Critics, Crushes & Comebacks: Ríoghnach Robinson on Bad Words
Bad Words is the debut novel by Ríoghnach Robinson (pronounced ree-uh-nock), a Good Morning America Book Club pick and instant USA Today bestseller. It follows a struggling author and the critic whose review sank his first book. When she reviews his second one, a viral feud erupts. Below, Robinson answers Bookfinity's "12 Things" about critics, online culture, and her favorite New York City hideaways. Plus: book club questions and a chance to win one of 25 signed hardcovers.
In this article:
Bad Words
by Rioghnach Robinson
A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK!
"A book that could only ever have been written by Ríoghnach 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.
Ríoghnach Robinson is the author of Bad Words, a USA Today bestseller, Good Morning America Book Club selection, and Barnes & Noble Book Club pick. She grew up in North Carolina, studied economics at Kenyon College, and now lives in New York City. She has also written for The Onion, America's Finest News Source.
Connect with Ríoghnach Robinson
Instagram: @rioghnachrobinson
Website: rioghnachrobinson.com
On Bad Words
Q: Parker and Selina start out as author and critic. What drew you to the space between critique and care?
The critic/artist relationship is an interesting one because the two can be diametrically opposed, and real hatred can form, but there isn't inherently a morally correct side. I think most people have these dueling urges: the author's, to create, to be taken seriously, and to be spoken about kindly; and the critic's, to discern, to have and share a strong opinion, and to like and dislike art without people making assumptions about your character.
Q: Selina's takedowns are funny and brutal. How did you write criticism sharp enough to sting without making her a villain?
The first goal was to make her funny. Readers can be pretty mercenary, in that they're more inclined to forgive meanness in a character if that person amuses them. I also think that Selina's motivations are important in humanizing her criticism—her goal is to help readers, rather than to self-aggrandize or preach or whatever it might be.
Q: The feud goes viral and readers pick sides. What did you want to say about how online culture treats books and the people who make them?
Online culture treats books and people similarly: Books and human lives are both longform experiences that are easy to mischaracterize or misunderstand when raided for shortform excerpts.
Q: New York City feels like a character in the novel. Which places did you most want readers to experience with Parker and Selina?
While I had a lot of fun writing the launches and parties and conventions, the late-night diner and tucked-away indie bookstore are my favorite settings.
A Book Lover's Life
Q: What are you currently reading?
Nymph by Sofia Montrone in hard copy and Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth on audio.
Q: Who or what got you into writing?
I can't remember a time before I was interested in writing! All the way back to elementary school, I was writing stories. I credit my parents.
Off the Page
Q: What are you most excited about these days?
Always the next book.
Q: What's one thing you've always wanted to do but have been too scared to do?
As a lifelong pianist, learn to play the guitar! What do you mean, the notes aren't laid out in ascending order?!
Rapid-Fire
Q: Paperback, hardcover, ebook or audiobook?
Hardback!
Q: What's your favorite pen or pencil?
Uni-ball Vision Micro-tip!
Q: What's something you think is underrated?
Taking a bath in the dark.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
I'm an epic fantasy lifer, but 19th-century Brit Lit is always a win for me too.
25 lucky Bookfinity readers will receive a signed hardcover copy of this #1 Indie Next Pick! Enter to win before 11/30/26.
Giveaways are sponsored by St. Martin's Press.
Spoilers ahead! There are questions that include the ending below…
- Consider Selina and Parker’s relationship over the course of the novel. What ultimately brought them together? Given their related industries, do you think they’d have found their way to each other eventually?
- Parker is part of a large, boisterous family. What is his role within the dynamics of his family, and how has this affected the way he communicates and presents himself? What are the benefits and pitfalls of his desire to be liked and to avoid conflict? In what ways does this inform his writing?
- Selina keeps a small circle of trusted friends. Why do you believe that is? What is it about Parker that allows her to trust him despite their history?
- While Selina’s motivation is to prove her parents wrong, Parker’s motivation has been to provide for his family and make them proud. What are some similarities that Parker and Selina have despite the differences in their upbringings?
- Selina cares about the work that is put out into the world; that's why she's a critic. It's said that book reviews are for the readers, but is there a line between criticism and bullying when reviewing books? If there is, where do you think that line falls, and what entices people to cross it?
- With the rise of social media, public discourse has grown more accessible, leading to a rise in a culture of takedowns and social cancellations. Within Bad Words we see these conversations taking place in both public spaces and the seemingly private forums that are part of them. Do you believe these spaces allow for productive discussion? If not, why do you think so many engage with them?
- How does Parker’s experience as a third-generation Filipino American and Selina’s as a first-generation Chinese American impact their experiences as creatives, as friends, and as individuals throughout the story?
- Should books be considered literary masterpieces for them to be worth reading? What makes a book worth reading for you personally?
- Parker and Selina carefully craft personas for themselves in their writing, in their behavior online, in their workplaces, and in real life. How do these limited personas compare to “the real thing,” to the characters as whole people?
- Even when Parker and Selina still despise each other, they feel hints of envy. Parker envies Selina’s clarity and conviction, while Selina envies Parker’s likability and relative financial security. How do these feelings of envy first reinforce, then conflict with, their feelings of dislike?
- Parker and Selina’s feud is staked on publicity, but it’s also staked on the idea of changing people’s minds about their work and their reputations. Has your mind ever been changed by something you saw online, or have you changed somebody else’s mind? Why is it difficult for people to change their minds, both online and offline?
- Even though Selina’s reviews are painful to Parker, he finds something true in them, something that shows real understanding of him and his work. Is there something frightening about being understood? How does the idea of good faith play into Parker’s relationship with Selina’s reviews?
- Throughout the book, Selina is forced to deal with how the role of the critic has transformed. Do you think professional critics are important? How are critics connected to, and disconnected from, artists?
- Are you a Selina or a Parker? Why?
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