Love and Other Conspiracies

June 1, 2024

DEBUT Hallie loved her job before a disastrous relationship with a coworker derailed her career; now she's a producer without a show. Then Hallie is offered the opportunity to compete against her toxic ex to win funding for a production budget; to prevail, she knows she must find the right show to champion. Hayden Hargrove, host of the podcast The Out There, where he shares his passion for cryptids and conspiracy theories, is just the ticket. When the quirky, blue-haired Hallie approaches him about adapting the podcast into a show, Hayden and his therapist think it's a chance he has to take. He also thinks Hallie's refreshing skepticism and witty banter will help make the series a success. As the pair look into various conspiracies and even go on a hunt for Bigfoot, they find that love might be out there too. VERDICT Hand Marlowe's debut to readers who love humorous banter, forced-proximity and one-bed tropes, and a couple who support each other through their personal journeys.--Morgan Lockard

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Starred review from June 24, 2024
BuzzFeed Unsolved meets The X-Files in Marlowe’s wonderful rom-com debut. Hallie Barrett, a 25-year-old producer for an L.A.-based multimedia company, finds her confidence shot after a breakup with a toxic coworker. With her job on the line, Hallie needs to win a company-wide competition for best new show. Enter Hayden Hargrove, a handsome cryptozoologist with a huge following, courtesy of his conspiracy theory podcast, The Out There. Hallie reaches out to Hayden and pitches turning his podcast into a web series. But while Hayden is charismatic behind the mic, he feels totally awkward on screen unless someone is interviewing him. When Hallie steps in as his cohost, her skepticism and the pair’s undeniable chemistry catapult the show to the top of the competition. Sparks fly between the cohosts the more they work together, but can Hallie overcome the trauma of her past relationship to embrace new love? Hallie and Hayden both feel heartwarmingly real, and readers will cheer as Hallie learns to trust herself again. Marlowe’s voice is fresh and witty, with the conspiracy theory aspect adding a playful tone to a classic friends-to-lovers story. Skeptics and believers alike—and especially anyone who wanted Mulder and Scully to kiss—will be delighted with this knockout debut.

August 15, 2024
Hallie Barrett doesn't believe in cryptids or conspiracy theories, but her new web series co-host might get her to believe in love. After her toxic ex boots her from the show they were working on together, Hallie has to come up with a new series to produce if she wants to keep her job at Skroll, a multimedia conglomerate. While watching a late-night docuseries about conspiracies, she's compelled by the handsome guest star, Hayden Hargrove, host of the podcastThe Out There. Hallie is a skeptic, and if he can make even her interested in his cryptid hunting, she knows he could be a web series star. Through trial and error, though, they realize Hayden is much better on camera when he has Hallie alongside him to banter and argue with, so she becomes not just producer but co-host. As the series' viewings soar, Hallie's feelings for kindhearted Hayden grow stronger, but with her ex still constantly tearing her down, her anxious thoughts stand in the way. Told solely through Hallie's point of view, this quirky and appealing debut is for anyone who believes in love, but will especially appeal to those fascinated by the tales of cryptids and aliens. The conspiracies add a lot of entertainment to the story, but it's grounded and made heartfelt by the real emotions the characters are dealing with--not just their developing romantic feelings for each other but also Hallie's self-doubt and Hayden's loneliness and grief. The existence of Bigfoot may be debatable, but this book's charm is a sure bet.

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