I was pleasantly surprised when I was approved for an e-ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved Marlowe Banks, and I was rooting for her to find her happiness, and accept that she deserved good things.

Marlowe gets to live out a fan’s fantasy when she ends up as an extra on a popular tv show, and has unexpected and exquisite chemistry with the show’s hunky lead.

It was fun to follow along behind-the-scenes of a costume designer on a popular show. I also really enjoyed that I wasn’t quite sure where the story would go. I wanted Marlowe and Angus to find their HEA, free of judgment from the public, media, and away from Marlowe’s stifling boss. I appreciated the depth that navigating fame, a recent breakup, and negative ex had on expanding the story and helping me get to know these characters better. So much of that part of the story made it feel more real.

Ack, I love this book so much. Marlowe Banks is a production assistant helping with costumes on a teen drama. She’s also a Yale Drama graduate who broke up with her fiancé and fled New York a few months ago. She is tired of running errands and working for a terrible boss and she doesn’t like LA and her ex keeps texting. And then there’s a mishap that leads her to fill in as a background extra as a waitress in a diner scene, and the star of the show, Angus Gordon, has already annoyed her recently and they glare at each other. Or so Marlowe thinks. It goes viral on Twitter as a Look and Marlowe’s offered a three episode arc as a lost love of Angus’ character and so much follows.


There is so much to love about this book. Marlowe, and all of her neuroses, and how real she feels. Angus, and his three insecurities, the way Firkins perfectly describes the tedium of production assistant life. The bigger questions about image and reality and Hollywood. Edith Head the dog. The chemistry between Marlowe and Angus. The descriptions of Marlowe’s outfits. Her terrible haunted apartment. I finished it and immediately began rereading parts. With any justice, this book will be huge.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Would totally buy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Rating: 4 Stars
Publication Date: October 25, 2022
Number of Pages: 352

What started me thinking this was a two-day type of read, turned into a quick one sitting read. “Marlowe Banks, Redesigned” can be realistically felt by plenty of women. Jacqueline Firkins is a new author to this reader and this story was well-written, delightful, and shows real plight of trying to get ahead.

Marlow Banks is an assistant to a costumer designer on a movie set. As an assistant in this type of environment, her day is spent running errands to include dog errands. Fate has it when she one day fills in for another member of the cast…and things slowly start to change. Yes, there is romance in the form of a trope of frenemies to lovers, but it was a slow burn kind of romance between Marlowe and Angus, the main actor. However, I think the author did a good job of developing their relationship throughout the story…not rushed or disappointing. I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book, but it surprised me that it was quite an entertaining book to read.

Marlowe was a loveable character that stayed true to herself. I loved the underlying premise of women taking charge to empower themselves and what they want out of life. In addition, Cherry the best friend brings and added something to Marlowe’s life with her unchanging support and friendship. Again, an entertaining fictional romance that was fun to read. Recommend

Great quick read very realistic. It felt real reading through the struggles of everyday life. The ending was good and I would love to read a sequel.

I really enjoyed this book ! A light, sweet story of Marlowe who works on a movie set as a assistant to the costume designer, falls in love with the main actor. I loved how sweet their relationship was and how kind they portrayed Angus to be. Just a great story!

This book was an exactly what I had expected it to be but that's not to say it wasn't good it was actually pretty good and I've already told a couple of friends that I think they would like it

Marlowe Banks has moved to LA for a new start and has an enviable job working as an Assistant to a Costume Designer on a popular tv set. But her life may not be as glamorous as it seems. Most of her day is spent fetching lunch, and dog errands in her dilapidated car. She also has issues with the star of the set, who seems to have an ego and a neverending series of dates. However, fate seems to step in when someone calls in sick and she fills in for another member of the cast, which may just change everything.

I originally picked up Marlowe Banks because I was looking for a light entertaining book. However, I enjoyed the setting on the tv set and the interaction with Marlowe in the cast. The book also had some powerful underlying themes, such as the power of asking for what you want and need, and supporting other women in their career journey. I also had a hard time putting this book down, and was disappointed when I was at the end. Is it too early to ask for a sequel? Definitely a fun read!

Marlowe Banks is a character that will be relatable to so many women.
She is underemployed, under-confident, and lonely.
But, by remaining true to herself, she gets her own fairy tale ending with Angus, the hot star of a television show.
This book is a slow-burn, but worth the wait for the ending. A perfect vacation read!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I enjoyed this book!! This is a new to me author and I found the flow of the book easy to read and it contained an exciting story. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.

This book was so much more than I thought it would be when I decided to read it. From the book cover (which I really like), I thought it would be a silly, light romance and there is nothing wrong with that. I enjoy a light romance, especially when real life is too stressed.

What I received when I began to dive into this book was so much more than “just a romance book”. It is book filled with lessons to women to empower their lives, and to find their true worth, despite what society and their family or so called friends might tell them. It is about finding strength within to change your life and pursue your goals and disregard the fear of failing that seems to be ever present. Also, social media is all over and to not believe everything posted and not let it control your life!

I cannot express how much I totally enjoyed this book! I loved the romance, between Angus, the hunky, famous TV star and Marlowe, a women that never seemed to be given the love or admiration that she deserved. Also, I adore Cherry and the fabulous friendship that she has with Marlowe. Everyone needs a friend like Cherry to tell it like it is, and support unconditionally.

It was so interesting to read about being on a TV set while filming and also see into the lives of celebrities. I am sure that most people do not think about the role of a costume designer, but this book shows it is a very important job for a film, TV show or play to be a success!

A huge thank you to Jacqueline Firkins for writing this fabulous, uplifting book! Thank for also for the many times I laughed out loud! I am a first time reader of your work, and will definitely be reading your other two books. I not only adore this story, but also your acknowledgments at the end of your book. If the reader did not get the message while reading, you certainly wrote it out very plain in the end. Everyone is worthy of love!

I want to thank St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This was a cute enemies to lovers one, Marlowe had all these ideas of what Angus was for what she had read online and that he had not bothered to correct, but then they start to hang out and one thing led to the other and mutual attraction and comprehension happens and love flourishes, is it a little cliché? Yes, but sometimes that’s what I want, specially from my rom-coms

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Marlowe decides she needs a change. She is hoping that moving to California will be the right decision. She works behind the scenes for a TV show. I liked the different characters in this book.

Slow burn romance, and very enjojable ride.

It was a quick read for me and I loved how this story had been created by an author. It's full of sweet heartwarming moments, but with the right dose of drama and angst.

Marlowe and Angus are bringing slow burn, friends to lovers romance. . From the very begining Marlowe captivated me by her imperpections, because it made her so real... I could connect with her character immediately. I enjoed how her relationship with Angus changed into smth deeper than friendship. He wasn't my fave peron, when I met him for the first tome, so... It was really good to see development of their feelings diving further into this book. Author done amazing job and made me invisted in Malrowe and Angus' love life hihi A like it very, very much.

I recomend this title for everyone who loves sweet, slow burn romance with heartmelting ending.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is an adorable novel, just right for those who love a good love story. Marlowe is a costume designer, who after getting bad reviews on her work in NYC, flees to CA to work on a popular show as a lowly production assistant. A costume snafu results in her stepping onstage briefly as a waitress, where she and the star share a smoldering glance...and suddenly she's thrust into the limelight as an actress who is said to be destroying the star, Angus Gordon's relationship with another actress. But is she? Was there anything behind that look? Or was it really just acting?

Thank you to the author,St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Marlowe Banks, redesigned is a cute book. Marlowe leaves Los Angeles after a broken engagement and a career failure in costume design. Once in New York she finds a job on a popular T.V. show.
She ends up as a character of the show. The story is superficial but nice.
I had to suspend belief but enjoyed the story. I recommend the story for those who like light and fun stories about finding your love and conflict with different walks of life.

great romance about a costume designer and a tv actor. She is dealing with an ex who was just bad for her. She works well with her cast mates. She really assumed many things about angus and didn't quite get along with him. Loved this enemies to lovers story. I loved how they both worked at their relationship and he helped her along. Great chemistry between angus and Marlowe.

This book was just sweet and fun and it made me happy! I appreciated that the romance between Marlowe and Angus took over a long period of time and allowed room for friendship first. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author as she really knows how to entertain her readers. If you're looking for a fun, quick read, then this book is for you!

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

I liked the book. I like that Harlow had career aspirations and she wasn't going to have that deterred by romance, but a part of me didn't really understand the chemistry. It seemed to come of nowhere for me and even though i liked them together a part of me didn't understand it.

I could easily identify with Marlowe and some of the thoughts she had. Her journey to find herself was very relatable to the every day persons.

I received this ARC for an honest review. Jacqueline Firkins is a new to me author, but has become a must read author.
Jacqueline Firkins is wonderful at writing a slow burn. She was great with her character building, and you became invested with her characters.
This story is about Marlowe (a costume designer assistant) and Angus (an actor in a tv series). They met while both of them worked on a series named Heart’s Diner. The reason why Marlowe left New York to move to California was because of a bad relationship. Nothing violent, but her ex-fiancé was very manipulative. Marlowe has very low self esteem because of her parents and ex-fiancé.
Marlowe and Angus meet cute was when she ran into Angus when carrying boxes and made him spill his coffee on his shirt. Angus didn’t make a very good first impression, but as the story unfolds you get to see different sides. Marlowe let social media color her judgement about Angus but learns that social can be a good place also being an awful place.
I’m not saying much more about the story in hopes that you will get it a chance. It was well written and you became invested with the characters. I’m definitely reading another book by Jacqueline Firkins!