Marlowe Banks, Redesigned: Book Review

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned is about moving on, taking chances, and loving life. It was a pleasure to read.

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins book cover — Publishes: October 25, 2022 by St. Martin’s Press
Length: 352 pages
Genres: Romance, Woman’s Fiction

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From The Publisher:

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.

My Thoughts:

Marlowe Banks is a woman who has made a big transition in her life. She moved from New York after she broke up with her fiancee, experienced criticism in her job and to get away from the wrath of her parents. Now she’s in Los Angeles working long hours as a temporary Production Assistant on a popular TV show.

Her life in L.A. is one of long hours and isolation. Thankfully she has Cherry, a co-worker to make her life better while at work. But she’s too exhausted to think about socializing at the end of her work day.
When she fills in as a last-second replacement for an actress on the show opposite the famous Angus Gordon, she’s thrust into the spotlight. She’s come to L.A.to hide, not to be thrown to the paparazzi.

I loved the second-chance romance that slowly develops between Marlowe and Angus. Marlowe is hesitant to start a relationship, particularly with someone who has a reputation of being a player. She soon learns that her assumptions are not always correct, and she learns to trust Angus as the story unfolds.

I appreciated the discussion on the invasion of privacy for celebrities and others in the public eye, worsened since the prominence of social media. There is a heavier discussion regarding Marlowe’s relationship with her former fiancee and the emotional trauma that accompanied this.

This was a fun, enlightening story and one that I enjoyed reading. I recommend this book to those readers who enjoy Women’s Fiction or Romance.