I love a good slow-burn romcom and Marlowe Banks, Redesigned delivered just that. Characters I enjoyed reading about, pacing that drew out the slow-burn at the right pace, and writing that was easy to follow and flowed beautifully. Definitely would recommend.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned was super sexy, super romantic, and full of delicious banter that was both witty and funny.

I love love love second chance at life storylines. Marlow feels lost and needs a change so she picks everything up and moves to LA. She soon meets Angus and cannot stand him. Hello bad boy MMC. But of course, it’s because she can’t stop thinking about him. The banter is *chef’s kiss*. Fun and quirky romcom.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is really cute book. A celebrity/normal person romance which usually my favorite romance trope but is did enjoy this one.

Angus is a former child star who’s now starring in his own show. Marlowe is working for the costume designer when she accidentally becomes Angus’s characters leading lady in the last couple episodes.

As they begin to know each other, they develop feelings for each other. But Angus is taken-or is he??

I loved all the behind the scenes is a show that is shown in this story. The characters are a bit awkward, but they were also charming.

Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the advanced e-copy of #marlowebanksredesigned.

Such a fun, real, romance. I laughed out loud multiple times....and probably said awwww more than I should have. I was ready for a little change of genre, and this was definitely the right pick. Read life characters, with real jobs and problems. I just all around loved it!
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and author for the chance to read this ARC (super late, but better late than never)

Firkins’s writing is witty and warm, and makes you want to keep reading! I really enjoyed this one! .

After following the author's book-inspired dress designs on instagram for years, I was super excited when I heard she was writing a book with a protagonist working in costume design. I love a meet-ugly and this was no exception. Marlowe and Angus's dynamic had me on my toes the entire book. The story was, at times, predictable, but I never stopped rooting for Marlowe.

I slept on this book for too long, but it was so worth the wait! I love a celebrity romance, especially when it takes place on the set of a show or movie!

Marlowe leaves NYC for the sunny LA after her engagement abruptly ends. She finds herself living in an apartment full of strange furniture and art, but it came furnished as a perk of her role on the production team for a campy TV show. A costume mix-up leads to Marlowe stepping in as an extra for a scene, but a heated look between her and the arrogant yet handsome male lead goes viral and Marlowe’s is thrust into the spotlight.

I LOVED this book. Marlowe is such a fabulous character and I thought the story was structured really well. The romance is definitely slow burn and frenemies to lovers, but I live for a tension-filled story.

Read for:
- A well-read love interest
- Slow burn
- Hollywood setting
- Friends to lovers
- Self-discovery and growth
- Behind the scenes of a TV show production
- Forced proximity
- Celebrity romance

Thank you to St Martin's Griffin for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is a delightful fit for readers who adore lighthearted, emotional, and humorous stories about self-discovery, second chances, and the transformative power of love, particularly those who enjoy themes of costume design, grumpy-sunshine romances, and the journey of finding oneself in the midst of Hollywood glamour.

Great book. I enjoyed Reading it. The characters and plot were interesting life like and easy to connect with.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience. Please disregard the star rating as I do not give ratings on books I haven't read.

I just couldn't get into this which is why this review has taken forever, I can't even pinpoint why, it was truly a case of it's me not you. Will try to reread later and see if it hits different.

I really enjoyed this story! I loved the way Marlow and Angus met. The ordinary girl and the movie star was a fun trope to read. I liked how Marlow wasn't awestruck by Angus, which he is obviously used to women being.

Marlowe has been through some things, that was for sure! I loved the banter between her and Angus. I liked how she saw behind the walls Angus had in place and saw the real guy, not the actor. I really enjoyed the slow burn that was happening between them. This was a really fun read!

Ah, the classic — my life fell apart on this coast, so I'll be rebuilding it on the other — story. (AKA, the story I've dreamed any time my life feels like it's falling apart.)

"Marlowe Banks, Redesigned" by Jacqueline Firkins is a poignant exploration of failure, forgiveness, and the pursuit of second chances, skillfully woven into the messy tapestry of life and love. Marlowe Banks, facing a series of setbacks, seeks refuge in Los Angeles, hoping to escape her failures and find solace as a Production Assistant on a TV show.

Firkins masterfully captures the vulnerability of Marlowe as she navigates the aftermath of a broken engagement, career disappointments, and family expectations. The narrative takes an unexpected turn when a costume mix-up thrusts Marlowe into the spotlight alongside Angus Gordon, the show's arrogant bad boy. The ensuing dynamics between Marlowe and Angus unravel layers of hidden truths, creating a compelling and emotionally resonant story.

The author's portrayal of character growth is both authentic and relatable, allowing readers to empathize with Marlowe's journey of self-discovery. The thematic exploration of staying invisible versus embracing change adds depth to the plot, making "Marlowe Banks, Redesigned" a captivating read. Firkins' narrative unfolds with humor, heart, and a refreshing honesty that keeps the reader engaged until the final page. This novel is a testament to the transformative power of embracing life's imperfections and pursuing the courage to redesign one's path.

The cover really drew me in, and I'm glad it did, because Firkins brought out all the emotions and all the stops! I feel like a lot of readers can relate to Marlowe in that her life is falling apart and you just want to find a sense of normalcy.

Marlowe Banks is running from failure in NYC to be a designer's personal assistant in LA. Her life is in disarray after so much change, and it's hard for Marlowe to separate which decisions have been about finding something better and which have been motivated by crippling self-doubt. A costume designer drowning in student debt, Marlowe's last show in New York was buried by critics who left her questioning everything, especially herself. Now she fetches lunch, cares for a dog, and shops for clothes needed on the set of a popular, soapy TV drama. Her boss is a frigid taskmaster (Devil Wears Prada comps are appropriate), and Marlowe is only distantly interested in working her way up into a designing role for TV. She's also running from a breakup. Marlowe still gets texts from the fiancee she left behind, and the loneliness of being in a new city with no support system makes her wonder if her ex was right when he told her she'd never find anyone better than him (trigger warnings for emotional abuse and gaslighting).

Our celebrity love interest is Angus, an actor on the show of former Disney star fame. Marlowe thinks he's a classic fuckboy, overhyped and overconfident with arrogance to spare. It's a story of ill-considered and inaccurate assumptions, in real life and on social media. I was left feeling sheepish for misjudging Angus right alongside Marlowe. I appreciate the author doesn't make Marlowe out to be wildly unreasonable in her misread of the situation, and it's nice to see a misunderstanding that isn't drawn out to arduous levels. Marlowe and Angus have to talk things over and figure out where they went wrong to move forward with not only a common understanding of the situation but also a deeper look at how the other operates. A silver lining if you will. Angus is a cinnamon roll (my favorite type of hero) despite all initial, superficial signs to the contrary. And his actual vibe is so comfy and cute. I was fully on board with the romance once all the nonsense was cleared away. Think worn paperbacks and cooking together and soft, cozy banter. The author captures the little moments and the inside jokes that make the best romances melt my insides into happy goo.

Beyond a love story that gave me all the feel-good vibes I hope to get from the genre, this book tackles some important issues through Marlowe's experiences. There's a lot of musing on criticism that I found enlightening. With both Marlowe and Angus' art in the public eye, they have to parse when feedback is helpful vs when it comes from petty trolling or personal taste and can be safely ignored. It's a useful thought process as someone who both takes and gives plenty of critique-- what's the motivation in the words and how should we receive them? Related to this struggle with criticism is Marlowe's fear of failure to the point of not doing what she loves. The author strikes a good balance of relating Marlowe's insecurities in a way that's potentially relatable to readers without being too cloying. You won't have to trudge through so many self-recriminations that you feel like her unpaid, unexpected therapist. Another strong thread of Marlowe's arc is her journey with her ex. We see her relearn how to trust herself and take up space. She looks at a future full of opportunity rather than an escape from a past that minimized her. You can expect closure and catharsis as she fully extricates herself from the man who took too much from her.

This book works as both a romantic endeavor and a personal journey. It's a great addition to the celebrity romance niche, especially given the uncommon delve into the world of costume design. It turns out this is the author's expertise, so it isn't just decoration but genuine engagement with the artistry and reality of the field. I recommend this one to those who like seeing a woman come into her power with a sparkly happily ever after thrown in for good measure. Thanks to SMP Romance for my copy to read and review!

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is a book about finding yourself in a new place. When Marlowe heads to LA from NYC in the wake of heartbreak, she finds a new spark of creativity when she's asked to redesign the show's costume where she's landed as a PA.

Alongside her creativity, she also finds a slow burn romance, with the show's lead writer Angus. It's fun to read their banter, but the true love story is Marlowe's love story with herself.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

A cute romance story with Marlowe learning a lot about movie shopping and secretly crushing after her ideal version of a man. Reality is quite different as the two clash until he admits to not doing his own social media. The angst smooths out and a relationship builds.

I like a man who is up front about his feelings and is honest in a romance. That seems to be pretty rare.