Debut Author Cait Corrain Dropped by Publisher Following Goodreads 'Review Bombing' Scandal

Corrain admits to creating fake accounts to negatively review books by other upcoming authors, citing struggles with mental health and substance abuse.

Cait Corrain, a debut author, has been accused of creating fake Goodreads accounts to negatively review books by other upcoming authors, a practice known as 'review bombing'.
Corrain's book, 'Crown of Starlight', was set to be published in May 2024 by Del Rey Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, but has been dropped following the scandal.
Corrain initially denied the allegations and blamed a friend named 'Lilly' for the review bombing. However, she later admitted to creating the fake accounts and apologized, citing struggles with depression, alcoholism, and substance abuse.
Several authors, including Molly X. Chang, Danielle Jensen, Kamilah Cole, and Bethany Baptiste, were targeted by Corrain's fake accounts. Many of these authors are people of color, leading to discussions about racial bias in the literary world.
Corrain's literary agent, Rebecca Podos, has also severed ties with her. Corrain plans to check into an intensive psychiatric care and rehab facility.