Although the publisher claimed the decision came after a thorough review of the text, reviewers on GoodReads and YouTube had been speculating that the book was likely AI-generated. And The New York Times said it asked Hachette about the 'Shy Girl' concerns the day before the announcement. In an email to the NYT, author Mia Ballard denied using AI to write her novel, instead blaming an acquaintance she'd hired to edit the original, self-published version of 'Shy Girl.' Ballard said she's pursuing legal action, and that as a result of the controversy 'my mental health is at an all time low and my name is ruined for something I didn't even personally do.' Actively scaling' Fundraising' Planning your next launch'TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 delivers tactical playbooks and direct access to 1,000+ founders and investors who are building, backing, and closing.
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