In late March, Hachette decided not to publish in the United States “Shy Girl”, a horror novel by Mia Ballard, following suspicions of AI use in its writing. The book, already launched in the UK before being taken off the shelves (after 1,800 sales according to Nielsen BookData), was touted as a self-publishing success before readers and internet users pointed out numerous inconsistencies hinting at possible AI-generated passages.
According to the anglo-saxon press, Hachette Book Group launched an internal investigation after these alerts were spread, particularly on Reddit, Goodreads, and in many YouTube videos. In a statement to the New York Times, Hachette stated its commitment to protecting original creative expression and storytelling art, and emphasized that authors must ensure the originality of their manuscripts and disclose any use of generative AI. Following this, the group halted the commercialization of the title and requested its removal from sales platforms, including Amazon.
The author, on the other hand, disputed using AI “personally” to write the book. Speaking to the New York Times, she explained that an acquaintance may have used AI without her knowledge to enhance the initial version of the novel, self-published in February 2025.
