What a fun book. This book has the romance and the supernatural and the hilarity that one would expect with a Bigfoot romance book. (nope..not like that)
I loved this debut author's foray into the supernatural and can't wait to read another book by Ms. Marlowe! Think x-files for cryptids!

I absolutely LOVED this book. I’m a cryptid fan so you combine that with a romcom and I’m all in. The premise sold me and the book didn’t disappoint.

Hallie is trying to save her job by having a hit show so she enlists cryptid podcaster Hayden to join her. The two immediately have so much chemistry that the show becomes the two of them.

And I agree with the viewers of their show. The chemistry between Hallie and Hayden was off the charts. I loved these two and the further away I get from this book, the more I loved it. It became my staff pick at the bookstore and I just get warm fuzzies whenever I think of this story and these characters. Mallory Marlowe is an author who is completely aligned with the things I love in books and I’m so excited to continue reading this series!

Hallie, a web producer recovering from a toxic relationship, teams up with Hayden, a charming cryptid podcaster, to create a new show. Their on-screen dynamic—skeptic meets believer—quickly becomes the heart of the series, and maybe something more.

This book is a delightful mix of humor, heart, and cryptid lore. The banter between Hallie and Hayden is top-notch, and their slow-burn romance is both sweet and satisfying. While the story touches on heavier themes like emotional abuse and grief, it does so with care and authenticity. It's a fun, nerdy read that balances lighthearted moments with emotional depth.

This book was written for you if:
1. You're a fan of slow-burn, opposites-attract romances.
2. You enjoy stories with a mix of humor and heartfelt moments.
3. You're intrigued by cryptids and conspiracy theories.

OBSESSED. Gimme more nerdy boys with BDE, I beg you. Loved the characters and the plot. Loved everything 10/10

This is a must-read book I don't want to give any spoilers, but you won't regret getting this book, you won't put it down till you're done reading the whole this.

Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe

One thing people seem surprised to find out about me is that I love the unknown. I love watching shows on The Discovery Channel about unsolved mysteries, unexplained events and phenomena, cryptids, aliens, hauntings, you name it. I was so, so excited to get my hands on Love and Other Conspiracies. Look at that cover! It has Bigfoot on it! And the synopsis sounded amazing, too. An unbeliever and a cryptid podcaster get together to hunt down cryptids for a cool new webseries? I’d watch the heck out of that. Unfortunately, this book didn’t really work for me. First of all, I didn’t love the dynamic between Hayden and Hallie. I guess I don’t enjoy reading about someone kind of tearing down or making fun of someone else’s passion, which is what Hallie did to Hayden on a regular basis. It’s fine if she doesn’t want to believe the things he does, but she kept trying to extinguish his flame of passion for the subject and I don’t see how a romance can be built on that lack of support. I also could not stand reading about Cade (Hallie’s ex), who added nothing to the story but frustration and irritation for me. lol. I skimmed the parts where he was on the page because I just wasn’t in the mood. The romance is a bit campy and I really wish there was some actual ghost or cryptid content, but I can see why there wasn’t (because they’re not real, I know). There are some heavier topics surrounding toxic relationships and workplace harassment, which were well done and grounded the story in reality. But really, this was cringey and lacking in the monster hunting I was so excited about.

A pretty fun and cute story, but one that didn't quite have that spark for me.

Love and Other Conspiracies follows Hallie, a web series producer whose coworker happens to be her boyfriend, now ex. Now that they’re broken up, Hallie’s scrambling to get a new show and that’s when she comes across Hayden’s podcast, a docuseries about Bigfoot, and other conspiracy theories. The two strike up a partnership — and more.

I thought the romance was pretty cute. Their development felt very natural, and any tropes in the book were used really well. I liked the dynamic between Hallie and Hayden a lot, and the banter that we got between a believer and a non-believer, which made the backdrop of the conspiracy theme necessary.

Still, I wish the book had gone one step further with its discussions of conspiracy theories. I’m not saying it has to address any conflicting theories or moral quandaries in depth — this is a contemporary romance after all, but as a non-believer I felt like I wanted Hallie to better represent us better (lol) instead of just doing the equivalent of “laughing it off.” The conspiracy theories are still great as a light-hearted backdrop, but a few more thought-provoking debates would’ve pushed this book’s boundaries for me and made it more memorable.

Ultimately, I’m not sure this is really one that would stick in my mind, but I had fun while reading it, and I think anyone reading it would have fun too.

I loved this. I was an X Files girl so the idea was immediately a win for me. A skeptic and a Podcaster? Sign me up. Their dynamic is cute and it's not spicy at all, just sweet cozy Bigfoot vibes. I loved it

I ate this book UP! I read the whole thing in one sitting. Could not put it down. Mallory Marlowe is a genius at banter. *chef's kiss*

4.5⭐️ This was a pure delight from the start to end for me! Featuring a paranormal conspiracy theorist and a web series producer who team up.

I paired the book with audio and loved the immersive style of reading, and would recommend both formats!

WHAT TO EXPECT
-opposites attract
-debut romance
-adorable characters
-X-files vibes
-themes of grief and workplace harassment

*many thanks to Berkley Romance, PRH audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe!

This was such a cute romcom. It had me in my feels but also had me cracking up with laughter. I love a book that can give you all the things. This book was such a fun read.

This book was one of the cutest romcom books I have read. I love all things spooky and I was not expecting to love this as much h as I did.
The relationship between the two main characters was so perfect. I loved the build up and the way they helped each other grow throughout the story.
I will definitely be re-reading this in the future because it’s a new comfort read.

Are you freaking kidding me right now? This book is ADORABLE. the ghost hunt at the hotel made me laugh so hard I literally peed my pants. This was a great time!

I’m a real nerd when it comes not only to books, but also supernatural stuff. Cryptids, UFOs, the paranormal–you name it, I’ve probably heard of it before. Sasquatch possibly being an interdimensional being? Yup. Poltergeist activity being a manifestation of excess preteen energy? Of course!

That said, I was so excited to read a romcom featuring some of my favorite material. I love a good will they won’t they, high chemistry/high tension contemporary romance, and this book did not disappoint. I love seeing it on shelves and I make sure to point it out to people and say “OH, this is a good one!”

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

DNF @ 50%

This is a book I actually may come back to at some point. I was enjoying my time with this while I was reading, but it was a book I would completely forget about once I stopped reading. I was struggling with contemporaries all around at this time, so I don't know if this was book's fault or mine.

This had a fun premise, humor, and solid chemistry between the characters. And a lot of friends and other reviewers have really enjoyed and raved about this. So maybe this is something I come back to later this year before the second book releases.

But I'm very pro putting books down when they're not jiving with you - even if they might be something you enjoy in the end.

Exactly what I wanted from this book! Loved this adorable & humorous take on cryptids and finding love in all the most unusual places. Hayden and Hallie made SUCH a couple, and I was appreciative of how Marlowe incorporated their struggles with their romance. It felt real but still fun.

This was a fun debut with an interesting concept. There was room for tightening the middle of the story

Cute, quick read! I liked the conspiracy-hunting premise and I would absolutely watch this show. I also thought Hayden and Hallie had great chemistry, even if it was a little insta-love for my taste. My biggest complaint is that there wasn't really enough conflict. Cade is too much of a cartoon villain to be believable, and it got a little tiresome hearing repeatedly about Hallie's low self-esteem until she just kinda got over it. Even with a splash of Hayden's family drama thrown in, there isn't enough tension in the book once Hayden and Hallie admit their feelings for each other. Still, I found this to be an enaging and well-paced debut and I'll look out for whatever Mallory Marlowe publishes next.

💘 Book Review: Love and Other Conspiracies by Kyrie McCauley

Summary: Hallie Barrett has one goal: pitch the perfect web series to save her job—and beat out her insufferable ex. Enter Hayden, a sweet conspiracy theorist with a hit podcast (and a heart of gold). As Hallie pitches his story, sparks start to fly... and not just professionally.

This is the ultimate cozy, low-stakes romance! Hallie’s career might be on the line, but the real drama comes from her obnoxious ex, who seems hell bent on sabotage. Luckily, Hayden’s nerdy charm and their quirky conspiracy-themed dates bring plenty of feel-good vibes.

🎬 Movie dream cast: Jack Quaid as Hayden, and Joey King rocking Hallie’s signature blue hair.

Read this if you love:
✨ Fun romance with a side of conspiracy theories
✨ Men written by women (we love to see it!)
✨ Exes getting exactly what they deserve 🙌