I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

A fun alien rom com that checks the boxes! Well....almost all of them. I'll let you decide on the aliens. It's a Man in Black and an influencer who meet under strange circumstances and try to solve a decades old crime. There is PDA so if you don't like reading about it...probably skip. It is a fun time tracking down the spaceship?

Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher.

As always, thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this early. What a fun series that also works as a series of standalone novels. The characters are so delightful. I LOVE the premise and am excited for the next book.

I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to read Mallory Marlowe's sophomore novel early! Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley.

As usual, Mallory knocked it out of the park. This is a true love story, one where we get to witness El and Carter falling in love, accepting flaws, and being more gentle with each other than they are with themselves. The mystery kept the plot intriguing, although I would have been just as happy to watch El and Carter watch movies together. I look forward to many many MANY more books by Marlowe decorating my shelf in years to come. She's found her niche and it works so well.

ARC Review: Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe
Pub Date: August 12, 2025

Thank you to @berkleyromance for the #gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #berkleypartner

If you've been on this page at all in the last year, you know that Love and Other Conspiracies, Mallory's first book, was my favorite book of last year. So much so that I read it 3 times and it only came out in August. So when I saw this book on Netgalley, I emailed my dear friends at Berkley a truly unhinged email that included multiple links to various posts I had made about LaOC as well as an attached photo of me meeting Mallory at @romancecon last year. I truly had 0 chill my friends. But it WORKED. So I dropped everything and read Love at First Sighting immediately of course!

The premise of this book is so incredibly fun! Social media influencer sees potential UFO and falls for her Man in Black who is just trying to get her to stay quiet?!? Say less.

It was laugh out loud funny and oh so swoony. The banter was just delicious. Mallory really knows how to write a man who is just so down bad for his FMC and I could just eat it up with a spoon! Carter is a man obsessed, a cinnamon roll, a golden retriever, babyGIRL. I loved El too and the two together were just absolute lightning bolts of chemistry.

Both leads go on very satisfying journeys throughout the book and grow as characters but also grow together through their relationship. And yet again Mallory serves us a book that doesn't rely on a third act break up to build tension in the third act! Utter perfection, I'll take 10 more please.

If you listened to me and read LaOC last year, trust me that this one does not disappoint!

Mallory Marlowe can do no wrong!!! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year following my listen of her debut, Love and Other Conspiracies. This was a fun, romantic, geeky adventure and I loved everyyy moment. El and Carter had so much spark to their own personalities and complimented each other so perfectly. El's heart for Carter's situation and her ability to put aside her own curiosity in order to help him seek out answers was special and truly made for a nurturing environment for Carter's character to thrive.

Thank you Berkley for the earc!

Love at First Sighting was an absolute delight—equal parts laugh-out-loud funny, swoon-worthy, and surprisingly heartfelt. The author crafted a rom-com that felt fresh and original, blending social media culture, government conspiracies, and an irresistibly charming romance.
El Martin was the perfect leading lady—bold, ambitious, and refreshingly self-aware. As a social media influencer, she lived for aesthetics and engagement, but beneath her curated life, she longed for something real. Her accidental UFO footage sent her life spiraling into chaos, and watching her navigate the unexpected attention (and skepticism) was both hilarious and relatable.
Enter Carter Brody, the grumpy but devastatingly attractive agent tasked with keeping the extraterrestrial truth under wraps. Their dynamic was pure rom-com gold—grumpy meets sunshine, skeptic meets believer, professional meets chaos. Their banter was sharp and filled with tension, making every interaction sizzle with chemistry. But what made their relationship even more compelling was the emotional depth woven into Carter’s past and his personal connection to the sighting.
The mystery behind the UFO sighting kept the plot moving at a fast clip, with just the right balance of intrigue and comedic misadventures. The push-and-pull between El and Carter, as they tried (and failed) to fight their feelings, made for a romance that felt both inevitable and deeply satisfying.
Overall, Love at First Sighting was a refreshingly unique rom-com that delivered big on humor, heart, and undeniable chemistry. Whether you’re a fan of quirky romances, government cover-ups, or just a well-written, feel-good love story, this one is a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a DRC of this title for review.

Not sure this one grabbed me as much as Marlowe's first book-- I was looking for a little more chemistry between the leads-- but this was still very fun! Would recommend for patrons who want a romance with a touch of X-Files flair.

This book was so cute! I absolutely adore El and Carter!

El Martin, a social media influencer, goes live while being followed by mysterious lights. Her followers and friends all think she's losing it, but when Carter Brody, an agent at the Private Intelligence Sector, sees the video, he knows it's the same lights he saw 15 years ago... right before his father died.

Love at First Sighting is a wonderfully fun adventure full of twists, betrayal, and (of course) romance.

First of all, El and Carter are the modern day Scully and Mulder that I needed like air in my lungs. Seriously, These two are absolutely phenomenally crafted characters, and I just adore every moment they are on page together. A secret agent, Carter's job is to seek and obfuscate alien sightings. El is an influencer who on surface level, seems perfectly aesthetic, but really has a heart of gold and a desperate need for something deep. The two of them have to hunt down answers, but aliens aren't the only thing out of this world (you know I had to); THEIR CHEMISTRY IS, TOO! Out of this world chemistry, out of this world writing, and overall, an out of this world second novel from autobuy author Mallory Marlowe.

Thank you to Mallory Marlowe, Berkley Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This rom-com delivers a delightful mix of mystery, humor, and sizzling chemistry, wrapped in an out-of-this-world premise. El and Carter’s dynamic crackles with tension, their banter both sharp and flirty as they navigate UFO sightings, government secrets, and the undeniable pull between them. The contrast between El’s influencer lifestyle and Carter’s buttoned-up investigator persona makes for plenty of entertaining moments, and their reluctant partnership quickly turns into something far more intriguing than just solving an extraterrestrial mystery.
What makes this story stand out is its perfect balance of romance and adventure. The plot keeps things moving with just the right amount of suspense, while the slow burn between El and Carter adds an emotional depth that makes their connection feel real. The blend of conspiracy theories, comedic mishaps, and heartfelt moments creates an irresistibly fun and fresh love story. Ideal for those who love their rom-coms with a touch of the unexpected, this is a charming, fast-paced read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Thanks to Netgalley, I was able to get an early e-copy of this book. I really enjoyed it. Aliens, special agents, internet influencers, a sweet love story. Super fun and engaging. Can't wait to read more by the author!

This is a 5 star, 10/10 read. I loved every minute of it. It's quirky and so out of left field. I really love how she can make something funny and out there, feel real at the same time.

Both MC's are great and the supporting characters are interesting. The mystery aspect is totally unexpected as well. This is romance, mystery and humor rolled into one. Mallory Marlowe is an instant read now, I cannot wait for the next one!

Alright I love cryptids and I love this author! I was obsessed with the first book so I immediately read this one once I received it. The chemistry between the two characters is so sweet and special. I love the added mystery of the crytpids and the banter!

Marlowe brings another great rom-com with a sci-fi twist, I even loved the nods to her previous title talking about The Out There podcast and the hosts. El is a great character, a strong heroine who is just working out how to be happy and be who she is. Carter is the perfect golden retriever of an MMC, his care and concern for El, and his own emotional vulnerability kept me engaged. I was very interested in the idea of a Man in Black meets influencer; I love the idea of a more realistic version of a government department. I appreciate the lack of extraneous drama (no third-act break up, no miscommunication, and low stakes in their relationship) that allowed you to enjoy the growth of their relationship as they dealt with serious problems and the mystery of the UFO. The spice here was so good and that climactic point of the plot was a wild ride. I dropped a star as it took a bit for me to get into, the beginning is a bit slow and the end is a fast rollercoaster.

i knew i had to request an arc of this bc i LOVED mallory’s first book, love and other conspiracies, and looks like SHE DID IT AGAIN!!!! this is everything you could want in a book! fun, sweet, intriguing, & heartwarming 🫶🏻

short synopsis, the author literally describes this book as “a girl that saw a UFO & fell in love with her hot man in black” aka el martin, social media influencer, sees a UFO & posts it online. of course they send a hot man in black after her, but it’s not all it seems because agent carter brody has also seen the same UFO…. years ago when tragedy striked his life.

ariel martin is so freakin CUTE. she’s so sweet & the way she loves carter is the way i want to be loved. she never gives up on him & is so loyal to him. the character development is 10/10. carter aka hot agent is TO DIE FOR. he is so kind & compassionate it made me swoon. i’m embarrassed bc i was smiling at my phone (as one does when reading this book) & got caught and called out. this book is also filled with some action so you never get bored. i loved everything about this & can’t recommend it enough.

thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review via netgalley. all opinions are my own <3

Ok, this book was a mixed bag for me - I liked aspects, but also really struggled with some others.

I really liked the adventure and mystery aspect of this story! Romances that aren’t just romances really appeal to me and I had a blast digging into the mystery alongside El and Carter. I thought it was a great sub-plot and it was executed well by Marlowe. I also enjoyed the way El and Carter sort of healed some loneliness in each other. I liked how they were really there for each other. It was beautiful to witness two people who had to do so much alone come together and support one another and truly be present.

What I mainly struggled with was how romance progressed, unfortunately. El and Carter moved too fast for me, beginning with essentially insta-lust. I would have liked more build-up to the attraction. Additionally, this was more open door than her first - it has three open door scenes I skipped, with some explicit language throughout. Unfortunately, I found it to be beyond my comfort level. I think it will work for some people, it just didn’t work for me.

Also, I think I learned influencer FMCs are just not for me. 😬 I liked where El’s journey with social media and “her brand” ended up, but I had a really hard time connecting with her for the majority of the book - insert many eyerolls.

Thank you, Berkley Romance, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I am so grateful for the opportunity to read and review it early.

⭐4.25
Social media influencer El goes live and records a strange light following her. No one seems to believe her, until the video comes across Secret Agent Carter's desk. He's seen that light years ago. Determined to find his own answers he tracks down El to question her. As the two of them work together to solve the mystery, their feelings evolve into something out of this world.

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself laughing out loud at the banter and situations the characters found themselves in. Unidentified flying objects, humorous romance with believable characters, chefs kiss. I love the whole premise of the book. I found myself not really liking the character 'El' at first, she does grow and come out of her perfectly sculpted self within the book. Carter seemed like such a sweet character but really held up as things got more serious. There was a lot of early and frequent bodily attraction that made it feel borderline instalove. Overall, it was just a fun book. I genuinely enjoyed the whole thing, and was rooting for the shenanigans along the way. There are 2+ detailed spice scenes. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read and review honestly

Thanks to Berkley Publishing for the ARC of this book! I really loved Mallory Marlowe's debut novel and this one hit all of the same fun notes. The storyline is obviously different, but I feel like she does a great job marrying the nerdy topics (aliens, bigfoot etc.) and romance! Her romances are the only ones that I have read like that and goodness they are just do dang fun! This story follow El, a lifestyle influencer, who sees a UFO while out hiking to take pictures for content. This sets her on the same path as a literal "man in black" named Carter who starts following her for intel. When both Carter and El realize there are secrets to discover inside his government agency, they team up to discover the truth. It is very silly, but the emotions behind the characters and how they relate to each other are very real. All of the time they spend together helps them to form a bond that turns into something more. Both characters are flawed for different reasons, but are just incredibly likeable. This book was an absolute joy and brought a smile to my face the entire time. What is more fun than aliens, government secrets and little romance. Five stars from me! I can't wait for other people to fall in love with El and Carter!

Yet another wonderful romance for the lovers of the odd and otherworldly.

Mallory Marlowe knows the internet and it's absurdity so it's hilarious to read El's perspective.

I love the shift from the first entry in this series, Marlowe veers hard into the existence of aliens and I am so glad for it.

While I enjoyed Love and Other Conspiracies, it's narrative was driven more by the personal relationships of the protagonist rather than the cryptids they hunt for. Here is a romance that has one of the funniest setups while also being refreshingly serious.