I feel like this is a really great book for Kinsella fans and the Shopaholic series in particular. A second round purchase for most libraries.

Such a fun rom-com! I really enjoyed this - especially the portrayal of the main characters as it felt authentic. This was fun and easy to read and the characters authenticity made them believable.
When a personal assistant for actors chooses to fill in as an extra so as to not put her friends job at risk, she doesn’t consider the possible repercussions. And once the public sees “the look,” between her and the main heartthrob, there’s no going back. Her time as an extra is done, but her time in the spotlight is just beginning.
If you like Rom-come I highly recommend this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars!

I am kicking myself I didn’t read this sooner when I got the eARC last year. I loved this story between Angus and Marlowe so much.

This was an enemies to lovers done really well, which is saying a lot from me because it’s one of my least favorite tropes. The chemistry between the two was 🔥, and I swooned multiple times. I also loved the journey Marlowe went through to realize that she, by herself, is enough. She doesn’t need a man to be “more” or “enough.”

The only reason I took part of a star off my rating is because it got quite repetitive with her insecurities over what a relationship with Angus would mean and how the public would perceive her. I also would have liked just a bit more dialogue and banter between the characters.

I truly loved this one and can’t wait to read Firkins next book this fall.

Awesome Read!

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Can you say sweet romance!

I enjoyed this fantastic book that I finished in two days!

This book was original and hooked me from page one! This was a page turner with lots of steam! A quick easy read!

I could not turn the pages fast enough. I gave this book 4 stars!

No spoilers with my review!

Well done!

4.5 stars!

This book was so fun! I really liked Marlowe and her job because of her costume designing and how it tied into the TV show. I did however not love the famous person aspect which is an issue I've had in the past, but it was less upsetting just because of how much I liked Marlowe. I don't know if the author had any experience working in TV production, but it was just overall such a great time and I'm glad I read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Hello

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title.

While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

4.5/5 stars

This book was really good. I really enjoy books that are set behind the scenes of shows or movies.

Angus and Marlowe were super cute together.

I really hated how annoying and low key toxic her ex was but I was really glad once she was able to get him out of her life for good.

I would have liked the epilogue to have been set a little further in the future.

This was a cute contemporary romance. In the spirit of full disclosure, I absolutely loath sex scenes so I skipped over those few scenes but thankfully there weren't many. I felt that the romance between Marlowe and Angus developed pretty naturally and by the end I was rooting for their romance as well. This was a bit predictable in that all the usual tropes in a contemporary romance were introduced (i.e. the jealous ex shows up, the main character has to move after meeting what could be the love of her life, etc). but these didn't ruin the book for me. They added a bit of spice to what was an overall pretty uneventful book. It did drag for me at a few parts but by the last 1/3 of the book I was a bit more invested. I think the characters were developed a bit sporadically and would have liked a bit more background on every single one of them to give them each more impact on the story. I felt there was an unnecessary amount of detail regarding being a PA that could have been filled with character development instead. Overall, this was pretty good but not something I would go out of my way to read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a first time read for me by this author, and I had a really nice time reading it. Marlowe is an assistant costume designer, but she steps in to help her friend and becomes an extra on a set for one scene. Well, because of their not-so-meet-cute, the look that she shares with the lead actor, Angus, is pretty intense and practically goes viral, and she ended up getting written into the show and ends up being Angus' love interest. They did not get off on the right start, but the tension and chemistry that ignites between them is evident, and in fact that is what got her cast into the show.
Marlowe has had a rough time of it lately and left NYC to start fresh in Los Angeles. Her dream job wasn't going so well, her engagement ended, and she feels as if she is just one big disappointment. Her life is messy, and having to work with the arrogant Angus isn't making it any better. Only as she spends more time with him, she realizes he's got things he's dealing with, too, and the two begin to form a bond and a beautiful friendship develops which doesn't take long to blossom into something more.
This was a charming and entertaining enemies to more story and kept my interest all the way through. The characters were interesting and flawed, which made them realistic and relatable and I enjoyed getting to know them and follow their story. An enjoyable first read for me by this author, and I look forward to reading more.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This book helped me get out of a major reading slump and gave me all the warm fuzzy feelings. I found Marlowe incredibly relatable and also her career? Costume design? So so cool. When this story starts Marlowe has fled New York after some (in her mind) failures, and is working as a Production Assistant for a woman who gave me "Devil Wears Prada" vibes. I don't know if it was supposed to, but the show she worked on gave "Riverdale" vibes. But I've also only seen half of a season of Riverdale, so what would I know?

I absolute adore swoony actor Angus Gordon, even if I hate his name. Angus? It's just not a sexy name. Sorry not sorry. HOWEVER, his character is wonderful and sweet and well-read and caring and...just another for my long list of book boyfriends.

The banter was adorable, chemistry was 🔥, and the conflict understandable. I definitely recommend!

I really enjoyed this book - I was super busy so it took me a while to get into it but once I did, I thought it was fun. It was really cute, and I thought the romance building was sweet. I usually don't like reading about super messy protagonists - not unlikeable, mind you but like silly unkempt MFC, but I thought Marlowe was great! Sometimes the dialogue was cheesy, but it was never too overwhelming.

What a fun read! Marlowe Banks is a New York costume designer whose latest project got panned. Plus, she just ended her engagement and fled to Hollywood. She's licking her wounds working as a gopher for a dictatorial costumer for a long-running TV series.

Angus Gordon is one of the stars of that TV series. He's got a reputation as a womanizer, plus an on-again/off-again relationship with a stunning A-list star, a mansion, and the perfect life. But, can we really believe what's on social media? Marlowe sure thinks so!

When Marlowe offers to stand in for a missing extra during filming, the sparks between them captured on camera go viral. But, they can't stand each other. Right? Or not.

I loved this so much, that as soon as I finished, I got the audiobook from the library so I could experience it again!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review!

*I received this copy in exchanged for my honest review.

Marlowe is an designer - first starting in theater productions in NYC. When her engagement goes awry, she packs up and moves to LA and gets a job as a PA on a hit TV show. Angus is an actor on said show, and he’s known as someone that gets around and is hard to work with.

When a mishap lands Marlowe a guest appearance on the show, Angus has feelings about it. Until the two get to truly know each other. Will Marlowe be able to handle the sudden onset of fame? Will she move back to her NYC roots once her contract is up?

This slow burn romance kept me on my toes. It was a super quick, cute read that kept me wanting more. The epilogue wasn’t enough for me, I need more!

Cute rom com! Slow burn leads to some steamier scenes. Great dialogue between the characters and good chemistry. Main character wasn’t my favorite, but didn’t detract from the book.

Okay, hear me out. This book is basically a work of Riverdale fanfic mixed with The Devil Wear's Prada if it took place on a Broadway show. Does that make sense to anyone else?
This was probably my quickest read so far of the year. It's light and fluffy and hooked me right away. Marlowe is supposed to be a lowly costume assistant on a TV show and ends up having to stand in as an extra one day. Sparks fly with the show's main man and BOOM they are thrown together.
I really enjoyed both MC's. Marlowe is a bit of a mess, trying to figure out what she's doing with her life. Angus shows you that there is more than meets the eye to his TV heartthrob persona. I always love the celebrity/ regular person trope because who doesn't secretly want that?!
While I would not have minded a bit more spice (because that's pretty much always true, for me) I flew through this book and am looking forward to seeing what comes next from Jacquelin Firkins.

Having a HEA, I guess makes this story a romance rather than women's literature. Along with the story about Marlowe, a woman with a MFA from Yale, who wants to be a costume designer, but flees NYC to LA after receiving bad reviews and criticism. The book also provides insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the film industry, especially the design part. Also emphasis how the anonymity of social media has given people the permission to be really mean and nasty to people they don't know.

Marlowe, the lone child of two overachievers, has no self confidence. She broke off her engagement to her fiancee after finally come to the epiphany that he was verbally abusive, controlling and had her questioning her worth. She takes a job as a low paid, over worked PA to the customer designer on a tv show. By a series of strange events, she ends up on the set as a waitress and the eye contact between her and the lead male is caught on tape, leading to an offer for more screen time. She discovers that Angus is not what she expected at all, and she has also be guilty of prejudging others. Angus is really a sweetie pie.

The characters are likable and relatable and the story engaging. I look forward to reading more by this author. I read an ARC offered by publisher on NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

If I’m honest, I found some parts of this book horribly cliche, but there were also parts that were adorably sweet and refreshing. I found myself rooting for the side characters like Cherry and Babs but rolling my eyes at some of the romance scenes. Regardless, this is a sweet and light love story 💗

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for this advanced copy.

For anyone wanting a funny & sweet little jaunt through what it might be like to meet & date your teen years TV crush…this might be the story for you. It’s not really that simple but it has that vibe underneath.

Marlowe is a tad insecure after a lifetime of rather questionable parenting (at least on the emotional level), a failed relationship and the loss of her design job. How does one deal with a little life/identity crisis? Well clearly you pack up and just fly across the country for a fresh start as an assistant on the set of a TV show. Angus is the drool-worthy shallow actor playing the lead bad boy role. But is he really as shallow as social media and celebrity gossip depicts?

I know, I know…you probably think this plot line seems familiar or that you’ve read something similar. It’s possible that you have, I won’t lie. BUT give this one a shot anyway because while the plot line sounds cliche at first glance, I promise this has more substance than you might think.

This one tackles themes such as the pitfalls of social media, the importance of not just blindly believing everything you see or read online, the importance of kindness & compassion, and most importantly, the simple fact that EVERYONE deserves love and you should never settle for anyone who makes you feel like you are less than or unimportant. Your voice matters - use it proudly.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Griffin, and St. Martin’s Publishing Group for an e-ARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

This book was absolutely adorable and the perfect read to get me out of a rut. I rooted for both Marlowe AND Angus, their dynamic cracking me up and making my heart swoon. A cute, uplifting read, the novel redesigned my bookish brain and set me back on track.

I couldn't put it down and I didn't want to. This book lived up to every ounce of hype that I had experienced for it. This book is beautifully written; a gripping storyline with strong characters. It ticked all the boxes of my expectations. I would definitely recommend it to others.