Author Takes the Heat After Referencing Wawa ‘Subs’

A rom‑com author is facing backlash for using the term sub to describe a sandwich from Wawa in a Baltimore-set novel.

According to USA TODAY, B.K. Borison received pushback after her book, And Now, Back to You, referred to an order as a Wawa "sub."

A reader with the username @samanthaistan posted on Threads, "The phrase 'a sub from Wawa' in the book I'm reading (and absolutely loving) might just haunt me. ... A SUB?????? FROM WAWA?????????"

"I don't know what to tell you, but I said sub from Wawa, and I meant it," Borison shared via Threads. That response elicited a wave of responses from various brands, other authors, and several residents in the Philly and DMV areas who weighed in on sandwich terminology.

Visit Philadelphia responded to the post by saying, "loud and wrong."

Borison continued to defend the word choice, writing in another post, "I live in Baltimore. The book takes place in Baltimore. No one in Baltimore is calling it a hoagie. GOOD NIGHT," followed by a laughing emoji.

According to USA TODAY, the author sub and sandwich debate also reached Wawa headquarters. Borison posted a screenshot of a company message asking the author to send something to mark the book release.