My Thoughts


2nd chances come in different forms, for Marlowe Banks however her particular form turns out to be Angus Gordon and a sideline career change that causes her to face not only her past but her insecurities as well.

For me the fact that a working class woman and a rising television star are put together as romantic interests for each other worked better than I hoped.

I found this story to be all about connecting, with others and with oneself as well.

Marlowe went to college and her degree in design has been put aside in favor of doing her best to blend into the background doing a job that basically turns her into someone’s slave.

Having put her dreams aside for the moment Marlowe finds causes her no satisfaction in an alternative occupation she is way overqualified for, and in fact really dislikes the longer she does it.

In the shallow world of Hollyweird, as I like to call Hollywood, Marlowe is a square peg in a round hole who finally finds out where she fits and it is worth her waiting to get there!

The story did have a few fits and such that gave it some trouble here and there but what story doesn’t?
[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

The story of a costume designer, working as a lowly designer in on the set of a long-running tv series. She meets the grumpy star of the show and isn't impressed. Then she accidently gets a small part on the show and gets closer to the show's star and realizes he isn't all she assumed he was. I absolutely loved this story, both main characters were very likeable and it was a fun hard-to-put-down read!

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned started off as a cute, low-angst, slow burn, celebrity, not-really-enemies to lovers read that became a bit too slow of a burn and left me feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is a fantastic romance that takes place on the set of a big TV show between a talented costume assistant & one of the show’s leading stars.
Marlowe accidentally stumbles into being an extra for a day on set when the cameras catch a moment between her & the TV show’s handsome lead that blows up Twitter. Production can’t ignore the fans’ reactions & the undeniable chemistry, so she lands a spot as more than an extra. The chemistry the camera caught is just as spicy behind the lens & these two have fiery sparks right away.
There is a celebrity aspect to this book, but it’s handled in a way that feels very authentic & realistic. It doesn’t shy away from the hardships of working in the entertainment business while also acknowledging the privileges that come with said power. I thought it was handled in a way that was extremely interesting because you get both in front & behind the camera while also discussing the unglamorous side of being a celebrity. It felt very self-aware while still behind extremely entertaining which I think is a difficult note to achieve!
This was an excellent matchup that I was completely rooting for. I devoured this book in one day!
If you are looking for an attention-grabbing & engrossing romance set in the entertainment business that somehow feels authentic, mature & utterly charming, I highly recommend reading Marlowe Banks, Redesigned!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Griffith for the arc, which I voluntarily read & reviewed. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is a cute romantic comedy that I really enjoyed.

Story Recap:
Marlowe Banks’s life is a bit of a mess. She broke up with her fiance and her design business failed, and she has her student loans to pay off, So, she escapes to Los Angeles where she gets a job as a production assistant on a popular TV show. She’s given the most menial tasks, but she enjoys the invisibility of the job while she can figure out what to do next.

Angus Gordon is the show’s bad boy and he has a reputation. When there is a costume mix-up, Marlowe is thrust into a minor role as an extra, but when the camera catches Agnus giving Marlow a very smoldering look, social media blows up wondering if the characters have a past. And then the producers decide to give her a more involved role in the show. Working together, Marlowe and Angus learn more about each other and eventually develop a relationship. But, what happens when Marlowe’s life in New York calls her back?

My Thoughts:
This book was a lot of fun. I enjoyed learning about what happens behind the scenes of a television show and all the issues of costume design for the show. The harried pace and demands of the stars were interesting for me to read about.

But the characters are what really drew me into the story. Marlowe might be a bit of a mess at first, but she is hard-working and didn’t complain about all the menial tasks she was assigned. She really knew her costume design stuff and it was fun when she knew more than the lead costume designer. Marlowe was also very modest and she didn’t want to have a role in the show, but she knew it was the only way to help her friend who had caused the costume mix-up. Her loyalty to her friend was admirable.
I don’t usually like a famous actor as the main character in a story, but Angus Gordon was surprisingly very down-to-earth and relatable. Yes, he has a reputation for being a bad boy, but we find out that he cultivates the image in order to protect his heart. He is a very endearing character and I grew to love him too.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend Marlowe Banks, Redesigned to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you like celebrity-normal "disaster" human romances, you'll like this book. Marlowe is super relatable, Angus is adorable (eventually), and I want Tanareve and Cherry to be my best friends.

How do you come back from Hate At First Sight?
Read Marlowe Banks, Redesigned and find out!

This is my forst Jacqueline Firkin's book and it shall not be the last.

This is my second debut adult romcom by an established YA author in a row and if the quality of these books is any indication, it's a natural progression! I loved this book and thought the romance between "regular" Marlow and "famous" Angus developed so naturally and beautifully. Who doesn't love a Hollywood setting? This was a lighthearted read but it also touched on serious subjects like a gaslighting ex and lack of self-confidence/fear of not measuring up. The platonic friendship between Marlowe and her co-worker Cherry was wonderful. Even the demanding boss was redeemed! I will definitely read more from this author!

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


Too bad Angus isn’t a real person. Because Angus is almost every woman’s dream. Except Marlowe’s. Of course, Marlowe was smitten before she started work on Heart’s Diner, the TV show that stars Angus (as well as other actors.) But now that she’s a glorified gopher in the costume design department, she’s had her run-ins with Mr. Wonderful, and he’s just not.

Marlowe gave up her engagement, career, apartment, friends, to move to LA and start over. She’s living in a rat trap apartment that overlooks a cemetery. She’s working for one of the world’s toughest bosses who keeps her busy from dawn till, well, dawn. She’s a dog walker/sitter and errand runner for this boss, who also occasionally does give her costume jobs. Like picking up clothing. Overall it’s not what Marlowe dreamed of, but it’s also not New York City and the dumpster fire she left behind.

But now her literal run in with Angus has her rattled. And a mistake with a uniform is going to rattle her even further. Of course, maybe that’s not such a bad thing?

This book was so much fun. Marlowe is a woman who desperately needed a do-over, but now that she’s got one, isn’t so sure about it. Angus is truly the bad boy personified, but that’s his public persona. What’s he really like on the inside? All the supporting characters are truly fun too. From Marlowe’s coworker and confidante Cherry to the beautiful Tanareve. Each character has their place.

The story is a romance/chick lit book, but it’s not gushy romance. It’s romance in all the right places. Marlowe isn’t the toughest chick around, but she’s very likable. And Angus, well, I believe I’ve covered Angus. It’s all put together in a way that keeps you turning those pages. Loved it.

Falling in love on the set of a TV show!

Marlowe Banks had taken a job in Los Angeles as a production assistant on the costume team for a television show to get out of New York City after the end of her engagement to Kelvin and the horrible reviews of her latest costume design. Marlowe always planned to be on the other side of the camera with her degree in costume design but those plans changed when she volunteered to be in a diner scene serving coffee with some glances between Marlowe and Angus Cordon caught on camera. Maybe Marlowe could help get the show another season where they figure out their characters for real.

I love how Angus helped Marlowe as a friend they slowly fell in love.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked this book, we meet Marlowe and Angus tangled up in the Enemies-to-lovers trope that always gets to me, because you know when these characters finally get together it will be dynamic and it was exactly that. A ton of flirting, stolen moments, romance and humor. I loved how strong Marlowe is at times and how vulnerable she can be all in the same book, and also how funny she can be. Angus is the actor here the famous guy and it wasn’t about him at all, even though it’s a romance novel, I felt like Marlowe stole the show COMPLETELY in this book. It’s hard to explain how sweet of a romance novel this was, y’all have to read it to understand. The story got straight to the point, and it was a speedy read that kept you interested because you wanted to know how this will REALLY end. Besides the romantic aspect of it.

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Marlowe Banks,Redesigned was a fun behind the scenes look into a hit TV show.
It sends a powerful message about how you should not judge a person's life on what is seen on their social media pages.
I enjoyed the slow burn budding romance between Marlowe and Angus, Friends to Lovers is one of my favorite troupes. The comic relief in so many of their meetings had me laughing out loud. It was nice to see how much growth the characters displayed over the course of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my eArc. All thoughts are my own.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned follows title character Marlowe as she hides out in California after her life on the East Coast has fallen apart. Her career is on hold after her latest project was highly criticized, she fled her engagement, and her parents are disappointed in her. While working at a menial job in LA, Marlowe draws the eye of a star actor on her set. As this brief interactions develops into more, Marlowe begins to rediscover herself and what she wants in her life.

I am an admittedly intermittent romance reader. I like my romance novels to have good banter and depth. I'm happy to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. It checked those boxes and ended up being a novel I really enjoyed!

What I enjoyed:

- Marlowe. I found her to be a relatable character! She was awkward, but not so awkward to the point where I was cringing and uncomfortable.
- The relationship hurdles Marlowe and Angus had to overcome. They felt real and of actual substance and provided more depth to the novel than light-hearted rom-coms
- Marlowe's growth and development throughout the novel. I'm a sucker for some good character growth, so this was another facet of this book that I truly loved.
- The minor levels of social commentary on women, media, and Hollywood lives.
- Enemies to lovers (my favorite trope)
- Angus. Seems too good to be true

What I would see adjusted:

- As much as I enjoyed Marlowe, she also frustrated me sometimes. She jumped to conclusions too quickly and was not good at communicating. It made for good plot but still frustrated me.
- The ending. I would have like to see Marlowe and Angus on slightly more certain grounds.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I believe this will be a hit for fans of the romance genre!
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This book is totally charming. It hits on a lot of relevant topics, like imposter syndrome, owning who you are, online privacy and clickbait, and self-valuation. And it’s a love story! And funny! But to be honest, I think my favorite point of the whole book is that Marlowe is tall. Yay tall girls!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Our FMC Marlowe, is at an all time low. After ending an engagement, being shredded for her designs, and simply needing a break - she finds herself running away to New York. Her new position as a costume designer’s assistant lands her on the set of a new popular TV show. After a mix up, she agrees to be an extra on set for a single scene. Her assignment - pour coffee for the lead actor, Agnus. The only problem with this she quickly learns - is that lead actor is the same one she bumped into earlier in the day. There is still tension, hostility and obvious chemistry between the pair. And the best (or worst part according to Marlowe), is it is all caught on camera… and people LOVE it! Next thing Marlowe knows, is her “extra” role just became a permanent spot in the show!

The banter between the pair had me laughing out loud. The chemistry lead to well written spicy scenes - which hello… who doesn’t love that?! The character development was awesome to dive into as the story progressed. At first I was not a fan of Agnus, but was won over in the end as we slowly get to see the depth beneath the surface of his persona.

Marlowe was incredibly relatable. I don’t handle failure well, and that seemed to be a big theme throughout the book. Having the strength to continue to pursue your dream after facing all she has was inspiring, and I hope this resonates with readers once this comes out!

I loved this book! I love the concept of normal girl who accidentally has falls into a small acting part. Angus. Oh, Angus. I love him so much. He was so kind. This book was so funny it definitely had me laughing out loud a few times. I loved the inside jokes Marlowe and Angus developed. The whole thing was just so sweet.

A cute, fun, light read. A bit of angst but not too over the top. I hated Babs and wanted everyone to stage a coup. The female main character was a bit of a pain. I didn't like that she was just assuming she knew how everyone's life was but got mad when they assumed things about her. The banter was great but overall, the female main character was awful and I didn't want her to have her happy ending.

Oh Marlowe. She's starting over in Los Angeles after a fleeing a mess in New York, where she worked as a costume designer. Now, she's an assistant- a gofer- and she's struggling. She's not impressed with Angus, the star of the show her boss is working on. especially after he spills coffee, but it turns out he's not the person she assumed he was. These two build a friendship which turns to love, even as Marlowe begins to rebuild her confidence and her life. It's as trope-y as can be but it's got the nice benefit of info about costumes in Hollywood thanks to Firkin's own work. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Marlowe is a costume designer who flees her life in NY and heads to LA after receiving bad reviews on a play she worked on. She ended her relationship with her fiance when she made the move and took a job hiding in the background as a PA for the show Heart's Diner. Babs is her boss and Cherry, who is Bab's design assistant, is the best friend she has in LA. Angus is one of the main characters on the show. Ten weeks into the job, Marlowe bumps into Angus while walking through the lot with Cherry. Angus is less than thrilled to have coffee spilled on him. Due to a mixup with a waitress costume, Marlowe ends up doing a spot on the show. Marlowe has very limited social media and getting involved in the show and with Angus exposes her in ways with which she's not comfortable. Here's a snippet from the book: "you're the first person I've met who wants his life to be quieter. In a world filled with messages to be louder and bigger, to take up more space, to garner more attention, denying those messages seems pretty brave to me." Loved this as I think people live way too much on social media platforms. Really great book!

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned slow-burn romance was so cute! Marlowe's incredibly clumsy and that becomes a little annoying. I enjoyed reading about Angus so he ended up being the reason I was able to finish this book,