Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe – A Fun, Flirty Paranormal Romcom with UFOs

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a UFO sighting collided with a charming romance and a dash of conspiracy theory, "Love at First Sighting" by Mallory Marlowe is your answer. This was my very first time reading a conspiracy theory–paranormal type romance, and I’ve got to say—I’m into it! I didn’t realize this was actually Mallory Marlowe’s second book—her debut, “Love and Other Conspiracies,” came out in 2024—and now I definitely want to go back and read it.

In "Love at First Sighting", we meet El Martin, a Los Angeles social media influencer who seems to have the perfect aesthetic life, but secretly craves something real. That “something” comes in the form of a UFO sighting she accidentally captures on camera, and the charming Man in Black, Carter Brody, who suddenly starts following her around. Carter is trying to modernize his outdated Private Intelligence Sector office, but what he really wants is to follow in his father’s footsteps—identifying and covering up extraterrestrial sightings. When he’s assigned to El’s case, sparks start to fly alongside the mystery, especially when her sighting eerily mirrors one from his own past.

One of the reasons this book hooked me so quickly is because I related to El right away. As a fellow content creator and someone who works in social media marketing, I understood her world instantly. Add in the Los Angeles setting—filled with familiar places and moments—and I was sold. Another thing I loved? The story wastes no time. We get the UFO sighting right in the first chapter, then switch to Carter’s POV in chapter two. There’s even a small age gap (El is 28, Carter is 24), but their maturity levels match, so it worked for me.

I enjoyed both of their arcs, but Carter’s stood out more. While El had an early conflict that the story didn’t fully circle back to, Carter’s growth and emotional journey felt complete and satisfying. Honestly, while El seems like the main character on paper, Carter ended up stealing the show for me. He’s layered, charming, and carries a lot on his shoulders.

This book also surprised me with its stakes. I expected something light and fluffy, but Mallory Marlowe doesn’t shy away from the real-world consequences of the antics and situations El and Carter find themselves in. That balance between playful, romantic moments and grounded, emotional beats really worked. While I did predict the big twist early on—whether intentionally obvious or not—it didn’t ruin the fun. Watching it play out, paired with their adorable dates, banter, and shared adventures, kept me invested.

I read this in just two days, and it made me smile, laugh, cringe in the best way, and even get a little emotional. It’s cute, it’s romantic, it’s fun, and it has just enough mystery to keep things moving. If you already love paranormal romance, conspiracy-theory romcoms, or you’re curious to try something in that lane, "Love at First Sighting" is a great pick. And if Mallory Marlowe wants to keep giving me romance with UFO sightings and charming Men in Black? I’ll be first in line.

A huge thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.