The drama unfolded when Corrain was alleged to have created fake accounts on Goodreads, a platform for rating and reviewing books. She reportedly used these accounts to leave negative one-star reviews on other authors' books, particularly targeting authors of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community, while promoting her own debut queer novel, "Crown of Starlight." This act of review bombing was initially brought to light by Xiran Jay Zhao, a best-selling sci-fi/fantasy writer.
Zhao, a non-binary author, exposed the situation on social media, revealing that Corrain used multiple fake accounts to disparage the work of her peers and artificially boost her book's rating. Corrain's identity as the perpetrator behind the review bombing was deduced by internet sleuths and other authors who joined the conversation, sharing further insights and evidence.
Bethany Baptiste, one of the authors targeted in the campaign, presented extensive proof, including screenshots of Corrain's initial responses. Corrain initially deflected blame onto a friend, but her explanations were met with skepticism as her friend could not be found on social media, and the conversation appeared fabricated.
Eventually, Corrain admitted to her actions and issued a public apology. She attributed her behavior to personal struggles with depression, alcoholism, and substance abuse, and admitted to creating several profiles on Goodreads to manipulate ratings. Corrain's apology, however, was met with mixed reactions from the targeted authors.
In response to the scandal, Rebecca Podos, Corrain’s book agent, announced the termination of their professional relationship. Additionally, Corrain’s US publisher, Del Rey Books, and UK publisher, Daphne Press, distanced themselves from the author, with Del Rey removing "Crown of Starlight" from its 2024 publishing schedule. Illumicrate, a book subscription service, also dropped Corrain’s book from its May 2024 box.
Authors like RM Virtue, KM Enright, Frances White, Kamilah Cole, Molly X Chang, and Thea Guanzon, who were believed to be targets of the review bombing, expressed their views on the controversy. They highlighted the frequent occurrence of such incidents against BIPOC and queer authors and the rarity of identifying the perpetrators.
The situation underscores the impact of social media and online platforms in the literary world, especially concerning the integrity of book reviews and the challenges faced by marginalized authors. The reaction of the community and industry professionals demonstrates a growing intolerance for unethical practices in the literary sphere.