Such a good fun rom com! Marlowe is such a relatable main character, which can be hard to find sometimes in the romance genre.

I LOVED this book more than I thought I would. Rom coms are one of my favorites, but I've been in a slump. I instantly connected with Marlowe's character and was immediately invested in her future. I think that we can all understand what it feels like to be a "peon" at work and aspire to something greater to some degree. While Marlowe works in the background as a PA to a costume designer, she has an opportunity to help in a pinch and jump in as an extra on the TV show she works at. Thrust into the spotlight when the camera catches a look between Marlowe and the leading bad boy, Angus. A happenstance turns Marlowe's world upside down as she tries to decide if she really knows who Angus really is.

This was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Jacqueline Firkins. 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy for review.

I knew nothing about this book or the author, but I must say it was an absolute treat! I read this in one sitting. I loved the slow burn romance between Marlowe and Angus amid the backdrop of a tv show where Angus is the lead actor and Marlowe is a PA to the costumer. She actually is a costume designer in her own right from New York Theatre but now living in Los Angeles the jobs are hard to find. There are a lot of themes in this book, from social media issues to women having more of a say in Hollywood, but it all incorporates well to the storyline. A woman’s fiction book I really could get into

Take a meet-cute between Marlowe (like the detective) and Angus (not like the beef) on the set of a hit TV series, add in a 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘢-esque work situation and some fantastic banter and you get 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦, 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗘𝗗.

Though it may sound like a romcom, I would categorize this book as women's fiction that includes a romance. I enjoyed Marlowe's journey and her relationship with Angus, and the subplot about her emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend added an extra layer of depth to the story.

Give this a read if you enjoy:
🕶️Celebrity-normal person romance
😡Enemies-to-lovers
🎬A TV show setting
🛍️Fashion
🔥Slow burn romance
👭🏻Fabulous female friendships

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to review.

This was such a fun story! I loved reading about the main character reclaim her passion and pursue clothing design. The romance was also a perfect compliment to the story!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Jacqueline Firkins for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved these characters! The banter was everything and more! The character development was top-notch. Marlowe was such a hard worker and that showed throughout the book. One thing I can't get over is the name Angus, all I thought about was steak the entire time. But this book was still good, and one I will recommend.

I don't remember requesting it on Netgalley and had no idea what it was about when I started reading... but it LOVED it. The characters were annoying, fun and ridiculous. Their relationships were the same. I honestly just smiled while reading this. The back and forth between the characters was perfect. Their slow burn low story was amazing. I really just enjoyed every minute of this.

Marlowe Banks moved to LA when her engagement ended, her job was attacked and she wanted to escape what felt like her failure of life. When she finds herself in the spotlight opposite Angus Gordon, she finds herself opening up to the bad boy... and that he is doing the same. Is she ready to confront her demons and restart her life?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy!

Romance

I love it when a romance novel makes the story more about the growth of the character than the romance. Firkins does a great job with that aspect of the story.

Marlowe banks left NYC after she received a negative review on the costuming of one of her shows. She also broke up with her fiance and needed a change. She takes a 6 month position working as a PA on a TV series. The job is the lowest paying, errand running, barely costume adjacent job she could have and is doing nothing for her self esteem.

She and the lead actor have some initial interactions that set them up as unfriendly coworkers. Sparks fly, but those are just from anger, right? Well . . . no. Marlowe gets thrown in as a stand-in on the show because she fits the costume and her and Jake's chemistry shows up on screen, causing the producers to create a small role for Marlowe. This forces her and Jake to have to work together and actually get to know one another.

Meanwhile, her ex keeps texting her, her friends from NYC are trying to get her to move back and take a chance on another show, her coworker in LA is trying to get her to sign onto another gig with her, but Marlowe is still afraid to try.

Here is where my issues with this novel occur - Marlowe really doesn't get her confidence back until Jake encourages her. Can she go outside her comfort zone to go after what she wants? Does that include a relationship with Jake even though he is famous and it draws a lot of unwanted attention to her? The answer, of course, is yes. She grows as a character, but Jake's character remains a little flat.

All in all this was a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

This was a fun read - drama and mixed messages on a set where first impressions give way to deeper character dives. A cute coming of adulthood and self-realization story!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned was in my opinion the most perfect rom-com I’ve read in a while. It had everything from accidental coffee spills to being thrust into the limelight overnight and an over thinking anxious female lead that wormed herself into the hearts of many a reader.

Of course, we can’t forget the swoony AND broody male lead Angus, a tv show star whose famous life throws off Marlowe a time or two. Ooh and so much shopping that will make you appreciate PA’s in the costume department of shows SO much after reading this book..

This was such a pleasure to read and it had me both swooning with love for these characters and laughing to myself at the humorous moments throughout.

I think this is my first book by Jacqueline Firkins and I really enjoyed it. Marlowe is hilarious and when she steps in a scene of the TV show she works for, things start to change for her. The sparks fly between her and the star of the show, Angus Gordon. I laughed at all the mixed wires, and problems that they get into while they work through Marlowe being in the spotlight. Great rainy weekend read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is a humorous, quirky, surprisingly heartfelt story of Marlowe Banks, a costume designer who has been boldly and publicly criticized for her latest Broadway designs, has lost her fiancé, and has decided to move to LA from New York City to start over. Her new assignment is rather humble in comparison, and her role as production assistant should be behind the scenes, until it isn’t.

While on set, Marlowe encounters Scottish bad boy, Angus Gordon, and their love-hate relationship thrusts them into the spotlight. This enemies to lovers romance has friendship, witty banter, a lot of steam, and commentary on cyber-bullying, social media and the celebrity culture. The characters are flawed, but like-able people who learn lessons and grow from beginning of the novel to the end. Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is a quick read filled with laughs, but also an important message.

Super cute! I loved the interaction between the two main characters and Marlowe's growth over the story, I look forward to more adult romances by this author.

I've been hearing such great things about this book and it did NOT disappoint!! I really loved how relatable Marlowe was as a main character. Her life is a bit of a mess but she's not afraid to take chances and go with the flow. She ended her engagement when she knew he wasn't the one and escapes across the country to take a job as a costume design assistant on a tv show.

A mistake causes her to end up on camera playing the love interest for Angus, the star of the show and a seemingly Hollywood bad boy celebrity actor. First impressions are deceiving though and as Angus and Marlowe take the time to get to know one another they realize there might be something special.

This celebrity, coming of age romance felt a bit New Adulty at times but overall I thought the mental health rep (social anxiety) and ways Marlowe handled her gas-lighting ex were written so well!! These characters were incredibly well developed and three-dimensional. I found myself falling for Angus right with Marlowe and hoping they would get a HEA!

It might have been nice to get a couple scenes from Angus's POV but really there wasn't much I didn't like about this book! Recommended for fans of authors like Elle Kennedy and Christina Lauren. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: a couple open door scenes (nothing too graphic)

Lovely romcom. Grumpy trope, male was perfection. Main gal was relatable and as reader rooted for her to shine. Fast read, makes a perfect beach read or rainy day.

Read this if you:
*Appreciate enemies to lover, slow burn romance
*Believe in finding your inner strength to pursue your dreams
*Adore Hollywood TV sets and costume design

Meet the Author: Jacqueline Firkins is a playwright, screenwriter, and comic artist who has been creating worlds and characters as a set and costume designer for the past twenty years. When not writing, drawing, or sewing she can be found running by the ocean, listening to love songs, and pretending her dog understands every word she says.

Synopsis: “When life doesn’t fit anymore, it’s time to try on something new.” Marlowe Banks flees her failures in New York to embrace invisibility in Los Angeles following an ugly breakup with an ex who refuses to accept the relationship is over. When Marlowe meets arrogant, bad boy Angus Gordon on set, it’s time to decide if she should stay invisible or undergo a redesign.

Reader’s Thoughts: Marlowe Banks, Redesigned truly captures the messiness of failure, forgiveness, and embracing second chances in life and love. Marlowe has been through a lot in a short period of time and has built many walls to protect herself. When Angus comes along, it is apparent he has a few skeletons in his closet as well. Firkins does an amazing job building up these memorable characters, each one being relatable and real. I personally could relate to Marlowe in more ways than one. This novel kept me on my toes, turning pages as quick as I could until the very end. The banter and humor filled me with many true laugh out loud moments. This was my first time reading a novel written by Firkins. She did an amazing job instilling the fact that failure never has to define us. I will not hesitate to pick up another novel written by Firkins.

Available now in Paperback, eBook, and Audio Book
Solid 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️ review. You won’t want to miss out on this one!

Thank you, @NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.

Marlowe experiences a setback in her career and a broken engagement, so she flees NYC to LA and tries to design a new life plan. Angus is a (surprising and misunderstood) lead actor on the show Marlowe ends up working on. The story follows their budding connection and the ups and downs of life in Hollywood.

This plot was delightfully escapist fiction that surprised me with its heart and groundedness. I enjoyed following the shenanigans that accompanied life on a TV set and Marlowe and Angus had a pleasant realness to them. I found the resolution swift and a bit too tidy, but it was a sweet feel-good ending.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy to review! I enjoyed it.

After a series of life-changing events, Marlowe Banks leaves New York behind and heads to Los Angeles. She quickly finds a job as production assistant on one of the most popular TV dramas. After a mix-up, Marlowe is given the opportunity to stand-in as an extra on the show. She soon finds herself the center of some online attention when fans pair her character with the show's star, Angus Gordon.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is a sweet and spicy contemporary romance. There is just the right amount of swoony scenes and humorous banter. The MCs ooze chemistry from their very first meeting and it only continues to grow throughout the storyline. Their relationship does progress slowly, not quite a slow-burn, but they do start out just as friends.

I was not sure what to expect after reading the blurb but this book was a pleasant surprise. Sometimes celebrity romances can come off as unrealistic or far-fetched. I think the author did well with balancing out both the good and bad that come along with such relationships.

This is the first book that I have read from author, Jacqueline Firkins, but I enjoy her style and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy, clever, and held my interest. I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jacqueline Firkins for an ARC of this book!**

I think there's a good reason that I relate more to Andy Sachs than Miranda Priestly when it comes to fashion and design. Sadly, Marlowe Banks Redesigned only reminded me of that fact, because try as I might, I just couldn't make it fit.

Marlowe Banks is a costume designer working in the NYC theater scene. She chooses to leave the city, her apartment, and all she knows on the East Coast behind after a broken engagement with her ex, Kelvin and some criticism from critics over her latest designs. She boldly moves to LA and takes a job as a Production Assistant on a very popular TV show. She plods through her day to day, running errands and returning clothing when needed, until a costume mix-up happens that leaves the TV crew asking Marlowe to step in FRONT of the camera. She hesitantly agrees and steps into the scene...where she has some 'accidental' chemistry with hunky leading man, Angus. Marlowe manages to spill coffee on him and incur his wrath, but as time passes and her involvement with the show deepens, can those opinions change? Is there more to Angus than his Instagram full of curated selfies and his lovely Hollywood starlet girlfriend Tanareve and MORE to his veiled flirting...or is Marlowe set to find disappointment and heartbreak on the WEST Coast too?

This is a hard review for me to write because I knew from pretty early on that I was not going to jive with this book. My biggest issue from the off was the premise. Marlowe purports that she's going to L.A. to HIDE.

Now honestly. WHO goes to a place like L.A. to HIDE?!?

L.A. is probably one of the most visible places in the country. If I wanted to crawl in an emotional hole and start my career over, I probably wouldn't choose one of the most visible and glamorous cities in the world. I tried to put this aside and move forward with the plot, hoping that the characters would draw me in. Unfortunately, Marlowe's best friend in L.A., Cherry, (whose most prevalent character trait is her endless supply of 'statement' t-shirts) didn't help anchor the story or make it more interesting. And then of course, enter our male lead, Angus.

(Yes, his name is actually Angus. As in, Beef.)

Angus is supposed to be gruff and awful. but other than Marlowe's first couple of interactions with him, it becomes pretty apparent to the reader that he isn't. This book is supposed to be 'enemies to lovers', but I don't think a couple of nasty barbs and then lots of making excuses to see Marlowe and flirting with her A LOT really solidifies Angus as her 'enemy'. Marlowe resists his charm because....I'm not really sure why. She also is shocked to end up in front of the camera, but for someone who is supposedly out to reinvent herself, I'm not sure why she's so resistant. This sort of 'forced resistance' was the big sticking point for me and it honestly kept happening over and over again...Marlowe kept focusing on problems that....weren't really problems.

I understand it can be difficult to see the forest for the trees, but ostensibly Marlowe is smart and has nothing to lose. She honestly finds any excuse to make a situation more complicated than it needs to be and I spent most of the book completely frustrated with her. I also found this book strangely devoid of emotion. Because I didn't really feel the conflict, there was no sense of relief when it was resolved. After everything else that took place, I also found the ending pretty implausible...even for a Hallmark'y type plot like this one.

Though this book wasn't for me, I have no doubt there are plenty of readers who will love to fantasize about the 'what-if' of meeting and getting to work with their favorite drop-dead gorgeous actor and finding out he's all you wanted and more. If this sounds like the dream you keep on having, Marlowe Banks Redesigned is the book for you!

As for me, I'll be in the corner probably in some "lumpy blue sweater I fished out of a clearance bin."

😉

3.5 stars