Bad Words is a gem of a novel and that rare thing, a literary romance.

Four years after Parker Navarro’s first novel was panned by critic Selina Chan, she has done the same thing to his upcoming book. These two loathe each other – Selina thinks Parker’s writing is pretentious and pointless, he thinks she is vindictive and smug. That these two could fall in love feels impossible.

When their spat goes viral, it feeds online discourse about influencers, book sales and the credibility of literary criticism. Social media attacks on them both become personal and vicious.

Over a snowy holiday season in a bustling New York City (a character in itself),Selina and Parker spend time together, share texts and emails, and realise that they have a lot in common – including an inexplicable attraction. These private moments are at odds with their public squabble, which makes it difficult for either of them to think clearly.

Selina and Parker have to reconsider their ambition, their family dynamics and how they want to live. Their romance has equal billing with questions about the power (and the point) of literary criticism, and the echo chamber of social media. Bad Words is so topical in the way that it interrogates the industries of book publishing and reviewing, wrapped around their tender and relatable romance. 

There is a delicious tension between their public selves and how they are vulnerable with each other in private. Their family backgrounds don’t help – Parker has too much family interference, and Selina too little. 

I loved the way that initially, they are both so certain about each other and they slowly unravel their preconceived ideas and change their views as they open themselves up. Both are deceived and betrayed (not by each other) so they must get over that and work hard to risk a happily ever after. Bad Words is deeply moving and one of my favourite books of 2026.

Laura Black is a romance editor, reader and reviewer based in Queensland, Australia. You can visit me on Instagram @laura_black_reads