Bad Words Characters

A novelist, also called Pijay, whose debut These Extraordinary Times sold for $1.2 million but was panned by Selina Chan, and whose second novel High and Dry is also negatively reviewed. He is anxious about public criticism, financially precarious after taxes and family debts, and lives in Brooklyn. He often copes by walking and by writing.

Arc: Moves from dreading and hating Selina's criticism to confronting her publicly, then to emailing and eventually loving her. After online backlash, he posts a vulnerable defense of Selina and reconciles with her, settling into a private domestic life and a new publishing deal.

• Selina Chan — critic and rival who becomes his lover
• Arthur Leung — roommate and friend
• Bill Owens — his literary agent
• Lauren Nilsen — his editor at Coronation Books
• Elena — his sister
• Kevin — his brother
• Christi — his sister
• Justin — his brother
• Parker's mother (Mom) — his mother
• Guillermo Navarro — his father
• Emily Shapiro — brief romantic interest and bookseller
• Jenny House — ally in the Chan Pan Support Group
• Carla Lew — ally in the Chan Pan Support Group
• Aiden Linville — ally in the Chan Pan Support Group
• J.J. Purnell — ally in the Chan Pan Support Group
• Brian Falwell — journalist who interviews him
• Lola Xu — online critic who attacks his book

A senior editor and critic at City Magazine, addressed as Xiao Yan by her father, who writes negative reviews of Parker's novels. She believes criticism helps readers cut through chatter and finds refuge in books, especially Asylum Piece. She is guarded, estranged from her parents, and socially isolated.

Arc: Moves from professional adversary to email correspondent and lover of Parker. After being exposed by Brian Falwell and Lola Xu, she defends Parker online, reconciles with him, and chooses private love over clean critical judgment.

• Parker Navarro — reviewed author, rival, and lover
• Arthur Leung — friend after initial misgivings
• Jacob Chau — best friend and brief college ex-boyfriend
• Cassie — friend
• Hayden Fairbanks — City Magazine colleague and boss-like handler
• Scott Goodwin — her editor in chief at City Magazine
• Kellie Cade — City Magazine colleague
• Joyce Crafton — City Magazine colleague
• Mike — City Magazine colleague
• Charles Chan — her father
• Michelle Chan — her mother
• Lola Xu — online supporter turned complicated critic
• Jenny House — fellow critic who warns her about the group chat
• Emily Shapiro — Parker's date whom she meets at his apartment
• Nadia — bartender at the Slippery Cork
• Juliette Liao — author she admires
• Christian Gatehead — panelist who insults her
• Marcy D'Artagnan — critic whose review led her to Asylum Piece

Parker's roommate and friend, whom Parker met in a Yale writing seminar. He is supportive, often agitated by Parker's reviews, and protective of Parker's mental health.

Arc: Consistently cares for Parker, from comforting him about reviews to taking away his devices during online harassment, and later accepts Selina after initial misgivings.

• Parker Navarro — roommate and friend
• Selina Chan — friend after initial wariness
• Jacob Chau — party acquaintance
• Cassie — party acquaintance

Selina's best friend and brief college ex-boyfriend, partner to Cassie, and father to Lyra. He is supportive, teasing, and nonjudgmental.

Arc: Remains Selina's steady friend, hosting brunch and a New Year's party and supporting her through the fallout with Parker.

• Selina Chan — best friend and brief college ex-boyfriend
• Cassie — partner
• Lyra — daughter
• Parker Navarro — acquaintance and friend

Jacob's partner and Selina's friend. She is blunt, teasing, protective, and practical.

Arc: Supports Selina, urges her to end the feud, and later comforts her when she breaks down; she does not undergo a major change.

• Jacob Chau — partner
• Lyra — daughter
• Selina Chan — friend
• Parker Navarro — acquaintance

City Magazine's handler from Nextward Capital Associates, focused on traffic, profit, AI-generated content, and buzzy headlines. She treats Scott dismissively and pushes the staff toward commercial strategy.

Arc: Pressures Selina over the feud, then pushes controversial content strategy and later reveals Densmore Foundation concerns and office rent issues; she does not soften.

• Selina Chan — City Magazine colleague she pressures
• Scott Goodwin — colleague she treats dismissively
• Kellie Cade — City Magazine staff member
• Joyce Crafton — City Magazine staff member
• Mike — City Magazine staff member
• Sandro Nufiez — City Magazine staff member

City Magazine's editor in chief, who defends editorial credibility and supports Selina's criticism while resisting Hayden's push for AI and popular-book coverage.

Arc: Protects Selina and City's integrity against Hayden's commercial pressure, then navigates remote work and later regains editorial oversight from Nextward.

• Selina Chan — editor in chief and colleague
• Hayden Fairbanks — colleague he resists
• Kellie Cade — City Magazine colleague
• Joyce Crafton — City Magazine colleague
• Mike — City Magazine colleague
• Erica Robson — City Magazine colleague
• Brandon — City Magazine junior book critic
• Sandy Reilly — his former editor who advised him

Parker's literary agent, who sold These Extraordinary Times in a nine-publisher auction for $1.2 million. He advises Parker on critics and handles media requests.

Arc: Handles Parker's career through the backlash, relays interview requests, and later congratulates Parker on becoming a New York Times-bestselling author.

• Parker Navarro — his client
• Lauren Nilsen — publishing colleague

Parker's editor at Coronation Books, who bought These Extraordinary Times and High and Dry. She later buys Parker's next two books on proposal.

Arc: Supports Parker commercially, apologizes for the festival, arranges a book club and launch event, and later negotiates a new deal.

• Parker Navarro — his editor
• Bill Owens — publishing colleague
• Juliette Liao — author whose event she arranges
• Christian Gatehead — author Parker replaces at Juliette's launch

A bookseller at Word in Greenpoint who runs Parker's launch event and briefly dates him. She is friendly, professionally connected to Parker, and mindful of conflicts of interest.

Arc: Meets Parker at the bar, dates him briefly, accepts the end of the relationship, and continues to host his launch.

• Parker Navarro — brief romantic interest and bookseller
• Selina Chan — meets her at Parker's apartment

An author panned by Selina Chan who creates the Chan Pan Support Group and hosts a house party for Parker and other authors.

Arc: Initially supports Parker against Selina, then later warns Selina about the group chat and sends her screenshots.

• Parker Navarro — ally in the Chan Pan Support Group
• Selina Chan — fellow critic who later warns her
• Carla Lew — Chan Pan Support Group member
• Aiden Linville — Chan Pan Support Group member
• J.J. Purnell — Chan Pan Support Group member
• Martin MacEnroe — author she says she met at a launch

An author reviewed by Selina Chan and a member of the Chan Pan Support Group. She toasts 'To the feud' with Parker and later attacks Selina in the group chat.

Arc: Supports Parker, then turns against Selina after Parker defends her; she does not significantly change.

• Parker Navarro — ally and drinking companion
• Selina Chan — critic she attacks
• Jenny House — Chan Pan Support Group member
• Aiden Linville — Chan Pan Support Group member
• J.J. Purnell — Chan Pan Support Group member

An author whose second book Selina Chan called 'unchallenging' but 'blessedly slender.' He is a member of the Chan Pan Support Group and jokes that Parker is his hero.

Arc: Supports Parker and attacks Selina; he does not significantly change.

• Parker Navarro — ally in the Chan Pan Support Group
• Selina Chan — critic who panned his second book
• Jenny House — Chan Pan Support Group member
• Carla Lew — Chan Pan Support Group member
• J.J. Purnell — Chan Pan Support Group member

An author in the Chan Pan Support Group who reassures Parker and distrusts Selina Chan.

Arc: Supports Parker and repeats that Selina is worse in real life; he does not significantly change.

• Parker Navarro — ally in the Chan Pan Support Group
• Selina Chan — critic he distrusts
• Jenny House — Chan Pan Support Group member
• Carla Lew — Chan Pan Support Group member
• Aiden Linville — Chan Pan Support Group member

An online book person and critic who supports Selina Chan, starts a petition against Parker's Paris Review story, and later posts a viral thread attacking Parker's book.

Arc: Moves from Selina supporter to a critic whose thread fuels public backlash, then posts 'Interesting developments' after Parker's vulnerable post.

• Selina Chan — online supporter and later complicated acquaintance
• Parker Navarro — online critic who attacks his book

A journalist from The Bay Now and a high school acquaintance of Parker. He writes the profile 'The Dragon Lady of Publishing' about Selina Chan.

Arc: Interviews Parker, uses his comments to criticize Selina, and exposes private remarks Parker made.

• Parker Navarro — journalist and high school acquaintance
• Selina Chan — profile subject he criticizes
• Tyler Pressman — high school friend

A senior editor at City Magazine and colleague of Selina Chan. She is attuned to online reactions and often supports Selina while managing management.

Arc: Supports Selina, tracks events like n+7 and Wiseman Fest, and later asks Selina why she defended Parker.

• Selina Chan — City Magazine colleague and friend
• Hayden Fairbanks — City Magazine colleague
• Scott Goodwin — City Magazine colleague
• Erica Robson — City Magazine colleague

A City Magazine editor who pitches Teresa Cagle's Pathogenius and later worries that the Selina-Parker feud is disruptive.

Arc: Remains an editorial voice wanting City to return to writing great pieces; she does not significantly change.

• Selina Chan — City Magazine colleague
• Hayden Fairbanks — City Magazine colleague she clashes with
• Scott Goodwin — City Magazine colleague
• Mike — senior colleague

A senior City Magazine staffer who shares Joyce's concerns about the feud being disruptive and predates Scott.

Arc: Does not significantly change; he remains a quiet senior presence at City.

• Joyce Crafton — senior colleague
• Hayden Fairbanks — City Magazine colleague
• Scott Goodwin — City Magazine colleague he predates
• Selina Chan — City Magazine colleague

Selina's father, who is estranged from her after she chose English literature and journalism. He confronts her about the public feud after hearing about it from a coworker.

Arc: Breaks two years of no calls, later emails his concern, and eventually becomes someone Selina tries to reconnect with by email.

• Selina Chan — his daughter
• Michelle Chan — his wife
• Fred Richards — coworker who told him about the feud

Selina's mother, referenced as part of the parents who disapproved of Selina's career and cut off financial support. She appears in the background of a call and in family emails.

Arc: Remains a background source of estrangement; Selina eventually emails her parents to apologize and suggest a call.

• Selina Chan — her daughter
• Charles Chan — her husband

Parker's sister, whose student loans Parker paid off. She hosts Parker and Selina in Boston with her girlfriend Katy and is concerned about Parker's mental health.

Arc: Deals with family tension with Kevin and remains supportive of Parker; she does not undergo a major change.

• Parker Navarro — her brother
• Kevin — her brother with obvious tension
• Katy — her girlfriend
• Christi — her sister
• Justin — her brother
• Parker's mother (Mom) — her mother

Parker's brother, who is unemployed during part of the story and resents Elena's student loans and the family's financial sacrifices.

Arc: Vents resentment to Parker, later reconciles with him, and appears at the family gathering in Parker's apartment.

• Parker Navarro — his brother
• Elena — his sister with tension
• Maria — his new girlfriend
• Christi — his sister
• Justin — his brother with banter

Parker's sister, who is pragmatic, manages the family video call, and is mother to Jenna and Manuel.

Arc: Supports Parker after his vulnerable post and appears at the family gathering; she does not significantly change.

• Parker Navarro — her brother
• Jenna — her daughter
• Manuel — her son
• Justin — her brother
• Kevin — her brother
• Elena — her sister

Parker's brother, who needs $700 for a pipe repair and later talks with Parker about his college downward spiral.

Arc: Receives financial help from Parker and reconciles with him; he also appears at the family gathering.

• Parker Navarro — his brother
• Christi — his sister
• Kevin — his brother
• Elena — his sister

Elena's girlfriend, who plans to cook a big dinner and is a fan of Selina's reviews.

Arc: Minor presence; she welcomes Parker and Selina in Boston and remains supportive.

• Elena — her girlfriend
• Selina Chan — fan of her reviews

Parker's mother, who calls him Pijay, wants him home for Christmas, and appears on the family video call.

Arc: Remains a loving but background family figure; she is concerned about Parker and misses him.

• Parker Navarro — her son
• Guillermo Navarro — her estranged ex-partner
• Kevin — her son
• Elena — her daughter
• Christi — her daughter
• Justin — her son

Parker's father, who comes to Parker's apartment with the family. It is the first time he has been in the same room with Parker's mother since Parker was twelve.

Arc: Appears at the family gathering; he remains a quiet, background figure.

• Parker Navarro — his son
• Parker's mother (Mom) — estranged ex-partner
• Kevin — his son
• Elena — his daughter
• Christi — his daughter
• Justin — his son

An author Parker admires, who has not done an event in eight years and comes to the city before the holidays. She meets Parker and Selina at the Dog's Ear and later has dinner with them.

Arc: Gives a rare event, invites Parker and Selina to eat, and offers to preorder Parker's book; she remains a respected literary figure.

• Parker Navarro — author he admires and interviews
• Selina Chan — author Selina admires
• Chester — event manager at the Dog's Ear
• Christian Gatehead — scheduled speaker at her event

An author and panelist who insults Selina as a glorified blogger with a cult of personality and criticizes contemporary readers. He later gives an ElectricLit interview about the decline of literary culture.

Arc: Remains combative and contemptuous of contemporary criticism; he is also replaced by Parker at Juliette Liao's launch event.

• Selina Chan — panelist who insults her
• Parker Navarro — fellow panelist
• Tessa Hargreaves — fellow panelist
• Tony Gutierrez — panel moderator
• Juliette Liao — scheduled speaker at her event

An author and panelist who argues that books are not written so differently now than when she published White Haven.

Arc: Later withdraws as conversation partner for Parker's launch; she does not significantly change.

• Parker Navarro — fellow panelist who withdraws from his launch
• Selina Chan — fellow panelist
• Christian Gatehead — fellow panelist
• Tony Gutierrez — panel moderator

The moderator of the Wiseman Foundation Literary Festival panel 'The Future of the Novel.' He tries to keep the conversation on track and intervenes when Christian attacks Selina.

Arc: Steers the panel forward and toward the Q&A; he does not significantly change.

• Parker Navarro — panel moderator
• Selina Chan — panel moderator
• Christian Gatehead — panel moderator
• Tessa Hargreaves — panel moderator

A Coronation publicist who invites Parker to the Wiseman Foundation Literary Festival panel and warns him that the panel has changed.

Arc: Minor presence; she manages the festival event for Coronation.

• Parker Navarro — Coronation publicist

The bartender at the Slippery Cork, Selina's neighborhood dive. She has hard boundaries that relax Selina and later reveals she saw the October video and follows Selina online.

Arc: Minor presence; she offers Selina a familiar but exposed space.

• Selina Chan — bartender and regular customer

Jacob and Cassie's daughter, who appears as a baby and toddler across the notes.

Arc: Minor presence; she grows from infant to young child and is cared for by Jacob and Cassie.

• Jacob Chau — her father
• Cassie — her mother
• Selina Chan — family friend

City Magazine's head of marketing, who presents the new tip-jar feature and private comments system to the editorial staff.

Arc: Minor presence; she tries to make City profitable through reader contributions.

• Kellie Cade — City Magazine colleague
• Scott Goodwin — City Magazine colleague

A writer for The New York Times Book Review who approaches Selina at City's anniversary party, says he has been trying to poach her for years, and implies City may fold.

Arc: Minor presence; he wants to recruit Selina.

• Selina Chan — wants to hire her for The New York Times Book Review

A journalist at City's anniversary party who gossips with amusement about the feud between Selina and Parker.

Arc: Minor presence; she treats the feud as public spectacle.

• Selina Chan — fellow journalist who follows her feud

A City critic whose review of Asylum Piece led both Selina and Parker to the book. Scott mentions that her review still means everything to Selina.

Arc: Off-page influence; her criticism shapes Selina's and Parker's literary connection.

• Selina Chan — critic whose review led her to Asylum Piece
• Parker Navarro — critic whose review led him to Asylum Piece

An NPR interviewer on Jacket Copy who interviews Parker, calls High and Dry whimsical and fantastical, and praises Parker as one of the nicest people he has met.

Arc: Minor presence; he gives Parker a sympathetic media platform during the feud.

• Parker Navarro — interviewer and admirer

A debut author who meets Selina nervously at the Maynard-Roth party and reveals her novel Mean Streak comes out next August.

Arc: Minor presence; she hopes Selina will read her debut.

• Eileen — friend
• Selina Chan — author she meets nervously

An admirer of Selina's writing who approaches her at the Maynard-Roth party and introduces her friend Courtney Mitchell.

Arc: Minor presence; she connects Courtney with Selina.

• Courtney Mitchell — friend
• Selina Chan — admirer of her writing

Selina's aunt, mother to Peter and Amanda Lu. She texts Selina around Christmas asking about her plans, without asking what footing Selina and her parents are on.

Arc: Minor presence; she represents family pressure and indirect concern.

• Selina Chan — her niece
• Peter Lu — her son
• Amanda Lu — her daughter

Selina's cousin, who texts her about seeing the video of her fighting with the author and asks whether they should mention it to their mother.

Arc: Minor presence; she is concerned about Selina and family discretion.

• Selina Chan — her cousin
• Peter Lu — her brother
• Auntie Sylvia — her mother

Selina's cousin, who texts her about the video, offers help, and asks whether they should mention it to their mother.

Arc: Minor presence; he is supportive but concerned about family gossip.

• Selina Chan — her cousin
• Amanda Lu — his sister
• Auntie Sylvia — his mother

A junior book critic at City Magazine who asks whether the anniversary party will be canceled.

Arc: Minor presence; he is part of the City editorial staff.

• Scott Goodwin — City Magazine colleague
• Selina Chan — City Magazine colleague

A City Magazine staffer asked by Hayden why City is not covering big TV and movie news; he blinks rapidly, at a loss for words.

Arc: Minor presence; he appears during Hayden's content-strategy meeting.

• Hayden Fairbanks — City Magazine staff member she questions

A festival volunteer who greets Parker at the stage, introduces herself, reassures him that the organizers do not want panelists to feel uncomfortable, and starts the panel.

Arc: Minor presence; she helps run the Wiseman Festival panel.

• Parker Navarro — festival volunteer helping with the panel

The manager of the Dog's Ear bookstore, who introduces Parker and Juliette Liao to the audience and is at the register closing up.

Arc: Minor presence; he hosts the Dog's Ear event.

• Parker Navarro — event host and bookseller
• Juliette Liao — event host and bookseller

An acquaintance at Jacob and Cassie's New Year's Eve party who talks with Selina about her reputation as a critic and asks whether she fears authors hating her.

Arc: Minor presence; he seems wary of Selina's critical reputation.

• Selina Chan — acquaintance from a previous party
• Cassie — party host who greets him

Christi's daughter and Parker's niece, who says Merry Christmas, Tito on the video call and shows off a stuffed stegosaurus named Roarasaurus.

Arc: Minor presence; she appears in the family Christmas video call.

• Parker Navarro — her uncle
• Christi — her mother
• Manuel — her brother

Christi's son and Parker's nephew, who says Merry Christmas, Tito on the video call and shyly looks away.

Arc: Minor presence; he appears in the family Christmas video call.

• Parker Navarro — his uncle
• Christi — his mother
• Jenna — his sister

Kevin's new girlfriend, mentioned on the family video call, whose mention prompts a bitter comment from Elena.

Arc: Minor presence; she is part of the family tension during Christmas.

• Kevin — his new girlfriend
• Elena — Kevin's sister, who makes a bitter comment about her

Parker's friend who arrives at his launch with Maricel, having bought a cake, and greets Parker cheerily without mentioning the internet.

Arc: Minor presence; he supports Parker at his book launch.

• Parker Navarro — friend who attends his launch
• Maricel — friend who attends with him

Parker's friend who attends his launch with Tyler and is mentioned in the Tagalog-speaking scene where a passerby tells them to 'Speak English.'

Arc: Minor presence; she supports Parker at his launch.

• Parker Navarro — friend who attends his launch
• Tyler — friend who attends with her

Parker's ex-girlfriend from five years ago, whose relationship was defined by her residency and by Parker molding his life around hers. Emily reminds Parker of Kate.

Arc: Past relationship; she is remembered in Parker's reflections.

• Parker Navarro — his ex-girlfriend

Parker's ex-girlfriend, mentioned in his memories and in Brian Falwell's interview questions.

Arc: Past relationship; she is remembered in Parker's reflections.

• Parker Navarro — his ex-girlfriend

Parker's ex-girlfriend, mentioned in his memories of past relationships.

Arc: Past relationship; she is remembered in Parker's reflections.

• Parker Navarro — his ex-girlfriend

An author whose book Next Time Lucky Selina Chan pans, prompting social-media and Chan Pan Support Group attacks on Selina. Jenny House says she met him and he was lovely.

Arc: Minor presence; his book becomes the occasion for renewed backlash against Selina.

• Selina Chan — author whose book she pans
• Jenny House — author she says she met at a launch

The author of Deus Ex Animalis, the advance copy Selina Chan is reading at the bar when Parker approaches her.

Arc: Off-page presence; her book is part of Selina and Parker's bar conversation.

• Selina Chan — author whose book she is reading

Brian Falwell's friend from high school and host of astronomy parties, mentioned when Brian recalls Parker from Jefferson.

Arc: Minor off-page presence; he connects Brian and Parker's high school past.

• Brian Falwell — friend from high school
• Parker Navarro — high school acquaintance

Charles Chan's coworker, who tells Charles about Selina's public feud, prompting Charles to call her.

Arc: Minor off-page presence; he triggers the family confrontation.

• Charles Chan — coworker

Scott Goodwin's editor in 1988, who told him to keep writing like he had nothing to worry about after an author threatened his career over a review.

Arc: Minor off-page presence; his advice shapes Scott's support for Selina.

• Scott Goodwin — his former editor

Parker's friend who is mentioned in the Tagalog-speaking scene and whose house party Parker cites to Arthur.

Arc: Minor off-page presence; he is part of Parker's friend group.

• Parker Navarro — friend
• Maricel — friend in the Tagalog-speaking scene