Publisher: HarperCollins
Release date: 08 October 2026
Back cover blurb: This rivalry is setting the literary world on fire – but who will survive the flames? When Selina Chan, New York’s fiercest literary critic, slams Parker Navarro’s latest novel, he is pushed to his breaking point. Once was painful enough. But this time, it’s personal. What begins as a private feud quickly erupts into a viral online spectacle, captivating a bookish audience who are eager to fan the flames. But it's what's left unsaid that could ruin them both…
Selina Chan is perhaps New York City's fiercest literary critic. She read Parker Navarro's debut novel, and absolutely slaughtered it.
So it shouldn't be a surprise to Parker when she does the same thing to his second novel. But for some reason it is.
Parker is deeply hurt by her review. He is proud of his work and yes, he knows that critics have the right to an opinion, and even to not like a book, but when it seems to be a personal attack, then someone has crossed the line.
When Parker bumps into Selina at a literary event he almost ignores her, but then he reconsiders.
The two of them have it out in what they think is a private spat. Not realising that they are being witnessed, and filmed...
When their fiery argument goes viral, people are quick to take sides. Soon what started as a disagreement between two indiviudals quickly escalates into something much bigger.
Theen something between the pair shifts as they call a truce over Christmas and New Year, and what follows is surprising for both of them.
Bad Words is available now via Amazon online and all good book shops.
Thank You to the publishers who approved my request via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.