You, Me, & the Conspiracy

by Emma Barry

Perfect for fans of Jo Segura, You, Me, & the Conspiracy is an academic adventure romance that finds two history professors trying to unmask a deadly secret society.

After a bruising book rejection, tenure-track history professor Jessica Wilson is scrambling for something new to publish to secure her spot at the top of the academic food chain. While researching in the archives, she discovers a coded message written by one of the founding fathers with the power to change her—and the world’s—understanding of American history forever. But first, she’s got to prove it’s real.

Desperate for answers, Jess searches out Calloway Morgan, a Harvard PhD student turned adjunct professor. Cal was forced to leave graduate school after presenting theories about a shadowy revolutionary organization. Jess heard his conference presentation and thought his findings were absurd, but now, she believes he was on something.

With their fates intertwined by their discoveries, the two begin to work together, but danger lurks around every corner. The clandestine fraternity that they’ve uncovered still exists and is ready to kill. With it hot on their heels, the embers of Jess and Cal’s attraction grow. But unless they can make their findings public, they’ll soon become the conspiracy’s latest victims...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Mystery, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adventure

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

Emma Barry is a teacher, novelist, recovering academic, and former political staffer. She lives with her high school sweetheart and a menagerie of pets and children in Virginia, and she occasionally finds time to read and write.

Reviews

[Sarah]

A romance book similar to National Treasure, Indiana Jones, and Uncharted??? Sign me the frick up! 🙋‍♀️🤭

[Jess Hilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smart and ambitious, albeit a little uneven. 📚✨

I went back and forth on this one a lot. There were moments where I was completely pulled in and needed to know what was going to happen next, and others where I found myself struggling to stay engaged.

I loved the academic setting, the conversations around privilege and access, and the secret-society, behind-the-scenes power structures. It has that dark, institutional, conspiracy-driven energy that leans very Da Vinci Code, and I can absolutely see this working well as a TV series or movie. 🎓

The biggest sticking point for me was the amount of history woven into the plot. It often felt dense and assumed a level of knowledge I just didn’t have anymore, which slowed the pace down for me. I kept wanting to spend more time with the characters and less time trying to keep track of historical details.

Overall, this is a really interesting, idea-driven story that didn’t fully land for me, but I can absolutely see it working for readers who enjoy history-heavy conspiracies and academic settings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristina Pauls (ARC Reviewer)]

PUBLISH DATE: Nov 10, 2026

PUBLISH DATE: Nov 10, 2026
BOOK TITLE: You, Me & the Consipiracy
AUTHOR: Emma Barry
PUBLISHER: Atria Books
FORMAT: ebook
PAGES: 352
I received a complimentary digital ARC [Advanced Readers Copy] of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this title prior to publication. As always, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Hailey Camp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: 4 ⭐️
Thank you to the author/publisher for providing an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

You, Me, & the Conspiracy by Emma Barry was a fun, engaging read that perfectly blended mystery, adventure, and romance. Also a great read for any American history buffs!

One of my favorite things about this book was how much it reminded me of the National Treasure movies. The story is filled with clues, secrets, and conspiracy theories that kept me curious and eager to see what would happen next. If you enjoy treasure hunts, hidden histories, and unraveling mysteries alongside the characters, this book delivers that same sense of adventure.

The romance was also incredibly cute. It complemented the mystery plot well without taking away from the action and intrigue. I enjoyed watching the relationship develop as the characters worked together, and their chemistry added a lot of charm to the story.

If you're looking for a lighthearted romantic adventure with National Treasure vibes, clever mysteries, and a sweet romance, You, Me, & the Conspiracy is definitely worth picking up. Publishing in November 2026!

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Netgalley.

I so wish I knew my American History better because this book would have been epic if I did.

I really liked the academia aspect of this book and how it tied into the conspiracy theory plotline.

I just feel like, for me at least. that the American History influence kind of lost me, as I am not super into American History, nor do I really remember much surrounding the Founding Fathers from school. But for the girlies that are into American History, this is going to be a HUGE hit.

The romance was cute. I found Jess and Cal easy to root for.

[Courtney Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley.
This was a fun read! I was sold when it was a romance book that was supposed to be similar to national treasure. It didn’t quite hit the landing for me, but it was still a super fun read!
Some of the romance between the main characters didn’t quite hit and there were times pacing felt off, but I thought the story was fun and enjoyed the mysteries and twists.

[Lyla Nadeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, fun, full of adventure, mystery and discovery with some history in there. This one’s for the nerds, the history lovers, the national treasure fans. I really enjoyed the story, twists and turns and adventure. Their relationship was sweet. Definitely enjoyed this one.

I read this off of netgalley.

[Sharla]

I’m all in! I’m grateful and thrilled to receive an ARC for this one! I’m hoping it delivers because it says that it’s National Treasure meets The Mummy and involving Lovebirds- my Indiana Jones-lovin’ father would be proud! Is it too good to be true? Stay tuned… it’ll be a bit with so many ARC’s but I’m trying!!! 🤪💝

[Nos · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received a free eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I am going to be very honest in my review I am so sorry Emma Barry.

TL;DR: I do not think anyone on earth should read this book. SPARE YOURSELF.

I'm going to start with the positives. The prose is very competent and enjoyable, and I would gladly read another book by Barry again if it... well we'll get into the rest. I also really enjoyed Jess's character for the first 30% of the book, and for parts of the rest of the book. I think the character had a lot of promise and would have flourished in a better book. I also, surprisingly, liked the military veteran prepper character. I thought his parts of the book were actually handled well, and his characterization was handled in a more well-rounded way than I expected.

Now for...the rest of the book. First of all, if you're going to write a book with "conspiracy" in the title you have got to at some point spell the conspiracy out to the readers in a comprehensible way. Not only does Barry never do this throughout the entire book, every time she attempts to explain the conspiracy I got more confused. At multiple points Ortu Solis (Latin for Rising Sun, and the shadow org of the conspiracy) seems to have entirely conflicting goals! There are historical events that actually happened with competing aims and ideas named next to each other with no attempt to distinguish for the reader who is probably not thoroughly versed in relatively niche American Revolutionary War history that there were any differences between them. This is not only bad writing but bad practice as a supposed post-grad level historian!! But we have only BEGUN to scratch the surface of the nightmare. The aims and idea of Ortu Solis are so confused that at one point, among a paragraph of other things they're said to be responsible for, the book says "and Nixon." Just...Nixon. Just his name. No specifying if they were responsible for his election, had a hand in Watergate, had a hand in exposing Watergate...no! Just...Nixon. Am I supposed to believe that they are responsible for his existence? That cannot be the intention. And yet, I am left to wonder! And I could GO ON! Everything about this part of the book, the actual main point of the book, is completely muddy, under-explained, and nonsensical.

Second, the pacing and plot of the book. At first, I was willing to go along with some pretty rough moments in the pacing of the book because well, it is a book trying to go after the cachet of conspiracy thrillers, maybe Barry is trying a little too hard to emulate them in what should perhaps be a slightly tamer romance book about two academics. And then it became unforgivable when our main characters have a conversation about a plot hole. Right in front of us they have a back and forth about how lucky it is that the antagonist didn't find the important Thing when he was planting something else in the exact spot the important Thing was. And my jaw dropped. Instead of oh, I don't know, fixing the plot hole, Barry just has the most forced, inane conversation happen in front of our eyes like we won't notice?? And the worst thing is, if they hadn't had the conversation, maybe I wouldn't have! But she POINTED OUT the plot hole to me and then TRIED to explain it away so poorly I felt like perhaps Barry thinks her readers are stupid. And the pacing... every time something needs to happen in the book, every time it seems Barry can't figure out how to get her character(s)--it's mostly Jess, because she has a head on her shoulders--into the place in the plot she wants them in, she drops something absolutely wild on the book and forces stakes escalation. It's maddening. This book needed developmental editing so badly I almost wonder if it isn't a second draft lightly edited for typos. And I hate to be so scathing but it's BAD, and once you notice it you can't stop seeing it. And Barry doesn't give you much time to not notice it because she immediately feels she has to up the stakes within the first 20% of the book!

Overall, this reads like a book written during an event like NaNoWriMo, where the first answer that pops into your head for "how to resolve this problem" is always the correct one because the goal is to have 50k written words, not 50k deftly plotted and coherently paced words. But books aren't supposed to get published in that state! I also highly suspect, from the author's note, that the issues with the under-explanation come from a sort of xkcd comic "and quartz of course" style overfamiliarity with the idea; Barry talks about having made up this conspiracy years ago in college as a tongue in cheek way to cope with learning grim truths about American history. I suspect, having thought about it for so long, it has become difficult for her to extract from her brain and explain clearly to other people, because it just makes sense to her. Ah well!

I will say, I do think Barry has plenty of skill as an author, she simply is at perhaps her worst with this book. I'm planning to try out her chess based book Bold Moves and see if I'm able to enjoy that one more, because I really want to give her another chance! But I do not think anyone on earth should read Me, You, & the Conspiracy.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

You, Me, & the Conspiracy by Emma Barry is an eclectic academic adventure romance that delivers everything it promises, perfectly blending U.S. history, fast-paced action, and an incredible romance.

The story follows Jessica Wilson, a tenure-track history professor who, after a bruising book rejection, is scrambling for a groundbreaking discovery to secure her spot at the top of the academic food chain. While researching in the archives, she uncovers a coded message written by Alexander Hamilton that has the power to change the world's understanding of American history forever.

Desperate to prove it's real, she seeks out Calloway Morgan, a Harvard PhD student turned adjunct professor. Cal was previously ousted from graduate school for presenting theories about a shadowy, revolutionary organization—theories Jess initially thought were absurd. Realizing their discoveries are intertwined, the duo heads to Boston to look for answers together.

What follows is a wild, fascinating, and wholly original concept that gives major National Treasure vibes, with just a hint of The Mummy romance thrown in. Jessica and Calloway are the perfect academic pairing, and watching their tension build while they try to unmask a deadly secret society is thrilling. The conspiracy theories are so convincing and deeply woven into the narrative that you will find yourself wanting to search all over Harvard for clues yourself.

Because the historical mysteries are so intricate, some passages require a careful reread, and having a strong memory of history class definitely enhances the experience. However, the complexity only adds to the realism of their academic chase.

The book keeps you on the edge of your seat with high-stakes danger, including an intense car chase that makes you feel like someone could be kidnapped at any moment. The clandestine fraternity they have uncovered is still very much active and ready to kill to keep its secrets hidden, forcing Jess and Cal to run for their lives.

As they race to make their findings public, the embers of their attraction explode into a brilliant romance. The spice is perfectly balanced so it never takes away from the plot, and the delightful bits of humor sprinkled throughout keep the tone light but exciting. Emma Barry has truly outdone herself with this five-star read, crafting a brilliant journey of mystery, survival, and love that is absolutely perfect for fans of Jo Segura.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Atria books and Net Galley for the ARC of You, Me, & the Conspiracy. From the moment I read the synopsis of this book-who doesn’t love a National Treasure-like mystery with kissing-I was pumped for this book, but I have to admit that my knowledge of early American history was not enough to “get” the conspiracy that is at the heart of it. Barry’s story centers on history professor Jess Wilson, who stumbles upon a coded message from Alexander Hamilton one day while digging through the archives for a new topic that she can publish on and then get a tenure-track job. When Wilson starts asking around about the secret society this coded message points to, she meets Cal Morgan- a former Harvard professor who has been shunned because of his attempt to expose this secret society and their involvement in some of the biggest conspiracies in American history. I will be vulnerable enough to admit that on more than one occasion, I had to look up historical events (Newburg Conspiracy, anyone?) that this apparent secret society was involved with because I wanted to understand why it was such a big deal. I also couldn’t wrap my head around the unevenness of the secret society’s attempt to keep their involvement secret: Cal does a whole presentation at an academic conference about their involvement in Washington’s presidency and publicly tries to expose them, yet he only gets ousted from Harvard and becomes a laughing-stock of Ivy League academia; however, Jess tells her advisor, Isla-in a private conversation-what she’s learned, and when Isla confirms it, the society feels the need to kill her and make it look like she died of natural causes because she “knows too much.” It just doesn’t feel consistent.
My other big issue with this novel was the pacing. Jess finds the secret coded message, which she doesn’t really even seem to understand, has one conversation with Cal and then Isla, and suddenly Isla is murdered and Cal and Jess are on the run. It seems like there should have been more build up and discovery before those things were set in motion. Additionally, parts of the book just felt too convenient- Jess happens to have an off-handed conversation with one of the main leaders of this society; the ease in which Cal and Jess gained necessary information: and the ease in which they found secret hideouts and treasure troves. It was just hard to believe overall.
With all that being said, the book had moments that sucked me in and made me what to know what was going to happen next, so I appreciate that.

[Izzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have officially reached the point in history where K-Pop Demonhunter is a pop culture reference mentioned in published works. Similarly, the word "yeet" is apparently part of daily writing vocabulary. My Insta feed has somehow made it into my books, which makes for quite a culture shock.

Fortunately for us, these words don't add/take away from the reading experience. Which is a good thing, as there's quite an experience to be found here.

As a George Washington hater myself (i have written far too many papers on that man), I'd like to say this book holds a very special place in my heart by agreeing with me in the most strange and suspicious manner possible. Cal's conspiracy theory somehow made sense, which is kind of scary if you think about it. However, I'm proud to say that I never doubted my man Thomas Paine and his wonderfully ineffective ability to exist during the French Revolution.

Thanks to that (very smooth) transition, I am now free to talk (when was i not) about the plot. Which was such a breath of fresh air because FINALLY there's a book where luck doesn't seem to hate the MCs at all time! And they do have strokes of rare, good luck but also moments of horrible, depressing luck, just to balance everything out.

The mystery was exactly that: mysterious. Which is kind of a stupid thing to say, but something worth saying all the same. Everything certainly made sense, just not in the manner that the reader expects. The happenings were wonderfully almost random, but again! made sense! Thank God for Jess's terrible faculty!

The plot twist was pretty anti-climatic, as it doesn't really do anything to the story. I feel like after the entire ordeal, Jess would've managed to come up at the same conclusion regardless.

As for the romance... The TENSION? There was so much tension that Isaac Newton himself would need to come in to calculate it (haha physics reference who has the misfortune of getting it!). For half the book I was essentially screaming "KISS, KISS, KISS", but because it was just so fucking slow burn, NOTHING was happening. Which is good, because the slow burn was written so well.

Also if Cal was my history professor I'd never skip class.

(if youre my american history professor id like to say ive never skipped class in my life)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Amy (amysbooked) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review: In theory, this book should have been perfect for me. The email said "National Treasure, Indiana Jones, The Mummy." That should have been my absolute perfect book. And yet. AND YET. First, I completely acknowledge that this is an ARC, so there are still edits to be done. HOWEVER. This ARC had more typos and inaccuracies than any ARC I have ever received. Even still, I could look past that. My issue is that there are writing, story, and development issues that a few more rounds of edits won't fix. There were so many moments that this book was both way too slow and way too fast. Pace? There was none. This was like doing a sprint workout with random intervals. Just absolutely no strategy to the pacing. There were also so many times that the author was telling us, not showing us about the story. Don't tell me that this super secret conspiracy has been going on for centuries, show me. Don't throw incredibly detailed lists about historical events and not tell me what a single one is (and I'm a history buff). You can clearly tell that the romance was the biggest focus in this book, which fair, but that doesn't mean the conspiracy part should be given no attention or half@ssed (sorry). This is the kind of book that makes me devastated because this was such a cool concept and such awful, awful execution and now no one else can really take up the helm. ALSO, just a really big pet peeve of mine: there were SO many pop culture references. So many that they felt like references for reference sake. Also, as a fellow female academic, I could not have felt less connected to Jess.

Synopsis: After a bruising book rejection, tenure-track history professor Jessica Wilson is scrambling for something new to publish to secure her spot at the top of the academic food chain. While researching in the archives, she discovers a coded message written by one of the founding fathers with the power to change her—and the world’s—understanding of American history forever. But first, she’s got to prove it’s real.

Desperate for answers, Jess searches out Calloway Morgan, a Harvard PhD student turned adjunct professor. Cal was forced to leave graduate school after presenting theories about a shadowy revolutionary organization. Jess heard his conference presentation and thought his findings were absurd, but now, she believes he was onto something.

With their fates intertwined by their discoveries, the two begin to work together, but danger lurks around every corner. The clandestine fraternity that they’ve uncovered still exists and is ready to kill. With it hot on their heels, the embers of Jess and Cal’s attraction grow. But unless they can make their findings public, they’ll soon become the conspiracy’s latest victims...

[Charlotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

One whole star for the conspiracy

A really interesting conspiracy— secret societies and academia and the Revolutionary War!— but it was a shame the romance didn’t do its job and hold up its part. The conspiracy was well-researched the romance almost detracted from it, also bc it was just instalust and not based on any emotional connections whatsoever 🤢

Infodumpy at times, especially in the first 20%— once we were in the camper van the pace started moving. The pacing was odd (we would jump from scene to scene, esp between chapters, and we just wouldn’t see important convos or situations????) and it was a very tell-y (vs. showing) book

I was expecting academia secret societies…and we got conspiracy doomsday “living in an RV off the grid” vibes instead 😭 a good chunk of the middle was just them debating getting freaky in this garage and then breaking into someone’s apartment or something vaguely illegal with little to no ramifications. The amount of times these ppl just stumbled upon USB thumb drives and folders of files and HAPPENED to get lucky was inane

Gun to my head, I couldn’t tell you the central conspiracy of this book besides the ***main shadowy evil goal of Ortu Solis to be evil and powerful***

That final boss fight…A) why was it at the 90% mark B) what a fucking sorry joke of a feud ex machina conflict— we finally have the showdown in the bunker, ok, great, I can get behind that, but, oh, no, as Cal’s saying something pithy to Jess’s evil dad and evil Patrick, Jess shoots the gun, misses, and then the cops show up JUST in time!!!!! I felt cheated out of a good ending— I read the last 5% in a state of 😒

The amount of times we had a “capitalism is bad and evil” comment occur in Cal’s monologue…..GIVE IT A REST!

Cal and Jess were flat - just full of indescribable lust for each other and then somehow boom they were falling in love?? I couldn’t connect to them as much as I would have wanted

Cal wanting to teach at community colleges, even after all this👍 Cal and Jess beating the “you owe me a pumpkin spice latte” bit to a pulp (AKA mentioned PSL more than 3 times) 👎

Patrick was obvious from the first jump at being evil, glad Jess caught on (fairly) quickly. Dad was a semi-obvious twist I didn’t see coming so that was cool

[onlyhereforthehea · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️.5/5

If you’re a fan of movies like National Treasure and Indiana Jones and enjoy your romances with a side of academic nerds, mystery, and intrigue, You, Me & the Conspiracy might be exactly what you’re looking for.

This story follows Jess, a professor trying to secure tenure, and Cal, a fellow academic, as they team up to uncover a conspiracy tied to America’s history and a secret society determined to keep the truth buried. Along the way, they find themselves chasing clues, dodging danger, and growing closer in the process.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Jess and Cal were easy to root for, and I liked watching their relationship develop alongside the mystery. The conspiracy aspect was definitely the highlight for me and gave the story a fun National Treasure type feel.

My biggest issue was the amount of historical information packed into the first 20-30% of the story. I completely understand why it was necessary to establish the conspiracy, but there were times when the sheer volume of names, places, and historical details made it difficult to keep everything straight. Instead of pulling me further into the mystery, I occasionally found myself trying to piece together who, when, where, and why. While I appreciated the research behind it, that heavier setup slowed the pacing for me and ultimately kept this from being rated higher. Once Jess and Cal actually started following clues, uncovering secrets, and getting pulled deeper into the conspiracy, I found myself much more invested.

In the end, while the way some of the historical information was presented didn’t always work for me, I liked Jess and Cal, enjoyed the mystery, and thought the conspiracy elements made for a unique reading experience. Their romance was sweet, and I enjoyed watching them grow closer as they worked together to unravel the conspiracy. If you enjoy secret societies, academic romances, and historical mysteries with a sweet love story at the center, this one is worth checking out.


🌟Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.

[inmyreadingera321 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so National Treasure coded, and I ate it up!!!! Basically, National Treasure if there was more kissing (and more commentary on some of the horrifying truths about America). I loved the premise so much -- two history professors teaming up to uncover a centuries-long, national conspiracy? YES. Add in some actual interesting historical factoids, a paranoid grump with a heart of gold, and plenty of action and adventure, and I had a blast.

I really liked that Jess and Cal were both such NERDS!!! I love a nerd, and I loved how much they both loved nerds -- intelligence is attractive, let's just be real. It was fun getting to see them delve into real history and trace things back to this fictional conspiracy, for sure. There were some cut-aways that I found a little disappointing, though. Sometimes, a chapter would end in a cliffhanger-y way, and the next chapter would pick up after the fallout, omitting some of the more enticing pieces of action, which could be frustrating. I also feel like, while sometimes, having a lot of POVs can be helpful to understand the gravity of the situation, here, I didn't totally love getting glimpses of the bad guys' perspectives. I think keeping it to Jess and Cal would have kept up the mystery, a little bit, and made them really feel like the center of the story.

I'll definitely be recommending this to my history-enthusiast friends -- and anyone that loves a fun little adventure (and a fun little romance). If Jess and Cal wanted to keep things going, solving more mysteries and bringing to light more deep-seated conspiracies, I would definitely go along for the ride with them!

-----------------

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC!

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If National Treasure and a romance novel had a conspiracy theory book baby.... it'd be this book!

I picked this up expecting a romance with a National Treasure style historical mystery.

What I got was a conspiracy-filled treasure hunt. And I enjoyed it.

You, Me, & the Conspiracy blends romance, hidden history, coded messages, secret societies, and enough twists to make you question everything you thought you knew.

Jess and Cal aren't just chasing clues; they're uncovering secrets buried deep within America's past, and the deeper they dig, the more dangerous the truth becomes.

What really stood out was how much research clearly went into this story. The historical elements never felt like background decoration. They felt essential. Every coded message, theory, and hidden connection made me wonder just how much of our history is still waiting to be uncovered.

And can we talk about the reading list at the end?

Because apparently finishing the book wasn't enough...... I immediately wanted to start researching everything that inspired it.

I Loved the:
Historical mysteries and hidden clues
Secret societies and coded messages
Romance with genuine intellectual chemistry
American history that feels relevant and intriguing
A story that makes you want to learn more after the final page
High stakes and nonstop momentum

This wasn't just a romance. It was a reminder that history is often more complicated, fascinating, and mysterious than we realize.

If your favorite books leave you thinking long after you've finished them, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.

Thank you to Atria books for the gifted eARC through Netgalley. All thoughts are mine.

Confession: The coded messages and secret society theories completely pulled me in.

[Stephanie Sherman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️

This was a fun adventure rom-com clearly inspired by National Treasure and Indiana Jones. While I really enjoyed the premise of the story and the history was extremely well-researched, there were a few things that kept me from rating this higher. The FMC is written as both wildly intelligent but also extremely naïve and, at times, even comes across as childish. I read lots of books, so maybe this is just me feeling completely fed up with the whole “naïve FMC” thing, but it bothered me that this otherwise competent character STILL had to be put in that box. Can we stop writing so many women as naïve, please? It feels tired.

Also, and this is on me, I’ve forgotten a lot of my U.S. history (sorry!), so there were definitely times in the story in which the excessive historical details went a bit over my head and took me out of the story.

Finally, I got a bit frustrated with the lack of resolution with side characters at the end of the book. Jess’s only friend Sylvie was brought up a handful of times but she literally never speaks to her on page. Cal’s got a couple of friends at his community college who he lies to and ghosts, and we have no idea if he ever comes clean to them. We don’t really ever hear what happened in detail with Adina, and they don’t circle back with Ellis after he literally saved their asses. Finally, Jess’s parents… hello???

Despite all that, I did like the book overall. The pacing was good, there was definite chemistry between the two MC’s, and the enemy was pretty interesting as a concept (and low-key believable - sorry not sorry). If you like adventure rom-com’s, I would check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Christin · Rating 4 out of 5]

You, Me, & the Conspiracy is exactly the kind of book you want to read during America 250 celebrations, but for all the right reasons. This isn't American nostalgia; it's a sharp interrogation of what we think we know about our founding, wrapped in a page-turning romance.

What fascinated me most about this novel was the historical research underlying the story. The author clearly did deep work here, and it shows. Rather than feeling like window dressing for the romance, the history becomes the genuine heart of the narrative. The coded messages feel plausible, the theories about secret societies carry weight, and the implications for how we understand American power structures are genuinely thought-provoking.

The additional reading list alone was worth the price of admission. I found myself jotting down titles to track down, eager to dig deeper into the real history that inspired the fiction. This is what good historical fiction should do: make you want to know more, to dig into archives yourself, to question the narratives you've accepted as fact.

Jess and Cal's partnership is compelling because their work matters. The attraction between them crackles alongside their intellectual connection, and watching them race to prove their findings while dodging a very real threat keeps the momentum relentless.

For readers hungry for American history with stakes, with secrets, with the suggestion that maybe we don't know our own story as well as we think, this book delivers.

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Jordan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

You, Me, and the Conspiracy by Emma Barry
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Release date: November 10, 2026

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of You, Me, and the Conspiracy by Emma Barry. The story follows Jess and Cal, two history professors, as they uncover and try to stop a centuries old secret society. It is a fast paced book with some action and romance. It was a really fun read and I had a great time reading it.

Remember the tv show Timeless from like 10ish years ago? I'm not sure how popular it was but I loved it. This book has all the Timeless vibes minus the time machines. Overall, this was a really enjoyable book. I really enjoyed the dynamic between between Jess and Cal. The tension between them was fantastic and the progression of their relationship felt natural. They each had some great growth throughout the book. Their banter was great and overall I really enjoyed both of their characters.

The historic conspiracy was interesting. I enjoyed the history that was included. I do wish that the book had been a little longer or maybe even a duology. I feel like Jess and Cal were able to take down a centuries old secret society pretty easily all things considered. The stakes were obviously high but things were resolved very quickly. I also wish Jess and Cal had gone on more of the missions together. Things could have been really intense with more time to really dive into the secret society and all the different players in it.

You, Me, and the Conspiracy was a fast paced book with some action and some great romance. If you are looking for a fun, quick read with some history, action, and romance then this is the book for you!

[Kayne Spooner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminded me of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon conspiracy stories. There are hidden codes, historical mysteries, secret societies, and romance! This is an academic adventure romance about two history professors at different colleges who uncover a conspiracy! Jessica (Jess) is searching for a new research topic so she can get published and earn tenure. When she discovers a coded message written by Alexander Hamilton, she takes it to Calloway (Cal) to see if he can decode it.

Cal is dealing with trauma after being ridiculed and blackballed for his theory about a secret society called Ortu Solis. He now works as an adjunct professor at several schools and struggles to make ends meet. He believes Ortu Solis is a society that influenced the founding fathers of our country and they’ll do anything to protect their secrets.

As Jess and Cal follow clues in a borrowed Winnebago, they become targets of the society and fear for their lives. It’s a slow burn romance as Cal tries to keep from getting too close to Jess (to protect her). They both have family issues and there is a twist towards the end that I suspected early on.

The author created a fictional Ortu Solis conspiracy and wove in some real historical events, including the Newburgh Conspiracy. I’m not a history buff so many of the historic details were over my head but I enjoyed the romance and suspense. I gave it 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4. Thank you to the author, Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC. My full review will be at The Passionate Reader 11/10.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel asks the question, "Can you do National Treasure (i.e. massive American conspiracy dating back to the revolutionary war) in 2026?" and the answer is a resounding NO.

From here on out, spoilers abound.

You're telling me that despite the author and some characters blatantly acknowledging that yes, the rich, powerful, and overwhelmingly white run the government openly but also actually there's a secret society of rich, white, mostly academics who are working behind the scenes to...run the government? Decide what gets printed in history books? That's just real life, my friend. There's no world in which you can paint the government as a thing that "oh no we have to save from the evil rich power-hungry dudes" when it is, in actuality, run by rich power-hungry, often evil, dudes!

The version of a person who loves American history and/or academia as much as it is purported the two main characters do would be better portrayed as activists than academics chasing a conspiracy that's hardly a conspiracy at all.

Maybe I'm too removed from academia and Ivy League society to get what the author was trying to do here, but I don't think so. I think this book was trying to be something that makes a reader go "gasp! the government is controlled by the rich for real?" but it fails spectacularly.

Characters were decent and avoided some of the romance tropes I dislike, sex scenes were reasonably good. Bad guys were comically predictable and one dimensional.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

[Nicole Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever read The Da Vinci Code and thought, "This needs more kissing," then You, Me, & the Conspiracy absolutely delivers on that promise.

This is a fun blend of historical mystery, conspiracy thriller, and slow-burn romance that never forgets to entertain. The treasure hunt aspect kept me turning the pages as Jess and Cal bounced from archives to hidden clues, and I appreciated that the historical puzzles felt clever without becoming so dense that they slowed the story down.

Jess and Cal are a great opposites-attract pairing. She's an ambitious history professor trying to salvage a career that's slipping away, while he's an academic pariah with just enough knowledge to be indispensable. Their banter is sharp, their reluctant partnership is enjoyable, and the chemistry builds naturally. I do wish the romance had been given a little more room to breathe. For a book that promises slow burn, I found myself wanting just a few more moments where the relationship took center stage.

The pacing occasionally stumbled during some of the exposition-heavy sections, and there were a few points where I wanted the mystery to move a little faster. Still, the combination of historical intrigue, academic rivalries, and adventure made it easy to overlook.

Overall, this is a satisfying read for anyone who loves cryptic clues, secret societies, libraries, and a romance woven into an action-packed mystery. I'd happily pick up another adventure with this vibe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Rhianna Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, easy to read romance + adventure.

Jessica Wilson, a tenure-track history professor at Boston College meets disgraced Harvard dropout-turned-adjunct professor, Calloway Morgan, when she begins investigating a nefarious secret historical society.

I liked the romance aspect and enjoyed the characters. I wished there was more in certain areas (it felt like the family involvement aspect was glossed over/accepted by the characters almost too easily?) and am still trying to figure out how other certain pieces were important (the lady at the campground? Calloway’s family??? Can a girl get an update on Ellis?)

I also low key wasn’t initially super excited about the history part of this story (I work in the medical field so science is more up my alley) but I was actually very pleasantly surprised at how interesting the history parts of this were! I know a lot of the “history” in this book (esp the conspiracy related stuff) is fiction but I am certain there are many sketchy occurrences in our nation’s past. I am actually eager to do a little bit more reading on the American revolution era in particular (I shamefully remember nothing from high school 😂)

Summary: easy to read, fast paced romance/adventure with enjoyable characters, a cute love story and interesting historical details that will leave you eager to learn more :)

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and of course the author, Emma Barry, for the opportunity to read an eARC copy of this book!

[Brina.readz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 ⭐️

I went into this book excited about the plot of this being a National Treasure like academic romance and was especially excited about the mystery aspect of that.

Both MCs Jess and Call sounded like solid characters and I was excited to see how they worked together and obviously connected on a emotional level.

Sadly I had a hard time getting into this book and connecting with the characters. Their interactions did not speak to me and sadly even their attraction (immediately commenting on their attraction) and physical contact at some point felt off, which was definitely partially due to it being written in third person bit characters still thinking comments in every day language.

In general I had a hard time with how this book was written anf found myself loosing interest in the actual conspiracy plot quite a bit ... it almost felt like some situations did not happen naturally if not described with an internal monolog and somewhat out of context.

I almost felt to European to be reading this book and really struggled with all the name dropping of famous figures in American history and comprehending their connection to said history and the conspiracy this book was about.

[Dominique Franklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC gifted in exchange for review

If you loved National Treasure, historical conspiracies, shady secret societies, and romance between two reluctant co-conspirators, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

I loved the National Treasure movies so I was really excited for this one. Our FMC Jess is a tenure track professor of history at Boston College, from a legacy of professors. Just a teeny tiny problem with the whole tenure thing, the review board rejected her proposal for her book and now she has to start over and fast. In trying to find inspiration for another angle that might pass review, she stumbles on a crumb of a coded message that related to a talk she saw a few years prior that she thought was utter nonsense. Enter our MMC, Calloway Morgan, adjunct professor, disgraced former Harvard PhD student. Cal stumbled on a conspiracy that resulted in him being kicked out of his PhD program. When Jessica approaches him with what she’s found, Cal isn’t just interested, he’s terrified. Not just for himself but for her safety because the people involved? Well they don’t like to play nice.

The story was so interesting and the romance was enjoyable. I just wish that the last 40% of the book was fleshed out more? It just felt a bit rushed and like everything got wrapped up a little too neatly for the subject matter.

[Allison Spillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun and refreshing!! Totally different, and I really loved the overall vibes of the plot - full mystery and at times suspenseful, but still was able to keep the romance feeling authentic and not take me out of the story. Fully delivered on the National Treasure vibes that were promised!

I really liked the chemistry between Jess and Cal. The romance was well-paced, and I felt like even with the absurdly high stakes, where it was carved out in the story, it made sense and wasn't cringey or clunky. I liked both characters so much individually, and even better when they were working together. I also loved the setting: the academia vibes were fun and allowed me to fully be immersed in the story.

I will say this may be a book that some people love and other people can't get into - mostly for the amount of history that is necessary to move the plot forward, especially at the start. I am someone who definitely is a liker of American history, but not necessarily a lover of it, and I learned some new information in here for sure! But it does slow down the plot in the first quarter of the book, which may not be everyone's cup of tea.

Overall, I had a great time reading this one and would definitely recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and the author for the chance to read this eARC!

[Cass☀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to Atria Books, Emma Barry, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC early and provide an honest review.

I recommend this book if you:
🔸loved the National Treasure franchise, but wished that moments between Ben and Abigail had gotten spicier. I love those films as well as Indiana Jones, so this book was meant to find this historical conspiracy enthusiast!
🔸enjoy romance books with a bit of mystery and suspense especially in the realm of political intrigue!
🔸enjoy third person novels with shifting perspective. I loved how this was done and it felt like it heightened the suspense and tension throughout the story.

The tension between Cal and Jess was phenomenal. I loved their banter with one another. It’s so refreshing to read a story where the FMC and the MMC are working together as collaborators and have clear respect for each other. Yes, Cal was protective of Jess, but he never minimized her.

I think my favorite aspect besides the romance was all of the historical information and the conspiracy. The hunt for this secret society was so entertaining. I also can’t write the review without sharing how much I enjoyed Ellis’ immediate shipping of Cal and Jess and his attempts to encourage Cal. It was so endearing and such a contrast to the older military veteran turned conspiracy theorist image.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

“You, Me, & the Conspiracy” is confused on what it is. Well, maybe I should say the author is confused by what they want the book to be.

The blurb lists it as a romance but describes a thriller with a bit of mystery where people fall in love. That happens all the time in mystery/thrillers. So, I expected it to be more of a romance than it was. But after reading it, maybe we need to define romance. Or at least explain the difference between lust and romance.

Which leads me to the next thought in reviewing the novel. I don’t usually read romance novels. I mainly read inspirational, leadership, mystery/thrillers, and dabble a bit in horror. But I have read a few mystery-based mysteries. Who doesn’t love love? But this, to me, wasn’t romance. It was more like erotica in the few parts where “romance” was the focus. It got a bit graphic. I had to keep flipping pages to get back to the mystery/thriller aspect. And then pour bleach in my eyes.

As far as the focus of the book, if you want an adventure style novel with a mystery that deals with conspiracy, read Brad Meltzer. This one isn’t bad, but Meltzer does it way better.

2.5 stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO good and immediately reminded me of two of my favorite movies: National Treasure and Indiana Jones! If those two had a baby, it would be this and I loved it.

I loved all of the action, adventure, mystery, and historical details woven throughout the story. It was so immersive, and I was fully into it from the start. Jess and Cal follow clues, uncover secrets, and get pulled deeper into the conspiracy and I just had such a good time reading it.

The romance was great too! I really liked Jess and Calloway together, and I thought their relationship fit perfectly into all the chaos and danger surrounding them. The chemistry was there, but the adventure and mystery were also put together nicely into the book and it was all very well balanced.

I just kept turning the pages because I needed to know what happens next. Between the secret society, the historical puzzles, and the nonstop action, I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. I could honestly see this being made into a movie someday because it has that same adventurous, treasure hunting energy that made me love National Treasure so much, and I think we are due for another one for the modern era.

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Barry, and Atria Books for the eARC of this book.