Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Sofie Wilde’s bestselling fantasy romance series has been breaking bestseller records and readers’ hearts for years. She’s primed to become a worldwide phenomenon as the tenth and final book is set to debut after the annual romance readers convention takes place in Chicago next week. As buzz continues to build toward the book’s release, Sofie is asked to headline the event for the first time, a career milestone. One she won’t let anyone take from her, especially “the next Sofie Wilde.”
That’s what they’re calling her—Hartley West, the self-published debut author who writes in the style of Sofie Wilde. Except she doesn’t actually “write” anything. After Hartley admits to using AI to create her novel, Sofie’s ready to watch Hartley be skewered on social media. Except in this unpredictable world, Hartley is instead lauded for being innovative, for being such a skilled editor to take what the AI churned out and massage it into a story that’s just as compelling as Sofie’s—maybe even more so.
After her unhinged rant unintentionally goes viral, Sofie loses her keynote, and she’s starting to lose all her support. That loss is Hartley’s gain—as her book sales start soaring, she’s given the headliner spot. Sofie is livid. And she’s not the only one. As the convention begins, Sofie is surrounded by fellow authors who also fear for their futures, their livelihoods, their art being stripped away, one AI prompt at a time. Something must be done. This has to be stopped. Now. With the clock ticking down to the keynote, Sofie enlists her fellow authors in a plan to stop Hartley, vowing, “‘The next Sofie Wilde’—over my dead body. Or hers.”
Lori Gold has crafted a raucous romp through the world of publishing, asking what it really means to be a writer in the time of AI, perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan is Killing It and Emily Henry.
Sofie Wilde’s path to literary success is practically guaranteed, with the final book in her series set to be published while she headlines the upcoming romance readers’ convention.
She fails to factor in Hartley West, a new author whose style is quite similar to Sofie’s. In fact, when the truth comes out, Sofie finds herself fighting for credibility and the future of book publishing.
Author Lori Gold delivers a phenomenal storyline in Romantic Friction. While her story is fictional, the concept of people using artificial intelligence to create books and then claiming the title of “writer” is all too realistic.
Sofie’s no-holds-barred attitude creates plenty of humorous moments, especially since the readers don’t seem to share her outrage. The insider’s look into the publishing world provides all sorts of juicy details.
As to the dilemma about what constitutes a writer, Sofie will have to settle that score later. Shifting the attention back where it belongs will require some epic manipulation, but she’s determined to make it work.
Romantic Friction serves up a delicious insider’s tale into the publishing industry while showcasing the impact of artificial intelligence.
Lori Gold is the author of four novels for young adults as well as an adult historical novel (all under Lori Goldstein). She teaches creative writing at Grub Street in Boston and lives on the South Shore of Massachusetts.
