Cover Image: Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I received an ARC of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned, by Jacqueline Firkins. Marlowe Banks, has had a series of unfortunate events. Is she do for some good luck?

Was this review helpful?

Book received for free through NetGalley

An adorably cute rom com that was hard enough to out down that I started and finished it in one day. Love the characters, story, and would love to continue on following their story. Thanks for the read.

Was this review helpful?

Marlowe Banks is a mess. With an MFA that has landed her a few good jobs in New York and one not-so-good job that has her doubting herself. She wants to design costumes. She is really good at it too.

But after a bad review and facing the fact that she really doesn’t love her fiance’ and gives back that ring and runs to the west coast. Facing student loan debt, critical parents, and a demanding boss, she is not in the mood for any movie set romance.

But when a costume mix-up lands her in front of the camera, shy Marlowe is suddenly front and center in la-la-land.

A light and fun story of following one’s own star and putting friendship above a roll in the hay. It was a good read.

NetGalley/ October 25, 2022, St. Martin’s Press

Was this review helpful?

I fell so so SO in love with this book. I had read Jacqueline Firkins’ YA novel before and it didn’t really work for me but I ate this book up. Marlowe and Angus struggle so much with communication and assumptions that it makes the payoff THAT much better. Babs got on my nerves at first but I love how much of a Miranda Priestly she ended up being. Cherry and Tanareve also were great side characters that I adored seeing. Such a cute love story that I devoured in one night. This might have made Firkins an automatic buy for me now.

Was this review helpful?

a slow start but once you get over the beginning, you'll get sucked in. I adored this book and I am so grateful for the ARC. Thank you to the publisher + author!

Was this review helpful?

A fun read for me. I thought book was slow in the beginning but did pick up and get better along the way. Such a cute story!

Was this review helpful?

This is was fun escape of a read! I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look into the world of styling tv shows & movies. The plot was well developed, and that characters felt like a group of friends I was glad to spend time with - they were the best part of this book, and I like that the author made them so multidimensional. And while I wish the spicy scenes had left a little more to the imagination, I had a great time reading this book and definitely recommend it!

Thanks to the NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

a slow start, but by the midway point or so i couldn’t put it down! i’ve seen hollywood done a lot before, but firkins’ take didn’t feel old or overdone. the characters (especially angus) were easy to fall in love with, and even the characters i didn’t like (babs) were somewhat redeemed in the end.

#netgalley

Was this review helpful?

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is this year’s The Devil Wears Prada! Marlowe Banks’ life has turned upside down. Her latest costume design project was a flop, she dumped her fiance, continues to disappoint her parents and is in debt. So she flees. Marlowe ends up as an assistant on a hit tv-show in LA. She’s looking for new friends and trying to find herself. One day, she accidentally lands herself a role on the show and Marlowe is forced to get to know her popular co-star. Angus Gordon is the town’s most popular bachelor - he’s gorgeous and he knows it. Marlowe instantly can’t stand him. But, what if the person you think you know couldn’t be further from the truth? Marlowe is forced to examine her own past decisions and is shocked to realize that perhaps Angus and Marlowe are more similar than she imagined. I really enjoyed Marlowe Banks, Redesigned and author Jacqueline Firkins has crafted a fun and engaging novel!

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book deserves all the stars and more, I couldn’t help but fall in love with this book. It was so fun and engaging to read.

Was this review helpful?

This book is mostly cute, moves at a good pace, and has a decent ish storyline. Sex scenes are too graphic but not horrible compared to a lot of stuff being published now.

Was this review helpful?

Marlowe Banks is just one unhappy girl! She ducked out of an engagement, fled to the West Coast, and is barely surviving her job as a production assistant for a television show. Her boss is abusive, her apartment is fetid, her car is a rolling junkpile, and she has no self-esteem. But when they need an extra for a scene with Angus, the hunky movie star, they begin a friendship-turned-romance. But there are obstacles, and how they surmount them is the challenge. This book was good. I might recommend a bit more romance and a bit less shopping/clothing information, although it was interesting to see behind the scenes on a movie set.

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely loved this book! Once I started I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one day. It was a fun read with a group of fully developed characters that I thoroughly enjoyed. An easy read that won’t leave you disappointed. Definitely recommend others check this book out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC

Was this review helpful?

I LOVED this book! Marlowe was such a likable and relatable character. I really enjoyed the enemies to lovers trope, and she and Angus had adorable banter! This was a charming and adorable read! 5 stars ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martins Press for the arc!

Was this review helpful?

Marlowe Banks is an educated costume designer working as a lowly PA for a TV series. She hates/loves her job and the money is just okay. On a fluke, she is used in a small part on the series and her life blows up due to social media. A romance with Angus, one of the stars, and all of the erroneous media postings completely derail Marlowe. A real feeling story about social media and how it can influence and/or ruin people.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

In MARLOWE BANKS, REDESIGNED, aspiring costume designer Marlowe Banks is stuck in a dead-end assistant job on the set of popular (if drawn-out) tv series. Haunted by her previous failures, Marlowe has convinced herself this is the best she can do. After a cliche'd "Oops I spilled hot coffee on you!' and impromptu casting as a background character, Marlowe finds herself sharing a smoldering (and viral) stare down with the tv series lead, Angus.

Soon, Marlowe finds herself becoming friends with the man she initially cast as shallow and mean-- and as she discovers the good and bad side of living your life in public, she manages to do a few of things: find confidence in herself and her designer abilities, become a better friend to her amazing coworker Cherry, and fall in love with someone who can't guarantee privacy.

The frenemies to lovers trope was thoughtfully and skillfully written, and I loved how the relationship between Marlowe and Angus felt like it developed naturally. The characters were real and flawed, and even when they weren't likable they were relatable. This book is charming and was such a joy to read!

Was this review helpful?

What a joy this book was to read! A slow burn/enemies to lovers romance, a heroine rebuilding her life and improving her self-esteem after some pretty brutal personal and professional setbacks, a love interest who's not at all what he first appears to be (in the best possible way)... what's not to love?

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the gift of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

You know what had me sold on reading this one? Ali Hazelwood. Enough said. But it's pretty amazing.
I just read an ARC in 3 days - 6 months before it comes out! Unheard of for me.
"Don't you want to be with someone who feels lucky to be with you?"
"Just be careful. Make sure he's adding something positive to your life, like actively making an effort to see that you're happy."
Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an e-ARC for my honest review #Oct25th2022!

Was this review helpful?

Sweet, fun, and relatable! I adored Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins! Now I need to go back and read some of the authors other novels because these are the types of books I love reading! Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

This book!!! So cute, the banter was top notch and had me smiling. I wish there was a longer epilogue of Marlowe and Angus but that’s just me being selfish.

Was this review helpful?