Marlowe Banks, Redesigned
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Average rating5
In Marlowe Banks, Redesigned, Jacqueline Firkins wonderfully captures the messiness of failure, forgiveness, and embracing a second chance on life and love. Marlowe Banks’s life has come apart at the seams. Her engagement ended abruptly. Her latest costume design was shredded by critics. Her student loans are overdue. Her parents have never been more disappointed. Desperate to hide from her failures, Marlowe flees New York City to embrace invisibility in Los Angeles as a menial Production Assistant on a popular TV show. While sorting socks and taking care of her boss’ spoiled Weimaraner, no one can confront her poor artistic choices or the end of her engagement, the end her ex refuses to accept. When a costume mix-up requires Marlowe to step into in a scene, the camera catches a heated look between her and Angus Gordon, the show's arrogant bad boy, thrusting Marlowe into the spotlight. As the pair is forced together on set, Marlowe learns she's not the only one hiding. Walls come down for both of them, revealing a life Marlowe isn't sure she's ready for, and when her past comes calling, she has to decide if she's going to stay invisible or if it's time for a redesign.
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Fish Out Of Water Romance That Shows That Not Everything Is As It Seems. This is a fish out of water romance between a barely-has-a-job clothing designer assistant for a TV show... and one of said show's stars. It is very much a slow burn, enemies to lovers type and yet still meets every RWA requirement. This noted, it does get a touch preachy about the differences between the characters actors portray and the actor themselves, though it *does* manage to keep much of this preachiness within the context of the story being told here - so that is good at least. :) Yet another romance where honest communication from the get-go could probably have saved about 80%+ of the overall friction/ drama between the couple, this one is still fairly light and funny despite its at-times heavy handedness noted above. Overall a fun look at a side of Hollywood not often seen, and written by someone with seemingly at least some knowledge of that particular setting. Very much recommended.
Originally posted at bookanon.com.
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.
