The premise of the book didn't pan out in how the story unfolded. It was a decent read but not one that worked like it could for me.

This was my first book by this author and it just so happened to be her adult debut novel. This ended up being a great book to start the year with because it also ended up being my first 5 star read of the year. We are starting the year off great and in a way I hope will continue throughout the year. Anyways back to the book.

I was immediately immersed in the story pretty much from the first page. Marlowe is a flawed character which makes her very relatable. She's an anxious person and doesn't take criticism to well which is why we find her in LA working as a production assistant on a TV show instead of being back in New York working as a Costume Designer which is what she really wants to do. She fled New York to get away from her ex fiancé and the negativity surrounding her latest costume designing endeavor. Angus is the male lead in the book and on the TV show that Marlowe is working and he's just as layered as she is. We get to see them go from "enemies" to friends to lovers and it progressed naturally.

The only thing I will say is that I wish this book would have also included Angus' POV but other than that I loved it. We get humor, heart and a little bit of spice thrown in. This is definitely one I would recommend just be aware that this one deals with anxiety and emotional abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eCopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As this book draws you in, it’s so much more than Angus a stunningly attractive arrogant male TV star, Marlowe an intelligent woman with burgeoning career goals and talent, the aggressive tv/film industry,LA paparazzi and gossip columns.
A jealous or possibly bitter boss, deep desires to pursue her design goals, old friends vs new friends, weather, tacos and a potential “more than friends” relationship keep Marlowe’s life decisions spiraling. The industry is tough,especially on women but speaking her mind gains respect!

The author does a great job making the characters reveal intelligent and interesting deep seated feelings about who we really are inside vs societies preconceived ideas. Will public criticism, haters and trolls win or will the heart know what’s best?
Super fun read, it will have you imagining actors for the movie version!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own.

Jacqueline Firkins Twitter/Instagram: @JFkillsdarlings
SMP Romance Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @smpromance
St. Martin’s Press TikTok: @stmartinspress
#MarloweBanksRedesigned #JacquelineFirkins #SMPRomance

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. The storyline differed from your typical rom com, and the characters endearing. It’s definitely worth a read.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Marlowe Banks booked it out of NYC as soon as her career tanked and her boyfriend wound up being a serial liar. Now in LA, she’s working as a PA on set of a popular TV show. While it’s a far cry from head costume designer on Broadway, Marlowe is content with the predictable routine of her new life.

When a scene mix up requires Marlowe to step into the spotlight, she finds herself filming a story arc with TVs bad boy Angus Gordon and second guessing whether her feeling for Angus are real or just great acting.

Reminiscent of 2022’s The Bodyguard and Elisa Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask - Marlowe Banks, Redesigned falls into the Hollywood Star - Regular person trope and it works. The characters are lovable and interesting and Firkin’s does a great job at plot development.

Thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Jacqueline Firkins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read if you like:

+ The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
+ Riverdale or The Vampire Diaries
+ Celebrity inspired romance

I'd seen so many good reviews for this that I was excited to read it. I did not disappoint. I enjoyed Marlowe and Angus' slow burn romance.

Marlowe Banks is a costume designer who fled New York and now works as a Costume Production Assistant in Los Angeles for a show called Heart's Diner. She doesn't have much contact with the show's stars, except for a literal run-in with the show's main star, Angus Gordon, which leaves her to think he is a jerk. When a costume mishap leads her to fill in on the show, she gets to know Angus better and she learns that he is the opposite of a jerk.

I really enjoyed this romance and both main characters. Marlowe had insecurities about herself and social media and it made her feel very relatable. Angus was wonderful. He showed Marlowe that there was more to him than just a pretty face and a nice body. I would definitely read more by this author.

Marlowe took a risk professionally, and when it didn't yield the results she wanted, she picked up her life and started over in a new city with a new job that allowed her to hide out a bit. In addition to the job issue, she also is single for the first time in years, after her engagement ends. However, she managed to call attention to herself anyway and is thrust into the limelight with a celebrity who works on the show where she is an assistant in the wardrobe department. Despite her best efforts to stay in the background, she continually finds herself in the public eye. Along the way though, Marlowe discovers just how strong and talented she is, not to make assumptions, and to trust both herself and others again. There were some plot points that were common to other books I have read involving celebrities public vs private images, as well as fake romances, but other than that, I enjoyed the story and would recommend for contemporary romance fans.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and have submitted an objective review.

Down on her luck Marlowe Banks is hiding away because she can't handle the criticism that is prevalent in her industry of fashion design.

She's working on set in L.A. when she stumbles on the set and through a series of events starts a friendship with the leading Male Angus.

Their banter and chemistry is great. This was a good story and it was great to see two people who are hiding their true self come around.

Oh wow. This book took me places I didn’t realize it was going to go. Enemies to lovers, romantic comedy set behind the scenes of Hollywood? Check. I was expecting all that. Deep introspection and social commentary about the price of beauty, fame, and womanhood? Nope, those weren’t on my radar. But they’re woven so skillfully into Marlowe’s journey and become such an important part of her character growth that this book wouldn’t be the same without them. Even Angus gets to voice some similarly weighty subjects; taking on the dangers of fame, social media, and toxic masculinity. I loved watching this pair get to know one another. I think the actual time is fairly short, but it all feels like a slow burn with all the drama and angst over “will they?” or “won’t they?” I have no idea if the author has plans for a series with any of these characters, but I’m not ready to let them go yet and I’d love to see their future adventures as they help their friends find Happily Ever Afters of their own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley.

I enjoyed this quick, delightful slow-burn of a romance about Marlowe Banks, a costume designer who flees to LA to work as a PA for a popular TV show after her personal and professional life take a hit. When an on-set costume mix-up forces Marlowe into a background role, she finds herself bumping into the show’s star Angus Gordon.

I enjoyed the civilian/celebrity trope and enjoyed the cast of lovable characters. It was also fun to read about the fashion and costumes on the film set. It made for an enjoyable, easy read after some heavy books.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Jacqueline Firkins and NetGalley for an advance reader copy for an honest review.

High key a slow burn Romance. I don't love slow burn but this was done so well you couldn't not enjoy it. I really loved the characters and genuinely couldn't put this book down. I recommend giving this a read and it will be on my list of recommendations for sure.

Giving he's a 10 vibes!

I gave this a four out of five stars. I really enjoyed this book and I like the characters as well. I wish I could know more about after where the book ended. I am interested in reading more book by this author.

Loved the costume connections with the author's background as they play out with Marlow. Also loved the banter and quick wit between Marlow and Angus (although his name gave me a struggle to not envision beef every time, or rockers kicking it across a stage).

Firkins has a way with words, she builds the most relatable characters with charm and wit...plus did I mention the banter??

Thank you for this one! I can't wait to read another!

Thank you so much to #Netgalley and St Martin's Press!

This was a perfect light read. I needed this after reading a lot of heavy books!

I had such high hopes for this one because the premise sounded so cute. The fact is, Marlowe was not my favorite character. I think maybe that I would have liked her more if I, personally was in a different head space. I wanted a strong, self-reliant woman and I got a messy girl. That all being said, the romance built in a realistic way albeit very slowly. I do think a lot of reader would like this, so you should definitely give it a try!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

We’re introduced to Marlowe as she’s retreated to Los Angeles to take a job as a production assistant for a popular TV show after professional challenges and the end of her engagement. When a costume mix-up on the set results in Marlowe taking a background role in a scene of the TV show, the cameras catch a heated look between her and the bad boy character on the show. As Marlowe and Angus are pushed together on set, she’s faced with the chance to take a role in additional episodes. And Angus may not be all that he appears on set.

I loved the development of the relationships in this book, as both characters realize they’re hiding from things in their past (or present) and put aside the assumptions of who they thought the other is in favor of seeing who they are. The film set is a fun background for the setting, and I couldn’t help but cheer for Marlowe as she’s making choices about her future.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this so much more than I originally thought I was going to. It was such a fun, quick rom-com read with so many cute moments that left me blushing and kicking my feet. The story reminded me of another amazing book I read this year, "The Decoy Girlfriend." Both books focused on the pressure celebrities face and the harassment they endure from fans and paparazzi. This book even took it a step forward with an examination of social media and the role it has in warping people's personas and overarching culture.

Another aspect I enjoyed very much was the amount of detail put into Marlowe's work and the impact of costume design. I love anything film or TV related, and that includes costume design, so it was cool to learn more about how costume design shapes a character and what it reflected about the characters in the book. Jacqueline Firkins clearly has experience in this line of work, which is what makes the writing so great and the entire plot work.

Thanks to Jacqueline Firkins and St. Martin's Press for the arc

This was such a cute read! It was an excellent slow burn with a work acquaintances to friends to lovers storyline that I loved and was really great mix of contemporary and romance. The friendship and bond that was formed between Marlowe and Angus was so fun to follow along with, especially since it's very obviously not easy for either of them to let down their walls down both in general and with each other. Honestly even as a friendship alone without the romance I loved the scenes where Marlowe and Angus were together, their dynamics were so much fun to read,
I enjoyed seeing Marlowe change and finally come out of her shell slowly throughout the book. There was a lot that she obviously running from in New York and it took her a while to come to terms with a lot of it. Seeing her stand up to one the things she was running from was such a powerful scene.
Also the way to story ended was wonderful and I was super happy with how everything turned out for Marlowe. It seemed like she was finally back to herself, even better if possible.

Sometimes the perfectly designed life needs a redesign. Marlowe thought she had everything figured out until her engagement ends, her costume design is panned and her parents are disappointed in her with a capital D. She takes a job in New York City desperate to escape her failures. She takes a job as a low level assistant on a popular show and somehow finds herself on camera with the show’s bad boy. This one moment sets the course for an entirely different life than she originally designed for herself. This was an enjoyable one and a reminder to sometimes let life guide you and step out of your careful plans.

Thank you #stmartinspress and #Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins is my most favorite recent read! I loved this book, it kept me entertained from start to finish and I was sad when I was finished, definitely signs of an engaging book. Marlowe Banks is living in Los Angeles after having left a disastrous career situation in New York City, where she is from. In LA, she has a job on a television show set working in the wardrobe department. After a mix-up with some of the costumes, she is asked to fill in as an extra, which leads to a part in the show. One of the male leads is hugely popular and after she begins being linked to him romantically, trouble ensues because it is widely believed he has a long-term girlfriend. The story is super cute and sweet and really shows one shouldn't judge another solely by first impressions, sometimes a second chance is warranted. I would highly recommend this book, it is positively worth the read.