Finally! A male lead who isn't a dark, brooding jerk with an awful upbringing that made him dark and brooding, and a female lead who isn't from a broken home that makes her incapable of love! I think that is why I liked this book. Sure, they each had their *things* they had to get through and over, but they weren't tumultuous. I found both characters (yes, even the wealthy actor) relatable which was quite refreshing. I'd actually enjoy a sequel to see how Marlowe and Angus navigate their careers together and see how Hollywood and the theater world treat them.

🌮🛍🎬Marlowe Banks, Redesigned🎬🛍🌮
By Jacqueline Firkins (via #netgalley)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So much yes!! I loved the banter, the super relatable anxiety driven main character, and just the overall flow of this book. It was like indulging in a quiet Saturday night at home in sweats and basking in your reality TV guilty pleasure. This was my first read by Firkins and am already halfway running to see if she’s written anything else because I love her writing style in this book. It was a slightly steamy, a little bit angsty, but overall a super enjoyable rom-com.

After breaking off her engagement, Marlowe Banks fled New York and took a Production Assistant job on a film studio in L.A. The title sounds fancy, but really she’s just an errand runner - she shops for shoes and costumes, picks up lunches, and dog sits for her grueling boss - not at all her dream job. Marlowe is feeling dejected and can’t seem to escape constant criticism and the pressures of life. When the chance arises to help save a day’s worth of filming from disaster, Marlowe steps in as a waitress/extra in a scene with notorious celebrity and incredibly arrogant Angus Gordon. As they’re forced together to film scenes, Marlowe and Angus break down their walls of self defense mechanisms and Marlowe learns that Angus is not what she expected him to be. Marlowe finds herself questioning more and more about her future and herself as she’s unexpectedly thrust into the public spot light. She’s not sure if she’s ready or can handle this L.A. lifestyle or if she should go back to New York to pursue the career opportunity she’s been looking for.

Thank you #netgalley for an ARC of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned!

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This was a delightful frothy rom-com of finding yourself again after a bad relationship, and maybe getting with a TV star along the way.

We meet Marlowe, who has settled for an unfulfilling grunt job working on a TV show after breaking up with her ex. This book is really about her finding her self-confidence again, and learning how to live after being torn down by her ex. I really enjoyed this, and thought Firkins did a great job depicting a post-bad relationship brain.

Highly recommended!

Absolutely devoured this book. Marlowe is your everyday girl who worries about if she is good enough and is struggling and trying to make something of herself after a failed relationship. Enter Angus. Handsome actor on the tv show she is PA-ing for, infuriating at first, as Marlowe gets to know the real “behind the curtain” Angus, the two develop a connection that is rare. This was a fun twist on your rom-com girl meets boy, while delivering an encouraging message about love and friendship.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned was an emotional, sweet read with some great takes on social media/celebrity personas and how they can negatively affect people. This book had quality writing, interesting characters and professions, and great angst!

Marlowe Banks is a new L.A. resident after departing a tough job as a costume designer in NYC and a breakup with her fiance. While on set at her new job, she meets TV star Angus Gordon and sparks fly. This was a really cute book, although it felt kind of New Adult at times. Marlowe struggled with her self worth and self confidence. She had a wonderful growth arc throughout the book and really came a long way forward when it came to letting others' opinions determine her path. I loved the look into her job as a costume designer. You could tell the author really shares a love for that form of art as well. Angus was a sweet, introverted, often misunderstood actor. Together, they had a slow burn relationship that really took the time to develop into a friendship first before they moved into something more. I thought the book was perfectly paced with a good amount of tension between the two main characters. The TV show set offered a robust setting that added lots of other fun characters with big personalities to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read. It would be a perfect summer read for anyone who enjoys a bit of angst and a lot of character growth in their romances. Also if celebrity/normal romances are your thing, this one is great at bringing the glamour of the profession while still acknowledging the hard parts of dating someone famous.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advance e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

This didn't work for me. I think Marlowe is a great protag - she's relatable and charming, and I really resonated with her issues with self-confidence and her almost compulsive over-thinking nature. Marlowe isn't the issue with this novel and, tbh, she makes it worth reading. My problem was with Angus. I think his relationship with Marlowe is sweet, but it's almost too sweet. It ticks all the romcom boxes, but in a way that feels sort of stifling to read. Angus was a bit too expected, if that makes sense. But, if you're looking for a sweet and relatable read, this will do it for you.

📚BOOK REVIEW 📚

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

Thank you to @netgalley and @jfkillsdarlings for the ARC!

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely LOVED this read!! I could relate a lot to Marlowe when it came to self confidence.

What I liked : I really enjoyed the journey of Angus and Marlowe together. Their relationship was adorable 🥰. Not only did Marlowe gain confidence in herself throughout this story she also gained relationships with her friends, coworkers, and angus.

What I didn’t like: I’ve been trying to think of things I didn’t like and I honestly can’t come up with any. It was a great read!

I recommend this to anyone everyone, it’ll make your heart smile. ❤️😊❤️

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I went in with no expectations, not yet reading a novel by Jacqueline Firkins, but was pleasantly surprised! I loved the setting of this book, with the ties to backstage Hollywood in wardrobe design and felt like I learned a lot about the pressures of all the people behind the scenes. The banter between Marlowe and Angus was *chefs kiss* ugh so good. I loved the development of Marlowe throughout the novel, really coming into her own. I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for their next rom-com!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is a sweet, funny and heartfelt story about figuring it out and pursuing one's dreams. The banter between Marlowe and Angus had be cackling and the self-discovery Marlowe goes through was very touching.

This book was fantastic. I loved it so much. The love story was both beautiful and inspiring. This was my first book by this author and it won't be my last.

Loved this NA novel! I thought the author did an excellent job with a realistic look at behind the scenes, as well as developing chemistry and supporting characters. I would happily read any novel by Ms. Firkins!

This book was provided to me by NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved all of the main characters and thought that the relationship between Marlowe and Angus was adorable. Overall, it was a fun and quick read that I could not put down!

I really enjoyed this rom-com from author Jacqueline Firkins.

Marlowe is a likable heroine recovering from a narcissistic ex who gaslit her. Her empowering confrontation with the ex later in the book was one of my favorite parts, and the author showed the emotional scars in a realistic way.

Marlowe and Angus together were so adorable. Angus is such a dorky and emotionally mature male lead, I found him charming and wholesome, but still sassy to Marlowe. I enjoyed their banter and chemistry.

This is a super enjoyable rom-com with a realistic description of a woman growing and healing after a toxic relationship.

A really fund read about the messiness of failure, forgiveness, and embracing a second chance on life and love. Well done and wonderful characters.

A cute, fluffy little romcom, this book was entertaining and quick, easy read. The relationship between Marlowe and Angus wasn't necessarily 100% believable, but it was cute. I essentially could have done without the Kelvin character at all.

Give us the Cherry spinoff that she deserves!!

Originally an East Coaster, Marlowe Banks has left behind a floundering career as a costume designer and an ex-fiance for the sunny skies of Los Angeles. Working as a Costume Production Assistant (basically a glorified errand-runner for her boss, Babs) on the popular television show, Heart's Diner - Marlowe finds her new job and new life to be busy, unfulfilling and lonely. When a background actor calls out sick, her replacement doesn't fit into the diner waitress costume. No one else seems to be the same size... except Marlowe. Her scene puts her in contact with dreamy bad boy, Angus Gordon. Their chemistry in the single diner scene leads to a new friendship and a three episode arc for Marlowe. As Marlowe tries to balance her new acting gig with her PA job, annoying texts from her ex and her growing romantic feelings Angus, Marlowe has to figure out what she really wants.

I absolutely adore this book. Angus and Marlowe are couple goals to end all couple goals. Angus is the slightly insecure, introverted book lover of my dreams. SWOON. 100%.

All the characters are truly presented as dynamic, interesting human beings. Cherry's extroverted and ballsy personality are the perfect opposite to Marlowe's almost obsessive overthinking.

The story is captivating and absolutely enjoyable.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Marlowe is a costume designer who recently broke up with her fiancé and moved to LA to try something new and find herself. Angus is the star of the show Marlowe works on. Sparks fly.

I really liked this book. Marlowe is so relatable and I loved how her relationship with Angus developed. She was real without being too over the top and you felt like you were there watching them fall in love. The friendships in this book were top notch. I cried at the epilogue.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did I request this book simply for the book cover, yes? Did I love the heck out of this book? Also yes.

Marlowe Banks has lost her confidence. She put her career as a costume designer in NY, called off her wedding to a fiancé who made her feel less than, and is now working on the set of a popular drama series and is more dog walker and shopper than designer. She is trying to stay away from the bad boy star of the series but when a wardrobe malfunction threatens to derail production and hurt her friend, she finds herself on the other side of the screen across from said bad boy.

As their hate at first sight steamy glances go viral, she ends up on the show in a three episode arc and also realizes that Angus is not the bad boy everyone thinks he is.

This is a great exploration of finding oneself, the consequences and affects of life in the Hollywood spotlight and living up to others’ expectations. It is light hearted but important. Their friendship is sweet, their romance is definitely slow burn. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley for my gifted arc.

I read this novel on my way to Rome and it was a great way to spend a long plane ride. Marlowe Banks, Redesigned follows the story of a lowly design assistant on the set of what I imagined to be a soapy teen drama like Riverdale and how she ends up with the star of the show, Angus Gordon. Marlowe and Angus start off on the wrong foot and that initial run in sets the tone for these two. She thinks he's an ass and he thinks she's clumsy, add a series of events and these perceptions don't seem that far off, but of course, they are. Marlowe's just a frazzled, overworked, undervalued step above intern to her boss who is constantly tasked with the most menial and impossible tasks. And Angus? Well his quiet persona and aloofness don't help things. As these two get thrown into a situation that forces them to spend more time together we get to see that Angus is so much more than he appears, as is Marlowe. He longs for roles that stretch him beyond what he's been given and she's longing for the commercial success that has eluded her so far.



This novel was fun to read, not only for the way the romance unfolded, but for the evolution of their separate careers. I also enjoyed how steady Angus was--he wasn't the usual angsty, over the top actor type and his kindness and patience was an unexpected plus.



A very lovely read, by a new to me author. Definitely will try her other works.

Ahhhhh this was just such a great read. I just didn't want this book to end and I was sad to turn the last page. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.