Marlowe Banks is at a crossroads.
Her career path is going the wrong direction.
Her love life is non-existent after breaking off her engagement.
She's struggling financially.
And she has caught the eye of a leading male actor with a bad reputation.

Does she risk her privacy for some extra cash as an extra?
Does she hightail it out of town and give NY a second chance?
Does she keep doing menial talks for her difficult boss?
Marlowe gives all of the above a shot in this new release.

While the author does this heroine no favors in how she is described, there is clearly something special about her to gain the attention of Angus Gordon, the star of Hart's Diner (whose show Marlowe is assisting on). She assumes Angus doesn't like her, but the signs are there that she is way off base.

I liked the connection between Marlowe and Angus. They take some time to get on the same wavelength, mistakenly making assumptions about the other. But when they really take the time to talk, it felt genuine. And once they are on the same page, that's when the sparks really fly.

Overall, this was a fun romance and I loved how Marlowe turned around the direction of her life with a little luck, some personal talent, and a special new cheerleader by her side.

Marlowe Banks is having a rough go of it. So she has decided to leave it all behind in New York for an inconspicuous life in Los Angeles. Or so she had hoped until she is suddenly roped into a small part on a TV show with the one and only Angus Gordon. As they navigate their forced acquaintance they discover things about each other and themselves that lead to a need for some decisions to be made.

Marlowe is such a relatable and likable main character. I loved the depth that came along with the laughs and the romance. This is everything I look for in a romantic comedy. And if you’re a rom com fan as well, you will not regret reading this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the advanced digital copy.

Very well done!
I loved this story, the growth that Marlowe goes through and the grace she learns to show herself is such an honest experience that a lot of us need to put into practice.
Her chemistry with Angus was sizzling. This was a slow burn romance and story of self discovery. One of my favorite reads of 2022

Marlowe Banks is hiding her light under a bush... A designer afraid of being torn down by critics for her art, and thus potentially culminating the lifelong cycle of being torn down by her parents, and ex (who unfortunately has still not got the memo that he is an 'ex') in abject failure. No thanks! Isn’t it better to work behind the scenes doing menial (aka Production Assistant) jobs for a Cruella meets Miranda Priestly of a boss? It might be tough but still better than being criticised for her art. And that'll have to be enough for her. Until the day she spills 'cozy-tub-water-hot' coffee on Angus, the bad boy of the cast. The chemistry, and animosity is instantaneous! And when she steps in to be an extra as a last resort, things are about to change.



The first thing you’d notice about the book is how well the characters are written. Marlowe exasperates me, even as I identify with her. I also love how the friend circle is written. I do hope Tan gets her own book.



The book's central theme revolves around attitude to failure. Should we use failure to step up, or let it define us. We'd all like to believe we'd fall in the former category, but is it always the case? An overarching motif in the story is Marlowe's self-doubt, whether she's good enough. Even as she gives us glimpses of her talent and backbone when she questions some of the misogynies on set, when it comes to showcasing her talent she's content to be in the background. I get a feeling before the events in the book, Marlowe was content being a second class citizen in her own story.



You'd also notice the author has indepth knowledge about the subject, that doesn’t come from doing some quick google research, but living and experiencing the environment. I found the costume designing aspects fascinating. The descriptions are vivid enough that they seem to transport you into that space. There is also ample commentary and discussion about public and private personas, how your social media tells a story about you which might not be true and its portrayal by media.



All things aside, this is a romance, which kind of went from hate (?) to lust to love. I like that the story portrays a realistic getting to know each other phase, even in the midst of celebrity and fan culture. Be prepared for a slowwwww burnnnnn... kind of would they, won't they romance.



If you are looking for a romance which is set in tv drama world/Hollywood, you like costumes/fashion, are in for very slow but very hot burn, look no further!

This was.. okay. I love Ali Hazelwood but I think I need to stop taking recommendations from her like our taste obviously does not match lol.
I was entertained, sure but I've already forgotten the book and if that tells you anything about how I felt reading it..

DNF at 33%

While I'm normally not the biggest fan of women's fiction novels, the high ratings for this book on Goodreads plus the fact that I, like Marlowe, work in the entertainment industry led me to pick this up. While this book is not offensively bad by any means and there is definitely a market out there for it, I ultimately found that it was just not for me. Between the slow pace, a main character whose only character traits are being sad, and the constant back-and-forth misunderstandings between her and the love interest, this is not a book that I found myself enjoying.

Firkins definitely has talent as a writer and I hope that she finds the audience for this book because I know it is out there. It's just not me.

Pub date: 10/25/22
Genre: rom-com (Hollywood, fake dating)
One sentence summary: Costume designer Marlowe is down on her luck, but a chance interaction with TV star Angus Gordon opens up a whole new world of possiblities.

I always turn to rom-coms when I need a serotonin boost, and this book delivered! I loved the multilayered characters of Marlowe and Angus - author Firkins did a great job unpeeling both of their layers. The pair had a great dynamic - Angus was surprisingly sweet, not at all like his bad boy actor persona, and Marlowe had to learn to trust him. I also enjoyed their costume adventures - book shopping scenes are another form of window shopping (but they don't make your feet tired!)

If you need a feel good rom-com but want a story with emotional depth, give this one a try!

There are times when pure wish fulfillment is just the ticket--at least it is if you're me.

I read this the night my brother was cremated, and the memories would not stop, keeping me from sleep. Time for a romance, preferable with lots of banter, a handsome hero, a woman who might be coming out of a trash fire situation (either romantic or professional, or both) to reinvent herself and find happiness.

And that's exactly what Firkins delivers, the setting a television show in LA, where Marlowe Banks turns up as a production assistant (lowest of the low) after a disastrous show on the east coast. Angus, the child star hero, has a big chip on his shoulder for reasons, of course. There are even dogs!

Just a lovely, fun read, at exactly the right time. This author goes on my "check out further!" list.

Marlowe the designer, pet wrangler, shoe shopper, actress, and paparazzi avoider does it all in this book. It was fun watching her go from somewhat normal and ordinary to figuring out how to deal with the media.

I liked the easy going Marlowe and Angus romance. The best part was just them getting to know eachother by doing ordinary things. This book does a nice job at showing that those in the limelight may not be really who they are perceived to be. Is it best to hide from the media, ignore it, or stand up against it?

A fun rom-com that got a bit into a self discovery realm.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

I love Marlowe Banks, both the character and the book with her name in the title. Marlowe was 100% real; living in a crappy apartment, drowning in student debt, overworked and unappreciated by her boss. Then, she meets Angus, the star of the tv show where she works. He is good-looking and successful, but as she gets to know him she realizes he is so much more than what appears on the surface. I loved that their relationship evolves slowly, with many obstacles in their way, and that it’s messy and complicated and fun and sweet and heartfelt. I loved that Marlowe first had to be true to herself, to figure out what was best for her, whether or not Angus was in her life; and I loved that Angus was always supportive and thoughtful, even if it caused him pain. I loved that Marlowe was never afraid to use her voice, professionally and personally, to ensure her own happiness and peace before she could share her life with anyone else.

This book was just sweet and fun! I love that the romance between Marlowe and Angus took over a long period of time and allowed room for friendship first. I feel like that is missing a lot in romances nowadays since everything is insta-love usually. I think everyone should give this book a shot and enjoy the romance as well as Marlowe's growth as a character.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed this book. I loved seeing a messy heroine who was finding her way back from a difficult review that had her questioning herself and her chosen profession. I enjoyed watching her discover the truth of Angus and his life and experiences. This was a beach read for me and it was a nice fun read with strong characters and character development.

I picked this up and put it down so many times. The writing style was strong and I could tell there would be great character development, I just don’t think it’s the season for self discovery in this way for me.

This was a fun book! I'm glad I got to read it and it was a quick and easy read which is exactly what I needed at the time. Excited to see what the author comes out with next!

What a wonderful comeback story! It struck just the right balance of growth and not too much self-pity. I don't find it fun to read when a character is tuck on their past for 90% of the book, so I appreciated the balance here. While she was struggling with her past, there was enough new and exciting experiences to not be too focused on it. This was just fantastic and I loved the ending and the epilogue!

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is a sweet and surprisingly believable love story between a famous actor and an awkward designer-turned-production assistant. Marlowe and Angus's relationship feels organic, and their interactions run the gamut from angry to funny to sweet to steamy. Supporting the story are a number of entertaining and well-developed side characters. Even Marlowe's ex-fiance is portrayed with a degree of compassion and subtlety that the "bad ex-boyfriend" doesn't usually get.

The novel has a second layer as well, showing Marlowe's growth from someone who shrinks away from criticism to someone who fully owns her own voice - but this storyline feels less authentic. Marlowe's backstory, and in particular the professional setback that led her to leave New York City, are glossed over early in the story, which makes her eventual triumph over these undeveloped obstacles feel hollow. In place of emotional depth, we are given entertaining descriptions of Marlowe's daily work as a production assistant, which make for a fun read but fail to justify the preachy tone of the book's last few chapters.

5 stars for the love story, 3.5 stars for the "women's lit" component.

i read marlowe banks, redesigned when i'm in a bad mood for books like marlowe banks, redesigned. the writing instantly did not click with me and nothing seemed to work after that. i will have to come back to this at another time but thus far this seems to be a fun and sweet novel about failures and second chances which i imagine a lot of people can relate to.

Marlowe is a costume designer afraid of judgement who runs away from New York to LA to take a lowly assistant job so she can get away from the bad press she got on her last show, and in the hopes that she might get a better start in TV and film. Angus is the grumpy bad boy actor on set with a chip on his shoulder. A literal run-in resulting in coffee stains and snark is their "meet-cute" moment. When Marlowe is the only person on set that can fit into a background character's waitress costume, she accidentally starts a Twitter hashtag storm that means she'll be both on screen AND behind the scenes.

The book is fun, and the storyline moves really well. There are a few places throughout the book where exposition is used in a place where conversation should really exist, which bothered me. But other than that, it was a fun read. I like Angus as a character. And the best friend character is super fun.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

A slow burn romance set in the complicated world of Hollywood, where you can't judge a book by its cover, and you don't know when and where love might find you.

Marlowe is new to LA, looking for a fresh start after breaking an engagement and her previous design job not going as planned. She is working as a PA to a designer on a teen drama. On the day she happens to spill coffee on the main actor Agnus, she also fills in for a background actor on set. What she is unprepared for is for her chemistry with Agnus to go viral, and for her life to change. Agnus has been acting since he was a child. Everyone out there thinks they know him, and he lets the assumptions go uncorrected. Everything known to the public about him is basically a lie. Will Marlowe and Agnus give into their undeniable chemistry and get to know who the other actually is behind their walls?

I ended up very much enjoying this one. The banter was fun and kept me addicted. Agnus was the sweet brooding hero I have been craving in romance lately. The discussion on toxic relationships, and the price of fame were a nice sub plot. It had a great female friendship of support and loyalty. The relationship build up felt natural, and believable.

"Marlowe Banks, Redesigned" by Jacqueline Firkins
You Are Enough
Yes, this title really does fit this story. Marlowe’s adventures(?) as she began the journey of re-inventing herself, managed to hit my emotions time and again. Life, living it is not for the faint of heart; that is for certain sure. Even those who seem to have it all, DO NOT. I found reading the author’s acknowledgements quite interesting, too. I really did love this story. Hope you do, too. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.