”Like, actual for real aliens? Aliens are so not my brand. I believe they're real because the universe is too big for us to be the smartest things out there, but I did not expect them to come to Earth. I did not expect them to follow me home from my photo shoot. ... I do not have time to be abducted by aliens right now."

I adore El. She's my favorite kind of girl boss. And Carter reminds me of my own cryptid/alien obsessed husband, who grew up with X Files on tv and Coast to Coast AM on the radio. The truth is out there, right?

But Carter and El. discover so much more. About trust and truth and overcoming loss and trauma. About the people who are really important to you and about keeping your own peace.

"Hey, I'm here. I'm here and you're not alone."

"You make me feel safe. Steady. Like all of this might be okay. You make me believe it will be."

this was a cute one!! i honestly think this would be so fun on audio!!! i do wish we got more alien content because that would have been so cool. it was different than i expected plot wise but not in a bad way. it had a deeper element with carter’s situation. do know it’s more insta love but its “love at first sighting” so it makes sense!!! overall, i had a great time following carter and el on their adventures!

los angeles social media influencer el appears to have a picture perfect life online but in reality she wants more. she accidentally captured an unidentified flying object in the sky that she posted online. agent carter (think men in black) who works to identify and hide ET sightings. he follows her to get her help on what she saw which led them to working together and uncovering secrets from carters past and his line of work.

tropes: influencer fmc x man in black mmc, solving mysteries, found family, dual pov

This is the my second time reading one of Marlowe's paranormal-flavored romance novels (the first in the sort-of series is Love and Other Conspiracies , and while this new offering retains the charm and quirky sense of humor that made its predecessor so much fun, tonally, it's very different. Where Love and Other Conspiracies felt more like a rom-com (with a touch of Buzzfeed Unsolved), Love at First Sighting is romance with a mystery/thriller at its heart. For the most part, I thought the author did a great job balancing these two elements, and, at their best, it felt tonally similar to an episode of The X-Files (I don't know that I'm capable of giving higher praise than that), with devious government cover-ups, shady business deals with tech moguls, and two people who care for each other fiercely and loyally.

I did wish that the characters were a little more fleshed out, particularly El. With Carter, we have the backstory of losing his only parent in a car crash that involved a mysterious craft identical to the one that El saw; we know that he grew up with very little love in his life after that, and that, as a result, he finds any kind of love difficult to find as an adult. With the hints we get about El's upbringing prior to becoming a full-time influencer--the pageants she was put in as a child, her mother who only seems to text when she wants money for home improvements--I felt maybe there was a loneliness in her too, but we really don't get much of that. Instead, she fully takes on the business of caring for and supporting Carter, and while this isn't a bad thing at all--Carter's a sweet guy who respects, admires, and supports her career completely--it just made the "oh he sees me in a way nobody else does even though I'm an influencer who gets seen all the time by thousands of people" aspect fall sort of flat.

I excited that a third title is forthcoming and that Marlowe, a fellow Emersonian, will be leaving LA and returning to her Boston roots for this one!

Mallory Marlowe has outdone herself. Love At First Sighting was hilarious, fresh, and has such incredible heart.

The characters are everything. El is an influencer living what seems to be every influencer's dream. At least until one of her photo shoots doesn't go exactly to plan. Enter Carter, the Man in Black. On the surface, these two should have nothing in common. One lives her life in full public view (or a version of it, anyway) while the other keeps to the shadows by necessity. And yet there is a through line in their characters, in the things they both desperately need and want, that brings them together in such a tender, satisfying way. I so enjoyed both of their arcs and their growth throughout the novel, especially seeing Carter in more emotional moments!

With plenty of action and mystery to keep the pace snappy, I had a great time with this one! There are so many hilarious one liners (my copy is full of highlights) and kick-your-feet-this-is-so-cute moments between both the banter and the romance. Definitely one of my 2025 faves!

An influencer, who accidentally encounters a UFO, and the Man in Black sent to discredit her fall in love in Mallory Marlowe’s Love at First Sighting. There’s mystery; there’s romance; and there are two people finally finding the support they both need in each other.

I liked how they care for each other and work together and how they both break free from the holding patterns their lives have become.

While I didn’t love this one as much as I loved Love and Other Conspiracies, Love at First Sighting does still have an enjoyable mix of depth, heat, swoon, and mystery with a dash of the extraterrestrial added in. It’s just missing that unputdownable quality of Marlowe’s debut novel.

Make sure to read the excerpt from her next book, Entities to Lovers, at the end of this one. The glimpse of enemies-to-lovers banter in the preview has me chomping at the bit, giving grabby hands, and hoping and praying (and begging) that Berkley will get a copy of it in my hands (or on my Kindle) sooner rather than later.

I received an advance copy of Love at First Sighting from Berkley. All review opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

After stumbling upon a UFO during a live stream, influencer El catches the attention of Man in Black Carter who finds himself experiencing some deja vu. Together, they will search for answers to the mystery surrounding this unidentified flying object and Carter's past.

Marlowe won me as a fan with Love and Other Conspiracies. I really enjoyed how she combined romance with speculative elements. I am happy to report that Love at First Sighting was even better!

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about El as I tend to roll my eyes at the entire idea of "influencers", but she was able to charm me by simply being herself. Her storyline was one I really loved. Here was a woman living by an algorithm who was somewhat adrift having lost sight of who she was and wanted to be. Then this man barges into her life and really saw her and liked what he saw. He made her want to be her true self, and her personal journey was a good one.

But this man, Carter, was something special. He had a heartbreaking backstory and really never had someone to care for him. I think that's why I fell in love with them both. Most of the people in El's life expected something in return, it was all transactional, while Carter just never had anyone to support him in a meaningful way since his parents' deaths. In this great big world, they found a connection and cared for each other, and it was a beautiful thing.

Carter and El embarked on this crazy mission and never failed to be there for one another when danger came. And believe me, this mission had some high stakes. There was action and peril and twists galore that had me flipping the pages. But there was also a lot of fun and humor packed into this tale along with some really touching moments.

Overall: This was one wild ride and I enjoyed every second of it.

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters and the action and that wonderment of paranormal.

Love and Other Conspiracies and Love at First Sighting were both so much fun. (Can you call it a series?) I’m not big on the social media influencer main character thing. Watch out for the mom and the fake British lady, they were triggering. Would totally ready more from the fantastic Mallory Marlowe!

I loved Mallory Marlowe's first book, Love and Other Conspiracies, and I was so excited to dive into this book.El is a social media influencer who is getting bored of her life of making and posting content. When she is taking photos one night, she comes across a bright light and what appears to be a spacecraft of some kind. She posts the live video on her account, and it goes viral drawing the attention of The Private Intelligence Sector (PIS). Carter works at PIS, and he's sort of like a Men in Black who investigates paranormal things.

He tracks down El, but she is hesitant to speak to him. She eventually talks to him, and they agree to work together. When they meet, there is an immediate mutual attraction and connection. As they work together, they explore their feelings.. and have so much on his desk! It definitely gets spicy.

The dual POV was so much fun to see how El and Carter felt about each other. He's such a cinnamon roll, and he would do anything for El while she wants to prove herself as more than just a pretty face. They complement each other so well!

There's no third act breakup, but there is a lot of action, including a car chase. I loved the idea about the conspiracy and trying to solve the mystery, but the mystery itself was lackluster and disappointing.

I tried reading this book 3 separate times. DNF. The influencer main character theme has just been overdone. Both maincharacter characters, El and Carter are immature, and even though she realizes that living the Barbie life is not ideal, her personal growth was still very slow. Romance did not work for me either plus all the culture preferences are over the top.

This was such a fun read! I have been enjoying quite a few "adventure" rom-coms recently, and Berkley has been putting out some really enjoyable ones! UFO's, conspiracies, what's not to enjoy? I loved El and Carter together, and they were so opposite but balanced each other out so well, and she really helped bring his fun side out. They definitely got themselves into some hijinks, and it was really fun to read. So glad there was no 3rd act breakup in this one because it seems like you can't read a good romance without one anymore lol, UGH. I will definitely be reading more of Mallory's work in the future.

Imagine if aliens were real and so were the Men in Black and then you and the went assigned to your case spend the majority of the book staring at each others mouths? Those are the vibes of this book and I absolutely loved it.
You get a secret agent/alien/crime solving plot AND you get slow burn pining between a very sweet and awkward man and the woman who makes sure he knows how loved he is (and also is a fearless badass).
El and Carter were so fun together. Their endless flirting and prolonged looks had me giggling and wishing they would JUST KISS ALREADY (they do… eventually). I loved how supportive they were of each other and how they showed they cared. The chemistry and tension was off the charts and they also made a really great crime solving team. While this book was silly and weird it also had some very emotional moments, especially with Carter and the things he learned about his past. I felt so bad for him and El did such a good job of comforting and reassuring him and their bond really shine through in those moments.
This book was so much fun and had the best mix of funny and serious moments as well as aliens and secret plots. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC!

This was absolutely adorable and surprisingly heartfelt in all the best ways.

El and Carter are pure rom-com gold. Their banter is charming, their chemistry is immediate but believable, and the way they keep showing up for each other made me fall for them completely. That motel scene had me tearing up. The instant connection didn’t bother me because it was grounded in a shared experience and developed into something meaningful. I would happily watch these two travel the world making each other smile.

The sci-fi element is more of a subtle thread than the core of the story, but it worked for me. The mystery was fairly easy to figure out, but I still really enjoyed how it played out. It had a light caper feel with just enough tension to keep things moving. Carter’s retro, film noir vibe was a little over the top at times, but it suited him and made his character even more endearing.

What I loved most was how emotionally available both characters were. There was no third-act breakup, no forced drama, just two people finding something real at the right time and choosing each other. El’s confidence and compassion were a perfect match for Carter’s steady sincerity, and their relationship felt thoughtful and grown-up without losing the charm of a classic rom-com.

Some of the side characters were frustrating, especially her roommates and his coworkers, but that only made the central romance shine even brighter. This was my first book by Mallory Marlowe, and I’m already looking forward to reading more. I love the way she writes romance with humor, heart, and just a little chaos.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.25 stars

Such a cute and fun read.

If not for the weekend and some plans I had, I probably would have finished this in one day. Perfect amount of romance, storyline intrigue, and some emotional depth that kept me invested.

Would recommend for a quick read for romance readers ❤️

This was so much fun to read! I always love a paranormal adventure and this one filled up my cup. It was cute, spicy, and unique. I really liked how El comes into herself and realizes her worth throughout the book. Her relationship with Carter and their mission help her realize that there is more to life than superficial instagram photos and fake friends. Her character growth was so great and I loved her as an FMC. Carter was also wonderful. He went through so much trauma to get to where he is as a "man in black". I honestly just wanted to give this man a hug and tell him that he is enough.

El and Carter make a great match and bring out the very best in each other. I enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to more by this author!

4.25⭐️

Love at First Sighting is a quirky, heartwarming adventure rom-com with a dash of UFOs, government conspiracy, and a cinnamon-roll hero in a suit. If that alone doesn’t sell you, let me elaborate.

When influencer El livestreams a terrifying UFO encounter, the last thing she expects is for it to go viral, and for it to attract the attention of a mysterious (and hot) government agent. Carter is the sweet, suit wearing, secret government agent who gets assigned to her case, because he saw a nearly identical UFO the night his father died under suspicious circumstances. He falls hard and fast (peep the title!). His earnest affection paired with El’s chaotic charm make for top-tier tension and banter.

What follows is a funny, quirky adventure full of UFOs, a mystery, a potential government cover-up and some action (including a thrilling car chase!) all rolled in with fantastic romantic chemistry! It never takes itself too seriously, but still delivers on suspense and emotional payoff.

El’s growth, from trying to be perfect all the time to learning to living authentically, was really meaningful and relatable. And Carter’s emotional maturity complemented El’s needs beautifully. Together, they bring out the best in each other. The writing is fun, the pacing kept me intrigued, and the story balances lighthearted fun with real emotional depth.

This was playful and quirky, yet mature and entertaining; a delightful mash-up of solid adventure rom-com, with underdog characters you’ll love and just enough depth to keep it grounded! Highly recommend if you want a funny, heartwarming romance that’s a little bit different, but in the best way!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Mallory definitely nailed it again! While I can’t say I liked this as much as I did with Love and Other Conspiracies, I did have a super good time! After a bit of a slow start I was very invested in El and Carter and was dying to see what they would do next, both with alien mystery at hand but also their budding connection. I truly hope Mallory keeps it up with these cryptid/alien/weird things romcoms because she absolutely has the niche down!

Love At First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 1 chili
Pub date: 8/12

El Martin is a social media influencer whose picture-perfect life feels pretty empty, until she accidentally catches something very UFO-like on camera. Enter Carter Brody, a government agent stuck doing grunt work, who finally gets his big shot by investigating El.

This book was SO much fun! It has everything: romance, mystery, a little bit of sci-fi weirdness, and somehow it all works together perfectly. I loved that both El and Carter were totally underestimated (El’s written off as just a pretty face, Carter’s the fix-it guy in his office), and they end up proving everyone wrong. Even better, they never doubt each other for a second, which made the whole romance feel so supportive and sweet. No third-act breakup here, which I loved because it honestly wouldn’t have made sense for these two.

The mystery side of the plot was really engaging. I liked watching Carter’s perspective shift as he uncovered the truth, while El was basically right all along. The spice level is also spot-on: not too much, not fade-to-black either.

If you like rom-coms with a twist, supportive couples, and a story that’s as heartwarming as it is fun, definitely pick this up.

I wanted to love this one! I’ve heard great things about Marlowe but this was a huge miss for me. I liked the whole influencer part of it, but that’s about it. I didn’t enjoy the plot, and felt it was a tad too slow for me.

El is a social media influencer looking for a different kind of spotlight. But she absolutely did not want the chaos dropped into the lap of someone who claimed to see a UFO! The digital world gives El's video capturing her scary sighting a deluge of thumbs-downs, and the paparazzi hound her every step in the hopes of capturing another "crazy moment."

In among the crowd is a new--and very handsome--face.

Carter is a federal agent, just not for any federal agency you've ever heard of. And not really much of a field agent, at least not very often. He's more the keep-this-shady-underfunded-relic-running-for-another-day agent. But El's video immediately pushes Carter out of his office chair and into the streets of LA, trying to track down the beautiful influencer who may be the only other living person to have seen a very specific unidentified flying object.

Once El stops trying to evade her very own secret agent, she decides to help him decipher some very strange events and uncover potentially deadly secrets.

I really liked Mallory Marlowe's debut novel, Love and Other Conspiracies, but, if possible, I enjoyed Love at First Sighting even more! It has humor, adventure, intrigue, romance, and startling secrets that will change absolutely everything.

From now on, I will be automatically adding everything by this outstanding author to my to-read list!