In late March, Hachette decided not to publish in the United States “Shy Girl,” a horror novel by Mia Ballard, following suspicions of AI usage in its writing. The book, originally launched in the UK before being taken off the market (after 1,800 sales according to Nielsen BookData), was touted as a self-publishing success. However, readers and internet users raised numerous inconsistencies suggesting possible AI-generated passages.
According to the press, Hachette Book Group initiated an internal investigation after these alerts were shared on platforms like Reddit, Goodreads, and YouTube. In a statement to the New York Times, Hachette emphasized its commitment to protecting original creative expression and storytelling art, stressing that authors must ensure the originality of their manuscripts and disclose any use of generative AI. Subsequently, the group halted the title’s commercialization and requested its removal from sales platforms, including Amazon.
The author, on the other hand, disputes 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.
