Let me start off by saying this is the first book I read by this Author. I love drama and this one definitely had it! I did get a little confused at some points, but I still really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.

This was a dnf for me. I just didn’t enjoy the fmc - I felt that she was completely self absorbed and I could not get past that… thank you for the opportunity to read this though.

This book came on my radar when I was asked to join a book tour for it! I love books about books and found this premise to be intriguing.

This one started very promising for me, but my interest in the story started declining the more I read. I rarely DNF books, so I tried to keep pushing through, but I had no interest in picking it back up. I ended up DNF'ing at 25%, but I hope to go back and try it again sometime!

DnF at 50% Sofie was so irritating and the premise of writing a book using AI is just so ridiculous and insulting, I really couldn’t get into this one at all

We live in a world where AI seems to be present at every turn. As a reader and reviewer, I genuinely hope that AI doesn’t intrude upon my personal sphere of existence. However, Lori Gold has presented just that for me. Hartley West, a new author, is grappling with the challenge of comparing her writing style to that of a renowned author. Moreover, she easily admits that her novel is not her own creation; she used AI to write it, and she believes that readers are too blind to recognize it.

Sofie Wilde, a bestselling author of a fantasy series, is intrigued if not annoyed and concerned by the up-and-coming Hartley West. When Hartley’s talent is compared to Sofie’s, Sofie is determined to uncover the secrets behind her success. However, her quest takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that Hartley didn’t even write the book herself. Sofie is convinced that Hartley will fail, fearing that a public relations disaster could lead to both her and Hartley’s downfall. However, Sofie is in for a surprise.

This story offers a unique perspective on the art of writing. While AI is undoubtedly here to stay, the novel raises the intriguing question of how it can be utilized in the publishing industry without compromising the authenticity of talent. The concept presented in this story kept me engaged, even though Sofie’s definitely went off the rails. I thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of the publishing industry.

Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Thank you GetRedPR, Lori Gold, HTP, and Harper Collins for my #gifted copy of Romantic Friction! #RomanticFriction #LoriGold #LoriGoldstein #GetRedPR #getredprbooks

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟔, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

3.5★

Sofia Wilde is about to release her 10th and final book in her popular fantasy romance series and she’s at the top of her career and headlining a romance readers’ convention. She is not going to let anyone take this moment from her, including Sofie Wilde, a self-published debut author who everyone is saying is the next big thing. Except, she doesn’t actually write anything. Hartley has admitted to using AI to write her book and instead of being ridiculed, she is being praised for being innovative! Now, Sofie is on the verge of losing her headliner status after a rant about the entire situation has gone viral. As the convention continues, Sofie and other authors now fear that AI will take over everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve. Sofie and a cohort of authors are determined to stop Hartley!

This was definitely a very relevant and timely book and it posed a lot of important questions. It tackled the topic with humor and in a relatable way and I appreciated how it showed the book community aspect of AI, which is something I have definitely seen on bookstagram. It was certainly an interesting and thought-provoking read and gave me more to think about! I enjoyed the author’s writing style and would definitely read more from her in the future!

Posted on Goodreads on May 5, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 5, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 6, 2025
**-will post on designated date

I was excited to read this book based on the advanced reviews but I found this one to be a bit of a miss for me. It was hard to parse out if the author was advocating for AI or not until the very end so that was a bit confusing. I also found it very unrealistic that a huge group of readers would not immediately riot over the AI use. Ultimately, this book didn't work for me.

Romantic Friction, by Lori Gold, is a rom-com that I was looking forward to reading. Gold delves into the world of AI, which I find interesting, but the overall book was just an okay read. I didn't struggle to finish it, but it was easy to walk away from when I completed it. I loved the cover! I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

This was a nuanced, timely, adult fiction debut that has a best-selling romance author getting challenged by an up and comer who uses AI to 'copy' from one of her books and ends up getting praised by the reading community. Mixing a blend of genres, this had romance, suspense and a thought-provoking plot about the role and use of AI in book publishing. It was also good on audio and I look forward to reading more from Lori Gold in the future. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

ROMANTIC FRICTION – Lori Gold
MIRA
ISBN: 978-0778387657
May 6, 2025
Contemporary Fiction

Chicago – Present Day

Sofie Wilde is a bestselling fantasy romance author at the top of her game. However, she recently has had competition in the name of debut author Hartley West, whose writing has been compared to Sofie’s. This annoys Sofie because there is only one Sofie Wilde. The two first run into each other at a book signing event. Let’s just say it wasn’t pleasant, especially when Sofie gets Hartley to admit that she wrote her book using AI (Artificial intelligence), prompting it to “write” like Sofie Wilde. It should be a huge scandal, and it is, but only because Sofie is seen as the mean person in their feud. Then, both are set to appear at a romance readers convention in Chicago. Sofie, who was the scheduled headline speaker, is pushed aside for Hartley. She declares war and starts planning on how to take out Hartley so that she can get her rightful position as head speaker restored.

In ROMANTIC FRICTION we get to see how the publishing world and attracting fans is like dog eat dog. There is lots of competition because if an author is toppled from the top of the bestselling lists, it likely means their star is waning and is trouble for the author. The publisher might decide to drop that author. Hartley is seen as Sofie’s newest and fiercest competitor. Sofie will do whatever it takes to remain on top. Even accidentally taking out Hartley. This tale is quirky and will have readers wondering what is going to happen next. It’s clear that the two women do not like each other. Will something happen in this tale to change all that?

As readers can figure out, Sofie has pride in her work and a big ego. There will only be one Sofie Wilde, and it’s her. Both women have their fans and supporters. Who will readers support in this feud? We get a look at the inside of romance reader conventions and the amusing and quirky people who attend. ROMANTIC FRICTION will have your head spinning at times to keep up with Sofie’s frantic thoughts and plans. Hartley appears to be her perfect match. Along for the ride is Cooper-Brad, who helps Sofie even though he is a friend of Hartley. Will secrets be revealed? Will Sofie get what she wants…the top speaking spot at the convention? Who will win? You will have to read this tale to find out.

A quirky and interesting tale, don’t miss ROMANTIC FRICTION.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for this gifted Arc copy of Romantic Friction. My opinions are my own.

I requested a copy of Romantic Friction because the premise was super interesting and relevant to what is going on right now with writing and AI. I also really like the cover. This book is about an author, Sofie Wilde who is at the top of her game and becomes threatened by this new author, Hartley who make similar books to her using AI.

I almost dnf'd 10% in because the first couple chapters were really hard to read for me. I continued, due to all of the good reviews. About 50% in it started to get better with all of the scheming that is going on. The ending was ok. This fell flat for me. I feel like I may be in the minority, but the story could've been a lot better. I really wanted to like this.

Thank you to GetRedPR for the gifted copy of Romantic Friction by Lori Gold.


Come for the timely probing of AI; read on stay for the sharp, if cutting, look inside one author's complex response to AI and competition for her audience. Romantic Friction is a timely and conversation-sparking read. 4.0 plot, perhaps more a 3.0 execution, but heck it's an interesting read!

At the heart of the story is Sofie, a bestselling author watching the ground shift beneath her. As AI-generated writing starts to blur the lines of originality and creativity, Sofie and her fellow writers must decide how far they’ll go to protect their work — and their identities. The novel doesn't shy away from today's emerging controversies: what happens when readers crave more stories "in the style of" their favorite author — without the actual voice behind the work?

⭐ Read for:

Thoughtful exploration of AI’s real-world impact on writers' lives and livelihoods

Raising smart, urgent questions about creativity, ownership, and art in an AI-driven world

A bold, imperfect, and fiercely determined main character who will definitely get readers talking — about her decisions, the plot’s twists, and where it all leads.

Fun novel, liked seeing inside the crazy and hard-to-know publishing world. A bit fantastical but fun.

This was an odd, interesting book. No characters was particularly likeable — including the MC Sofie — which made them fascinating to read but sometimes made me struggle to feel engrossed in the story.

Admittedly I came in already having strong feelings against the use of AI to write books, but still felt it was explored really thoroughly and fascinatingly (with nuance) through this fictional lens. It was a quick read that managed to be a commentary on art and publishing, a lot of grey morality, and a mystery all in one.

A cute fast paced rom com! Story was easy to follow, characters were likable, and there were some highlight worthy quotes and moments. Nothing groundbreaking but a perfect palette cleanser..

First and foremost, the title is very misleading. It alludes to this being a romance story, but it is not that at all. This is a cozy mystery, and one that I really wanted to love. But the pacing felt very off and I really just did not resonate with any of the characters. All of the characters in this are older, yet their actions are juvenile at best, and literally criminal at worst. I don't know if I just read this at the wrong time or if the assumption of it being a romance threw me off more that I thought it would, but it all fell flat. I can see the allure of it and why someone would love it, so I didn't want to give it anything less than 3 stars, but this is not one I would recommend.

The premise of this one sounded so interesting and a very prevalent topic today as the use of AI continues to grow. I loved the literary world this author created as someone who spends a lot of time in the space, I think she nailed it. There was one line she mentioned about the documents being named Final, Final Final, and Final use this one that had me cracking up because, well, relatable.

With that said, I wanted to like this one more than I did. I don’t think it was for me though. I didn’t find the characters likable and some of it got too much sometimes, borderline gimmicky and I didn’t really care for the twist.

The writing itself was well done, I just think I was the target demographic for this one.

Just finished Romantic Friction by Lori Gold and... wow, this was such a fun, smart ride. It’s got all the sass and satire I didn’t know I needed about the publishing world. I loved Sofie—she’s a seasoned romance author facing down AI-generated books, and the drama that unfolds is equal parts hilarious and thought-provoking.

The story dives into what it means to be a “real” writer, and honestly, it had me thinking and laughing out loud. Some parts were a little over the top, but it kind of worked with the vibe. If you love books about books, messy industry secrets, and characters with sharp tongues and big hearts, definitely add this to your TBR.

What a story!
So many twists and turns. So much drama. So much to love. Omg. Sofie was a complex character, which made her relatable and real, but also disappointing. You believe she’s growing, but then she makes a decision that makes you question her. But I liked this. People don’t change overnight. The continuing conflict was entertaining and unpredictable. A truly compelling story.

Books about books and publishing. I always find these so interesting. And what could be more on topic than AI? As we are looking to teach it at all levels of education. At least here in the US.

This really gave me a little food for thought on AI and the creative side of life. Nothing changed my mind but there were points of view I’d never thought of.

While making its point about the publishing industry, it takes an over the top plot of outlandish moves and unlikable characters to do so. It walks the line of quirky and unique versus a little too far. I can see readers being split between loving the banter and extremes and just too much. I’ll admit to waffling back and forth at times.

But I loved that the main character was older and sassy and really knew what she wanted and appreciated the underlying message of kindness and friendship.

Courtney Patterson brought this organized chaos to life. Some parts came across a little preachy in the audiobook that I didn’t feel with my eyeball reading. But I’ll admit I can be a little sensitive to that as I listen. But overall I enjoyed Courtney’s narration and intensity of her interpretation.

A quirky and wild take on publishing and perfect for someone looking for a unique women’s fiction read.