My newest summer read recommendation: ROMANTIC FRICTION! Lori Gold has given readers a gift with this book, tackling a very timely topic in publishing with buckets of humor and antics.

Trope: Authors behaving badly! 👍🏻
Issue at hand: AI in publishing 👎🏻

Sophie Wilde is a bestselling romantasy author. As buzz builds for her 10th and final series novel, a debut author emerges. Hartley dubs herself “the next Sophie Wilde.” Only her book is suspiciously similar to Sophie’s style, and now Hartley is defending her use of AI in generating her work product.

When the two meet up again at romance reader’s convention, things take a shocking turn…

I could not stop reading - and laughing - through this story! Do yourself a favor and pop this in your beach or pool bag. This is probably the most fun I’ve ever had reading about a hot button issue.

As someone who doesn't know (or care?) too much about AI, I found Romantic Friction's look at how it steals from authors' works enlightening- and frightening. Hartley West at first appears to be just a Sophie Wilde superfan who writes fan-fiction in the same style of Sophie Wilde, but clearly there is more to her than meets the eye.

Hartley wants to be a successful author too and sees using AI as a way to do that. Sophie rightly feels that Hartley is stealing from her, and as things begin to spiral out of control at the romance convention, she must figure out a way to stop Hartley.

Other romance authors at the convention confront Sophie and insist that she stop Hartley or they fear that there will be more Hartleys coming their way stealing their books. I did feel that the other romance authors were less well-drawn that than other characters in the book.

And who is this handsome mysterious man oddly named Cooper-Brad who appeared at the infamous book signing and now shows up at the romance convention? Is he Hartley's partner in crime or someone who Sophie can count on to help her?

Sophie is a great flawed character. She drinks too much, is pretty anti-social with other authors, and has trouble with the concept of friendship.

There are hijinks a-plenty as Sophie attempts to stop Hartley, and if you've ever been to a book convention, you'll enjoy that aspect of the story. (If you haven't been to a convention, you'll like it as well.)

There's also a few twists in this fun inside baseball look at the publishing industry, and it's not all flattering, but it is thought-provoking.

This novel was a fun romp behind the scenes of publishing, book conventions, and the rivalries of authors and technology.

While the writing style wasn't always my favorite (the mention of gray pubic hairs and pancake boobs was entirely superfluous imo); it was still a good summer read for the over the top hijinks. The topic of AI vs author is especially relevant now more than other and does a good job of presenting different facets of this in an entertaining way. Most of the characters were pretty unlikeable but felt realistic. For the characters being kinda grumpy, there was a bit too much of a happily ever after ending for me but it did wrap up nicely.

This book was a wild and fun ride. I honestly never knew what was going to happen next. The topic of AI is very relevant to the book industry today and it was a little eye opening to some of the publishing world. I ended the book not knowing how I felt about any of the characters and it made for a good and realistic book. It was a fun and funny book. I could easily picture the scenes that were written. I did think the romance part could have been cut out but other than that it was fun.

Very funny but pacing was off at times. Great commentary on the publishing industry. Very timely topic on the use of AI. Love an unlikeable MC who is a touch unhinged

This was a great read! Lots of twist and turns I did not anticipate! This story was funny, had a great shock factor, and hooked me by the first page! I had moment I laughed! All in all a great story! Highly recommend! 5/5 stars!

This book is pure chaos in the best way. Romantic Friction dives headfirst into the drama of the publishing world, fandom culture, and the growing tension around AI in storytelling. Sofie Wilde is a bestselling author at the top of her game—until a debut author using AI threatens to steal her spotlight (and her legacy) right before a huge convention.

It’s sharp, messy, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful. Sofie is absolutely unhinged, but also kind of relatable in that “I’m spiraling but still trying to hold it together” way. Watching her go from literary icon to public meltdown was both cringey and hilarious. And Hartley? The AI-using rival? Way more complicated than I expected.

If you’re into books about books—with a satirical edge, a little murder-y energy, and a lot of tension over what “real” writing means—this one’s for you.

I loved this book! I loved this deep dive into the world of publishing and the look at the dangers Ai poses to the creation of real art. This story is fast-paced, hilarious, and so captivating! This definitely felt similar to a Finlay Donovan novel, which I loved! Full of hi-jinks, quick-paced plot lines and witty dialogue. And many important and interesting reflections on the publishing world at large.

From the beginning, I could tell this book was going to be hilarious 5 star material. Gold definitely delivered. I have never read anything by Lori Gold, but the synopsis and cover made me want to read it. I am so glad I did! I laughed out loud several times.
I thought it was a great look at what we are facing in society. At what point will everything be done by AI. However, Lori Gold took this serious issue and somehow made it funny. Gold raises some very thought-provoking questions. How do we know when an author uses her own words or are the words driven by AI?
This book was very genuine and definitely a current hot topic in the world. The main character, Sofie is trying to end her amazing series with book 10 about to be release on a positive note. However, in walks her nemesis, Hartley who begins the great debate over what is real and what is not. Hartley's AI work is very similar to Sofie's and so begins a viral debate. Will this ruin Sofie's 10th and final novel? As other authors rally around Sofie claiming her authenticity, as well as their own. Who will win this battle? Pick this one up and find out. This novel gives you all the required things to make a book great, laugh out loud humor, great banter and drama.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lori Gold for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

I found this book to be very entertaining especially towards the second half. At the start I was not too fond of Sofie. She was very opinionated and even a little judgmental, making her slightly unlikeable. The topic of AI in the book community is a current one and I thought the author did a good job showing the two sides that were relevant here. Once the book convention started there were more humorous moments and even some banter between the characters. The drama and some actions Sofie took may have been a little over the top at times but I never knew what to expect.

Thank you @getredprbooks @lorigoldsteinbooks and @harpercollins for the gifted copy.

A Hilarious, Wild Ride Through the World of Words!

Romantic Friction by Lori Gold was such a blast to read—I truly enjoyed every minute of it! From the opening chapter to the completely unhinged (and brilliant) finale, this book was a rollercoaster of laughs, drama, and surprisingly heartfelt moments.

Sophie Wilde, our main character and an author herself, gets caught up in a viral rant, a romance convention, and a chaotic kidnapping plot that somehow blends satire, suspense, and sincere emotion perfectly. The behind-the-scenes look at the publishing industry felt fresh and fascinating—especially with all the buzz around AI and artistic integrity worked into the plot.

It’s not just about books, though. At its core, this story celebrates the power of friendship and staying true to your creative voice. The light romance sprinkled in was charming, but the true heart of the story lies in its wit and insight.

The audiobook was absolutely fantastic! Courtney Patterson brought so much flair to the narration—nailing every dramatic beat with comedic gold. Her performance elevated an already entertaining story into something truly memorable.

This is the perfect pick for a book club—there’s so much to talk (and laugh) about. Authors as main characters, industry shenanigans, viral chaos, and a side of emotional depth? Count me in.

I'm not entirely sure how I want to rate this book, but I would probably give it a 3.5 ⭐️.

The story introduces us to a character named Sofie, who is about to release a new book in a popular series she has created. Right off the bat, it’s clear that she "holds her nose in the air," suggesting that she believes she has worked harder than most to reach her current level of success. She has kept to herself quite a bit and acts as though she is above others, and this attitude led me to believe that I probably wouldn’t be a fan of Sofie.

Meanwhile, on social media, there is a trending hashtag hinting at the emergence of a new and possibly better Sofie. Due to this buzz, the mysterious new author, Hartley West, is invited to Sofie's initial launch party. When she arrives, Hartley introduces herself and reveals that she used AI to write a book in the style of Sofie, effectively stealing the spotlight. This sends Sofie into a spiral, leading to a rant that ends up recorded and shared online, putting her headliner status at risk.

Fellow authors bombard Sofie, insisting that she must find a way to get rid of Hartley West before she gains more popularity and threatens their place in the literary world. As Sofie investigates, she starts to notice inconsistencies that lead her and the other authors down a criminal path.

Throughout the story, Sofie comes across as quite conceited, using her awkwardness and introverted personality to justify her selfish behaviors. Her whining and poor me attitude does get to be a bit much. You can understand her thought process and why she is the way she is, but that doesn’t necessarily make her a likable character.

There were some confusing parts within the story towards the end of the book that made it hard to keep up with what was happening or being said.

I will say the book does introduce its readers to the complexity of writing and publishing books. The hidden work that most of us may not realize.

In the end, there is much more to the story of Hartley West. The narrative is quirky and cute, complete with some entertaining banter. I found myself wanting to read more to discover what happens next.

I was really intrigued by the premise of Romantic Friction—an established author feeling threatened by an AI-generated rival felt timely and clever.

The cover was great too. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me. I struggled with the writing early on and couldn’t connect with the characters or the story. I ended up DNF’ing at 25%. While I seem to be in the minority, this just wasn’t the right fit for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC.

Thank you @getredprbooks @lorigoldsteinbooks & @harpercollins for my complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sofie Wilde is a bestselling fantasy romance author who crosses paths with Hartley West, a self-published novelist who openly admits to using AI to craft books strikingly similar to Sofie's acclaimed series. Following a highly publicized rant by Sofie against AI authors, her popularity begins to decline, while Hartley's unexpectedly rises dramatically. Determined to reclaim her status, Sofie rallies her fellow authors to confront the AI threat and defend their craft, culminating in a dramatic showdown at a literary convention.

This was an enjoyable read! I thought the title was slightly misleading! I initially expected this story to be a romance, but it turned out to be more of a women’s fiction novel. I appreciated the behind-the-scenes exploration of the publishing industry and the impact of AI. While I can’t say I really connected with any of the characters, the story kept me engaged throughout.

DNF at 42%. I really tried to finish this one but just couldn’t. The main character was extremely unlikable. It just didn’t work for me and was kind of all over the place. Thank you MIRA and NetGalley for the eARC.

ROMANTIC FRICTION

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Hmm. What to say about this one? I was very intrigued by the commentary on AI and its affect on the writing industry. I like how the author showed both sides of the debate. The book starts out slow but some fun things start happening around 50% which kept me engaged until the end. I also liked learning some of the inside information about publishing and challenges authors face.

The writing was a bit disjointed and sometimes I got lost in the internal monologues and digressions.


strong language

*Thank you NetGalley and HTP Books for the eARC!

Romantic Friction-Lori Gold @readmirabooks I LOVED this book. It had everything I want in a story. So smart and Sofie is relatable and someone I felt bad for all at once. It definitely made me laugh and I would love to read more by Lori Gold.

An inception of a book that's a story about a story and a homage to writers and the publishing industry, "Romantic Friction" is about Sophie Wilde, a successful author at the pinnacle of her career. At a special "Sophie Wilde" event celebrating her career at her hometown bookstore prior to the release of the last book in her romantasy series, the moderator of her Q&A captures Sophie's long-earned spotlight by confessing that she loves Sophie's writing so much that she used AI to mimic Sophie's writing style in her own newly released self-published novel. As the metaphorical rug is pulled out from under Sophie and she's caught on camera in an insecure tirade that is spread far and wide on social media, the conflict continues to the "Romance US" conference where Sophie will be featured as a keynote speaker - and it escalates as the AI author Hartley West continues her sabotage and tries to steal the spotlight.

This book was a slow start for me - it took a few sit-downs to get through the first 28% of the book. I had a hard time connecting with the deeply flawed (read: introverted, and self-centered) Sophie, But after that, I read the rest of the book within 24 hours. It definitely had to do with the introduction of Cooper-Brad and the plot thickening to more than a story about a lonely and whiny author fretting about her limelight getting stolen. Besides becoming highly entertaining with the hijinks that ensue post Cooper-Brad introduction, the book, despite its being fiction, offers a lot of insight into the world of authors, the publishing industry and its flaws, disappointments, but also the camaraderie that can be found between authors, or with agents, publicists, and more. As the book progressed, I enjoyed following along on Sophie's journey as her perspective changes and the story takes twists and turns to a resolution that has nuance, with a lot of insight and growth along the way. As I was reading this, I kept thinking to myself "this book would make such a great movie!" and without giving away any spoilers, I still think it would.

I really enjoyed a lot of the philosophizing and industry perspectives given throughout the book, as they fit in to the story, such as "Writers have two highly annoying traits: correcting everyone's grammar, and fancying themselves armchair psychologists. The former is ingrained, the latter learned." The book also does a lot of evaluation of AI-generated art vs. human creativity and ingenuity throughout the entire story.

I would recommend this book to writers, those that wish they were writers, those that are connected to or interested in the publishing industry or even the film industry, as well as those interested in AI and how it can affect industries that rely on human creativity.

-Thank you to HTP/MIRA, Lori Gold, and Negtalley for the ARC of this book.-

Sofie Wilde versus Hartley West. An established romantasy author and a fan who used AI to publish a novel in the other’s voice. This novel brings up the ethical question of using AI with several twists along the way. The plot is very intriguing, but the execution was lacking. For a book about writing, it was terribly written with a lot of asides by the main character, Sofie, written in parentheses. Also, the asides just served to show that Sofie was not a good person. Unlikeable characters are not deal breakers, but this poorly written unlikeable character really was a disservice to the creative plot. The plot wasn’t perfect either though because once the story got going, it was almost as if the author didn’t know what to do with the dilemma that she created. The ending felt like a rushed cop-out, and it was very unsatisfying. This novel tried to be a mystery, a commentary on advancing technologies, a rom/com, and a story about friendships, but in trying to be so many things, it fell flat in the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

i really enjoyed what this book had to say about AI. i am also a huge sucker for an “inside baseball” view of the writer/writing space. a book about books? sign me up!

the only star deduction are the character names were tossed around so much - and there were so many similar names (lucy/liz) that sometimes i had no idea who was being mentioned.

the conclusion was also a little …really? like it was satisfying - but a book that was showing such realistic social consequences just kind of tossed it at the end.