Cait Corrain, a first-time author, faced a significant setback after her unethical conduct on Goodreads was uncovered. She created multiple fake profiles on the book review site to post negative reviews of other authors’ books, particularly targeting authors of colour. This led to her losing her book deal, as well as her representation.

Corrain’s upcoming novel, “Crown of Starlight,” was scheduled for publication in 2024 by Del Rey Books. However, the publisher removed the title from their schedule after the allegations surfaced. The controversy began to unfold when author Xiran Jay Zhao shared evidence of Corrain’s actions on Goodreads, revealing a systematic pattern of one-star reviews against debut books by authors of colour.

Amidst increasing scrutiny, Corrain’s agent announced the end of their professional relationship with her. Corrain herself admitted to the allegations, explaining her actions as a result of mental health struggles and medication side effects. She acknowledged creating about six fake Goodreads profiles in November 2023 and another two in 2022. Through these profiles, she not only boosted her own book’s ratings but also negatively impacted the ratings of several other debut authors, leaving reviews that ranged from mildly negative to outright abusive.

Corrain’s actions have sparked discussions on the ethics of online book reviews and the impact of such deceptive practices on the literary community, particularly concerning representation and fair treatment of authors from diverse backgrounds. The incident highlights the need for authenticity and integrity in literary criticism and the potentially harmful consequences of manipulative online behavior.