I cannot say enough great things about this debut contemporary romantic comedy from Mallory Marlowe. Thank you to NetGalley and the Berkley Publishing Group for gifting me an advanced reader copy of Love and Other Conspiracies in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

Hallie Barrett works in the fast-paced world of web video, where the name of the game is how many views your videos get. Her ex dumped her as his girlfriend and his producer, and now Hallie needs The Next Best Thing to save her job.

Enter conspiracy theorist Hayden Hargrove.

Hayden has a successful podcast about cryptids, aliens, and government cover-ups. He certainly has a voice for podcasting, but as soon as Hallie sees Hayden on a late-night TV program, she knows he has the looks for video, too. Convincing Hayden to give the web series a shot is easier than Hallie expected, but the pair face an uphill climb. Hayden is a true believer, and Hallie doesn’t buy a word of his theories. Not to mention Hayden’s abysmal on-screen performance. With so much on the line, Hallie steps out from behind the camera and quickly becomes exactly what Hayden needs–both on screen and off.

Love and Other Conspiracies is outstanding. The story is fast-paced and contemporary, and the characters are smartly written–well-rounded, sharp, and funny as hell. Five big, bright, sparkling stars for this book!