4.5

This is my first book from Mallory Marlowe and I'm for sure going to go back to read her previous book of a similar vein, I'm here for this cryptid mystery romance trope. It gives such strong Mulder Scully vibes and I love it 🥰 .

The characters in this book is really strong and I really enjoyed both main characters a lot. They both are really lovable and stand strongly on their own. One of my favorite tropes is MMC yearning. The guy yeearrrnns in this book. It's so great,

I also really liked the mystery aspect of this book. It's really interesting and bringing a fun element to it. I can see how her previous book is also loved and how much fun a Sasquatch mystery could be.

I plan to read more from this author and look forward to see what else she writes, I would recommend this book to fans of Ali Hazelwood.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this advanced reader copy my review is voluntarily my own.

this was such a fun take on a paranormal romance! aliens and MIB? amazing!!! The chemistry was hot! I also loved the kind of opposites attract vibe.

Thank you to the publisher for the free book!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

El is an influencer shooting content in the Santa Monica Mountains when she sees what she believes to be a UFO. When Man in Black Carter shows up to investigate the sighting, they realize there is a larger mystery (and an unexpected attraction!) at play.

This one was so cute, and I loved the relationship between Carter and El, both of whom made great characters. The premise was great, and the variety of situations and side characters made me laugh out loud MULTIPLE times—I really appreciate when a book emphasizes the “com” in “rom-com” and this one absolutely did.

There is also a fun mystery/adventure side plot, and I loved the added stakes. Plus, I am obsessed with any romance that focuses on external drama rather than a third act breakup, so this one checked so many boxes for me!

I think you need to pick this one up when it releases!

CW: Death of parent; some violence/gun violence; injury/blood

Another banger from Mallory Marlowe! An expert at relatable characters with zippy, sexy banter, Marlowe again presents a unique blend of rom, com, and the perfect dash of the supernatural that is sure to woo readers.

El is an influencer/content creator and used to LA men and finds relief in Carter's normalcy. Except he is literally a man in black and tracks down aliens for the government.

The story takes place in Los Angeles with MC El living in a creator house making content for a living. Carter the MMC works for the government tracking down aliens as a literal Man in Black. El has a brush with a UFO and that is what brings Carter into her life. They quickly fall for each other while trying to figure out the mystery behind the UFO El has a close encounter with.

This was a fun one. The MCs had great banter and just had me smiling the whole time. They quickly begin working together to solve the mystery of the UFO El encountered and uncover more than they bargained for. There were a lot of modern pop culture references that could be off putting to some readers.

Thank you to Berkley and Mallory Marlowe for provided an ARC for review.

Combining romance and conspiracies is such a good setting for love to blossom.

Influencer El is out in the woods for a photoshoot when she sees...something...and in her panic of trying to leave a breadcrumb in case she disappears, she goes live. This hurts her brand but her fear and indignation that she really saw something overrule it all. El is lonely, isolated, and struggling to enjoy her life. She sees her privilege while recognizing that it doesn't buy happiness.

Carter is an agent with, in short, the Men in Black. No alien tools or powers, just scrubbing the internet to keep potentially legitimate evidence of aliens out of the public eye. Carter believes that El saw something, and he's also struck the second that he sees her. He gets permission to investigate her, but it's really an excuse to meet her.

El and Carter have a tense relationship that grows into a friendship, and denying that they feel more for quite some time. They go on the hunt to find out if it really was an alien ship, and if it wasn't...what did El see in the woods? It unravels a series of conspiracies that end up changing both their lives, in addition to falling in love.

Carter is adorable. El is sympathetic and relatable, and the more time you spend in their heads you realize how different and yet perfect for each other they are. They complement each other, and are better for having the other person. I loved their love, and definitely teared up as they developed and go closer.

This was also just funny enough while having a lot of emotional depth. I am really enjoying this series, and will definitely be reading the next book!

It took me forever to really get into this book, but once I did, it was a roller coaster ride to the end.

I really enjoyed the author's first book. This is, in some ways, more of the same. You get a lot of LA this time, an "X-Files adjacent" plotline (sorta), lots of geeky humor and a shockingly profound insight into "influencer" culture. I think the problem I had at the beginning is less about the writing or the book, but rather that I don't really understand, get or even like "influencers" like El. But then again, neither does she (and that's obvious when you re-read the opening chapter) and a lot of this book is about her awakening to what she really wants out of life. I really liked that. I loved Carter. I thought the side characters were hilarious (I needed more of JET - I laughed for a whole day at the "corn" line). This has Marlowe's signature wit and heart and it also avoids two of my least favorite tropes (no <spoiler>third act breakup</spoiler> or <spoiler>surprise pregnancy</spoiler>), even if it doesn't avoid another one (the unnecessary epilogue - it really didn't add anything here).

Sometimes doing a bang up job of familiar stuff in a fresh way can be exactly what you need. I'm absolutely looking forward to her next book and she's definitely one of the best new rom-com writers on the scene. 4.25 stars (rounded to 4 for GR).

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkely (who seems to be putting out book after book that I just adore) for a chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are uncompensated. "Love at First Sighting" is out August 12th (next Tuesday!) so go preorder it now!

this really surprised me! i had such a fun time reading this and frequently found myself laughing out loud. i haven’t read love and other conspiracies yet - but will 100% be picking it up after how much i adored the writing in this. i expected this to be nothing more than a silly little alien romcom, but it was filled with so much depth and characters that made this have almost a cozy feel to it as well as excitement and action! the only downside to this book for me was that the main character, ariel, is an influencer and there is a lot of modern language and dialogue about instagram and brand deals, which i really struggle with in books. i really just wish she had ANY other job, i feel like that part made this a little too realistic for me and makes me have a hard time convincing myself of all the other aspects. i do however, recommend this SO much, to literally anyone. this has a mystery element that’s really fun, humor, spice, and a great, authentic connection between our two main characters!

3.5 stars rounded up

This was a fun, quick read with a unique premise and two adorable MCs. The romance was swoony, the mystery was captivating, and both MCs are so down bad almost immediately! And I appreciate Marlowe's humor so much- the line about being as scary as a Backyardigan about took me out! My rating isn't higher because I wish we knew more about Carter than his family history, but I rounded up because I did really enjoyed the book.

I really enjoyed Love and Other Conspiracies I was so excited to get an early ebook from the publisher.
I didn’t enjoy this nearly as much as the first book, but I think there’s a huge audience for it and I’m just not it. There were a ton of Gen Z references and the main character was n influencer. Her whole life revolved around branding and content creating. I think I’m just too old for these kinds of characters and I personally find influencer culture to be the worst and I remember the internet before everyone turned into ads. I know the synopsis clearly stated she was an influencer, but I was hoping more for a dabbler or someone who has a one thing, like testing out hiking gear for a YouTube channel.. not a stereotypical beige athleisure wearing influencer trying to sell makeup and shampoo and anything for a like. But if you’re in your early 20s and looking for a relatable romcom, this might be more your thing having grown up more with content creation being front and center.
I wouldn’t have minded the influencer vibes as much if there had been actual aliens and UFOs to explore or some more MIB vibes, but the whole thing just didn’t start getting good until the end with the investigation. I did like Carter for the most part, but I don’t think someone with curiosity and courage would had not looked for answers for so many years.
Overall, it was a fun romcom that I recommend to a younger 20-something audience.

Okay this was CUTEEE

I enjoyed the first book in this series but liked this one even more

Usually when a book is trying to be funny, I get the ick - but this book was effortlessly funny and had me laughing out loud alone in my room SO much (like a psycho)

Things to know:
CHEMISTRY between the two mains
Dual POV
influencer x man in black
Mystery solving
Flirty banter

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I could hardly put this one down! I was INVESTEDDDDD. I love the twist/mergey thing they did with a rom com but also kind of a thriller. It was really neat to read a story like that. While I do wish there had been MORE of like actual alien stuff, I like how the book navigated that part. The banter was great, the smut was great and not TOO cringey. I LOVE A MAN THAT YEARNNNNSSSS AHHHHHHHHHHH. I laughed and cried and just generally had a great time reading this. SO FUN. I will absolutely be reading more from this author when I can!

After finishing and loving Love and Other Conspiracy I was so excited to get approved for an arc of this one. And let me tell you, I LOVED it! The banter between El and Carter was hilarious, the mystery storyline was intriguing, and honestly I just love anything alien related so I am not surprised at all that I devoured it. Another high recommendation from me to anyone looking for a hilarious out there romcom with some action/mystery.

Sadly, this one just didn’t hit like Marlowe’s first novel.

It started off strong and I was really loving Carter and El. Carter was immediately infatuated and down bad. Our resident Man in Black helping El and himself find our answers about a spotted UFO.

I honestly was hoping for more aliens and UFO and paranormal? I also didn’t love that it was so insta-love. It made the whole book feel like it lacked depth. Their feelings and thoughts felt forced fed. A telling and not a showing.

I did appreciate how loyal and caring they tried to be towards each other. They both had little in the way of supports and tried to step into that role for each other. I also did love some of the mystery element and banter. The mystery and pacing just felt like it dragged for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

4.25⭐ (I will create another post for this closer to the release date)

An ABSOLUTE FREAKING SURPRISE. I didn't know this book had a book 1, but lord knows that I will read it now! I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did and I'm all the more happier for it.

For me, this was one of those rare situations where I loved both the MMC and the FMC. The MMC, Carter, was such a sweetheart. He was a nerd at his core, and he was loyal to a fault. For me, I don't think the book started for me until Carter and Ariel (El) met. The whole interaction was so wholesome because of Carter, he was so trusting, and like as he said, as menacing as a Backyardigan. I enjoyed his layers, like how even though he was kind and wholesome, he also got jealous and defended El to everyone. While he wanted to solve the mystery, first and foremost, he wanted to make sure El's reputation was recovered.

Speaking of El, she was quirky and a bit difficult to like in the beginning. However, she grows on you, and the way she defended Carter in return was commendable. And their CHEMISTRY?? THE SCENE AT HIS DESK???? bro. I blushed. I had to put my kindle away, because I felt like I was intruding in their moment.

Overall, I loved this book. I am so excited to read more of Mallory's books and I enjoyed this story so much! I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys banter, quirky main characters and a plot that you can't help but be obsessed over!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm loving the romances with a bit of a paranormal twist. This is my second one in two weeks and they are just so much fun.
El is an influencer who gets caught up in what she believes is and extraterrestrial sighting. Carter is an agent who has never been anything special When he stumbles upon El's video her experience is too close to what he went through when he lost his own father. He's determined to figure out the mystery of what happened.
I loved the set up of this story. The Men In Black/XFiles vibes were really fun. Much of what happens is quite fantastical and of course not anywhere true to what probably happens. But it was fun, nonetheless. Marlowe's writing was easy to read. I liked her use of the dual POV. Every scene easily pushed the story forward and the action was fun, even if a little unbelievable at times. The pacing did stall at times with the descriptions of the social media stuff but for the most part it kept my interest.
I really liked that El and Carter were so different. It shows opposites can truly attract. There romance was cute, though I thought they could have used a bit more chemistry build up.
This book is like Men In Black had a baby with XFiles and added a bunch of romance. It's witty and entertaining. It didn't require a huge amount of brain power and it's just what I needed to break things up with my more in depth fantasies I have been reading. If you're looking for something light and cute, with a bit of a fantastical element, give this one a try.

I didn't think it was possible, but I love Love at First Sighting even more than Love and Other Conspiracies!

Love at First Sighting is like if Men in Black were a rom-com instead of an action comedy. El is an influencer who gets her very own Man in Black doing a bit of if government sanctioned stalking after she has a close encounter while out taking photos for her next promotion.

The Man In Black in question is Carter, who specifically requested the assignment because El's close encounter mirrors one he had 15 years prior.

El and Carter soon find themselves uncovering a real conspiracy while falling in love and discovering who they really want to be outside of government agency and influencer jobs.

I love how El was shown to be so much smarter than her curated influencer image. And Carter was such a cinnamon roll, who always wanted to see the best in everyone, whether they deserved it or not.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this story!

I was really looking forward to Love at First Sighting. Mallory Marlowe’s previous novel, Love and Other Conspiracies, was a charming blend of humor, heart, and light paranormal romance, so I was eager to see where she’d take this quirky, X-Files-flavored universe next. While the setup here is promising—UFOs, secret intelligence agencies, influencer culture, and a slow-burn romance—the execution left me feeling disconnected more often than not.

The plot kicks off when El Martin, a successful but quietly unfulfilled influencer, captures footage of what appears to be a UFO. Enter Carter Brody, the reluctant agent assigned to keep tabs on her. What follows is a mash-up of romantic comedy and mystery-thriller: a little bit Men in Black, a little X-Files, with the bones of a sweet opposites-attract love story. The premise is fun, fresh, and ripe with potential.

However, I struggled with the pacing. The book spends a lot of time on descriptions—of settings, social media content, and El’s aesthetic lifestyle—which ultimately stalled momentum and often felt like filler. As a result, the romantic and emotional arcs didn’t have enough room to truly breathe. The plot doesn’t pick up until much later in the book, and by then, the emotional stakes felt underdeveloped.

Carter is arguably the more compelling of the two main characters. His backstory—losing his father under mysterious circumstances linked to a UFO sighting—is handled with nuance, and his guarded personality makes sense within the world Marlowe builds. He’s a quiet, grounded presence with a good heart and a clear arc of growth.

El, however, felt somewhat hollow in comparison. The book hints at a complex past—former child pageant star, strained family dynamics, loneliness beneath her polished exterior—but those elements are only lightly touched on. Instead, her emotional depth is often implied rather than explored. Her relationship with Carter is sweet, but the emotional connection feels sudden and unearned. There’s a leap from “strangers with secrets” to “ride-or-die partners” that lacked the slow build I needed to believe in it fully.

Tonally, Love at First Sighting walks a line between rom-com and sci-fi mystery. While this blending worked in Love and Other Conspiracies, here it felt slightly uneven. At its best, the story has a quirky charm and a creative world that could easily anchor an entire series. But the structure, pacing, and underwritten character arcs held it back from reaching its full potential.

That said, I am still interested in where Marlowe goes with this loosely connected series. Her voice is unique, and I appreciate her willingness to take risks within the genre. I'm especially intrigued by the hinted shift to a Boston-based setting in the next book, and I’ll definitely give it a shot.

Final thoughts:
Love at First Sighting has a fun premise, clever moments, and a love interest worth rooting for—but ultimately, the story’s slow pacing and lack of emotional depth kept me from fully connecting. Readers who enjoy light paranormal elements and conspiracy-driven romance may still enjoy the ride, especially if they’re more patient with slow-burn storytelling than I am.

4.5⭐️ Mallory Marlowe has instantly become a new favorite author and I absolutely adored Love at First Sighting! There’s adventure, action and insane chemistry between El and Carter that I didn’t mind their more instant love connection.

I loved El’s depth and journey in her influencing career and finally surrounding herself around others and doing things that bring her joy. Carter was such a cutie and I thought his backstory with his dad and occupation really tied the whole story together. El and Carter were a duo I didn’t know I needed and loved so much. The investigation and mystery of it all kept me invested and I seriously couldn’t put it down near the end.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc!

Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe was a light, feel-good read that had me smiling the whole way through. I liked the quirky characters and the charming setting. It made everything feel warm and a little magical. The romance was sweet without being over the top, and the story moved at a nice pace. It’s the kind of book that’s perfect for a cozy weekend escape.