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Fake Creativity
An Artist Creates. A Forger Replicates. What happens when their worlds collide?
Of course it would have Elena, his beloved wife, and a fictional character in every single one of Cooper’s best-selling romance novels, but how did it have everything else? How did this program seem to know everything about his book before he had even sat down to write it? Searching for answers while not breaking the rest of his life, Cooper struggles to hold on to his identity and understand the purpose and meaning of creativity.
Does the source matter? Does it truly make a difference if something is real or perfectly reproduced? And when truth emerges, does it destroy what once felt genuine, or does it simply reveal that the value was always subjective?
Of course it would have Elena, his beloved wife, and a fictional character in every single one of Cooper’s best-selling romance novels, but how did it have everything else? How did this program seem to know everything about his book before he had even sat down to write it? Searching for answers while not breaking the rest of his life, Cooper struggles to hold on to his identity and understand the purpose and meaning of creativity.
Does the source matter? Does it truly make a difference if something is real or perfectly reproduced? And when truth emerges, does it destroy what once felt genuine, or does it simply reveal that the value was always subjective?
- GenresLiterary Fiction
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2025
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 13, 2025
A thought provoking look at AI and the nature of creativity.
Fake Creativity by Blake Loch is a thought-provoking read that lingers in your mind long after the last page. Loch raises a timely and essential question: what is creativity in an age of artificial intelligence? Cooper is a reclusive writer who retreats each winter to the remote Colorado mountains to write his latest book. If Cooper has just finished writing his manuscript in isolation, how was the book already published? The pacing starts off slow but picks up as a story unfolds. This is a story that makes you wonder what you would do if you were Cooper.
Highly recommended for anyone wrestling with the meaning of creativity and AI’s place in writing.
I received an ARC copy from the author and am very glad I had the opportunity to read this book.
Fake Creativity by Blake Loch is a thought-provoking read that lingers in your mind long after the last page. Loch raises a timely and essential question: what is creativity in an age of artificial intelligence? Cooper is a reclusive writer who retreats each winter to the remote Colorado mountains to write his latest book. If Cooper has just finished writing his manuscript in isolation, how was the book already published? The pacing starts off slow but picks up as a story unfolds. This is a story that makes you wonder what you would do if you were Cooper.
Highly recommended for anyone wrestling with the meaning of creativity and AI’s place in writing.
I received an ARC copy from the author and am very glad I had the opportunity to read this book.
January 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC copy for review.
I unfortunately did not love this read. I picked it up hoping for a sci-fi novel about a man fighting against AI for the rights of his book. Instead, I stumbled upon a horribly bleak story about a man losing everything that mattered to him and contemplating suicide.
The AI plot of this book was interesting and terrifying. The thought of a machine existing that is able to predict all of your future creative endeavors is really terrifying, but the way that he just loses all hope and just ends up deciding to live with it is very bleak.
We spend the first half of the book or so establishing his routine with his wife. We are shown how happy he is and how great everything is going. We only get a glimpse of the issues that the AI will bring and then the story ignores that for a bit. I recognize that we needed to understand that Cooper had a lot to lose, but I felt like I was flipping the pages just waiting for SOMETHING to happen.
The book starts to pick up about halfway through, with Cooper deciding he is going to get to the bottom of this AI issue. I was into it at this point and was excited to see where this would go but ended up being disappointed. His wife leaves him because she betrayed him and he goes into a spiral trying to “beat” the AI at writing his novels. He finds out that he can never win against AI and decides to end it all but is only brought out of it by a random dog who shows up at the last minute.
This story was extremely depressing and has an equally depressing ending that I would not call happy. Cooper decides to continue living but decides he will never be happy again. I only see this ending as prolonging his torturous life and if and when something happens to the dog, he will attempt to end it all again. The hopelessness that this novel brings made me lose hope for Cooper as well. I would NEVER want someone to end their life no matter how hopeless things seem, but the way this was written makes it seems like Cooper will never ever find happiness again and will live a bleak existence where he is just getting by.
We are primed to care for Cooper after spending the novel with him. We hope for a happy ending for him, but I felt like this novel was just an excuse for Cooper to struggle forever. I understand the hope that we should be feeling at the very end of the novel, but I don’t feel it. I feel like I just read a book about a man losing everything and then that’s just the end.
I unfortunately did not end up enjoying this novel. It was interesting in the middle part of the book, and I had hoped that the conclusion would improve things for me, but the conclusion actually made me dislike it more. The writing style was decent, but I really did not like the plot and especially the conclusion.
This author had a great idea for a novel, but I feel like the execution was lacking.
I unfortunately did not love this read. I picked it up hoping for a sci-fi novel about a man fighting against AI for the rights of his book. Instead, I stumbled upon a horribly bleak story about a man losing everything that mattered to him and contemplating suicide.
The AI plot of this book was interesting and terrifying. The thought of a machine existing that is able to predict all of your future creative endeavors is really terrifying, but the way that he just loses all hope and just ends up deciding to live with it is very bleak.
We spend the first half of the book or so establishing his routine with his wife. We are shown how happy he is and how great everything is going. We only get a glimpse of the issues that the AI will bring and then the story ignores that for a bit. I recognize that we needed to understand that Cooper had a lot to lose, but I felt like I was flipping the pages just waiting for SOMETHING to happen.
The book starts to pick up about halfway through, with Cooper deciding he is going to get to the bottom of this AI issue. I was into it at this point and was excited to see where this would go but ended up being disappointed. His wife leaves him because she betrayed him and he goes into a spiral trying to “beat” the AI at writing his novels. He finds out that he can never win against AI and decides to end it all but is only brought out of it by a random dog who shows up at the last minute.
This story was extremely depressing and has an equally depressing ending that I would not call happy. Cooper decides to continue living but decides he will never be happy again. I only see this ending as prolonging his torturous life and if and when something happens to the dog, he will attempt to end it all again. The hopelessness that this novel brings made me lose hope for Cooper as well. I would NEVER want someone to end their life no matter how hopeless things seem, but the way this was written makes it seems like Cooper will never ever find happiness again and will live a bleak existence where he is just getting by.
We are primed to care for Cooper after spending the novel with him. We hope for a happy ending for him, but I felt like this novel was just an excuse for Cooper to struggle forever. I understand the hope that we should be feeling at the very end of the novel, but I don’t feel it. I feel like I just read a book about a man losing everything and then that’s just the end.
I unfortunately did not end up enjoying this novel. It was interesting in the middle part of the book, and I had hoped that the conclusion would improve things for me, but the conclusion actually made me dislike it more. The writing style was decent, but I really did not like the plot and especially the conclusion.
This author had a great idea for a novel, but I feel like the execution was lacking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2025
I received an ARC from the author through Book Sirens. Thank you!
When I first got a message from the author asking if I’d be interested in reading this book, I looked over the details and was immediately intrigued. Especially in today’s world, where AI is rapidly working its way into nearly every industry.
This was a thought-provoking and timely read about AI, creativity, and authenticity. Cooper’s struggle to define what makes art “real” felt layered and relatable, and I loved that there was even a touch of romance thrown in there.
If you’re looking for a story that challenges your perspective on AI, art, and originality while still delivering an engaging narrative, Fake Creativity is a great choice. It’s both entertaining and reflective, and it leaves you thinking long after the final page.
When I first got a message from the author asking if I’d be interested in reading this book, I looked over the details and was immediately intrigued. Especially in today’s world, where AI is rapidly working its way into nearly every industry.
This was a thought-provoking and timely read about AI, creativity, and authenticity. Cooper’s struggle to define what makes art “real” felt layered and relatable, and I loved that there was even a touch of romance thrown in there.
If you’re looking for a story that challenges your perspective on AI, art, and originality while still delivering an engaging narrative, Fake Creativity is a great choice. It’s both entertaining and reflective, and it leaves you thinking long after the final page.
October 11, 2025
Many thanks to the author for reaching out and sharing his debut novel, Fake Creativity. The premise immediately caught my attention as it’s timely, relevant, and sparks all kinds of questions about creativity in the age of AI.
“An artist creates. A forger replicates. What happens when their worlds collide?”
A bestselling author retreats to his usual cabin to work on his next novel. It’s a familiar process, one he’s repeated countless times. But this trip feels different. His computer starts behaving strangely, and in an effort to clear his mind, he decides to unplug from technology and focus on his writing. When the manuscript is finally done, he heads to his publisher’s office, only to find it almost empty. Then comes the real shock, the very book he’s just finished, the one he hasn’t even submitted, is already on sale everywhere.
Fake Creativity holds a mirror up to AI’s growing role in the creative world. How far will it go? What’s acceptable, and what’s crossing the line? Should writers resist the shift or learn to collaborate with it?
The story unfolds through Connor’s perspective, but I found myself wanting to hear from his wife or publisher too. Connor and Elena’s relationship felt layered, as if there was a hidden history between them that we never fully got to see. Despite their closeness, they both seemed to hold things back from each other, unable to be completely honest from the start. While I did feel sympathy for Connor, he wasn’t the most likable character, and some of his choices left me puzzled.
Fake Creativity is a thought-provoking read that pushes you to think about AI and its place in creative work. It would make an excellent book club pick, especially if your group includes writers or artists.
“An artist creates. A forger replicates. What happens when their worlds collide?”
A bestselling author retreats to his usual cabin to work on his next novel. It’s a familiar process, one he’s repeated countless times. But this trip feels different. His computer starts behaving strangely, and in an effort to clear his mind, he decides to unplug from technology and focus on his writing. When the manuscript is finally done, he heads to his publisher’s office, only to find it almost empty. Then comes the real shock, the very book he’s just finished, the one he hasn’t even submitted, is already on sale everywhere.
Fake Creativity holds a mirror up to AI’s growing role in the creative world. How far will it go? What’s acceptable, and what’s crossing the line? Should writers resist the shift or learn to collaborate with it?
The story unfolds through Connor’s perspective, but I found myself wanting to hear from his wife or publisher too. Connor and Elena’s relationship felt layered, as if there was a hidden history between them that we never fully got to see. Despite their closeness, they both seemed to hold things back from each other, unable to be completely honest from the start. While I did feel sympathy for Connor, he wasn’t the most likable character, and some of his choices left me puzzled.
Fake Creativity is a thought-provoking read that pushes you to think about AI and its place in creative work. It would make an excellent book club pick, especially if your group includes writers or artists.
November 14, 2025
This book explores the personal struggle Cooper is going through when ai gets entangled in his life quite unexpectedly.
The author seemed to put a lot of thought into the layout of the book as the main character is an author and you get glimpses of how Coopers book is enmeshed within the book itself.
The characters in the book are well written.
Despite his life seeming good from the outside, Cooper clearly struggles with insecurities and anxiety. This largely affects how he handles each situation. I feel this made him pretty relatable, and even though his actions didn’t always make perfect sense I could understand that they might have been coming from a place of mental struggle.
The book really only gives you Cooper's perspective, which on one hand is great because you get a deeper look into how he feels about everything and what he is thinking, but I can't help but wonder about his wife's view on the whole thing. She was a big part of the storyline and to be entirely honest she didn't always feel the most likeable. Her actions and responses felt off. I would love to have known what she was thinking!
Definitely a good read! Really makes you think about how the things in the story might be closer to reality than you think and makes you wonder how your life, passions and future could be affected.
Although the concept may seem unrealistic to some, the book itself is making the point that it isn't so far fetched.
The author took the time on his website to give us readers a deeper explanation of how ai was used in certain portions of the book. It may have been minimal use but I think it was thoughtful and such a unique way to prove that maybe the whole concept of the book is more realistic than a lot of us thought.
The author seemed to put a lot of thought into the layout of the book as the main character is an author and you get glimpses of how Coopers book is enmeshed within the book itself.
The characters in the book are well written.
Despite his life seeming good from the outside, Cooper clearly struggles with insecurities and anxiety. This largely affects how he handles each situation. I feel this made him pretty relatable, and even though his actions didn’t always make perfect sense I could understand that they might have been coming from a place of mental struggle.
The book really only gives you Cooper's perspective, which on one hand is great because you get a deeper look into how he feels about everything and what he is thinking, but I can't help but wonder about his wife's view on the whole thing. She was a big part of the storyline and to be entirely honest she didn't always feel the most likeable. Her actions and responses felt off. I would love to have known what she was thinking!
Definitely a good read! Really makes you think about how the things in the story might be closer to reality than you think and makes you wonder how your life, passions and future could be affected.
Although the concept may seem unrealistic to some, the book itself is making the point that it isn't so far fetched.
The author took the time on his website to give us readers a deeper explanation of how ai was used in certain portions of the book. It may have been minimal use but I think it was thoughtful and such a unique way to prove that maybe the whole concept of the book is more realistic than a lot of us thought.
October 17, 2025
If you weren’t afraid of AI before reading this, you probably will be afterwards. It also may leave you struggling to define identity and ownership of art. I also did not expect this book to embody so much emotion for the characters, and the reader.
I love how the author tackles the problematic issue of AI in regard to art, but gives food for thought in the way he presented it. If AI creates the very piece you planned and worked on, but never takes credit for it, is it still yours? Can those two things coexist simultaneously? And are you less of a creator if the product isn’t directly from your hand but is still your idea? Cooper struggles with these very issues. He wants his books, his writing, to come only from his hand. But every book and story he writes, AI puts out with lightening speed. And it’s completely his work. He starts to lose hope and his mind.
Compounding this dread is his wife’s abandonment of him, and how this breaks his heart, while spurring him on to stay connected to her through his work. She’s his muse, and his love, and he cannot fathom a life without her.
While the crux of this book is despair in the midst of losing your identity, the author brings it around to finding meaning in other ways, and shows that creativity is a piece of your life; it does not define who you are. I really enjoyed this book. It’s worth the read. 4.5 stars
A big thank you to the author for giving me access to this book through BookSirens. My opinion is my own.
I love how the author tackles the problematic issue of AI in regard to art, but gives food for thought in the way he presented it. If AI creates the very piece you planned and worked on, but never takes credit for it, is it still yours? Can those two things coexist simultaneously? And are you less of a creator if the product isn’t directly from your hand but is still your idea? Cooper struggles with these very issues. He wants his books, his writing, to come only from his hand. But every book and story he writes, AI puts out with lightening speed. And it’s completely his work. He starts to lose hope and his mind.
Compounding this dread is his wife’s abandonment of him, and how this breaks his heart, while spurring him on to stay connected to her through his work. She’s his muse, and his love, and he cannot fathom a life without her.
While the crux of this book is despair in the midst of losing your identity, the author brings it around to finding meaning in other ways, and shows that creativity is a piece of your life; it does not define who you are. I really enjoyed this book. It’s worth the read. 4.5 stars
A big thank you to the author for giving me access to this book through BookSirens. My opinion is my own.
October 24, 2025
A successful and reclusive writer finishes his next novel and in submitting it to his publisher, discovers it has already been written and published, under his own name. What he discovers leaves an impact on both his professional and personal life in a way he could never have anticipated.
Part mystery, part science fiction, this is a fascinating commentary on the craft of writing and the impact of Artificial Intelligence in today's world. While some might argue that AI has the potential to make our lives easier, this story focuses on what we lose in the process.
It's a fascinating concept and one that is absolutely relevant in today's world. It asks a critical question about whether writers should accept the use of AI and corroborate with the technology or whether it is a slippery slope that must be fought against at all costs.
This is also a story about loss and betrayal and the extent the protagonist will go to, to share his feelings about the person he loves. A very interesting read!
Thank you to @booksirens for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed here are everywhere my own.
Part mystery, part science fiction, this is a fascinating commentary on the craft of writing and the impact of Artificial Intelligence in today's world. While some might argue that AI has the potential to make our lives easier, this story focuses on what we lose in the process.
It's a fascinating concept and one that is absolutely relevant in today's world. It asks a critical question about whether writers should accept the use of AI and corroborate with the technology or whether it is a slippery slope that must be fought against at all costs.
This is also a story about loss and betrayal and the extent the protagonist will go to, to share his feelings about the person he loves. A very interesting read!
Thank you to @booksirens for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed here are everywhere my own.
October 28, 2025
E-ARC provided by BookSirens and the author.
While the concept being explored here could have made for an interesting short story, there was not enough content to justify a full novel I think.
The language in this book is relatively simple and straightforward, which works well in sci-fi, but there is so much extra fluff which just bogged down the narrative and served no purpose to the story.
The science in this also felt like it was lacking, with some misunderstanding of how AI actually works.
The author acknowledges in the afterword that he also used AI to write the book, and I think it shows, not necessarily making the point the author was trying to make.
While the concept being explored here could have made for an interesting short story, there was not enough content to justify a full novel I think.
The language in this book is relatively simple and straightforward, which works well in sci-fi, but there is so much extra fluff which just bogged down the narrative and served no purpose to the story.
The science in this also felt like it was lacking, with some misunderstanding of how AI actually works.
The author acknowledges in the afterword that he also used AI to write the book, and I think it shows, not necessarily making the point the author was trying to make.
October 24, 2025
Fake Creativity was a well put together book on the use of AI in our lives. It's scary to think that what Elena and Cooper went through is a possibility that can't be undone.
Cooper had so much going for him in his life before AI became a key factor in it and how much it changed his life.
There are many ups and downs and twists thrown out there that it made me question what's going to happen next.
Are friends as really friends? Can you even think for yourself anymore?
I received an advance review copy for free from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Cooper had so much going for him in his life before AI became a key factor in it and how much it changed his life.
There are many ups and downs and twists thrown out there that it made me question what's going to happen next.
Are friends as really friends? Can you even think for yourself anymore?
I received an advance review copy for free from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 3, 2025
Cooper Owens is a top selling author. He and his wife Elena are retrieving to their cabin in Colorado so he can finish writing his next book. He discovers an AI program that left him in shock at how accurate it wrote just like him. As the AI notion starts living in his head, he finishes his book. When they return to the city, he attempts to deliver his finished book only to find out that his manager has been moved and he has a new representative. While walking home, he finds that the book that he has just finished is already printed and being sold in bookstores. He buys several copies and starts to unravel when he finds out that his finished copy has been on the shelves for two weeks. How is that possible? Was he still working on his book two weeks ago?
Fake Creativity was a great and unique book. I enjoyed the story within the story. I couldn't believe what Elena did. And how those around him betrayed him. Cooper was a very smart character who asked the right questions and went to all lengths in order to find out the truth. AI is upon us, and this story makes us all ask how AI will work in writing and how it will change writers and readers as it is used in books. Seeing Cooper break down completely and then pull himself together with the help of Caboose was such a relief to read.
Thanks to the author and Book Sirens for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Fake Creativity was a great and unique book. I enjoyed the story within the story. I couldn't believe what Elena did. And how those around him betrayed him. Cooper was a very smart character who asked the right questions and went to all lengths in order to find out the truth. AI is upon us, and this story makes us all ask how AI will work in writing and how it will change writers and readers as it is used in books. Seeing Cooper break down completely and then pull himself together with the help of Caboose was such a relief to read.
Thanks to the author and Book Sirens for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
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January 17, 2026This book was generously provided to me by the author via BookSirens, and I’ll be honest, I wish I had picked it up sooner. Life got busy, my TBR kept growing, and now I’m a little mad at myself for waiting because this turned out to be a really thought-provoking read.
FAKE Creativity dives straight into the growing role of AI in our lives, especially within creative spaces. While AI can absolutely be helpful in many ways, this story highlights what happens when it’s used incorrectly or without boundaries. It explores how creativity, writing, and original thought begin to erode when we rely too heavily on technology, and how that loss of human touch can have very real consequences.
What really stood out to me was how the novel addresses the impact on authors and creatives, the months or even years it takes to craft something meaningful, only for that process to be reduced or replaced entirely. The story raises an important question: just because something is faster or easier, does that make it better? And at what cost?
There is a romantic element woven into the story, which isn’t typically my personal preference, but I didn’t take away any stars for that. Other readers may actually enjoy that layer, and it didn’t detract from the overall message of the book.
Ultimately, this was a solid and engaging read that made me stop and think. It’s a little unsettling, a little sad, and very relevant, especially in a time when many people see AI as a shortcut without fully considering the long-term implications. If you enjoy speculative fiction with real-world relevance, this one is definitely worth picking up.
FAKE Creativity dives straight into the growing role of AI in our lives, especially within creative spaces. While AI can absolutely be helpful in many ways, this story highlights what happens when it’s used incorrectly or without boundaries. It explores how creativity, writing, and original thought begin to erode when we rely too heavily on technology, and how that loss of human touch can have very real consequences.
What really stood out to me was how the novel addresses the impact on authors and creatives, the months or even years it takes to craft something meaningful, only for that process to be reduced or replaced entirely. The story raises an important question: just because something is faster or easier, does that make it better? And at what cost?
There is a romantic element woven into the story, which isn’t typically my personal preference, but I didn’t take away any stars for that. Other readers may actually enjoy that layer, and it didn’t detract from the overall message of the book.
Ultimately, this was a solid and engaging read that made me stop and think. It’s a little unsettling, a little sad, and very relevant, especially in a time when many people see AI as a shortcut without fully considering the long-term implications. If you enjoy speculative fiction with real-world relevance, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews