Can artificial intelligence (AI) make genuine art? And if it can match human creativity—even write a best-selling novel—what does that mean for the value of human authorship? These questions and more are explored in “Romantic Friction,” (MIRA, 2025) a new fiction novel by Lori Goldstein ’95 (written under Lori Gold).
The novel follows Sofie Wilde, a bestselling author challenged by a newcomer whose successful book was created using AI. The concept for “Romantic Friction” came to Goldstein while teaching a creative writing class when a student expressed concerns. “She was disheartened, fearing that AI would replace all of us who write books,” said Goldstein, who majored in journalism.
In the novel, when Sofie discovers that the self-published author Hartley West used AI, she’s outraged. However, the outside world doesn’t share her ire—instead, Hartley is celebrated by many. When Sofie arrives as the headlining author at a romance readers' convention where Hartley has also been invited, Sofie joins with her fellow authors to stop Hartley.
A book reviewer described “Romantic Friction” as “speculative,” but Goldstein said she isn’t sure that’s true. “I have no doubt that AI will be able to write a novel that feels like a novel sooner rather than later. And I know even saying that elicits not just fear but indignation. Some people just want to declare that it simply shouldn’t be, but the fact is that it does. So, what do we do about it, and what does it mean to be an artist assisted by technology or other tools?”
Goldstein said that ignoring AI is not an option and that discussions about its impact, ethics and legality are essential—all topics that are explored in “Romantic Friction.” She believes the marketplace will decide if books written by AI are commercially and financially successful.
“Books are art, but publishing is a business,” Goldstein said. “Will readers who are used to having as much content as they want at the click of the Netflix button care that the book is written by AI if it’s great?”
Goldstein noted that society generally agrees that there should be a human component to art.
“I originally called this book ‘The Sincerest Flattery’ as an ironic nod to imitation being the sincerest form of flattery,” she said. “The book became my messy love letter to the world of publishing, asking if that is true.”
Goldstein’s followup novel, “Kiss, Marry, Kill,” (Park Row, 2026) is releasing April 7, 2026. She is also the author of an adult historical novel and four novels for young adults (all written under Lori Goldstein). She currently lives outside of Boston, where she fosters a writing community through her creative writing classes, book coaching and writing retreats.
“Romantic Friction” was an NPR Book of the Day, a Zibby Media Summer Reads pick and was featured on NPR’s “Here and Now.” Goldstein also recently led a session on Lehigh’s Mountain Talks.
–Story by Katelyn Silva
