I love Marlowe Banks, both the character and the book with her name in the title. Marlowe was 100% real; living in a crappy apartment, drowning in student debt, overworked and unappreciated by her boss. Then, she meets Angus, the star of the tv show where she works. He is good-looking and successful, but as she gets to know him she realizes he is so much more than what appears on the surface. I loved that their relationship evolves slowly, with many obstacles in their way, and that it’s messy and complicated and fun and sweet and heartfelt. I loved that Marlowe first had to be true to herself, to figure out what was best for her, whether or not Angus was in her life; and I loved that Angus was always supportive and thoughtful, even if it caused him pain. I loved that Marlowe was never afraid to use her voice, professionally and personally, to ensure her own happiness and peace before she could share her life with anyone else.

This book was just sweet and fun! I love that the romance between Marlowe and Angus took over a long period of time and allowed room for friendship first. I feel like that is missing a lot in romances nowadays since everything is insta-love usually. I think everyone should give this book a shot and enjoy the romance as well as Marlowe's growth as a character.

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

I truly enjoyed this book. I loved seeing a messy heroine who was finding her way back from a difficult review that had her questioning herself and her chosen profession. I enjoyed watching her discover the truth of Angus and his life and experiences. This was a beach read for me and it was a nice fun read with strong characters and character development.

I picked this up and put it down so many times. The writing style was strong and I could tell there would be great character development, I just don’t think it’s the season for self discovery in this way for me.

This was a fun book! I'm glad I got to read it and it was a quick and easy read which is exactly what I needed at the time. Excited to see what the author comes out with next!

What a wonderful comeback story! It struck just the right balance of growth and not too much self-pity. I don't find it fun to read when a character is tuck on their past for 90% of the book, so I appreciated the balance here. While she was struggling with her past, there was enough new and exciting experiences to not be too focused on it. This was just fantastic and I loved the ending and the epilogue!

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is a sweet and surprisingly believable love story between a famous actor and an awkward designer-turned-production assistant. Marlowe and Angus's relationship feels organic, and their interactions run the gamut from angry to funny to sweet to steamy. Supporting the story are a number of entertaining and well-developed side characters. Even Marlowe's ex-fiance is portrayed with a degree of compassion and subtlety that the "bad ex-boyfriend" doesn't usually get.

The novel has a second layer as well, showing Marlowe's growth from someone who shrinks away from criticism to someone who fully owns her own voice - but this storyline feels less authentic. Marlowe's backstory, and in particular the professional setback that led her to leave New York City, are glossed over early in the story, which makes her eventual triumph over these undeveloped obstacles feel hollow. In place of emotional depth, we are given entertaining descriptions of Marlowe's daily work as a production assistant, which make for a fun read but fail to justify the preachy tone of the book's last few chapters.

5 stars for the love story, 3.5 stars for the "women's lit" component.

i read marlowe banks, redesigned when i'm in a bad mood for books like marlowe banks, redesigned. the writing instantly did not click with me and nothing seemed to work after that. i will have to come back to this at another time but thus far this seems to be a fun and sweet novel about failures and second chances which i imagine a lot of people can relate to.

Marlowe is a costume designer afraid of judgement who runs away from New York to LA to take a lowly assistant job so she can get away from the bad press she got on her last show, and in the hopes that she might get a better start in TV and film. Angus is the grumpy bad boy actor on set with a chip on his shoulder. A literal run-in resulting in coffee stains and snark is their "meet-cute" moment. When Marlowe is the only person on set that can fit into a background character's waitress costume, she accidentally starts a Twitter hashtag storm that means she'll be both on screen AND behind the scenes.

The book is fun, and the storyline moves really well. There are a few places throughout the book where exposition is used in a place where conversation should really exist, which bothered me. But other than that, it was a fun read. I like Angus as a character. And the best friend character is super fun.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley in return for sharing my thoughts on this book. Thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity!

A slow burn romance set in the complicated world of Hollywood, where you can't judge a book by its cover, and you don't know when and where love might find you.

Marlowe is new to LA, looking for a fresh start after breaking an engagement and her previous design job not going as planned. She is working as a PA to a designer on a teen drama. On the day she happens to spill coffee on the main actor Agnus, she also fills in for a background actor on set. What she is unprepared for is for her chemistry with Agnus to go viral, and for her life to change. Agnus has been acting since he was a child. Everyone out there thinks they know him, and he lets the assumptions go uncorrected. Everything known to the public about him is basically a lie. Will Marlowe and Agnus give into their undeniable chemistry and get to know who the other actually is behind their walls?

I ended up very much enjoying this one. The banter was fun and kept me addicted. Agnus was the sweet brooding hero I have been craving in romance lately. The discussion on toxic relationships, and the price of fame were a nice sub plot. It had a great female friendship of support and loyalty. The relationship build up felt natural, and believable.

"Marlowe Banks, Redesigned" by Jacqueline Firkins
You Are Enough
Yes, this title really does fit this story. Marlowe’s adventures(?) as she began the journey of re-inventing herself, managed to hit my emotions time and again. Life, living it is not for the faint of heart; that is for certain sure. Even those who seem to have it all, DO NOT. I found reading the author’s acknowledgements quite interesting, too. I really did love this story. Hope you do, too. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: This review expresses my honest opinion.
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

A cute rom-com. Not very thought provoking but a quick, fun read. It leaves you wanting a sequel and to know what happens to the rest of the characters

4.5 stars

I love and enemies to lovers romance, and the build up between Marlowe and Angus did not disappoint. There's plenty of spice, which I wasn't expecting, great banter, and touches on dealing with failures/criticism and how to overcome that. Overall pretty great!

The best books are the ones that surprise you! I knew nothing about this book going in and I’m so glad I was able to read it. I live for the messy female main character and the misunderstood LI. I am borderline obsessed and plan to read it again.

This was a fun coming-of-age story, set on a TV set, which gave it a really interesting spin. I was a little confused about why Marlowe left - it seemed like it was going to be a bigger reason than it really was - but the resolution worked. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I enjoyed this one. I liked seeing the relationship between Marlowe and Angus build. I liked seeing them move from “enemies” to friends to more. I liked seeing them struggle to find balance and deal with the celebrity side of everything.

I liked seeing Marlowe come into her own and build up her self-esteem. She was able to take ownership of her wants and put herself first.

I think I would have wanted a bit more something. Cause I did feel a little bored towards the end, but I am not exactly sure I can name what was missing.

Overall, an enjoyable read (3.75)

I didn't realize regular-person-dates-Hollywood-star is a thing this year, or maybe it's a thing every year, but either way I'm here for it. As other reviewers have stated, if you enjoyed Nora Goes Off Script then I think you'll be drawn to Marlowe Banks, Redesigned as well.
I enjoyed the whole cast of characters, even Babs, who made me want to scream at times. Angus is super swoon worthy and I couldn't help but root for Marlowe and all her clumsy, big dreamer authenticity.
Also, I'm a huge fan of books that examine body positivity and the messages we're proclaiming in society and on social media about what it means to be beautiful. More importantly, I feel this novel is an anthem that declares the power of love.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars, if I could.

I rounded up for one very important reason: parts of Marlowe's story need to be told. She has experienced emotional trauma and gaslighting. She doesn't have the support of the people society tells us you should be able to rely on. She has been suppressed, from external and internal forces, and has learned to make herself small and quiet. Marlowe deserves to have a voice and use it. She deserves a seat at the table. And it's lovely to see her sit up and take it.

There are several reasons I'd give this fractionally less stars if I could. Marlowe was annoying at times. I'm not sure why but I assumed she'd be closer to her 30s (or in her 30s) when I started this book. 25 years old made sense and her actions and reactions supported that, but I was so frustrated with how long it took her to learn that she deserves better/more. It drove me insane.

Also, while I love that Marlowe's story is out there, I don't love the backdrop of Hollywood, Broadway, celebrity, and fame. I would have preferred a grittier story that was more grounded in everyday reality, like Marlowe often wishes for. But to echo Babs: audiences don't want that.

I'd recommend this but probably more to my Gen Z friends than my Millennial friends.

I absolutely loved this romance! celebrity-normal person romance trope, a favorite of mine. I loved the focus on mental health, self-consciousness, judging people before you know them and gaslighting. I am definitely adding this author's backlist to my TBR now!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: October 25, 2022

Jacqueline Firkins' newest romance, “Marlowe Banks, Redesigned” is a charmingly adorable story about starting over and finding your voice (with a Hallmark movie style romance with two people from very different worlds who meet and fall in love).

Marlowe is a hot mess, escaping to Los Angeles after breaking off her engagement, trying to find refuge in the hardest city to disappear in, especially when she starts a relationship with big-time movie star, Angus. Angus, of course, has the “bad boy with a gentle soul” thing going for him, and with the Scottish roots and red hair, he gave off a Sam Heughan vibe (which is not at all a bad thing).

As is typical for this genre, the plot was predictable and the ending was pretty much set in stone from the beginning. There were no unexpected twists, and the characters ended exactly where you expect them to. But that doesn’t mean it’s not an enjoyable experience. I loved reading about the background players in the Los Angeles movie scene, and hearing all the dirty details that are normally hidden on the big screen.

“Marlowe Banks, Redesigned” is a perfect light bubbly read! Firkins brings two flawed somewhat broken characters together, and I couldn’t help but root for both of them!