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!

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.

*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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

this book was such a pleasant surprise! i really enjoyed it from start to finish, i went in blind with no particular expectations and it was such a heart-warming read. i loved reading from marlowe's pov and i equally loved seeing her character development, how she dealt with the whole ex fiancé situation (which was handled in the best way possible, in my opinion, and was not dragged on for too long, which was something i was sightly worried about because that's something that often happens in romance books). i absolutely LOVED the build up of the relationship between marlowe and angus, angus felt like a real person (and sometimes i just wanted to hug him). i loved reading about the friendship between marlowe and cherry and also everything that is shown about how the costume design department in a tv show worked behind the scenes (i have no idea how realistic it actually is but i was really invested in that part of the story). i really recommend reading this book and i can't wait for it to come out!

arc provided by netgalley and st. martin's press in exchange for an honest review.

Marlowe Banks just ended her engagement and her latest design was a failure. She moved from NY to LA to start over. She fell in love with a star and was given a new opportunity... and you can picture the rest....

I like how Marlowe overcame her struggles at work even though it took her a while and it definitely wasn't easy..... She was a very likable person. Angus was also wonderful once his background and motivations were explained. A great story about two people learning to be brave and taking a chance......

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a cute and fun romcom! If you're looking for a slow burn and easy read, this is your book. Marlowe is an assistant to the costume designer on Angus' show and they have an unfortunate coffee run in, which portrays Angus as a jerk. Through time, they turn the tide on their relationship. The relationship between Marlowe and Angus is organic and what I appreciated is they established their friendship first. I also enjoyed that this friendship did not happen overnight, it took months after the initial meeting.

Marlowe is a strong female, with insecurities. I thought her insecurities were relatable, and I was happy to see her growth as a female through the book. I liked how while she liked Angus, it didn't feel like her life would end if he wasn't there. Miserable? yes. Life would end? no. The author did a good job making that distinction. I also appreciate how there was no 'mis-communication' plot. Everyone said what they meant and were clear on communication, so any conflicts were real and not because someone didn't say something.

This was a delight! Marlowe Banks has put her dreams of costume design on hold and has moved from New York to Los Angeles to take a job as a PA on the set of a long-running TV series and she is fine with that for now. Right? When Marlowe steps in to help solve a wardrobe emergency, sparks unwittingly fly between her and the show's resident "bad boy" Jake played by Angus Gordon. Readers are treated to an enemies-to-lovers (with Pride and Prejudice vibes!) setup, with a slow burn friendship that could turn into something more if only Marlowe were the least bit interested or comfortable in the spotlight.

The story is told from Marlowe's point of view so the build up of her relationship with Angus was intriguing. Her friendship with co-worker Cherry was really supportive and lovely. We discover there is more to Angus than his polished good looks. As a bonus to the romance plot line, there are vivid descriptions of the costumes and clothing characters wear and why Marlowe loves design and telling a stories through fashion. She was a great character and her passions and insecurities added to her charm. I recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet romance with good character development and explorations of what it means to look beyond the surface of someone and also figure out your own worth and desires.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was pleasantly surprised when I was approved for an e-ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved Marlowe Banks, and I was rooting for her to find her happiness, and accept that she deserved good things.

Marlowe gets to live out a fan’s fantasy when she ends up as an extra on a popular tv show, and has unexpected and exquisite chemistry with the show’s hunky lead.

It was fun to follow along behind-the-scenes of a costume designer on a popular show. I also really enjoyed that I wasn’t quite sure where the story would go. I wanted Marlowe and Angus to find their HEA, free of judgment from the public, media, and away from Marlowe’s stifling boss. I appreciated the depth that navigating fame, a recent breakup, and negative ex had on expanding the story and helping me get to know these characters better. So much of that part of the story made it feel more real.

Ack, I love this book so much. Marlowe Banks is a production assistant helping with costumes on a teen drama. She’s also a Yale Drama graduate who broke up with her fiancé and fled New York a few months ago. She is tired of running errands and working for a terrible boss and she doesn’t like LA and her ex keeps texting. And then there’s a mishap that leads her to fill in as a background extra as a waitress in a diner scene, and the star of the show, Angus Gordon, has already annoyed her recently and they glare at each other. Or so Marlowe thinks. It goes viral on Twitter as a Look and Marlowe’s offered a three episode arc as a lost love of Angus’ character and so much follows.


There is so much to love about this book. Marlowe, and all of her neuroses, and how real she feels. Angus, and his three insecurities, the way Firkins perfectly describes the tedium of production assistant life. The bigger questions about image and reality and Hollywood. Edith Head the dog. The chemistry between Marlowe and Angus. The descriptions of Marlowe’s outfits. Her terrible haunted apartment. I finished it and immediately began rereading parts. With any justice, this book will be huge.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Would totally buy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Rating: 4 Stars
Publication Date: October 25, 2022
Number of Pages: 352

What started me thinking this was a two-day type of read, turned into a quick one sitting read. “Marlowe Banks, Redesigned” can be realistically felt by plenty of women. Jacqueline Firkins is a new author to this reader and this story was well-written, delightful, and shows real plight of trying to get ahead.

Marlow Banks is an assistant to a costumer designer on a movie set. As an assistant in this type of environment, her day is spent running errands to include dog errands. Fate has it when she one day fills in for another member of the cast…and things slowly start to change. Yes, there is romance in the form of a trope of frenemies to lovers, but it was a slow burn kind of romance between Marlowe and Angus, the main actor. However, I think the author did a good job of developing their relationship throughout the story…not rushed or disappointing. I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book, but it surprised me that it was quite an entertaining book to read.

Marlowe was a loveable character that stayed true to herself. I loved the underlying premise of women taking charge to empower themselves and what they want out of life. In addition, Cherry the best friend brings and added something to Marlowe’s life with her unchanging support and friendship. Again, an entertaining fictional romance that was fun to read. Recommend

Great quick read very realistic. It felt real reading through the struggles of everyday life. The ending was good and I would love to read a sequel.

I really enjoyed this book ! A light, sweet story of Marlowe who works on a movie set as a assistant to the costume designer, falls in love with the main actor. I loved how sweet their relationship was and how kind they portrayed Angus to be. Just a great story!

This book was an exactly what I had expected it to be but that's not to say it wasn't good it was actually pretty good and I've already told a couple of friends that I think they would like it

Marlowe Banks has moved to LA for a new start and has an enviable job working as an Assistant to a Costume Designer on a popular tv set. But her life may not be as glamorous as it seems. Most of her day is spent fetching lunch, and dog errands in her dilapidated car. She also has issues with the star of the set, who seems to have an ego and a neverending series of dates. However, fate seems to step in when someone calls in sick and she fills in for another member of the cast, which may just change everything.

I originally picked up Marlowe Banks because I was looking for a light entertaining book. However, I enjoyed the setting on the tv set and the interaction with Marlowe in the cast. The book also had some powerful underlying themes, such as the power of asking for what you want and need, and supporting other women in their career journey. I also had a hard time putting this book down, and was disappointed when I was at the end. Is it too early to ask for a sequel? Definitely a fun read!

Marlowe Banks is a character that will be relatable to so many women.
She is underemployed, under-confident, and lonely.
But, by remaining true to herself, she gets her own fairy tale ending with Angus, the hot star of a television show.
This book is a slow-burn, but worth the wait for the ending. A perfect vacation read!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I enjoyed this book!! This is a new to me author and I found the flow of the book easy to read and it contained an exciting story. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.