Overview
- Hachette said its Orbit imprint made the call after a lengthy investigation, and the novel was removed from the publisher’s site and major retailers.
- A New York Times inquiry with evidence suggesting AI involvement preceded the pullback by a day, according to multiple reports.
- Reader-led scrutiny on Reddit, YouTube, Goodreads and via emails to Hachette helped catalyze the review, including a video analysis that topped 1.2 million views.
- Author Mia Ballard denies personally using AI, says an acquaintance who edited the self-published version did so without her knowledge, and says she is pursuing legal action.
- The book was self-published in February 2025, later acquired by Hachette, and had sold roughly 1,800 print copies in the U.K.; debate continues over AI detectors such as Pangram’s 78% estimate and how publishers should screen for undisclosed AI use.