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A Zibby Media "Most Anticipated Book of 2025" 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.” 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."
Publication Year: 2025
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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.