I needed a light, diverting read after buzzing through a series of intense books and You Had Me at Bigfoot by Nancy Campbell Allen provided the perfect pick-me-up. As you can tell from its cover and title, it's a fun novel, both a rom-com and a cozy mystery. It's being billed as Nancy Drew meets Scooby Doo, which is an apt description. With plenty of nods to both franchises, it's playful, campy, upbeat, and entertaining.

The story stars journalist Daphne Drew, a recent college graduate whose dreams of hosting a true crime podcast with a popular national syndicate, have just been cruelly dashed. When her aunt offers her a job writing for the sketchy tabloid magazine she's just purchased, Daphne takes it, not having a lot of other options. Her first assignment involves an awkward road trip to the Pacific Northwest with her gorgeous new co-worker, a former war photographer with PTSD. Along with their dogs, they head to Washington State to cover the society wedding of an octogenarian millionaire and his much younger fiancée. 

Naturally, nothing goes quite as planned. Not only are Daphne and Clark forced to share an outdated hotel room, but their accomodations appear to be haunted. Then, there are the Bigfoot sightings, the missing maid, and rumors about a treasure hidden somewhere in the hotel. Add in the usual wedding drama, along with what's sparking between Daphne and Clark, and you've got a very exciting weekend in the woods. If our dashing duo make it out alive, they might just have a career-making story to tell.

Like I said, You Had Me at Bigfoot is just as entertaining as it sounds. Is the plot predictable? It is. Is the romance a bit insta-lovey? Yes. Did I care? No. This book provides a quick, enjoyable story that made me smile. Bonus: in spite of the forced proximity trope, the tale is squeaky clean and very wholesome. If you're looking for an engaging read to lift your spirits, this is it. 

(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)

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