Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars!

"Love and Other Conspiracies" by Mallory Marlowe is a delightful read that beautifully intertwines romance with a touch of the mysterious. The chemistry between the two main characters, Hallie and Hayden, is palpable, drawing you into their world and making their journey utterly captivating.

What truly sets this book apart is the unique dive into myth and conspiracy. The author masterfully weaves these elements into the narrative, creating an engaging and suspenseful backdrop that complements the budding romance. It's the perfect formula for an autumn/spooky read, as the atmosphere is rich with intrigue and just the right amount of chill.

Marlowe's writing is engaging and her character development is impressive, making you invested in the outcome of their relationship. While some pacing issues arise in the middle of the story, the resolution is satisfying and worth the ride. Overall, "Love and Other Conspiracies" is a charming blend of love and lore that is sure to keep readers enthralled as the leaves begin to fall. Highly recommend for anyone looking to get into the spooky spirit with a side of romance!

Love & Other Conspiracies will leave you pondering the existence of cryptids and cheering for Hallie & Hayden to embrace the weird and overcome their traumas together! This novel is for lovers of aliens, ghosts, and big foot with hilarious banter, x files vibes, sexy chemistry. Hallie is determined to show her talent at work without her toxic ex taking credit for her work. She finds Hayden, who is a podcast host of all things unsolved and unexplained, and convinces him to start a web series that she’ll produce. With off the charts chemistry and lessons in the strange from Hayden, Hallie ends up co hosting the web series as the Scully to Hayden’s Moulder and finds herself falling for the sexy nerd. Is she following a pattern of work related romance, is he finding her interesting because of previously isolating himself for so long after the sickness and death of his father? Either way, there is no denying the existence of their attraction. The author has made the perfect Spooky season Rom-Com with substance and I flew through this book! Swoony and full of discovery.

This was a fun read. The banter between Hallie and Hayden was so much fun and had me laughing out loud. Hallie is trying to win the next online show and is competing against her ex, who treats her horribly. She has no self esteem because of him.
Hayden is trying to make her believe in the cryptids and ghosts, aliens and anything else that she does not believe in.
The feelings start when they are kind of forced to work more closely together and they made a great team.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc to review.
#LoveandOtherConspiracies #NetGalley.

Fun book to start spooky season reads.

Romcom
Unsolved mystery
Work romance

Loved the banter AND communication between Hallie and Hayden.

An entertaining debut novel. Hallie Barrett needs to come up with a new series pitch to produce for her online job. Her last series was stolen by her ex who also happened to be the star. She comes across Hayden Hargrove who is a cryptid expert with a successful podcast. His onscreen presence isn’t exciting until she jumps in becoming the skeptic and challenging him. She becomes the Scully to his Mulder and it brings the show attention.

The story is fun, quirky and sweet. I loved hunting for BigFoot, having a cabin with only one bed and the pair's genuine nurturing and caring. Hallie can be insecure but the story takes her from a low point and sees her gain her confidence back. Hayden is a cinnamon roll character. He is handsome, kind and a caretaker. I absolutely love the cover with Big Foot as it matches the fun of the book. I will look forward to seeing more from the author. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.

So far this has been such a great year for covers. What a fun one! Unfortunately, the cover doesn't really match the insides of the book. My biggest issues with this story were the plot and the characters. I really couldn't stand our MC or the love interest, Hallie just never stops whining and complaining (something that in my real life would literally end a friendship, I cannot stand when people whine). Hayden was fine but he was about as interesting as a sheet of blank paper. They had really little chemistry, imo, and the plot didn't really...focus on what you'd think it would. I just really didn't care about what was going on in this book. I can see where people will enjoy it but it just really was not my cup of tea, which is a shame because I love conspiracies and cryptids!

I really liked the idea of this book. Hallie needs to come up with a new show idea and she stumbles upon conspiracies done by Hayden. It’s always fun when an author throws paranormal aspects with romance.

I did like Hallie and Hayden for the most part. They are working through their own personal issues. I love development from the MCs. My one big problem with them is that their relationship felt lukewarm. There wasn’t much of a connection between them besides working together. I also feel like from her last relationship she would learn to stay away from coworkers.

The plot needed more of the paranormal aspect because it could have really added to the plot.

Overall, this was a decent debut but just needed a bit more from the plot and the relationship.

I received Love and Other Conspiracies in return for an honest review from NetGalley. 

I adore Hallie and Hayden they are such great characters and they have this sweet romance that blossoms as they work on creating this show. I think Hayden is perfect for Hallie they just complemented each other and when everything spirals he's still got her back. I loved the banter between them they just have this adorable spark. 

I picked this one up because it sounded cute and I'm so glad that I did because it's a adorable whirlwind romance. I'm a huge fan of paranormal conspiracies so this one was a must read and I'm so glad that I did because I just loved every moment of the story. The characters are fantastic I really felt like I could connect with Hallie and she holds a special place in my heart. 

This is my first book by the author but I'm obsessed. I was instantly hooked on Hallie's story and couldn't put it down till the very end. I actually finished it in just one afternoon because I had to know how it would all end. The author has done a beautiful job creating a captivating story with fantastic characters to fall in love with. I'm honestly obsessed with her storytelling and can't wait to see what comes next. Highly recommend!!!

This quirky, entertaining, and humorous take on the X-Files, coupled with higher chemistry and wittier banter, offers everything you need from a promising debut romance featuring opposites attracting and love in the workplace themes! While I'm not sure if the truth is out there, I'm a hundred percent convinced that love is in the air when I dive into Hallie and Hayden's paranormal adventures. It's the kind of concept that makes me wish there was a real TV show like this to watch.

Overall, this is an easy-to-read, highly enjoyable debut romance with lovable, uniquely charming characters that I highly recommend.

What a delightful, fun, engaging, gripping and entertaining book! Love and Other Conspiracies made a believer out of me in Mallory Marlowe's writing, wonderful characters, great banter, and vivid descriptions.


At the beginning of this book, Hallie Barrett finds herself out of a job when her boyfriend dumps her. She was the producer of his online show but now needs to find herself something new. But then Hayden Hargrove caught her attention when she saw him discussing Bigfoot on his docuseries. So, Hallie takes a chance and offers him a chance to have his own web show. Hayden takes a chance on the blue haired producer who doesn't believe in Bigfoot but believes in him.

I adored this book. I love how Hallie had to come from behind the camera to be on the show with Hayden. They go on many adventures in search of the unknown, paranormal entities, ghosts, cryptids, etc. and capture the heart of their viewers in the process. This book gives strong X-files vibes in case you haven't guessed. The true magic is in the relationships and in its message. I loved the opposites attract vibe. I also loved the messages of do what you love, be yourself, find your own voice, finding the self-confidence to stand up for yourself, the importance of standing up for and beside those you care about, and being open to new experiences.

Most of the characters are likeable, quirky, and fun. I loved the banter between Hallie and Hayden. It was fun, cute and entertaining. The story was adorable as well. This book was like a breath of fresh air. Told through Hallie's POV, this book delights and entertains.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 368 / Genre: Romcom
🥳#HappyPubDay!🎉

Hallie is a web series producer who needs an idea for a new show to promote or she’s out of a job. Some late-night channel surfing leads to the solution of her problem—a conspiracy theorist whose passion for the paranormal is as crazy as he is hot. Together they start a hit web series about the two of them traveling around the country in search of cryptids like Bigfoot, Mothman, Fresno Nightcrawers, and the Flatwoods Monster. Their hit show ends up putting them in direct competition with her toxic ex-boyfriend who doesn’t play by the rules.

This was such a fun romcom! I loved their Mulder and Scully vibe. Her acceptance of abuse by her ex was infuriating though, but every romcom needs a complication to overcome and this was it. Other than that though, I really enjoyed it.

Thank you, @NetGalley, @BerkleyPub, and @MalloryMarloweWrites for my gifted copy.

Thank you @BerkleyRomance #Berkley #BerkleyPartner for the free book and to @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading this so much. I am absolutely not into conspiracy theories or any other "out there" ideas. (Except I live in the Pacific Northwest, so of course, Sasquatch is real.) But this book certainly made me want to believe.

Hallie has to pitch a show quickly to keep her video production job. She sees Hayden as a late night TV guest talking about cryptids and his belief in Bigfoot. So she pitches a show around him. As they search for the truth behind conspiracies, they find each other.

The romance initially felt a bit rapid and out of nowhere. But ultimately, I found it developed well, and I came to believe in the pair. And I had a great time with all the more fantastical portions. I absolutely loved Conspiracy Con. The workplace elements were great. And there was such a well balanced plot overall.

The book included so many funny moments, and also so many tender moments. It explored isolation and depression very well. And I loved both Hallie and Hayden (if not their ship name).

Alex Finke did a great job narrating the audiobook, especially with Hayden's Boston accent that came and went. And there were fun special effect sounds that matched the feel of the book and made it clear when we were hearing excerpts from the videos.

4.25 stars

I have been absolutely loving these quirky romcoms with just a hint of paranormal adventures. The concept is so clever and fun (I also read half of it during a thunderstorm, if that isn't vibe-y I don't know what is).

We all went through a ghost hunting and conspiracy theory phase, right? Teenage me was loving the nostalgia of this book. It was cute, easy to read, and perfect for the believers and nonbelievers out there. Hallie and Hayden were such charming characters, and their romance had me giggling and kicking my feet. Even with their oppositing views, I was in love with how charmed they were by each other, and how supportive one another throughout the book. Whether you're a believer or a nonbeliever, you'll definitely believe that love is in the air when you read this one.

Synopsis:
Hallie is producer looking to salvage her job, and she teams up with Hayden Hargrove in the hopes of turning his conspiracy theorist podcast into a web show. Although Hallie is a nonbeliever, she is captivated by Hayden's passion for paranormal and knows that the fans will be, too. Their natural chemstry and banter will draw in all the views, but their relationship is developing outside the workplace too...

Tropes:
nerdy mmc
workplace romance
x-files vibes
opposites attract
friends to lovers
forced proximity
only one bed
he falls first and HARD
witty banter
single pov
no third act break-up

absolutely obsessed with this charmer of a debut. Hallie and Hayden's were perfect for one another and I enjoyed every moment of their quirky, tender-hearted, swoon romance. Can't wait to read anything and everything Mallory Marlowe writes.

I loved the idea of this book so I immediately knew I had to read it.

I liked the idea of a web series revolving around conspiracy theories and the two main characters having opposite opinions. It reminded me of a web series I used to watch from Buzzfeed called Unsolved. I thought the author did a create job keeping the plot interesting and unique. I would totally watch the web show!

I also truly enjoyed the characters, Hayden and Hallie. I thought their dynamic was a lot of fun to read. They were also super cute! The gradual build of their romance was paced perfectly. I couldn't wait for them to just kiss already haha! They were two nerds in love and I couldn't get enough of it. Plus I also liked how respectful Hayden was of Hallie. Respect is always a turn on.

A fun light paranormal romcom that readers will devour!

She's a producer who's love life exploded and has left her with trust issues... and when her job is put in jeopardy and her ex is competing with her, who better than to make a new show with than the handsome conspiracy theorist? Hallie Barrett is a great producer too bad her job is on the line and her last show was taken over by her hotshot ex who not only destroyed her trust and confidence, but has left her so insecure and damaged that she's struggling to even stand up for herself. Yet she is determined to find a new project and then she stumbles upon Hayden Hargrove, a handsome cryptid expert with a hit podcast. Hallie knows that if she can just convince Hayden to let her produce his show to become a web series it'll be an instant hit. Yet Hayden can't do it alone and makes a deal with Hallie, if she cohosts with him for the competition they can make the show work. Now Hallie and Hayden begin investigating the unknown together and learning to fall in love again. I really wish this one grabbed me more but it just felt alright to me. It was a bit underwhelming and I just didn't care for Hallie all that much. Hayden was an alright love interest, but I guess I was just hoping for a bit more. The premise sounded cute and the cover is adorable... the plot and characters just felt a bit lackluster compared to what I was hoping I'd be getting. Hayden and Hallie were okay and the romance was just fine, but I just felt like I was missing something while reading it. Hallie is severely traumatized from her past relationship, she is so insecure about everything and projects it into everything. I get that that can happen to people but i was hoping she'd grow more and grow stronger and get more of a backbone after everything. Honestly, it's a me thing, but I do think that if you like podcast romances and finding love after a bad relationship, this book could be for you!

Release Date: August 20,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

What. A. Delight. The Scully + Mulder inspired romance of my dreams with a sprinkling of a Buzzfeed Unsolved-esque web show AND two sweethearts falling in love. Mallory Marlowe, the woman you are.

LAOC was just…FUN. Like Hayden and Hallie are running around chasing Bigfoot and looking for ghosts while having to oops share the single hotel bed while trying to keep hands and mouths off each other (unsuccessfully to my delight). BUT THEN Mallory hit me with a one two punch and threw in a toxic ex that verbally and emotionally abused Hallie and Hayden’s grief and difficult relationship with his mom following the death of his father to ALS. Which sounds so heavy but Mallory wrote about it in such a touching way that it doesn’t make the story feel *heavy*. It just grounds our MCs and makes this feel real and wonderfully relatable without taking away the fun of them chasing down the paranormal. I teared up reading about Hallie’s experience with her ex boyfriend because…been there, done that, bought the low self esteem and need for therapy t-shirt. (Also thanks Mallory for not making Hallie be the bigger person LOL I too would want my ex to suffer).

And like let’s kudos Hayden for being like “yeah some of these conspiracies are just super racist and harmful and I do my best to debunk them and stick to the fun cryptid stuff”. Man of my podcast listening dreams. He’s so sweet and a consent KING. If enthusiastic consent is your cup of reading tea, Hayden is your man. And if you wanted Scully and Mulder to kiss but didn’t want to read about FBI agents, these two ding dongs are perfect for your True Believer and Real Skeptic loving heart.

It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s real and so lovely. 5/5 stars.

Thanks to Berkeley for an advanced reader copy!

5 stars. I can't get over how delightful this debut from Mallory Marlowe was. First, let me start off by saying that the title is absolute perfection. Love and Conspiracies is such a sweet romance between two somewhat broken people who end up reclaiming a bit of their life back, and in the process, find love.. and maybe Bigfoot. I really hope the Bigfoot aspect of this one does not keep readers away, because this is one of the best debut romances I've read in a while.

Hallie is a producer for a popular web show who's life is turned upside down when the star of the show, who also happens to be her boyfriend, fires her. Without a show (and now also down a boyfriend), she has to work her magic and come up with something else to produce, or she'll be fired. She comes across Hayden, who has a successful podcast discussing popular cryptids and conspiracy theories. She realizes that his podcast would be perfect for a web show, and manages to convince him to let her produce his show. There are only 2 problems: 1) she has to co-host it with him (and she's strictly a behind the scenes gal), and 2) she doesn't believe in any of this stuff.

Hallie and Hayden had the most delightful banter, and Hallie's humor in general was the witty/snarky type that I love. The sparks between both of them are instantaneous, but it takes them a little while to truly open up. Hayden is the sweetest most cinnamon-rolly, golden retriever type of character. He's exactly who Hallie deserved and needed. But to be fair, Hallie was also exactly who Hayden deserved and needed. I really had so much fun reading this book. I'm not a believer in Bigfoot, other cryptids or conspiracy theories. But after reading Love and Other Conspiracies, I can 100% say that I AM a believer in Mallory Marlowe. And I cannot wait to read whatever she publishes next!

Thank you so much to Marlowe, Berkley, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fun sweet romance with a touch of spooky cryptids. This was a cute little romance that definitely should have been released in October ! Lots of fun and totally unique !

This book was super fun to read. I loved the relationship between Hallie and Hayden (more book-boyfriends like this please!). Marlowe perfectly captured the workplace bully, and the resulting trauma, without going overboard. A must read for anyone who had to watch the X-Files with the lights on.
4.5 stars