Marlowe Banks has fled failure on the East Coast for sunny LA. As a lowly costume PA on a TV serial drama, she is used to being on the lowest rung of the ladder, but an unfortunate on set run-in with one of the shows stars and an attempt to help out a friend change the course of Marlowe’s life plans.

Can a bad first impression be overturned? Is there more to that actor than meets the eye?

Can Marlowe rebuild her confidence after years of it being eroded? What should she do next?

Firkins uses her experience in costuming to give us a glimpse behind the Hollywood curtain. We get a look at the machine, at the PR, and at the paparazzi.

I loved this one so much that it gave me a book hangover. I loved Marlowe’s character arc and growth, how Angus opens up to her, and her fierce friendship with Cherry. I liked learning how she views costumes and how they can portray different aspects of a character and a character’s circumstances to an audience. I loved the chemistry between “‘Marlowe like the detective,’” and “‘Angus not like the beef.’”

This one is good for
- Fans of celebrity romance
- Anyone who has experienced gaslighting, emotional abuse or manipulation, or has been told they aren’t living up to expectations
- Fans of a steamy slow buildup of tension
- People who recognize the imbalances that surround us and could use a non-preachy reminder that they are not alone
- Anyone who understands the quest for the perfect taco
- Fans of well-read love interests (I will pick the man who loves books any day of the week.)

I received advance copies from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley and Goodreads. All review opinions are my own.

I've come to realize this book is not what I'm interested in at the moment, and this is not a negative reflection on the book or author. I'm unable to read this at this time.

I really enjoyed this one!!! This story follows Marlow who is currently working as an assistant to a costume director for a TV show in LA. We learn that after her designs for a play in New York does not do well with the critics, Marlow escapes to LA to lay low. While working on the show she has a run in with the main actor Angus Gordon that does not go well. Angus turns out to not be quite what she expected and two form an unlikely friendship. As I said earlier I really enjoyed this story and couldn't put it sown once I started. I loved the slow build relationship between Marlow and Angus, I am sucker for a slow burn and this one delivered. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fun and easy romance to read! Thank you St. Martin's Press and netgalley for my gifted copy for review, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Publishes October 25, 2022.

It's plenty cheesy and somewhat predictable, but this is a cute love story. It took a few turns I wasn't necessarily expecting. Marlowe is a real and relatable character, and I'd imagine Angus is very similar to many famous actors - not at all what they seem in how they are portrayed by the media. The conflict in this story was not quite enough for me - I wanted a little more to that part of the story to make me feel the struggle Marlowe felt.

I loved Marlowe Banks, Redesigned from the first page to the very last. Jacqueline Firkins accomplishes something unique in this book - she takes a world where everything is pretend and fills it with some of the most authentically real characters I've seen in a romance novel in a long time. And while it is in many ways a romance novel, it's also a beautifully thoughtful story about Marlowe figuring out who she is, what she wants for herself and being willing to pursue it. She ends up as a production assistant on a soapy show in LA after her costume design work was criticized on a project in New York City. It's a crappy job full of rote tasks for a high maintenance boss that lands her squarely in the path of heartthrob Angus Gordon with a hot cup of coffee. Things do not go well between them. But a snafu on set lands her a role as an extra on the show and back in the orbit of Angus. Slowly Marlowe learns that her preconceived notions of who Angus is in real life are way off base; he's actually a smart, wonderful thoughtful person who feels isolated from real relationship because of the amount of attention he receives from fans and the press. The two start falling for each other, but Marlowe is terrified off runaway negative attention from fans and the media, as well as trying to free herself from a previous toxic engagement. And she increasingly begins to consider returning to her love in costume design, meaning a return to New York and leaving Angus behind in LA. Both protagonists are well done. They're not airbrushed perfection in personality, but they're not walking disasters either. The real people with real problems and insecurities who do an amazing job of processing without blaming other people for the challenges they face. Babs is the high maintenance prima donna that has a past that has hardened her, but Marlowe may just crack her shell. And Cherry is the ride or die friend that provides support and advice for Marlowe when she needs it. The story also builds the romance along perfectly, making the reader crazy waiting for fulfillment, and teases them perfectly by getting oh so close. While every hunk in Hollywood is most certainly not Angus in real life it may have readers fantasizing that they are. A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After ending her engagement, and facing huge backlash after her latest theater design, Marlowe decides to move to LA and takes a contract as a production assistant on a very popular tv show. She quickly learns to try and avoid Angus, the male heartthrob whos incredibly full of himself and kind of a jerk to be honest. When she has to step in as a backup waitress in a shot, everyone can see the fire in her and Angus’s eyes when they meet. Now the show wants to turn her into a real character. is this really what Marlowe wants?

Ok this new trend of normal people dating hardcore famous people? I kind of love it! I am definitely enjoying every second of all these books! I really loved Marlowe and I just wanted all the best for her, including getting a job outside of Babs who was so insane! I also really liked that while we all saw the outside of Angus, which was the stuck up, full of himself, sleep with every girl kind of guy, eventually we saw that he was so much more than that when the cameras turned off! I loved their friendship turned possible romance so much. If you are also digging this new trend, I highly recommend this one! As a total side note-her ex? Hell to the no. I hated that man!

This resonates with <i>Confessions of a Shopaholic</i> vibes.

I like Marlowe and am really interested in her journey. She's a great character who discovers her inner worth and strength when she's thrust into situations that force her to make hard decisions.

One of the best takeaways from this book (aside from the fact that it's pretty darn spicy) is its lessons about dealing with failure, taking criticism, and moving forward. I really loved it.

3.5 stars --- I might be in the minority on this one but I didn't love this book. The writing was engaging and fun, and I was excited to see more behind the scenes for what it is like as a costume designer on a TV show set, but I had a hard time connecting with Marlowe as a character. She continually held herself back and was judgmental of others, especially Angus.

Angus was such a sweet and understanding character, he made the book for me! I just would have liked a little something more out of Marlowe + Angus's relationship.

What a great book! Hooked me from page one. I liked the truthfulness, realness of the characters. The premise of the story was believable in spite of the hollywood/overnight sensation storyline. I could feel the characters’ emotions. They were messy and real. I seriously did not want this book to end. This one should go to the very top of your tbr list!

What a good book. Not my usual genre but I thought I would give there thrillers a break for a little it was a nice story that I will be thinking about for months to come thanks NetGalley for the arc

I love with Marlowe Banks. She's real, refreshing, and flawed. In this fish-out-of-water tale, Marlowe was a costume designer in NYC who left a bad career and an even worse fiancé to start her life over in LA. She starts work as a PA of a TV show that has a gorgeous, and full of himself, leading actor named Angus. A series of unfortunate events lead them to a mutual distaste of each other. When Marlowe steps out of the background and into center stage on the TV show.

Both Angus and Marlowe are very relatable. This book has a lot of humor and romance. The main take away I got was to never judge a person purely based on what you think you know.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found the book to be an interesting look into the life of Hollywood and all the glitter. But the glitter is not real life so what happens when the cameras are off. Marlowe is a costume designer but is working on a series in LA as a glorified errand girl. When she accidentally walks into a cameo part her world is turned upside down by social media and her own sense of self worth. Her parents have their own idea of success which does not match hers but adds to her feelings of inadequacy. I liked the overall idea of the book and the outcome, though it was a bit of a fairy tale. I did enjoy getting to know the characters and they were well thought out. I believe there was too much idle information that added nothing to the story line and actually bogged it down. Felt like the author just needed to meet a word count.
I give this book a 4 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This one surprised me with how much I liked it. I seem to get into Jacqueline's main characters and feel their feels. It was interesting reading about the film industry and what a fun premise, what if you had to go on screen and hit it off with the lead actor! Fun.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is the story of a late twenties costume designer who is having a crisis of confidence, and has ended up in a job she's overqualified for in LA. Marlowe has ended up as a PA on a TV show (even though is seems like she could be the costume designer?). Through plot contrivances, she ends up with a non speaking role on camera, which catches the eye of the lead actor Angus.

Since it's a romance novel, the rest of the plot is pretty easy to guess.

This is a cute little story. To be honest, I enjoyed the behind the scenes Hollywood aspect more than the romance. It felt like she fell for Angus because she had to in order for this to be a romance novel, I didn't really feel any chemistry between them beyond the 'this hot actor is hot'.

Marlowe was a bit of a dummy, either via her insistence at remaining in contact with her ex (just block him!), leaving her address available online (seriously, would anyone raised in the digital world DOX themselves?) or not realizing that a Hollwood star isn't in charge of their own social media.

Despite my criticisms, I still thought it was a fun read - 3 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC.
I absolutely adored this book. After reading Firkins YA, I was so excited to get an ARC of her adult debut, and it was fabulous. This book had the perfect balance of clothing assistant for a show, LA life, and a mid-twenties woman trying to figure out what's going on with her life. I loved how Firkins added romance to this book, but it was just a part of Marlowe's story. Marlowe is a woman that had a wonderful character arc that was full of growth and learning and mistakes. I really enjoyed the glimpse into the fashion aspect of this book (and if you haven't checked out the authors IG account, go now!). It added a unique layer to this story - and it was so interesting to get an inside glimpse into how every single piece an actor wears is picked with intentionality. There is also a great glimpse into celebrity culture and how they're treated. It was a needed conversation, yet didn't feel forced when the characters brought it up. I am just in awe of how flawless Firkins made all of these different pieces come together in this seamless story focused on figuring out who you want to be.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned was such a feel good book! I read it in a day, I laughed, I cried, I LOVED IT!

In the book Marlowe packs up and leaves behind her life in NYC to escape her failures and start new in LA as a PA for a popular TV show. Along the way she unexpectedly (and reluctantly) befriends her childhood crush actor, where they both have their first encounter of someone wanting to get to know the REAL them.

Let me start by saying, obsessed with Cherry, Marlowe’s BFF in LA. I loved that she was unapologetically herself and pushed Marlowe to do the same. She was fierce and lovable as a supporting character.

Marlowe, love her. I think her story with her parents and her ex make her relatable to so many people. So many women experience relationships that force them to be a washed out version of who they are or break their spirit. I loved that this book spent as much time focusing on her rebuilding the love of herself as it did the actual love story.

BUT for me, the real star is Angus. Ughh, swoon. His character progression is one of my favorite as a male lead that I’ve read in a romcom in a LONG time. Superficially he seemed vapid and shallow, but in real life you could really feel his struggle to find anyone that wanted the real version of him. I really enjoyed watching their love story unfold and how they both helped pull the greatest qualities out of each other. He was really everything you want.

I can’t wait to see this book hit the shelves! I have no doubt it will do well. St Martin’s Press is a powerhouse of all my favorite romcoms.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jacqueline Firkins, and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

Marlowe leaves her friends and ex and moves to LA to work on a tv show as an errand girl but her dream is to help design costumes. A costume issue requires Marlowe to take on a small role in the tv show and while she just has to pour coffee there is obvious chemistry between her and the lead actor Agnus.

Let's be honest. Wasn't it every teenager's dream to date their favorite movie star? This story was so cute. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did. I loved the slow build in their relationship and how we shouldn't judge someone we don't know. I also love how the story illustrates what some actors and actresses must go through with fans expecting their personality to be like that on the show. Both of these characters learned something and had growth. I was sad to say goodbye to them when the story ended.

3.5 stars

Marlowe Banks, Resigned delivered exactly what I come to expect from a rom-com: a fluffy, lighthearted read with a cute couple and a feelgood ending. .

What a delightful book. So beyond talented to be an author and create matching dresses to go with upcoming / new releases I loved her previous book and will be recommending to friends

Marlowe is a loving character whose journey will speak to anybody who has dealt with those feelings of inadequacy, fear, and loneliness. Really enjoyed getting to follow her coming into her own!