3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

We’re introduced to Marlowe as she’s retreated to Los Angeles to take a job as a production assistant for a popular TV show after professional challenges and the end of her engagement. When a costume mix-up on the set results in Marlowe taking a background role in a scene of the TV show, the cameras catch a heated look between her and the bad boy character on the show. As Marlowe and Angus are pushed together on set, she’s faced with the chance to take a role in additional episodes. And Angus may not be all that he appears on set.

I loved the development of the relationships in this book, as both characters realize they’re hiding from things in their past (or present) and put aside the assumptions of who they thought the other is in favor of seeing who they are. The film set is a fun background for the setting, and I couldn’t help but cheer for Marlowe as she’s making choices about her future.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this so much more than I originally thought I was going to. It was such a fun, quick rom-com read with so many cute moments that left me blushing and kicking my feet. The story reminded me of another amazing book I read this year, "The Decoy Girlfriend." Both books focused on the pressure celebrities face and the harassment they endure from fans and paparazzi. This book even took it a step forward with an examination of social media and the role it has in warping people's personas and overarching culture.

Another aspect I enjoyed very much was the amount of detail put into Marlowe's work and the impact of costume design. I love anything film or TV related, and that includes costume design, so it was cool to learn more about how costume design shapes a character and what it reflected about the characters in the book. Jacqueline Firkins clearly has experience in this line of work, which is what makes the writing so great and the entire plot work.

Thanks to Jacqueline Firkins and St. Martin's Press for the arc

This was such a cute read! It was an excellent slow burn with a work acquaintances to friends to lovers storyline that I loved and was really great mix of contemporary and romance. The friendship and bond that was formed between Marlowe and Angus was so fun to follow along with, especially since it's very obviously not easy for either of them to let down their walls down both in general and with each other. Honestly even as a friendship alone without the romance I loved the scenes where Marlowe and Angus were together, their dynamics were so much fun to read,
I enjoyed seeing Marlowe change and finally come out of her shell slowly throughout the book. There was a lot that she obviously running from in New York and it took her a while to come to terms with a lot of it. Seeing her stand up to one the things she was running from was such a powerful scene.
Also the way to story ended was wonderful and I was super happy with how everything turned out for Marlowe. It seemed like she was finally back to herself, even better if possible.

Sometimes the perfectly designed life needs a redesign. Marlowe thought she had everything figured out until her engagement ends, her costume design is panned and her parents are disappointed in her with a capital D. She takes a job in New York City desperate to escape her failures. She takes a job as a low level assistant on a popular show and somehow finds herself on camera with the show’s bad boy. This one moment sets the course for an entirely different life than she originally designed for herself. This was an enjoyable one and a reminder to sometimes let life guide you and step out of your careful plans.

Thank you #stmartinspress and #Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is my most favorite recent read! I loved this book, it kept me entertained from start to finish and I was sad when I was finished, definitely signs of an engaging book. Marlowe Banks is living in Los Angeles after having left a disastrous career situation in New York City, where she is from. In LA, she has a job on a television show set working in the wardrobe department. After a mix-up with some of the costumes, she is asked to fill in as an extra, which leads to a part in the show. One of the male leads is hugely popular and after she begins being linked to him romantically, trouble ensues because it is widely believed he has a long-term girlfriend. The story is super cute and sweet and really shows one shouldn't judge another solely by first impressions, sometimes a second chance is warranted. I would highly recommend this book, it is positively worth the read.

Marlow Banks is in a bad way. Her life is quickly divebombing. To get away from all her failures, she decides to move to New York and take a job on the set of a popular TV show. Here she is just a face in the crowd. When she happens to literally bump into the hunky lead actor, her life flips upside down. I absolutely loved this book. It was basically The Devil Wears Prada, just in the movie/TV industry instead of the fashion world. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC. I loved it. 5 stars.

Lovedddddd this one. First of all the cover is so cute. Second I just loved the romance for this one and I love a Hollywood romance. Thanks to SMP for the arc.

I came to realize that I like reading about messy main character in women fiction genre. It gives more of relatable aspect than the typical fiction read. Plus, I love when the main character figure out their messes and what they need to do. And it's something that Marlowe will figure out when she is in the spotlight. She may struggles through the way but it's okay. We love reading about messy main characters.

Friends to Enemies - Check
Slow Burn - Check
Famous Guy recognizes Messy, clumsy, Dog Walking girl- also check. Lol

This story was just a tad too slow burn for myself but I know it would totally be someone's cup of tea. It had a nice storyline and not too rushed. I would give it 3.75 stars if it let me. Would I buy it for a friend that loves slow burns? Definitely.


Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned
by Jacqueline Firkins

I enjoyed this wonderful slow burn romance about Marlowe Banks a NY Costume designer who flees to Los Angeles to work as a PA for a show called Heart’s Diner, where she bumps into the show’s star Angus Gordon. The story is sweet and deals with social media, how to deal with criticism, and of course love. I truly enjoyed this for the fashion and costumes, the beautiful themes, and for the relatable and lovable characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read & review this book for an honest review.


I enjoyed this one. I thought the the setting within the fashion industry was fun. It gave me some Devil Weara Prada vibes. The romance was the perfect amount of spice for my mood. I definitely recommend this!

The story of Angus and Marlowe. She is working on his film set and they become kind of friends. They have such different lives can it lead to anything more?

This was a mix of Devil's Wear Prada and Sex and the City for me. I enjoyed the quirky remarks, the writing style, and the characters but I felt the development was for me.

I enjoyed this book so much! I went in completely blind and honestly a little nervous, “reinventing my life” type stories haven’t really been my jam recently and I was worried this one would be a flop for me! I was pleasantly surprised that the focus of Marlowe’s character arc had more of an emphasis on her fear of failure and her stress of moving forward stemming from that fear.

This is a slow burn, hate to friends to lovers romance that had me swooning for a guy named Angus, not like the beef 🤣.

Marlowe has a “hate at first sight” vibe when it comes to Angus, a famous actor on a tv series she’s working on. But as the book continues she slowly starts to get to know him and she finds that the Hollywood persona everyone else sees is just a front for a charming, supportive, introverted, bookish, and loving man.

Marlowe had to learn to let go of her past, stop letting fear control her life and her actions, and to take the leap of faith on herself and on love!

This was an easy 4⭐️, the biggest thing keeping it from being 5 for me was Marlowe’s excuses for not being with Angus were always the same over and over and over again. It got redundant, I was ready to move onto the love part already! And although I appreciated the authors take on social media and online bullying, especially in the lives of celebrities, I felt it drug on just a bit too long, imo.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, I will absolutely be promoting this book to my audience!

Marlowe always wanted to be a costume designer. After an unsuccessful stint in New York and a bad relationship, she moves to L.A. to escape her failed career and failed love life. She works a PA for a set stylist and helps arrange costume for the shows filmed on the set. She's not exactly a costume designer but she figures this is close enough. Plagued by texts from her ex, she is pushed into being an extra on a famous show because of a costuming mistake. She is set across Angus who she thinks is a vapid movie star and who she doesn't initially think very highly of. As her on-screen chemistry with Angus is altered, so is their real-life relationship in that she realizes that there is more to Angus that she thought and that you shouldn't believe everything that the tabloids publish.

Quick adorable read. I liked Angus and Marlowe story. It was a fast read and enjoyed the happily ever after.

What a perfect romance!! This novel was everything I wanted and then some! Marlow and Angus were two perfectly developed characters with the most wonderful story arc. They were both so real and down to earth that it almost felt as if I were reading about my own friends, rather than two fictional characters. There was just the right amount of steam that added to the overall experience. I thought Cherry was a wonderful supporting character and I would love to see a second book written about her love life. I think the author did a fanatic job of providing witty banter between Marlow and Angus, without going overboard on the sarcasm or meanness. I also thought the back and forth relationship status of the two was wonderfully written. They spent the majority of time getting to know one another and finding their love, rather than getting together, breaking up. etc. I also really appreciated Marlowe's backstory with her ex fiancé and appreciated that it didn't overshadow her experience with Angus.

Overall, I thought this book was the perfect mix of humor, sweetness, and steam. I will 100% read whatever Jacqueline Firkins puts out next!

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is a romantic comedy that follows Marlowe as she escapes to LA to be a production assistant after her design business failed and she broke up with her fiancée. Marlowe's position is full of menial tasks but she gladly completes them while figuring out her next steps.

Angus Gordon, the lead actor on the show Marlowe is working on, has a bad boy reputation. When there is a costume mix-up, Marlowe is cast as a minor role since she is the only person the costume would fit. When the camera catches Agnus giving Marlow a very smoldering look, social media blows up wanting to "ship" the two. The producers expand Marlowe's role to give the viewers what they want. Will working together be a nightmare or will Marlowe and Angus realize there is more than surface reputations?

There were snarky comments, Marlowe's boss reminded me of The Devil Wears Prada and I appreciated Marlowe's character working through her issues of self-doubt. It was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jacqueline Firkins for an ARC of this book!

Love a celebrity romance story! Such a fun story and I enjoyed it. Good if you enjoy a slower burn build up of tension. Definitely recommend!

Thanks to SMP for the ARC!

CW: emotional abuse, toxic relationship, body shaming, bullying

Thank you @smpromance and @netgalley for the digital ARC.

Marlowe Banks recently ditched her costuming job in New York and moved across the country to LA to be a production assistant to the costume designer for a hit TV show. This TV show also happens to star Marlowe’s longtime celebrity crush, Angus Gordon.

When a costume mix-up has Marlowe stand-in for an actress, and a look between Angus’s character and Marlowe’s has the internet all abuzz, Marlowe and Angus are forced to work together. Sparks fly off the screen and Marlowe is subjected to social media criticisms and assumptions galore from Angus’s fan base. Can Marlowe put up with all the online chatter? Or will she lose the guy to save herself from it all?

Y’all….this book was such a surprise. I went in essentially blind, despite having read the synopsis when I requested the ARC, and I really enjoyed it. I mean, who doesn’t love a celebrity romance book!?! Always a fun romance trope!! Plus, I started viewing costumes in shows and movies differently - I never really considered them to play such a big role in telling the story depicted on screen, but it makes perfect sense!