I was impressed by this debut romance with major Mulder and Scully vibes. Female main character Hallie (definitely the Scully here) works for a company that seems to me to be a fictionalized version of Buzzfeed, and she's in a tight spot professionally since she broke up with her boyfriend/coworker/star of her web series. Desperate to avoid losing her job, Hallie is looking everywhere for inspiration when she stumbles upon Hayden Hargrove, super handsome cryptid expert with a cult following. Hallie convinces Hayden to let her produce a pilot episode of a series that takes his popular podcast on the road to investigate cryptids and other unbelievable creatures/entities. Hallie and Hayden have great chemistry, and she ends up finding herself in front of the camera as well as behind it. As they travel together, they get closer and closer, revealing their vulnerabilities to one another and carefully building a relationship, all while trying to keep their show afloat so that Hallie can keep her job. This was really cute but also didn't shy away from past trauma for the characters, so it felt well-balanced to me. A solid contemporary romance with a bit of will they or won't they (find Bigfoot).

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advanced readers copy of this book.

Calling all resident Believers: Mallory Marlowe must be one of us, because she really nailed it with all the details for the creepies, cryptids, and 'Out There' gems in her debut novel. I absolutely ADORED this book and you will too!

This cute story had all the pieces and parts we love to see - humor, romance, adventure, consent, and (spoiler!) a happy ending. I think we can all appreciate the tall, handsome, and super nerdy MMC (plus the cute, spunky, blue-haired FMC.) Men should take notes from Hayden... the way he showed our Hallie what she truly deserved in this life was top-notch.

Overall, it's a light-hearted romp with the paranormal. There was great chemistry and dynamic between our main characters, which made it easy to fall in love with them and cheer for their happily ever after. We get to see our girl find some strength and step in to her power (hello chapter 24!) and take down toxic masculinity. Plus nothing beats a good, emotionally-healthy man who knows how to care for a partner. Life kept getting in the way and keeping me from reading this one, but once I really got to sit down with it, I didn't want to put it down.

Bonus points for the copious X-Files references! 👽 "I've tried to look as serious as I can. Jeans and a gray turtleneck with a black blazer on top. I look like a contemporary Dana Scully, which explains why Hayden hasn't been able to stop eyeing me."

I would follow Hayden and Hallie into the woods to go 'squatchin' any day.

📚Trope(s): He Falls First, Opposites Attract, Grumpy/Sunshine
What you get: 👻🛸🏕️
⭐️Plot: 4/5
🔥Chemistry: 5/5
🌶️Spice: 3/5
(There are definitely some more graphic spicy scenes, but overall, I found this pretty tame in comparison to other popular reads.)

This story revolves around Hallie who is looking for a new storyline on her job when she finds Hayden who is a conspiracy theorist. She sets up a meeting with him to see if they could work on a show based on finding cryptids and aliens and things like that. He agrees but only if Hallie will be his co-host.

You could not have a more opposites attract romance than this book. He believes in anything and everything conspiracy theory wise and she is just not a believer at all. Yet, even though they such different viewpoints. There is a connection and an attraction between the two of them.

Such a good debut romance book. There is a subplot of this book that is a little more of a heavy subject matter so it's not all light-hearted but the majority of this book is just very fun. It definitely puts the com in rom-com.

ARC Review: Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
Pub Date: August 20, 2024
Thank you to @Berkleyromance for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Let me start with this - I think this book is perfect. You read that right - I think this is my favorite contemporary romance of the year so far and it's going to take a whole heck of a lot for that to be dethroned.

This book is so funny and chock full of banter but it also tackles heavier topics really well and in a way that doesn't make the book itself feel heavy. I highlighted so many sentences that made me actually laugh out loud.

Both characters have heavy things to contend with. Hallie is recovering from a controlling relationship and trying to regain confidence, and Hayden is grieving his father and dealing with his mom's high expectations. Throughout both of their growth in the story, they treat each other with such care and understanding. Their communication is so freaking swoony!

Read this for:
- Monster hunting and conspiracy theories
- Banter on banter on banter!
- Laugh out loud moments
- Only one bed
- Ace-spec rep
- Sick/Comfort

It's a book that I have already preordered in physical copy and audio because I know I'm going to want to reread again and again. I have not a single note - I love love love this book and need everyone to read it!

Any book that references X-Files has got to be a blast! I really enjoyed this homage to Mulder and Scully. The main characters were interesting and nuanced, especially the male MC. I immediately was drawn to him. The story line was really fun, with all the trips to find the paranormal activity.
The only downside for me was the bad guy. He was really a nasty character and the scenes with him were stressful to read. But I still really liked this book and would absolutely recommend it to romance readers.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

as someone who once convinced myself that big foot was real cause I watched so many "found footage" videos, i can deeply relate to this book. this would have been a full 5 stars, but it took me a bit to get into it and believe the romance. otherwise, super fun while also handling serious issues such as abusive relationships and workplace abuse

I absolutely adored this fun & witty romance. As a cryptid enthusiast, this was a fantastic homage to both the cryptids and the overall subculture of loving things that can't be explained. The characters are exceptionally loveable and relatable, and I really really wish we had had a dual POV. I think this would be the perfect pick to get someone out of a reading slump - it's fast-paced, the main characters are fleshed out really well, and they have some baggage that the author handled really well and empathetically.

This was such a cute, silly, and quirky book with some witty banter. I had a lot of fun with this one, and would definitely recommend, especially if you’re looking for something fun and spooky.

4.5 stars

*Cue the X-Files theme song*

Am I a believer? Possibly (probably). Was I thrilled about the reference to Mothman's juicy booty? 10000000% yes. Was I jealous of fictional characters visiting Point Pleasant, WV? Also, yes. As a cryptid and all things "Out There" lover, this book was spot on for me.

I am really happy to report that this book is exactly as cute as I thought it would be. The two main characters were extremely likable, cute, and so very real. They both struggled with complex mental health issues (toxic/abusive relationships, guilt, depression, anxiety, parental death). The characters really grew a lot through the story in a believable and honest way. I do wish the secondary characters were more fleshed out. There was a lot of growth from the characters throughout the story, which I appreciate as so many romance novels don't really show characters evolving and growing.

The discussion around women being shut down and harassed in male-dominated spaces is so very important and timely. The book does a great job showing why a person might endure such behavior, how it can affect them, and the toxicity around social media culture.

I loved this book, but I wish it was longer.

Tropes: only one bed, insta-lust, he takes care of her when she's sick, opposites attract, forced proximity, open door spice (but fairly tame)

Why, yes, I do have a familiarity with cryptids. I live near the shores of Lake Champlain and the legendary lake monster known as Champ (loved the reference in this book, by the way) and my husband calls our cat a cryptid whenever she does a BIG YAWN.

This book was truly an out-of-this-world romance. The two main characters were just so cute, wholesome, and extremely likeable; a rarity to check off that last box for sure. It was refreshing to see a budding romance built from two people that complemented eachother and also at the same time, helped one another heal from the traumas in their lives. The trigger warnings were appropriate and the tough subjects handled with honesty and grace.

This was such a cute read! It's a new favorite cozy romance for me and I'm looking forward to the next one! I want to believe...

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so cute! I loved how both Hallie and Hayden were well rounded characters with their own unique flaws. In a way, I do wish it was a dual narrative that alternated between the two perspectives because it would have been fascinating to look into Hayden's mind, but overall I believe that Hallie's story was a compelling narrative. She grew a lot throughout the story and it was amazing to see. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. I felt like this was what I needed to pull me out of a reading slump; extremely fast paced and the main characters are so likable. You truly did feel their chemistry.. I also absolutely loved the topics covered in this book, I love anything spooky creepy so I just ate this up!!!

This is the PERFECT romance for the girlies who watch a lot of <i>The X-Files</i> and particularly <i>BuzzFeed Unsolved</i>--so, in other words, me. I liked that while this book was clearly taking its cues from <i>Unsolved</i> (it takes place at a BuzzFeed dupe called "Skroll" and features the hosts of its <i>Unsolved</i> stand-in, <i>The Out There</i>, visiting many of the same places as Ryan and Shane, including sleeping on board the Queen Mary and getting Mothman pizza in Point Pleasant, WV), it feels like a very distinctive story and not just a copy/paste of another thing. Definitely a fitting homage, and one that I, a noted cryptid enthusiast, enjoyed a whole lot.

I did wish that the characters had been fleshed out a little bit more. Skeptic Hallie and believer Hayden compare themselves to Mulder and Scully a whole lot, but what made Mulder and Scully such interesting characters is that there were deep-seated reasons as to why they clung to their beliefs (or lack thereof) so strongly. We don't get much of that here: Hayden believes in cryptids and aliens because his beloved father, a massively popular horror author whose death hit Hayden hard, used to take him monster hunting as a kid. Hallie we don't really get a reason for why she doesn't have time for this stuff; she just doesn't, and the fact that she's instantly super attracted to Hayden doesn't make for a compelling trajectory of their relationship. That's not to say that the relationship is bad; I thought it was very cute and particularly appreciated how it was juxtaposed against Hallie's previous, abusive relationship with coworker Cade (who also works for not-BuzzFeed and whom I kept picturing, despite my best efforts otherwise, as Ned from the Try Guys). I did think that at times we got dangerously close to infantilizing Hallie as a character--there's a memorable scene where Hayden is taking care of her for reasons I won't spoil, but I felt she seemed less like a strong individual who needed some help in that moment than a child in need of her boyfriend to act as a stand-in parent. Not everyone will be bothered by this, but I wasn't personally a fan of it. I also am glad that we got as little of Cade as we did, since he made my blood boil, but thought that his downfall came about in a way that was a little silly. Major props, however, to this book for having ZERO contrived third-act conflict!

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this one and would recommend it to anyone who's looking for something a little bit (David Duchovny voiceover implied) <i>spooky.</i>

This was literally the cutest, silliest, rom-com debut that I've read in awhile! 🫶🏼

This gave Buzzfeed Unsolved vibes except the two hosts are in love with each other. I loved how Hallie and Hayden are basically opposites and yet their vibe is literally the exact same 😫👏

I thought the authors spin on some of our favorite tropes was really entertaining 👀

One bed trope (Haunted boat edition) 👻
He takes care of her when she's ill 🤒🫂

Alongside some witty and quirky banter!!! 🤭

Couples that literally compliment one another is one of my fav things and this book proved exactly while. Seeing them start off as strangers to friends and then to lovers was so incredibly sweet.

I'm not a big conspiracy girlie (very similar to Hallie) but I had a great time reading this. Hallie and Hayden are two extremely likable characters!

BOOOOOOOO to Hallies dumb ex. Loved how Hayden defended her and was supportive of her. I love myself a soft man who supports his girl no matter what, he is literally the perf gentlemen.

I could see myself rereading this in the future for funsies 😘

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for the free e-arc in exchange for an honest review, you guys really know how to spoil me! 🥰

I think there was just something with the writing style that I didn't jive with for some reason. It came to me really highly anticipated, but just didn't click for me.

So cute you won’t believe it! Hardworking but overlooked web series producer Hallie teams up with emotionally mature and caring cryptid podcaster Hayden in an attempt to transform his podcast into a successful web series. I really enjoyed this book though it took a few chapters for me to get totally pulled in. Once Hallie and Hayden started working on their new show together and spending the night at haunted hotels, the pace really picked up and was just an overall very fun journey. I liked Hallie and Hayden as characters and found myself really rooting for them in all the ways. Hallie’s best friend and roommate (Nora, not Lizzie the grape-eating, obstacle-course-demolishing, comfort-lick-providing bearded dragon) was great and I would have loved to see more of her (and Lizzie). The epilogue was adorable and a really great way to wrap up this very sweet story of growing beyond past selves and going out on a limb (or haunted ship or *horrified gasp* camping) to see if love is a “conspiracy” that might actually be real.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this! There were quite a few things that I enjoyed about this book, but I have to give a shout out to the author for their debut novel! I can't imagine what it feels like to put your first piece of work out into the world, but I am so glad that Mallory Malowe did! This has been high on my wanted list from the cover alone because 1) I'm a sucker for a good cartoon cover and 2) it looked interesting with the title. Very grateful to the publisher for giving allowing me access to read an early copy of this. OK NOW TO THE BOOK - I loved the story! It's essentially a love story that blooms in the midst of conspiracy theories, how fun. I don't think there has been anything written like this, just pure comedy and good vibes. I thought the chemistry between Hallie and Hayden was fleshed out enough that it was believable. They start as strangers to coworkers to friends to lovers and it wasn't dragged out! I also felt like very connected to Hallie because I wouldn't believe anything Hayden did. I also enjoyed how funny this read was, a lot of modern pop culture references which I loved.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Mallory Marlowe for this ARC!

This book was such a unique and fun romance! Hayden was such a cutie. He was a conspiracy theorist with lots of tattoos and a huge heart. He was emotionally intelligent, comforting, and super nerdy when it came to cryptids. Hallie was honestly not my favorite character, but I did understand why she was the way she was. The author gave a great backstory for her and really explained her thoughts behind her actions. I really enjoyed seeing her growth throughout the book.

The aspect of the book that was the most entertaining was how Hayden was a conspiracy theorist. It was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I think it was done really well. It can definitely be expanded upon. I really liked their banter and their discussions about different cryptids and their origins. I also enjoyed reading the actual episodes of the show.

Parts of the book that were not my favorite were mostly concerning the Cade character. I understood the reasoning behind why Hallie was so afraid of being on his bad side. The problem was that it made her seem like a doormat. She always had him in the back of her mind after she had already decided she was done letting him control her. There were also a few comments that Hallie made that made me cringe just a little bit.

Overall, I would recommend this book to my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience.

What a delight. He’s a cryptid hunter, and she’s a nonbeliever. She’s the Scully to his Mulder, and everyone will LOVE the banter.

The pacing of their romance was so good, and I appreciated that the third act breakup was not a real break up, but just a moment for her to process her healing.

I love how this contemporary romance flirted with the idea of monsters while remaining firmly rooted in reality. But also, I’m probably going to start listening to cryptid podcasts.

I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone.

I haven't finished yet, but I am in love! This is such a fun premise (think Buzzfeed Unsolved fanfic!) and the characters are really likeable right away. Highly recommend, and will be a great fall romance read.