Romance is always at the center of publishing… and this week, it’s chaos. We’re unpacking the New York Times headline "The New Fabio Is Claude" and the growing wave of AI-generated romance, plus the real issue nobody wants to say out loud: authors publicly denouncing AI while secretly using it. Then we pivot into pop culture (Super Bowl + Winter Olympics reactions)… and finally get into what you actually came for: our February Book Haul book mail, and upcoming book club picks.

Watch the video: https://youtube.com/live/B1Td-hIZEMY

In This Episode

1. The NYT "New Fabio Is Claude" headline, and what it signals about romance publishing right now
2. The ethics + reader trust problem: denouncing AI publicly, using it privately
3. "Are readers getting duped?" + how AI content is showing up in categories and charts
4. Super Bowl recap + the "overlooked/undervalued" underdog
5. Winter Olympics opening ceremony thoughts
6. Then: February Book Haul time!

Books Mentioned / Featured

Author deep dive / book mail moment

1. One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris
2. Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris
3. Long After We’re Gone by Terah Shelton Harris

Book Club Picks

1. Next week’s discussion: Whispers of the Lake by Shanora Williams
2. March read-ahead: Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

Classics mention

1. William Golding (classic lit shoutout)

Special Editions

1. Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews

New Release

1. Crown of War and Shadow by J.R. Ward

Listener Question

Where do you land on AI in romance: transparent use with clear labeling, or no AI in the writing process at all? And did you pick up anything good in February.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and Today’s Agenda

00:13 AI in Romance Publishing: Controversies and Insights

01:56 Debate on AI's Role in Writing

12:24 Super Bowl Recap and Highlights

16:18 Winter Olympics: Highlights and Opinions

21:17 February Book Haul: Exciting New Reads

24:03 Exploring William Golding's Lesser-Known Works

27:15 Special Editions from the Arcane Society

30:41 Terah Shelton Harris: A Contemporary Favorite

33:16 Upcoming Book Club Reads

35:13 TV Shows and Traitors

38:40 Frustrations with Queen of Flow

42:46 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events

Sources Mentioned

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/business/ai-claude-romance-books.html

If you love bookish news + honest conversations about publishing, follow/subscribe and join us live every Thursday at 12pm EST on Youtube. Drop your February reads in the comments and tell us: Do you think readers can tell when a book is AI-generated?

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