Southern California Bookstores Reject AI-Generated Romance Novels

Owners of independent romance bookshops say AI cannot replicate the human connection and creativity of authentic authors.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Two Southern California romance bookstore owners, Becca Title of Meet Cute Romance Bookshop and Katie Mullin of In Bloom Bookery, have expressed strong opposition to the use of AI to generate romance novels. They argue that romance is about human connection and empathy, which AI cannot replicate. The owners are concerned that the rise of AI-generated romance books could overwhelm authentic author-created works and deprive readers of the genuine emotional experience they seek from the genre.

Why it matters

The use of AI to generate romance novels raises concerns about the exploitation of authors' copyrighted works, the loss of artistic integrity in the genre, and the potential for AI-generated content to crowd out authentic human-created fiction. Independent bookstores play a crucial role in supporting authors and providing readers with a genuine literary experience, so their opposition to AI in romance highlights the broader stakes involved.

The details

The article discusses a recent New York Times story about romance novelist Coral Hart, who used AI to churn out over 200 romance novels last year, a dramatic increase from her previous output of 10-12 books per year. While Hart is making six figures from selling 50,000 books, the bookstore owners argue that the quality and authenticity of the work suffers when AI is used to generate content. They are also concerned that AI-generated books are not being properly labeled, making it difficult for readers to make ethical choices.

  • The New York Times story about Coral Hart's use of AI to generate romance novels was published earlier this week.
  • February 13th is Galentine's Day, an important celebration of love, and February 14th is Valentine's Day.

The players

Becca Title

The owner of Meet Cute Romance Bookshop, a queer- and woman-owned, feminist bookshop focusing on genre romance.

Katie Mullin

The owner of In Bloom Bookery, an independent bookstore in Temecula, California.

Coral Hart

A romance novelist who used AI to generate over 200 romance novels in the past year, a significant increase from her previous output.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“A romance novel is a work of literature like any other novel. It is about humanity, both in its text and in its function as a work of art. Fiction is about communication. About empathy.”

— Becca Title, Owner, Meet Cute Romance Bookshop

“I wholeheartedly believe that there is no place for AI in romance novels. Not only is the use of AI harmful to authors and artists who dedicate themselves to writing original work, but it is also unfair to readers who trust that they are purchasing original content. The heart of a romance novel is the human connection.”

— Katie Mullin, Owner, In Bloom Bookery

What’s next

The article does not mention any clear next steps, as the focus is on the current concerns expressed by the bookstore owners about the use of AI in romance novels.

The takeaway

The opposition from independent romance bookstores in Southern California highlights the broader concerns about the use of AI to generate content in the literary world. While AI may have potential applications, the bookstore owners argue that it cannot replicate the human connection, empathy, and creativity that are essential to the romance genre and fiction more broadly.