Parker and Selina's characters and allowed Rioghnach to explore the ramifications of their public personas in relation to how they coped with being so exposed. Allowing public opinion and hundreds, if not thousands, of perspectives and eyes on you is unnatural, and this novel did not shy away from combatting the idea that sometimes putting the internet away can be healthy (and needed). As a certified romance reader (trademark), I really enjoyed the will-they-won't-they romance. But what I really loved was the ways in which Parker and Selina changed their original perspectives of each other (and their writing) as they grew closer and allowed more pieces of themselves to be revealed, including their families. This is the kind of novel that's important, timely, and going to be big. I can feel it.
March 18, 2026
Might upgrade this to a 5⭐️ read, still need to absorb the complexity of it.
Yes it’s an “enemies to lovers” romance, but it’s also a scathing look at the publishing industry, it’s critics, and growing up in an Asian household. Surely to be one of the best “romance “books of the year.
Yes it’s an “enemies to lovers” romance, but it’s also a scathing look at the publishing industry, it’s critics, and growing up in an Asian household. Surely to be one of the best “romance “books of the year.
Want to read
March 18, 2026Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for sending me this ARC. I've heard great things about it. Can't wait to start it!!
Pub Date: 06 Oct 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
Pub Date: 06 Oct 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤✨
March 18, 2026
I am convinced that I just read something that has been etched on the soul of this author for, possibly, their whole life. Bad Words isn’t just a romance novel, it’s a gentle soap box that was stood on to speak about art, writing & the human experience in these present days. What a treasure. A part of me wants to say there’s some magic in these pages, but I know that is just not true—it’s humanity, Prometheus’ ever-glowing flame, that’s what’s here. It grabbed me by my shoulders & made me so glad to exist in a world of people who are vulnerable enough to share their thoughts with the world. With me. GOSH. I just loved this so much.
Bad Words is the PERFECT marriage of, say, a more contemporary fiction vibe with a romance. This story was so meta & eye opening to the world of modern authorship, but also so perfectly romantic & filled with delicious tension. Selina Chan, you will always be famous to me. Ugh. I love her so much, I just wanted to crawl into the book & tell her how amazing she was. & Parker, that sweet, sweet fool—of course I see my own reflection in you, the person who sees themself as a pawn for keeping peace. This book will not be everyone’s cup of tea, ESPECIALLY in the romance sphere. But, man, if you want to watch a tenuous relationship naturally unfurl to love & understanding & maybe think about what you say a bit more, Bad Words is your girl. It’s so easy for us nowadays to see people & drama & to throw our opinions around, & I think Bad Words is a timely story to remember the human being behind the smoke & mirrors.
5 ⭐️. There is not one bad word I could say about this book <3 thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press & their Early Reader Program for this eARC & also to NetGalley. LOVE YOU GUYS!!
Genuinely hyperventilating & sobbing. RTC <3
Bad Words is the PERFECT marriage of, say, a more contemporary fiction vibe with a romance. This story was so meta & eye opening to the world of modern authorship, but also so perfectly romantic & filled with delicious tension. Selina Chan, you will always be famous to me. Ugh. I love her so much, I just wanted to crawl into the book & tell her how amazing she was. & Parker, that sweet, sweet fool—of course I see my own reflection in you, the person who sees themself as a pawn for keeping peace. This book will not be everyone’s cup of tea, ESPECIALLY in the romance sphere. But, man, if you want to watch a tenuous relationship naturally unfurl to love & understanding & maybe think about what you say a bit more, Bad Words is your girl. It’s so easy for us nowadays to see people & drama & to throw our opinions around, & I think Bad Words is a timely story to remember the human being behind the smoke & mirrors.
5 ⭐️. There is not one bad word I could say about this book <3 thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press & their Early Reader Program for this eARC & also to NetGalley. LOVE YOU GUYS!!
Genuinely hyperventilating & sobbing. RTC <3
misc
January 17, 2026Raise your hand if you’re here because of Emily Henry 🖐️
January 23, 2026
first, thank you to st martin's press and goodreads for sponsoring the giveaway that put this masterpiece into my hands.
Bad Words is not what I was expecting at all. In the beginning, I thought it would lean more towards literary fiction with intense commentary about the publishing industry. What I actually got from this novel was so much better. The slow burn was amazing and Robinson's take on the romance genre was refreshing. I was talking to a friend recently about how I haven't read a really good romance book in a while and I guess I jinxed myself.
The pacing of the novel was just out of this world. I normally don't like the enemies to lovers trope in realistic fiction, but it made so much sense for Selina and Parker. Robinson perfectly captures the feeling of slowly falling in love with someone the world wants you to hate. The discussion on the publishing industry as well were also very good, it wasn't too in the reader's face but still got the gears turning.
Excited for this book to come out and for any of Robinson's future works!
edit (spoilers):
Bad Words is not what I was expecting at all. In the beginning, I thought it would lean more towards literary fiction with intense commentary about the publishing industry. What I actually got from this novel was so much better. The slow burn was amazing and Robinson's take on the romance genre was refreshing. I was talking to a friend recently about how I haven't read a really good romance book in a while and I guess I jinxed myself.
The pacing of the novel was just out of this world. I normally don't like the enemies to lovers trope in realistic fiction, but it made so much sense for Selina and Parker. Robinson perfectly captures the feeling of slowly falling in love with someone the world wants you to hate. The discussion on the publishing industry as well were also very good, it wasn't too in the reader's face but still got the gears turning.
Excited for this book to come out and for any of Robinson's future works!
edit (spoilers):
February 17, 2026
what’s worse than having a hater? A hater that’s hot. What’s worse than having a hot hater? A hater that’s hot and right!!
both a love story and a thoughtful examination of the sharp edges of the publishing ecosystem, bad words is a carefully crafted letter to book lovers and book haters alike
(very how to end a love story x you again)
both a love story and a thoughtful examination of the sharp edges of the publishing ecosystem, bad words is a carefully crafted letter to book lovers and book haters alike
(very how to end a love story x you again)
March 12, 2026
3.5
Thank you smp for the arc
I had been seeing so many authors hype this book up so I was super excited to receive an arc for it. It follows an author, Parker Navarro, who is just doing what he loves. He is writing novels based on his experiences and the story he wants to tell. But putting a book out also comes with the negative of critics. In comes Selina Chan, a critic whose job is to write reviews to her audience. 4 years ago she made a review on Parker’s debut novel which lead to his book failing. Now he is back with his next novel and once again Selina has come out with an article that has destroyed this book as well. After seeing her at a party he confronts her to see why she hates him so much. Both of them were unaware that they were being recorded and now their feud has gone public.
If I’m being honest the first 80% of the book was very slow for me. The last 20% really carried the whole story and made it worth it for me. I can see why authors are raving about this because it relates to them. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect to them as much as I would have liked. There are so many people who will love this story tho.
Thank you smp for the arc
I had been seeing so many authors hype this book up so I was super excited to receive an arc for it. It follows an author, Parker Navarro, who is just doing what he loves. He is writing novels based on his experiences and the story he wants to tell. But putting a book out also comes with the negative of critics. In comes Selina Chan, a critic whose job is to write reviews to her audience. 4 years ago she made a review on Parker’s debut novel which lead to his book failing. Now he is back with his next novel and once again Selina has come out with an article that has destroyed this book as well. After seeing her at a party he confronts her to see why she hates him so much. Both of them were unaware that they were being recorded and now their feud has gone public.
If I’m being honest the first 80% of the book was very slow for me. The last 20% really carried the whole story and made it worth it for me. I can see why authors are raving about this because it relates to them. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect to them as much as I would have liked. There are so many people who will love this story tho.
February 18, 2026
phenomenal
March 21, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately this was a hard miss for me. As someone who almost NEVER DNFs books, I had to call this one at the 45% mark. Now listen I tried, I really did. High praise from Emily Henry and almost every review I’ve seen left me excited and rushing into this story. However now I am pretty sure I’m living in some alternate universe where I’m reading a completely different book than everyone else because gosh this book was a struggle. These seemingly beloved characters were nothing but egotistical, arrogant and hypercritical. The so called “banter” I was promised was simply 100 pages of unnecessary attacks on each other and the main male character being an absolute crybaby over one (1) bad review. It was too repetitive, too harsh, and too boring. Obviously this is rated so highly so this may just be a me problem and this might even be a story I return to in the future but in this moment I want nothing more than to read literally anything else.
I also still will be logging this as “read” simply because I think I deserve some sort of compensation for this.
Unfortunately this was a hard miss for me. As someone who almost NEVER DNFs books, I had to call this one at the 45% mark. Now listen I tried, I really did. High praise from Emily Henry and almost every review I’ve seen left me excited and rushing into this story. However now I am pretty sure I’m living in some alternate universe where I’m reading a completely different book than everyone else because gosh this book was a struggle. These seemingly beloved characters were nothing but egotistical, arrogant and hypercritical. The so called “banter” I was promised was simply 100 pages of unnecessary attacks on each other and the main male character being an absolute crybaby over one (1) bad review. It was too repetitive, too harsh, and too boring. Obviously this is rated so highly so this may just be a me problem and this might even be a story I return to in the future but in this moment I want nothing more than to read literally anything else.
I also still will be logging this as “read” simply because I think I deserve some sort of compensation for this.
January 10, 2026
I have the deepest respect for romance as a genre, and I loved the way that this book pushed against the boundaries of that genre. The richest descriptions and character explorations are in the first half of this book, evidence that Robinson has created real people with rich inner lives. That portion of the book also held a nuanced conversation about criticism and showed how deeply the author explores different viewpoints. I cared least about the romance (which I cared about deeply), and when its time came, which I relished, I found myself missing some of the depth and precision I saw in the beginning of the book’s explorations of character and internet culture and the way we see ourselves and others. I could have read 50 more pages about the quick controversy at the end.
The sentences in this book were savory. Some I reread just to enjoy the way Robinson crafted them. I laughed out loud. I paused over thoughts. I flipped pages before I was quite done with them because I needed to know what was happening, but then of course I flipped back because I didn’t want to miss a single word.
I know my review could never compare to Selina’s, but I’m fully prepared to evangelize to everyone I know about the gorgeous depth and beauty of this book!
The sentences in this book were savory. Some I reread just to enjoy the way Robinson crafted them. I laughed out loud. I paused over thoughts. I flipped pages before I was quite done with them because I needed to know what was happening, but then of course I flipped back because I didn’t want to miss a single word.
I know my review could never compare to Selina’s, but I’m fully prepared to evangelize to everyone I know about the gorgeous depth and beauty of this book!
March 5, 2026
Bad Words doesn’t feel like a romance novel or a litfic, but a magical and addictive much-needed third thing.
Parker: a novelist. Selina: a methodical literary critic cited as the downfall of Parker’s first novel, and now his second. Threaded through incredibly dialed in discourse on criticism, author/reviewer boundaries, and internet dogpiling is an almost involuntary pull between these two characters to get the heart of what they really mean when they sit down to write.
I knew I was in good hands when 100 pages into this book, Selina and Parker were still actively hating each other and feuding. And then as the walls between them started to come down, setting Bad Words aside became an impossibility and I was absolutely caught on the tightrope of their tension.
Book lovers will find themselves nodding their heads and reaching for their highlighters on this one while also falling head over heels. Don’t miss this one.
Thank you to the publisher for the free advanced readers copy.
Parker: a novelist. Selina: a methodical literary critic cited as the downfall of Parker’s first novel, and now his second. Threaded through incredibly dialed in discourse on criticism, author/reviewer boundaries, and internet dogpiling is an almost involuntary pull between these two characters to get the heart of what they really mean when they sit down to write.
I knew I was in good hands when 100 pages into this book, Selina and Parker were still actively hating each other and feuding. And then as the walls between them started to come down, setting Bad Words aside became an impossibility and I was absolutely caught on the tightrope of their tension.
Book lovers will find themselves nodding their heads and reaching for their highlighters on this one while also falling head over heels. Don’t miss this one.
Thank you to the publisher for the free advanced readers copy.
Read
March 18, 2026My favorite romances are the ones that have a touch of sadness or pain that comes along with growing as a character. This book made me tear up several times as Parker and Selina confronted their issues as individuals as well as people trying to figure out who they are to each other. SO GOOD. I read this as a digital ARC (thank you, NetGalley) but I’m going to buy my own copy as soon as it’s out. Loved it!
March 20, 2026
books about books have long been an absolute favorite subgenre for me and the newest winner is @rioghnachrobinson #BadWords . I’m sorry to tease you all since this releases in October but this book was AMAZING. Enemies to lovers and the slowest of slow burns (but worth every minute) - a book critic and the author whose book she pans. Excuse me while I make this book my personality for the foreseeable future 🥰
Thank you to SMP Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to SMP Romance for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
February 27, 2026
I gave Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson 4 stars (but honestly, it’s flirting with 5).
I usually read to escape, and somehow this book did the opposite in the best way? The characters and their dialogue felt so real that I genuinely felt like I was actually with them. Sitting in the tension. Watching the drama unfold. It didn’t feel over the top or overly trope-y but instead it felt refreshingly human.
And speaking of tropes: enemies to lovers DONE RIGHT. I loved that Parker and Selina didn’t just mildly dislike each other. They hated each other. The professional resentment? The bruised egos? The sharp, cutting commentary? Delicious. The animosity felt earned, which made every tiny shift in tone that much more satisfying.
Also — Parker’s POV?? Refreshing. Sometimes male perspectives in romance can feel a little flat or overly polished, but his felt vulnerable in a way that surprised me. I really enjoyed getting to know him. It made the emotional evolution hit harder.
And the texts. The BACK AND FORTH TEXTS. As writers, the fact that their relationship evolved almost entirely through words was such a smart choice. Watching them go from public enemies to private understanding through written conversations felt intimate and very on theme.
This book is sharp but tender, clever without being pretentious, and romantic without losing its bite. If you love tension, banter, and emotional SLOW-burn (SOOO slow) growth between two very ambitious people, this one is worth picking up.
Would absolutely recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced readers copy.
I usually read to escape, and somehow this book did the opposite in the best way? The characters and their dialogue felt so real that I genuinely felt like I was actually with them. Sitting in the tension. Watching the drama unfold. It didn’t feel over the top or overly trope-y but instead it felt refreshingly human.
And speaking of tropes: enemies to lovers DONE RIGHT. I loved that Parker and Selina didn’t just mildly dislike each other. They hated each other. The professional resentment? The bruised egos? The sharp, cutting commentary? Delicious. The animosity felt earned, which made every tiny shift in tone that much more satisfying.
Also — Parker’s POV?? Refreshing. Sometimes male perspectives in romance can feel a little flat or overly polished, but his felt vulnerable in a way that surprised me. I really enjoyed getting to know him. It made the emotional evolution hit harder.
And the texts. The BACK AND FORTH TEXTS. As writers, the fact that their relationship evolved almost entirely through words was such a smart choice. Watching them go from public enemies to private understanding through written conversations felt intimate and very on theme.
This book is sharp but tender, clever without being pretentious, and romantic without losing its bite. If you love tension, banter, and emotional SLOW-burn (SOOO slow) growth between two very ambitious people, this one is worth picking up.
Would absolutely recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced readers copy.
March 4, 2026
to echo the incredible emily henry: BAD WORDS is a once-in-a-lifetime read, and at its altar i offer the hours i've spent attempting to put my ardent love for it into sufficient words. i could tell you what you could read anywhere else—that this is a true enemies-to-lovers romance between promising author parker navarro and literary critic selina chan—or i could tell you something truer: that ríoghnach robinson has written a revelation.
beneath its deeply genuine characters, endlessly charming humor, passionate love for reading and writing, and its unforgettable central romance, BAD WORDS asks a singular, razor sharp question: how do you trust and love and create art in a world that has made up its mind about who you are and what you're worth? we are, all of us, one precisely worded viral post away from living a different life.
the slow blossoming relationship between parker and selina happens behind the scenes of their devastatingly public and hateful feud, casting a parallel timeline of new love and crushing vulnerability alongside the cruelty they experience at the hands of people who have loud, unshakeable opinions of who they are, largely thanks to each other's actions. laced throughout their lives is the everlasting love of the stories we tell, both to ourselves and one another, and the hazy areas inbetween, where the truth is often found. i have never rooted harder for a couple than i have for parker and selina, and i can feel now that i'll be instinctively looking for them in every bookstore and bar and party i go to.
an astonishing and inimitable novel about love, art, perception, and truth, BAD WORDS is an absolute masterpiece. if i have anything to do with it, this will be the romance book everyone is talking about this autumn. it releases this october, and i can't wait for you to read it.
beneath its deeply genuine characters, endlessly charming humor, passionate love for reading and writing, and its unforgettable central romance, BAD WORDS asks a singular, razor sharp question: how do you trust and love and create art in a world that has made up its mind about who you are and what you're worth? we are, all of us, one precisely worded viral post away from living a different life.
the slow blossoming relationship between parker and selina happens behind the scenes of their devastatingly public and hateful feud, casting a parallel timeline of new love and crushing vulnerability alongside the cruelty they experience at the hands of people who have loud, unshakeable opinions of who they are, largely thanks to each other's actions. laced throughout their lives is the everlasting love of the stories we tell, both to ourselves and one another, and the hazy areas inbetween, where the truth is often found. i have never rooted harder for a couple than i have for parker and selina, and i can feel now that i'll be instinctively looking for them in every bookstore and bar and party i go to.
an astonishing and inimitable novel about love, art, perception, and truth, BAD WORDS is an absolute masterpiece. if i have anything to do with it, this will be the romance book everyone is talking about this autumn. it releases this october, and i can't wait for you to read it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
what. a. book.
thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the early copy!
Bad Words follows two characters: Parker, an author, and Selina, the critic whose scathing review made Parker’s debut novel a flop and ends up reviewing his new book four years later. The two get into a feud in person and it goes viral, sparking conversations online about the intricacies and complexities of literary criticism and the line between art and the artist.
I found this premise immediately engaging from the first pages and the writing really sucks you into the setting: the publishing and journalism world in NYC. The two main characters felt so real and I love that we got dual POV, I feel like that’s so rare for a literary-leaning romance but Ríoghnach did such a wonderful job giving the characters such distinct voices, they feel like they’re right in front of you.
I devoured this book. I was so immersed in these characters lives and the tension and conflict had me flying through it. The themes of identity were so strong and that is one of my favorite things to read about. I find it so relatable and it’s an important topic for people to read, to find themselves in it and to understand different experiences. I loved Parker, I loved Selina, and I loved seeing their (entirely valid) hatred turn into a friendship and eventually build to romance. I had to hold back tears on the subway this morning finishing the book.
I have so many quotes I’d love to post but since the book doesn’t come out for a while, I’ll hold off. I highly recommend this—I’ve already spoken about it to multiple people at work today and i will continue to tell people about it.
I just wish it was coming out in paperback on release 😢
thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the early copy!
Bad Words follows two characters: Parker, an author, and Selina, the critic whose scathing review made Parker’s debut novel a flop and ends up reviewing his new book four years later. The two get into a feud in person and it goes viral, sparking conversations online about the intricacies and complexities of literary criticism and the line between art and the artist.
I found this premise immediately engaging from the first pages and the writing really sucks you into the setting: the publishing and journalism world in NYC. The two main characters felt so real and I love that we got dual POV, I feel like that’s so rare for a literary-leaning romance but Ríoghnach did such a wonderful job giving the characters such distinct voices, they feel like they’re right in front of you.
I devoured this book. I was so immersed in these characters lives and the tension and conflict had me flying through it. The themes of identity were so strong and that is one of my favorite things to read about. I find it so relatable and it’s an important topic for people to read, to find themselves in it and to understand different experiences. I loved Parker, I loved Selina, and I loved seeing their (entirely valid) hatred turn into a friendship and eventually build to romance. I had to hold back tears on the subway this morning finishing the book.
I have so many quotes I’d love to post but since the book doesn’t come out for a while, I’ll hold off. I highly recommend this—I’ve already spoken about it to multiple people at work today and i will continue to tell people about it.
I just wish it was coming out in paperback on release 😢
March 22, 2026
Everyone in this book is smarter than I could ever dream to be.
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
I’m gonna be so real I didn’t see how they could get past their rage for each other!!!! But they did (this is not a spoiler because it is the nature of the genre) and it was wondrous.
At one point I literally just stood up. I was holding the book out in front of me and I think my face was like 😦😦😦😦😦 because there were so many horrors happening at once and I was so distressed. Standing did help actually.
Selina is SUCH an incredible character. I love a FMC who stands ten toes down for what she believes in but is also able to admit when she was actually wrong (on the rare occasion she is). She’s talented and brilliant and brave and she has put so much work into being the best that she can be and she deserves to be celebrated!!!!
And Parker is such a flip of the usual stereotypes - he is earnest and open (to a point) and desperately wants to be loved and liked. He’s vulnerable and emotional and messy! And he (eventually) recognizes that he is able to be those things without his credibility being questioned in a way that Selina is not. I love inverted tropes and this was done so well.
I also loved that their friends were truly just so kind and loving. They cared so openly and wholly about them and wanted the best for them over all else. Their lives look completely different and they don’t even question it, they’re just happy for them. I would die for Arthur to be honest.
🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
I’m gonna be so real I didn’t see how they could get past their rage for each other!!!! But they did (this is not a spoiler because it is the nature of the genre) and it was wondrous.
At one point I literally just stood up. I was holding the book out in front of me and I think my face was like 😦😦😦😦😦 because there were so many horrors happening at once and I was so distressed. Standing did help actually.
Selina is SUCH an incredible character. I love a FMC who stands ten toes down for what she believes in but is also able to admit when she was actually wrong (on the rare occasion she is). She’s talented and brilliant and brave and she has put so much work into being the best that she can be and she deserves to be celebrated!!!!
And Parker is such a flip of the usual stereotypes - he is earnest and open (to a point) and desperately wants to be loved and liked. He’s vulnerable and emotional and messy! And he (eventually) recognizes that he is able to be those things without his credibility being questioned in a way that Selina is not. I love inverted tropes and this was done so well.
I also loved that their friends were truly just so kind and loving. They cared so openly and wholly about them and wanted the best for them over all else. Their lives look completely different and they don’t even question it, they’re just happy for them. I would die for Arthur to be honest.
October 29, 2025
Mark my words, this book will convert a lot of romance genre naysayers into believers. They will come for the sharp commentary and intersection of critics, authors and social media. But they will stay for Selina and Parker's banter and barbs. This romance is so smart and on point and the slow build to the HEA was just pitch perfect. Reader, I LOVED this.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
March 22, 2026
It’s me. I’m the one holding a “Selina Chan’s #1 Fan” sign.
Read
February 1, 2026i am so excited for this eeee
February 1, 2026
This book is absolutely brilliant.
October 13, 2025
I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting from this book, or if I really had any expectations, but I knew I was going to be reading a book slightly different than what I normally go after. I was, however, pleasantly surprised in the best way. I didn't realize how my emotions would be shifting so much with different sections of the book. One moment, I was intrigued, like Where is this gonna go? The next, I was like, is this going to pick up? Then, I taste the drama! It gets juicy. Next, it's sexy. Then it's sad. Then I'm happy! I don't know, I think I sort of fell for both lead characters, and I was thankful it didn't go into the typical, "miscommunication, but we're not gonna talk about it, and so we part miserably for the rest of our lives never really knowing" routine. This book felt fresh and fun. I read it in three sittings. It was refreshing to read about two characters who took responsibility for themselves and worked together like healthy adults. OH, and I must mention, the whole way through I felt like this could easily be a movie!
Thank you @stmartinspress and @rioghnachrobinson for this early bound manuscript! I now have a new-to-me author whom I will look out for.
Thank you @stmartinspress and @rioghnachrobinson for this early bound manuscript! I now have a new-to-me author whom I will look out for.
March 20, 2026
I loved this book. Truly loved it. Clear‑the‑schedule, just‑one‑more‑chapter‑that‑turns‑into‑the‑last‑chapter loved it. Easy five stars and the kind of read that pulls you straight out of a reading slump.
The premise hooked me immediately. Parker Navarro is an author still carrying the sting of a brutal review written years ago by Selina Chan, a high‑profile literary critic. When she’s assigned to review his next book, they clash publicly, the argument goes viral, and suddenly their long‑standing tension is great for his sales and her publication’s traffic. Messy. Complicated. Completely irresistible.
What makes this book stand out is that it’s not just banter and chemistry, though it absolutely delivers on both. It dives into the publishing world, criticism culture, and online discourse in a way that feels sharp, current, and real without ever feeling heavy‑handed. The push and pull between creating and critiquing, and how quickly the internet turns conflict into spectacle, is handled with insight and heart.
Selina and Parker are stubborn, driven, and wonderfully flawed. They don’t just mildly dislike each other — they genuinely clash, and their arguments actually make sense. No flimsy misunderstandings. No dragged‑out drama. Every shift in their dynamic feels earned, and watching them slowly learn to listen instead of react was incredibly satisfying.
Enemies to lovers is done right here. They truly resent each other at the start, professionally and personally, which makes every crack in the armor and every moment of connection hit harder. The romance builds naturally and lands with intensity, tenderness, and real emotional payoff.
I also need to say this: the editing is spectacular. The pacing is tight, the dialogue snaps, and the story flows so smoothly that nothing pulls you out of the experience. The polish on this book is obvious, and it elevates an already fantastic story into something exceptional.
Fast paced but never rushed. Smart without trying too hard. Emotional without losing the fun. I was fully invested from beginning to end, and the final pages had me grinning and immediately wanting to tell someone about it.
I officially have a new favorite author, and I cannot wait to read what Rioghnach Robinson writes next.
If you love sharp dialogue, publishing‑world drama, and romance that actually earns its emotional payoff, do not skip this one.
★★★★★
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance review copy
www.pinkstinx.blogspot.com
The premise hooked me immediately. Parker Navarro is an author still carrying the sting of a brutal review written years ago by Selina Chan, a high‑profile literary critic. When she’s assigned to review his next book, they clash publicly, the argument goes viral, and suddenly their long‑standing tension is great for his sales and her publication’s traffic. Messy. Complicated. Completely irresistible.
What makes this book stand out is that it’s not just banter and chemistry, though it absolutely delivers on both. It dives into the publishing world, criticism culture, and online discourse in a way that feels sharp, current, and real without ever feeling heavy‑handed. The push and pull between creating and critiquing, and how quickly the internet turns conflict into spectacle, is handled with insight and heart.
Selina and Parker are stubborn, driven, and wonderfully flawed. They don’t just mildly dislike each other — they genuinely clash, and their arguments actually make sense. No flimsy misunderstandings. No dragged‑out drama. Every shift in their dynamic feels earned, and watching them slowly learn to listen instead of react was incredibly satisfying.
Enemies to lovers is done right here. They truly resent each other at the start, professionally and personally, which makes every crack in the armor and every moment of connection hit harder. The romance builds naturally and lands with intensity, tenderness, and real emotional payoff.
I also need to say this: the editing is spectacular. The pacing is tight, the dialogue snaps, and the story flows so smoothly that nothing pulls you out of the experience. The polish on this book is obvious, and it elevates an already fantastic story into something exceptional.
Fast paced but never rushed. Smart without trying too hard. Emotional without losing the fun. I was fully invested from beginning to end, and the final pages had me grinning and immediately wanting to tell someone about it.
I officially have a new favorite author, and I cannot wait to read what Rioghnach Robinson writes next.
If you love sharp dialogue, publishing‑world drama, and romance that actually earns its emotional payoff, do not skip this one.
★★★★★
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance review copy
www.pinkstinx.blogspot.com
March 17, 2026
“if I had to choose between a clean and confident judgment and this—this mess of contradictory feeling, this stew of complication; if I had to choose between the neat and comprehensible outside and the inexplicable inside, then, for the first time in my life, I chose the inside. I would love him right into my own uncertainty.”
3.5 stars. Thank you to net galley for allowing me to review this.
What a debut, honestly the romance world needs a voice like robinson’s. A voice that creates room for two imperfect people with their own problems to meet halfway. As someone with 4 siblings just like parker who has resigned to no kids in the future because of just not wanting to worry extra it was nice to see this anxiety spread on paper. For the people who feel consistently lonely and misunderstood will find a home in Selina.
This had some scary undertones, it just kept getting worse for them but it was sexy when they hated each other i have to admit !
it also provides a perspective into social media mixed in with the publishing and criticism industry, what should we give up of ourselves to stay afloat
3.5 stars. Thank you to net galley for allowing me to review this.
What a debut, honestly the romance world needs a voice like robinson’s. A voice that creates room for two imperfect people with their own problems to meet halfway. As someone with 4 siblings just like parker who has resigned to no kids in the future because of just not wanting to worry extra it was nice to see this anxiety spread on paper. For the people who feel consistently lonely and misunderstood will find a home in Selina.
This had some scary undertones, it just kept getting worse for them but it was sexy when they hated each other i have to admit !
it also provides a perspective into social media mixed in with the publishing and criticism industry, what should we give up of ourselves to stay afloat
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A carefully crafted examination of today's literary world with a pulsing, slow burn romance driving the plot. This book definitely reads more like literary fiction than romance. A lot of this is due to the intentionally flawed characters and the social media commentary (well executed, and as frustrating to read as the author intended. I felt like I was doomscrolling even though I was actually reading a book.) It took a while for me to warm up to the characters (and to be honest, I still have my reservations about Parker.) Every choice in this story feels conscious and later on ties into a theme of the book, but the beginning definitely dragged while the author laid the groundwork. While as a reader and reviewer I am interested in the crux regarding a critic's place in the literary world, it was not quite enough to move the story. The pace picks up around the 40% mark and kept me invested the rest of the way. The banter was well crafted and Selina is a new favorite FMC. I think fans of Yellowface and The Idiot will really enjoy this. 4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
March 21, 2026
Enemies to Lovers Fans Unite!
This story has all the elements of angst that will draw you in and hold you captive in your reading chair!
Parker is the author in this story and has his book highly criticized by Selina who works for a long established and well respected magazine.
So as you can imagine Parker was upset and after a couple drinks he says what’s on his mind to Selina but as many people have happen to them nowadays, a bystander was filming their exchange and you guessed it. The internet exploded with hate on everything.
Not to give too much away ,but let’s just wrap it up by saying not everyone understands where the characters are coming from and online trolls who hate everything will continue to do so regardless.
The best anyone can do is just give each other a little Grace and not be so judgmental.
There’s a lot of love for these characters and their story. This Author definitely found the right words and I would never describe any of them as bad!
4 well written stars!
This story has all the elements of angst that will draw you in and hold you captive in your reading chair!
Parker is the author in this story and has his book highly criticized by Selina who works for a long established and well respected magazine.
So as you can imagine Parker was upset and after a couple drinks he says what’s on his mind to Selina but as many people have happen to them nowadays, a bystander was filming their exchange and you guessed it. The internet exploded with hate on everything.
Not to give too much away ,but let’s just wrap it up by saying not everyone understands where the characters are coming from and online trolls who hate everything will continue to do so regardless.
The best anyone can do is just give each other a little Grace and not be so judgmental.
There’s a lot of love for these characters and their story. This Author definitely found the right words and I would never describe any of them as bad!
4 well written stars!
Want to read
January 29, 2026Smart Romance Newsletter 1/29/26: Rioghnach Robinson’s, Bad Words (October 6th) is perhaps one of the most hyped releases of the year, with people (myself included) fighting for galleys, January launch events despite the fall release date and a prominent (and rare!) Emily Henry blurb. The author’s Instagram presence, a funny and unedited mix of classical music, copy editing and math jokes, suggests a keen intelligence that also appears in the description of the book, which alludes to a broader commentary on art, ambition and the creative life in addition to a deeply felt romance. In reading the press coverage of the novel, I’m reminded of the Hamilton quote, “I’m looking for a mind at work,” which I think is perhaps the best summative line I can offer when trying to describe my own taste. If this book lives up to its promise, it will top many best of lists this year, likely mine included.
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