Romantic Friction

by Lori Gold

A Zibby Media Summer Read Pick and Most Anticipated Book of 2025; an NPR Book of the Day

Amy Tintera calls it "smart, funny, and unpredictable"; Sally Hepworth says it's "witty, heartfelt, and delightful"; Chandler Baker says it has "prose that crackles and with that leaps off the page"; and Jesse Q. Sutanto says it's "sharply written and impossible to put down."

Sofie Wilde’s bestselling fantasy romance series is a cultural phenomenon, breaking records and readers’ hearts for years. As buzz builds for the release of the tenth and final book in the series, Sofie is asked to headline the premier romance readers’ convention, 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, a self-published, debut author who writes in the style of Sofie Wilde. Except she doesn’t actually “write” anything. After Hartley admits to using Al, Sofie’s ready to watch her be skewered on social media. Except in this unpredictable world, Hartley is instead lauded for being innovative.

After an unhinged rant unintentionally goes viral, Sofie is on the verge of losing her headliner status—and her fans. As the convention begins, Sofie is surrounded by her fellow authors who fear their futures, their livelihoods, and their art will be stripped away, one Al prompt at a time. Something must be done. This has to end. Now. With the clock ticking, Sofie enlists a cohort of authors to help her stop Hartley, vowing, “‘The next Sofie Wilde’—over my dead body. Or hers.”

Lori Gold's KISS, MARRY, KILL releases April 7, 2026 (Harper Park Row)

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Books About Books, Humor, Contemporary, Adult

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2025

About the author

Lori Gold is the author of ROMANTIC FRICTION (Harper Mira, 2025), a satire about publishing and AI with explorations of female ambition and friendship. KISS, MARRY, KILL, about three women who play a spin on the game and wake up the next day in an alternate universe having each done just that, releases April 7, 2026. Under Lori Goldstein, she published the adult historical, Love, Theodosia (Arcade, 2021) and four novels for young adults (Sources Say, Penguin Random House, 2020; Screen Queens, Penguin Random House, 2019; and the Becoming Jinn series (Macmillan, 2015, 2016). She is also a creative writing instructor and founder of Think Write, which holds creative writing classes and writing retreats.

She lives in the Boston area and can be found online at: www.lorigoldsteinbooks.com; Instagram: @lorigoldsteinbooks; Facebook: LoriGoldsteinAuthor.

Reviews

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peek behind the curtain of the publishing industry!

Happy Book Birthday to Romantic Friction by @lorigoldsteinbooks!

As a reader and an author, this book sucked me right in and didn’t let go until the end.

Sofie Wilde is a successful writer. She’s worked hard to reach the pinnacle of her career, but she’s about to lose everything to a writer using AI to mimic her style.

The very idea of this had me seeing RED!

This novel takes reader behind the curtain of the publishing industry and shows us the some of the harsher sides of the relationships between authors and agents, authors and authors, and authors and readers.

This is not a romance, folks. This is a wild ride about how far an author will go to protect her career. Trust me, I’d do some seriously unhinged things too if someone threatened to steal my stuff to my face!

Thanks to @harpercollins @readmirabooks for the gifted book.

[audrey ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ rounded up.

The writing style in this was really enjoyable and the audiobook narrator was fantastic, but I think the story was just not for me. Although the plot involves trying to take down an author using AI to become the next big romantasy author, I was expecting there to be more emphasis on how it’s harmful. There were several moments where the author almost seemed to be advocating for the use of AI by pointing out multiple benefits and I didn’t feel the cons of AI mentioned tipped the scales enough.
Apart from that, the shenanigans the main character gets into are enjoyable and it was a fun journey, the AI piece just really threw me off.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ALC!

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romantic Friction by Lori Gold follows Sofie Wilde, a bestselling fantasy romance author who's final book of her popular series is about to be published and on top of that she's headlining a big romance readers convention in Chicago. This is obviously a big deal for her and would've been an exciting next step in her career if it wasn't for "the next Sofie Wilde" aka Hartley West.

Hartley is a self-published new author and the next big thing. They call her the next Sofie Wilde because she writes in the stype of Sofie, earily so. And that's when Hartley confesses to having used AI to write her book. Instead of being flooded with animosity and scorn on social media, like Sofie expected, Hartley is being praised and admired. Unable to believe this Sofie loses it and goes on a rant that inadvertently goes viral which eventually leads to her slowly losing any support she had. She starts working together with a few of her fellow authors to take Hartley down.

I'll start with the positive. I loved how the story was very much set in the book community world with reader conventions and book signings, which as a reader in the book community for quite a while it felt really familiar to me. I also liked the commentary in this book about people using AI and usuing other authors' writing style to write books. It's a very timely topic and personally I'm very much against using AI in this kind of way, even for creating book covers. I enjoyed thinking about creativity and how can we safeguard authors and the book community in general from AI.

Where I started to lose the story a bit was with the character of Sofie herself and when it all took a rather silly yet alarming turn, in a criminal kind of way. Sofie wasn't a likable character at all. But I also don't think she is supposed to be likable so I don't feel super bad about not liking her. She did have some growth eventually but not enough for me to really enjoy reading about her. Also, the turn that the story took was rather unexpected. Even bothering on the criminal and I just couldn't like this either. I think it could've been funny but it just didn't feel that way for me. Obviousy I'm not saying what happened because I don't want to spoil it for potential reader. I just didn't feel it, but I'm sure other readers will.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Title: Romantic Friction
Author(s): Lori Gold
Publisher(s): MIRA/Harlequin Audio

🤔 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝔻𝕚𝕕 𝕀 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕥: I did skim the synopsis for this, but I was mostly pulled in by the title and cover!

🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: Right away I knew it was going to be funny and oh was it. I laughed a lot, and it is in-your-face dramatic at times, but it was the perfect escape while also being incredibly timely in our world of AI and ChatGPT.

👏🏼 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓈: Nobody I’ve seen is calling this satire, but that’s kind of the feel I got from it. I loved the way Gold could take something serious and infuse it with that much humor and drama. The story brings up some great talking points about the current climate for authors and it would probably make for a great book club discussion.

🫤 🇹‌🇭‌🇪‌ 🇳‌🇪‌🇬‌🇦‌🇹‌🇮‌🇻‌🇪‌🇸‌: There is a lot going on but sometimes the book dragged just a bit. I also found my attention wandering in some spots before the author pulled me back in again.

🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: I don’t think I’ve ever listened to Courtney Patterson before and man does she get into it. She really was the perfect person to voice this book, and I thought she nailed the drama factor. Sometimes she was a touch loud for my ears, but I have to hand it to her for bringing the story and characters to life so well.

💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: Some of the insights that Gold shares through the book really struck a chord with me and had me saying “omg YES” out loud. Clearly, I am not an author or writer, but it felt honest, and I love this idea for a novel. The plot itself can get pretty out there, but this was a romp of a good time, and I was here for it.

T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 🥜😂🔊📖

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you to Get Red PR, the author, and publishers for my complimentary book and advance listening copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @getredprbooks and @lorigoldsteinbooks for the gifted copy

TITLE: Romantic Friction: A Humorous Caper of Writer Rivalry and AI Shenanigans at a Romance Readers' Convention
AUTHOR: Lori Gold
PUB DATE: 05.06.2025

“Romantic Friction” is a sharp, timely, and wildly entertaining read that dives into the heart of the publishing world’s biggest debate: the role of AI in storytelling. With biting humor, emotional depth, and a thriller’s pace, the novel captures the collision between old-school authorship and new-age technology.

Sofie Wilde is a brilliantly flawed protagonist—fierce, vulnerable, and spiraling as she watches her career unravel in real time. Hartley West, her seemingly unstoppable rival, is equally compelling, raising complex questions about creativity, authenticity, and the future of fiction.
As the story barrels toward the convention showdown, the tension crackles with every chapter. It’s satirical and suspenseful, but also deeply human, asking what it really means to be a writer today. Whether you’re Team Sofie or Team Hartley, this book will leave you thinking long after the final page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A must-read for anyone who loves books about books—and the chaos behind them.

#getredprbooks #classificton #getredprbooks

[KP · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️I flewwww through this. I liked the writing style and theme of showing how detrimental AI is to writing, but the plot was allll over the place. It felt rushed and i felt like some things were never tied off properly. Overall very entertaining tho

[Angie Miale · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a miss for me. Sophie is a romance novelist is about to publish the 10th book in a successful series when there is a new up and coming author known as the "new" Sophie. It turns out she used AI to create a book, then edited it. Sophie becomes obsessed with her and tries to manipulate the narrative in the publishing industry.

A few things that bothered me- it had a very girl VS girl narrative, and I hate that when it comes across as misogynistic. Also, there was a slant against bookstagram and book influencers, and this is a big part of my life. I am proud to read books early and although I am just a tiny- nano influencer, I still take my reviews and recommendations seriously. I spend a lot of money on this hobby also so I didn't love the negativity the MC had towards grass roots book marketing. lastly, I listened to the audio and the narrator had a pretty snarky/angry performance, so this affected my consumption of the material, perhaps it was not meant to have such a negative tone.

[Dallas Strawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ROMANTIC FRICTION invites you into the world of a bestselling author Sofie Wilde; she's at the epitome of her career, releasing the final book in her long awaited romantasy series, scheduled to deliver the keynote address at a romance writers convention; when suddenly she's thrust into scandal when it is revealed at her launch event that new buzzy debut author she's in conversation with has used AI to create her book in the voice of Sofie... and the chaos DOES NOT stop there my friends, that's just the setup.

Full of fascinating insight into not only the art of AI, but the publishing world as a whole; and honey, I mean the tea is *piping hot* in this novel... The author drops in so many little fun nuggets in the story line and dialogue that those familiar to the ins and outs of publishing are going to have a field day with...

I really have a *thing* for books written with writers as the main characters and this pushed all the right buttons for me; I was unable to put it down, I blew through it in a day!

ROMANTIC FRICTION will leave your head spinning as you wonder just how close AI could be to running our lives and taking over our beloved book industry. Come for the fascinating plot; stay for the juicy insights to the world of writing you know and love...

4.5 ⭐️

[LaceyBanana Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sofie Wilde is well known for her fantasy series that she’s promoting for as the tenth and final book is released. Another author, Hartley, is beginning to be well known as well and a lot of it has to do with the fact that her writing is very very similar to Sofie’s. Hartley admits to using AI to write her novel and gains the support of fans everywhere leaving Sofie feeling a bit like a villain in this story.

The topic of AI in creative spaces is something that definitely needs constant discussion. I found it interesting that the author chose to make the consumers supportive of the use of AI in this since that would most likely not happen in reality but it is fiction so I went with it! The story was interesting in that aspect and gave a behind the scenes look at these conversations. My struggle with this book was that it was written with exaggerated comedic scenarios that are reminiscent of older sitcoms. It is just not a style of writing that I personally enjoy however I do believe that there is a reader for this! I am used to reading stories that are targeted for other age groups (I’m an elder millennial) but I will say this is definitely for a more mature audience and that gen x would love the style.

Thank you so much to GetRed PR and Lori Gold for providing this physical ARC. This is my honest review! This publishes on May 6th.

[Brianne Cail · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first of this author’s books, I was exactly 3% in (received this as an e-book ARC) when I had a feeling I was going to love this book, and I was right.

While I knew the premise of the book (and think the conversation around authors and AI is nothing short of complicated) it was the main character that I fell in love with instantly. I think Sofie Wilde is the type of character that readers might not love—she’s a little stubborn, selfish, critical. And that’s why I related to her, for better or for worse. She’s a bit older than me and has a whole literally world launched and gets up to a fair bit more trouble than I ever would (probably) and I loved her dearly for it. I would read another book with her in it in a heartbeat.

Romantic Friction is witty, relatable, rips the world of publishing right open for readers and isn’t your typical love story. It’s for the writers and their words, and I think that was my favourite part.

[mrsboomreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Michelle’s Library]

Dnf 51% in. This was a really fascinating concept but about 40% in the story goes in a direction I just found so silly.

Also, this is a story of a debut author using AI to write a book and readers seem ok with it and from being in the book community, I know for a fact most if not all readers are just ok with it. A book site like Goodreads just got roasted and toasted for using AI and it was all collectively looked upon as bad.

[Briney (semi-hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great audio narrator and writing style was binge-able.

Plot was a little all over the show, I liked the premise of plagiarism, whether AI has a place in the publishing industry and the blurring of lines between art and artist. However, it was all a little muddled. Sofie was absolutely insufferable for the vast majority and I’m not entirely convinced by her ‘growth’. We had really rouge plot points too, that really took me out the story - the lack of consequences for certain actions made this feel as though it belonged in an action cartoon or romantasy read not the semi realistic fiction it was going for.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.
I was provided an advance copy of this book which has not affected my review.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this novel that examines the use of AI in writing by setting up a newbie writer “in the style of” a famous romantasy writer on the eve of a bookselling convention. We see things from the famous writer’s perspective. Sophie Wilde is a middle-aged woman “with pancaked breasts and gray pubic hair” about to reach a career pinnacle … until a much younger woman with an AI-generated novel is stealing the spotlight as #TheNextSophieWilde.
This all sounds serious (and of course the use of AI in literature is very much so), but the story is told in Sophie’s droll and sarcastic voice, expertly narrated in the audiobook. At times it even gets silly, like a classic Dortmunder caper (read Donald E. Westlake).
If you read this thinking it’s going to be a romance novel, you will be disappointed. (There’s just one kiss in the entire book.) Approach it as a modern novel following the Socratic method in which we learn to question our beliefs and examine a topic from multiple perspectives. In fact, I’m bumping up my star rating to 5 to hopefully help offset lower ratings from disappointed people who were expecting steamy sex scenes based on the title alone. 4.5 rounded up.
If you wonder about the future of AI-written books, listen or read (and enjoy) this one.
I now understand why many of the audiobooks I’ve listened to recently have a new type of disclaimer: that the book is not to be used for the training of AI. Good luck to us all in stopping that runaway train.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HarlequinAudio, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook for review purposes. This title is currently available.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love publishing, writers, readers, hijinks, a crisply told tale, excellent writing, and a sharp wit throughout, this is definitely the book for you. Protagonist Sofie Wilde is an acquired taste, but my bet is that everyone will love her voice and character arc. She is the author we all want to have a drink with and then defend against the coming machines!

Set as a backstage-tour of the publishing world, Lori Gold's adult book club debut is a dishy romp through what happens when artificial intelligence comes for your job. On the cusp of the ultimate success, romatacy author Sofie Wilde, a loner who drew herself up from self-published author to NYT bestseller, finds herself confronting the "Next Sofie Wilde," in the form of an upstart who claims that she used AI to imitate her favorite author. Outrage and cancellation from Sofie's loyal fans isn't what she finds. Instead, seeing a chance for more of what they love even if it isn't from Sofie herself, they embrace the imposter with machine help. 

Sofie cannot let this stand, particularly as she watches the trappings of her success come under attack: Her keynote at the biggest festival. She must overcome her loner tendencies to band together in hilarious fashion with her fellow authors to take this new approach and author off the table even if it means committing a crime. 

Lori Gold's work is a triumph as she transitions to a new genre. NPR, Zibby, NBC all agree!

[Sharyn Stieglitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sofie Wilde's tenth book in her hit series is about to come out. She's been a best selling author for years and is about to be the keynote speaker at a Romance Reader convention, so what could possibly go wrong?

Enter Hartley West, an up and coming author, who doesn't actually write, but uses AI, in a style very similar to Sofie. When Hartley shows up at a panel for Sofie and deems herself a co-panelist, Sofie isn't happy. When Sofie realizes Hartley's work sounds incredibly similar to her own book, she goes on a rant, which goes viral.

Now, Sofie starts losing her support, her keynote speech, and Hartley is starting to gain support, potentially making AI writing more popular, which will hurt authors who genuinely spend their livelihoods writing books.

Sofie gathers some fellow authors to try to stop Hartley, and AI, from gaining momentum, when Hartley is set to replace Sofie as they keynote speaker. Will they be successful? Or will this be the soon to be decline of authors as we know it?

I enjoyed this book and the important points it portrayed. In a world where AI is up and coming, but authors work so hard on their books, it's extremely relevant to the current say. Sofie is an interesting character as it seems like she's a victim at first, but then we see several of her flaws throughout the book. Hartley you want to despise at first, but as the book grows, especially towards the end, we learn more about her, and her reasoning for why she writes the way she does.

This was my first book of Lori Gold's, and will certainly not be my last!

Thank you to Lori Gold, HTP Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Thanks NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I enjoyed this story and all the bits and references to the book/publishing world! Sofie is coming to a pivotal point in her career with then end of her series with the release of her new book and is feeling a little threatened by the new comer Hartley West… ESPECIALLY when Hartley admits her debut book is written with AI! It’s up to Sofie and her friends to try and stop Hartley, but the more they work together the more things change.

This was a fun plot and I really liked the storyline!

[Yvonne Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not fully certain what I expected from this book, but it was very comical. I thought it would have more of a romance element, due to the name and the genres it was given, but the romance really took a backseat.
I really enjoyed the dynamic between Sophie and Hartley - it was funny where it needed to be, and enemies becoming friends and working together is peak entertainment to me.
I felt as though it went on a little too long. Like maybe one or two plot points could have been removed to keep interest going. I felt as though I was close to finishing at multiple time throughout the listen.

[Leslie - Shobizreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for this peek behind the curtain of the publishing industry - addressing competition vs friendships among authors, the publishing industry that can be manipulated and even the use of AI.

This was entertaining and a social commentary on the odds being stacked against writers, how strings are pulled behind the scenes and even how rage bait can lead to more sales than just hard work.

[ReadaholicDeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I went into this thinking it would be a rom-com. There is a potential love interest, and I adored the banter between the two - but this isn’t a romance it’s a hilarious contemporary fiction full of rivalry, drama (the fun kind), and twists and turns.

It’s a fun dive into the world of books and the timely topic of AI, all from the perspective of authors at a book convention.

Sofie is the author of a bestselling romantasy series. When a self-published debut author, dubbed “the next Sofie”, admits to using AI, Sofie sets out to stop her.

Let me tell you, things get wild. I was there for every bit of the witty dialogue and the hilarious shenanigans (and trust me, there are a lot).

The writing pulled me in, and honestly, I felt like I was right there in the story, watching everything unfold.

Sofie isn’t perfect, but that’s what made her feel so real! She’s complex, and even when she’s standoffish or a little rude, I couldn’t help but laugh at her inner monologue and the outlandish situations she lands in.

[booksy.tx.ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.


Come read with me on instagram @booksy.tx.ana

[McKenzie Highfill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Romantic Friction is a light, sometimes witty comedy-mystery centered in the book publishing world. The premise of an author publicly touting their use of AI in writing a novel is relevant and intriguing. The author has some well explored and valid points to make about the systemic issues in book publishing, exploring the monopoly of a few publishing companies, lack of diversity in writing and advertisement, inauthentic and corrupt marketing, and the punchline- the emerging use of AI in writing. These threads of thought on the publishing world are wrapped up in a loosely banded group of people committing some fairly serious crimes, with levity in the comedic banter, exploration of friendship, and a third act “romance.” If this seems like a lot going on, that’s because it is. Ultimately, this book suffered from too many plot lines and not enough development of each. The novel would have especially benefited from the removal of the half-hearted romance thread.

Our main character, Sofie Wilde, is a driven artist to the point of isolation and self-centered tendencies. Her origin story and background is either underdeveloped or painted in trope-driven broad strokes. She unfortunately fails to develop much until a third act “off-screen therapy” level turning-point that feels rather inauthentic from both character motivation and logical perspectives. Sophie is surrounded by a troupe of authors and would-be authors that remain surface level and caricature in nature. Names for comedy duo “Tara Kara” and author “Rosie Gardens” may have carried a certain level of levity and irony if their characters held more depth than their names.

The writing style of “Romantic Friction” did bring humor and wit amidst heavier discussion of the woes of the publishing world. Dialogue often brought chuckles, and lent the most humanity to the characters. On the other hand, the prose generally did more telling than showing, and the space where a more nuanced introspection could have tied together the logical cohesion of the story was blatantly lacking. In this vein, the plot suffered from a strange pacing that tended to attempt speeding past logical fallacies and plot holes rather than repairing them, while simultaneously lingering in places that felt redundant. This led to some rather glaring pacing issues that especially impacted the second half of the book. While intrigue remained high, it was primarily because the reader had such little understanding of the character motivations that it remained a complete mystery what might come next. The hurried conclusion did nothing to clear the air, as illogical and unrealistic as it was. Where the comedic mystery is often successfully balanced with a more logical conclusion, our main characters find a rushed and unearned truce instead. While the introspection about the publishing world is wrapped up neatly, it is not untouched by the cloying sweetness or bluntness of the bow wrapped around the story’s end. While I would certainly give this author another shot based on the unique premise and the unreserved critiques of publishing, I will hope for more subtlety and depth the next time around. 2.5 stars.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.-

[lexactuallyreads [surviving off vibes ftm] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, Lori Gold and Harlequin Audio for the ALC of the audiobook!

"Why would I read the next Sofie Wilde when I am Sofie Wilde?"

Yeah, I'm not going to lie... I went into this with mid-level expectations and came out pleasantly surprised, a little pissed off and feeling a wee-bit vindicated on behalf of the FMC. The topic of AI in writing has become prevalent with a certain few authors coming under recent controversy in the past few months. You could say that the themes of Romantic Friction are perfectly on time. (Gretchen, stop trying to make AI happen! It's not going to happen!) It was not missed on me that the advertisement above the reviews for this story is AI Tools... Read the room, Goodreads.

"You don't have to look like a bitch to take one down."

If you like taking a peek behind the curtain of publishing and writing, having your blood boil over someone stealing your art, and love a fully-rounded but incredibly flawed round-up of characters bolstered by an incredible sense of humor, this book will be for you. It is not a romance, please don't be misconstrued!

Favorite Quotes:
"An actual Brad is a little non-descript, Plain Jane. A Brad's defining feature would be a tuft of dark chest hair peeking out the top of a tucked in golf shirt with some tech company's logo across the pocket. A true Brad does not have puffer vests, chiseled cheek bones, and those thick brown curls that would make McDreamy jealous. RIP."

"If this were high school, and by the way, publishing is totally high school, we're the cool kids and they're, well, not. We get the best panel timeslots, our books are featured on the event posters, and our rooms aren't simply rooms. They're suites facing the lake."

"And there it is... the thing that truly bonds every author. We may not have all been tortured, but we've been wounded. And unlike the rest of the population, for some reason, we feel the need to sort through those wounds by sharing them with the world. Even if, sometimes, they're masked by alternate dimensions and accompanied by killer manatees."

"Lacey claimed that responding to my online fans would make me seem relatable, as if a 49-year old woman living alone, no plants, no pets, in a 4,000 sq. ft house with a view of the ocean that she bought by torturing imaginary people could ever be relatable."

"I worked for this. I have a bathroom closet full of craft fair penguin candles that make me nauseous every time I grab a roll of toilet paper. Writing a book using AI, a coward's move, a brainless coward's move. Yet readers are too stupid to see it! They have murdered us, one and all... Here lies the remains of a breed of human we once called "Author," they are no more. Extinct. Rest in Peace."

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic Friction is a book that deals with a very timely issue, using AI to write books. Sofie Wilde is a bestselling fantasy romance writer with her series sales breaking bestseller records. She is set to publish the tenth and final book in her series when she is asked, for the first time, to headline the event. She is proud and excited about this honour, one she won’t let anyone take from her, especially “the next Sofie Wilde.” Hartley West, a self-published debut author writes in her style and admits to everyone that Sofie's books saved her life. What will everyone think when she tells everyone that used AI to create her novel? Sofie is sure that readers and media will go after her, but instead, they laud her for being innovative. Hartley defends herself by telling everyone that she still had to edit many times to have a book ready to publish and that it is just as good or maybe even better than Sofie's final offering in her series. Sofie loses it and goes on a rant that ends up on social media and now she is the one that everyone is talking about in a negative way. How can she possibly redeem herself? How will the publishing world protect itself from books being written in AI and not needing them? How will Sofie get the coveted keynote spot back?

I found this premise very interesting. I have been leery of AI, ChatGPT and all those creators for this very reason. Being a retired teacher, I worry that people won't need to think anymore. This book is not a romance. There might be some feelings and chemistry between some of the characters, but that is not what this story is all about. There is some humour when several of the authors band together to help Sofie put together a plan to get Hartley out of the picture. I wasn't a fan of Sofie. I found her to be self-centered, and not really part of the community of writers. We learn more about her as the story goes on and there are some explanations of why she is the way she is, but it was still hard to like her. She does change throughout the story, when she puts herself in other's shoes. This is a bit of a crazy, over the top story at times, but I did enjoy all the antics and reactions. When we finally learn more about Hartley and her journey as a writer, I could finally smile. Overall, this is an interesting peek into the publishing world, the authors, the agents and editors with some important issues, friendship, a bit of romance and a nice conclusion.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Likely To Be Controversial In Booklandia. Straight up, in making plausible arguments *for* the use of AI in writing, this is going to be a book that will prove quite controversial in booklandia - one area of society that tends to be the most extremist in terms of being absolutely anti-AI, even moreso than visual artists. Even as the book *also* makes strong arguments *against* the use of AI in writing... and ultimately sides with that position, as it is the position of our lead character.

Additionally, in serving as a fairly direct and in-your-face expose and commentary about the publishing industry more broadly, this book is likely to stir up quite a bit of controversy on these topics that already get some discussion in particular circles, with this book perhaps widening those circles and introducing new people to these discussions. Will anything actually get resolved? Unlikely, mostly because humanity rarely actually solves any problems - even among the more objective/ scientific variety. But more people will be talking about them, and assuming at least a few of them reference that they saw the discussion in this book, Gold will likely garner at least some extra attention herself.

Outside of these two factors, the tale itself ultimately becomes a bit of a bumbling crime saga, with the various characters being both so brash and so stupid in some ways that it plays quite well comedically... so I *hope* that is what Gold was after there. These scenes, as objectively serious as they are, involving a major crime, wind up providing the levity that the heavy handed discussions of the "inside baseball" of publishing and the more general use of AI within booklandia so desperately need in order to lighten the overall book at least enough to be a pleasant enough read.

Ultimately this is likely a book that will play better for those interested in the heavier discussions herein than with those just looking for some level of escape - particularly those of us who are already "in the industry" to some flavor (yes, I include even myself here, as a book blogger / book "influencer" (according to some authors, though I still despise the term myself) / Head Librarian at Goodreads alternative Hardcover.app). Still, an interesting book regardless, with commentary from perspectives even authors themselves may not have had coming into this book.

Very much recommended.

[Laura F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read (and loved!) Ms. Gold’s adult historical, Love, Theodosia, this was a wonderful surprise. Not only is Romantic Friction a delight, its completely different style showcases the author’s talents. Romantic Friction tells the story of Sofie Wilde, a successful author who has finished the last book in a beloved series. Hartley West, a new author who claims to be the “next Sofie Wilde,” admits to using AI to write in Sofie’s style. To Sofie’s outrage, Hartley is lauded for her use of computer-generated work. Adding insult to injury, organizers of a major romance convention have invited Hartley to attend and assume a role meant for Sofie who must now reclaim her Queen Bee status. This is no easy task given an anti-Hartley rant gone viral and a lone-wolf personality. So, how can she take Hartley down?
Ms. Gold does a wonderful job of showing the (unfortunately!) unpleasant side of publishing: the lengthy process involved in getting a book out to the public, the competitiveness, the prickly relationships that develop by necessity. She is an insider, and it shows. The information about the book industry is fascinating. Romantic Friction also explores a timely subject. As amazing as AI is, what is its effect on creativity? On plagiarism? We live in a society where the internet has led to many of us having attention spans of fleas. How much more is AI going to clamp down on our need or desire to think for ourselves?
But of course, Romantic Friction is not a textbook, and what makes the book work so well is the humor and the characters. Sofie Wilde is not particularly likable, but in Miss Gold’s skilled hands, she is funny and extremely relatable. Who hasn’t been part of a group in which our “position” wasn’t unexpectedly threatened? Who hasn’t had to evaluate our friendships only to discover certain people aren’t as loyal as we thought and that others would be loyal if we reached out? Who hasn’t looked down on someone only to realize we are more alike than we thought? Romantic Friction is a book that will be enjoyed by readers interested in exploring the AI effect on creativity done with humor and relatable characters. Readers will laugh out loud and want a sequel.