Cryptid hunting and snappy repartee abound in Love and Other Conspiracies, Mallory Marlowe's debut romance about an unlikely connection between a supernatural devotee and an avowed skeptic. Hallie, a producer at a BuzzFeed-esque company called Skroll, is up late looking for inspiration for a new web series when she stumbles onto a late-night TV show hosted by Hayden, who also has a successful podcast. Intrigued by his ability to hold her interest despite her disbelief in the paranormal, she suggests that they team up to create the next Internet sensation by turning Hayden's cryptid- and conspiracy-focused podcast, The Out There, into a web show on which Hayden will talk viewers through the weird and fabled worlds of Mothman, Area 51, and Bigfoot--to name a few.
When Hayden's charismatic presence doesn't quite translate to screen on his own, Hallie joins him in front of the camera and on the road. Together, they visit haunted hallmarks such as the Winchester Mystery House and Hollywood's Roosevelt Hotel, and face off against a competing show starring a company golden boy who also happens to be Hallie's toxic ex. As their show finds success, Hallie and Hayden's friendship develops into something more. Depicting grief, trauma, and healing with a light touch ("Someone wanting to love me sounds like a conspiracy theory I am not ready to relent to yet," Hallie confesses), Love and Other Conspiracies pairs its charm with depth and humor as Hayden and Hallie discover the joy of being fully known and loved--not in spite of their oddities, but because of them. --Kristen Coates, editor and freelance reviewer