Cover Image: Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

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Member Reviews

I really enjoyed this book - I was super busy so it took me a while to get into it but once I did, I thought it was fun. It was really cute, and I thought the romance building was sweet. I usually don't like reading about super messy protagonists - not unlikeable, mind you but like silly unkempt MFC, but I thought Marlowe was great! Sometimes the dialogue was cheesy, but it was never too overwhelming.

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What a fun read! Marlowe Banks is a New York costume designer whose latest project got panned. Plus, she just ended her engagement and fled to Hollywood. She's licking her wounds working as a gopher for a dictatorial costumer for a long-running TV series.

Angus Gordon is one of the stars of that TV series. He's got a reputation as a womanizer, plus an on-again/off-again relationship with a stunning A-list star, a mansion, and the perfect life. But, can we really believe what's on social media? Marlowe sure thinks so!

When Marlowe offers to stand in for a missing extra during filming, the sparks between them captured on camera go viral. But, they can't stand each other. Right? Or not.

I loved this so much, that as soon as I finished, I got the audiobook from the library so I could experience it again!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review!

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*I received this copy in exchanged for my honest review.

Marlowe is an designer - first starting in theater productions in NYC. When her engagement goes awry, she packs up and moves to LA and gets a job as a PA on a hit TV show. Angus is an actor on said show, and he’s known as someone that gets around and is hard to work with.

When a mishap lands Marlowe a guest appearance on the show, Angus has feelings about it. Until the two get to truly know each other. Will Marlowe be able to handle the sudden onset of fame? Will she move back to her NYC roots once her contract is up?

This slow burn romance kept me on my toes. It was a super quick, cute read that kept me wanting more. The epilogue wasn’t enough for me, I need more!

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Cute rom com! Slow burn leads to some steamier scenes. Great dialogue between the characters and good chemistry. Main character wasn’t my favorite, but didn’t detract from the book.

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Okay, hear me out. This book is basically a work of Riverdale fanfic mixed with The Devil Wear's Prada if it took place on a Broadway show. Does that make sense to anyone else?
This was probably my quickest read so far of the year. It's light and fluffy and hooked me right away. Marlowe is supposed to be a lowly costume assistant on a TV show and ends up having to stand in as an extra one day. Sparks fly with the show's main man and BOOM they are thrown together.
I really enjoyed both MC's. Marlowe is a bit of a mess, trying to figure out what she's doing with her life. Angus shows you that there is more than meets the eye to his TV heartthrob persona. I always love the celebrity/ regular person trope because who doesn't secretly want that?!
While I would not have minded a bit more spice (because that's pretty much always true, for me) I flew through this book and am looking forward to seeing what comes next from Jacquelin Firkins.

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Having a HEA, I guess makes this story a romance rather than women's literature. Along with the story about Marlowe, a woman with a MFA from Yale, who wants to be a costume designer, but flees NYC to LA after receiving bad reviews and criticism. The book also provides insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the film industry, especially the design part. Also emphasis how the anonymity of social media has given people the permission to be really mean and nasty to people they don't know.

Marlowe, the lone child of two overachievers, has no self confidence. She broke off her engagement to her fiancee after finally come to the epiphany that he was verbally abusive, controlling and had her questioning her worth. She takes a job as a low paid, over worked PA to the customer designer on a tv show. By a series of strange events, she ends up on the set as a waitress and the eye contact between her and the lead male is caught on tape, leading to an offer for more screen time. She discovers that Angus is not what she expected at all, and she has also be guilty of prejudging others. Angus is really a sweetie pie.

The characters are likable and relatable and the story engaging. I look forward to reading more by this author. I read an ARC offered by publisher on NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

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If I’m honest, I found some parts of this book horribly cliche, but there were also parts that were adorably sweet and refreshing. I found myself rooting for the side characters like Cherry and Babs but rolling my eyes at some of the romance scenes. Regardless, this is a sweet and light love story 💗

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for this advanced copy.

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For anyone wanting a funny & sweet little jaunt through what it might be like to meet & date your teen years TV crush…this might be the story for you. It’s not really that simple but it has that vibe underneath.

Marlowe is a tad insecure after a lifetime of rather questionable parenting (at least on the emotional level), a failed relationship and the loss of her design job. How does one deal with a little life/identity crisis? Well clearly you pack up and just fly across the country for a fresh start as an assistant on the set of a TV show. Angus is the drool-worthy shallow actor playing the lead bad boy role. But is he really as shallow as social media and celebrity gossip depicts?

I know, I know…you probably think this plot line seems familiar or that you’ve read something similar. It’s possible that you have, I won’t lie. BUT give this one a shot anyway because while the plot line sounds cliche at first glance, I promise this has more substance than you might think.

This one tackles themes such as the pitfalls of social media, the importance of not just blindly believing everything you see or read online, the importance of kindness & compassion, and most importantly, the simple fact that EVERYONE deserves love and you should never settle for anyone who makes you feel like you are less than or unimportant. Your voice matters - use it proudly.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for an e-ARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

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This book was absolutely adorable and the perfect read to get me out of a rut. I rooted for both Marlowe AND Angus, their dynamic cracking me up and making my heart swoon. A cute, uplifting read, the novel redesigned my bookish brain and set me back on track.

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I couldn't put it down and I didn't want to. This book lived up to every ounce of hype that I had experienced for it. This book is beautifully written; a gripping storyline with strong characters. It ticked all the boxes of my expectations. I would definitely recommend it to others.

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Many thanks to Jacqueline Firkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book! Now available as of October 25th, 2022.

Marlowe needed a change of scenery after her breakup in New York, so to LA she goes. She is a costume designer by trade, but in LA she is working as a personal assistant on a hot tv show. Marlowe accidentally ends up on the show when a background worker doesn't show and after that everything spirals out of control.

Marlowe is quickly offered a small part in the show working with lead actor Angus. They quickly form a friendship, but will Marlowe stay in LA and is Angus too much in the spot light for her?

I enjoyed reading this book and it is a quick refreshing read. It follows the standard rom com format and I didn't really find any OMG moments throughout the book. Overall a great read if you need a palate cleanser.

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My first read from this Author and it did not disappoint. A fun quirky rom com of a read. Marlowe is a Costume designer and the book is about all her trails and tribulations of being young and carefree. and taking a job for an assistant on a soap opera in LA. While slow paced in parts I still found it an enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and the Author Jacqueline Firkins for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was so cute!! I loved all the characters so much. It was all around funny and you are guaranteed to get butterflies while reading this. 10/10 recommend

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I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me and kept me turning pages until I was done. Finished it in two days! The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read.

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Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is a romcom that takes place on a tv set and features a costume designer assistant and the leading heartthrob. I love a celebrity/normal person book and this one was fun and had a lot of interesting situations and other supporting characters. I recommend it.

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I really enjoyed this one. Overall it was a sweet book. I’m a huge fan of the celebrities/regular person trope and I loved how Marlow struggled with the idea of paparazzi and how it can be damaging. I really appreciated that Marlowe was a regular clumsy gal and her random insights were really interesting. I’m knocking two stars off because it dragged a bit and I wanted to connect more with the main characters.

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5 stars! Oh, this was a fun read. I recommend it to fans of romance.
Thank you to Jacqueline Firkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a surprising delight! It made me miss seeing all the fashion students walking around the FIT campus when I lived in NYC. I wish it was a bit more developed but I did really enjoy it.

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I could not get into this at all. I never connected with the writing or the characters. I think part of the issue is that I've read so many books with almost identical plots, and I don't think this did enough to differentiate itself from the bunch.

It was a pretty quick read, so those looking for a quick romance might it enjoy it, but sadly, it was not for me.

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Such good dialogue that created the best chemistry. On the steamier side for a traditional published book and I can’t complain about that. I loved it so much and celeb romance element has everything I enjoy - the press, Hollywood life, a cinnamon roll male lead. So good.

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