Description
Praised by bestselling authors Emily Henry, Carley Fortune and Mary H.K. Choi, Bad Words is a sharp, deeply felt debut about ambition, vulnerability, criticism and the connections that can both inspire and undo us.
Parker Navarro’s debut novel was supposed to define his career. Instead, a blistering review from literary critic Selina Chan helped turn it into the flop of the decade. Four years later, Parker has another chance with a new book, while Selina faces the professional risk of reviewing his work again.
When her second takedown sparks a viral feud, their public clash becomes a spectacle for the literary world. But beneath the arguments and online attention, a quieter conversation begins to develop, challenging what Parker and Selina believe about success, sincerity and each other.
Incisive yet tender, Bad Words explores the tension between ambition and integrity, the vulnerability of putting creative work into the world, and the unexpected closeness that can emerge between two people standing on opposite sides of the page.

