Poor Marlowe. She really has a hard time getting herself together. Her ex keeps coming at her. Her boss is very hard to get along with. She doesn't know what to believe about Angus, what he says or what she sees online. Then what people say about her online gets to her. She just can't seem to catch a break. Should she go back to New York or stay in LA, it is so hard for her to decide. You keep wondering through the whole book if things are finally going to turn around for her.

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARK of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This is a funny adult romance novel that follows Marlowe a loveably goofy women who has recently left her fiancé and ditched New York after her costume designs for a show are torn apart. She then moves to LA where she’s working as a PA for Barb who is reminiscent of the lead actress in the Devil wears Prada. While working in the fashion department on the TV show Marlowe finds herself volunteering to be a background actress and after sharing it a steamy look on camera with the resident bad boy fans demand more- which lead to Marlowe having a small acting role and the romcom goes from there. I found that the two leads, Angus and Marlowe, had great chemistry and tons of witty banter, I do feel like Marlowes work days she wasn’t on the show acting to drag in areas. Other than that this was a wonderful one day read.

This book in 3 words: Satisfying. Intentional. Vibrant.

Down-and-out, fresh off a failed engagement and career flop, Marlowe is working as a production assistant on a popular reality show. When the show is in a pinch, she offers to stand-in as an extra, being a counterpart for Angus. As Marlowe and Angus work together, it turns out to be about much more than a TV show...

Couldn't get enough of this one. Here's what I loved:
1. The banter. It's so so so good. I enjoyed how Marlowe interacts with most of the characters, but specifically Angus.

2. Marlowe. That's it. That's all you need.

3. Representation. I thought Firkins does a stellar job of creative diverse characters in a modern setting. It didn't feel forced or placed haphazardly.

4. Girl power, baby. Now, this shouldn't scare you off. It's realistic, important, and fits like a glove within the plot.

5. Slowwwwww burn.

6. The ending. NO SPOILERS THOUGH.

Out on October 25, 2022. Get it on your TBR, request it from your library, or pre-order it. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is a tv star genre romance. I’m normally not a huge fan of these plot lines. Who in their right mind would want the stress of being in the spotlight and like you are never measuring up. Sure enough the lead character Marlowe faces this dilemma as she begins to fall for a mega hunk tv star. Surprisingly, Jake is very likable and comes across as a very human in the world of glam and glitz. Marlowe begins to grow as a character and come into her own after having a few self esteem crises for a moving, enjoyable, and sweet romance with enough steam to heat up the pages. The novel is an enjoyable story that has a feel good HEA. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read! A rom-com with depth and self-discovery, this book checks all the boxes and is hard to put down!

Marlowe moves from NY to LA to escape a toxic relationship and broken engagement. After being crushed by negative reviews about her theatre costume work, she takes on a PA position to a costumer for a hit TV show. Worked to the bone by a miserable boss, Marlowe relies on her local bestie for support and encouragement. By chance, she meets the star of the series and notorious playboy, Angus. Swayed by his public persona and social media presence, Marlowe is instantly turned off by a man who is used to everyone falling all over him.

As the story unfolds, Marlowe finds her voice and confidence. She also discovers that Angus' public image may not be who he is at heart. This is a great escape read that will have you staying up late to read just one more chapter!

If you like celeb-normie books, this is a good one. Marlow Banks works wardrobe on set for a TV/streaming show and Angus Gordon is the star. Romance novel circumstances occur and a moment between them goes viral. Turns out almost nothing in the celebrity world is as it seems. Unlike a lot of books in the celeb-normie genre this book takes a nuanced look at stan culture and the impact to real people on the other side. Oh and it’s 🔥.

Marlowe is a costume designer hiding out as an assistant on a TV show set in LA after fleeing New York after a broken engagement and criticism of her latest costume design. Marlowe has no interest in the limelight or celebrities, but volunteers as an extra on set one day to help out a friend. When fans of the show witness the chemistry between her and the main actor on the show, Marlowe is thrust into the spotlight in ways she never expected.

Ooook I don’t know what I was expecting from this one but I LOVED it! Marlowe and Angus have both made assumptions about each other that they gradually unlearn throughout the book. Their relationship is also just so stinking cute with all the in jokes and their obvious affection for each other. I also adored all the side characters, especially Tanareve.

I feel like we saw so much growth in both main characters throughout this book, but especially in Marlowe’s self confidence and willingness to take risks again.

I would highly recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced reading copy!

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?

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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