Crossword Genius

What's not good about novel being hit? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bashed

'being hit?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'what's not good about novel' is the wordplay.
'what's not good' becomes 'bad' ('bad' is the opposite to 'good').
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'novel' becomes 'she' (I've seen this before**).
'bad' going around 'she' is 'BASHED'.

(Other definitions for bashed that I've seen before include "Hit hard" , "Struck violently" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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