My Thoughts: Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy by Jacqueline Firkins

*I received an advance reader copy of this book from Firefly Books Ltd in exchange for an honest review.

Philippa Flynn's Year of Panic and Piracy

by Jacqueline Firkins

September 1, 2026

Goodreads Summary:

An introverted history professor and a former romance cover model collaborate on a life-changing endeavor in a witty and swoonworthy novel about new beginnings in unexpected waters.

When a sinkhole nearly swallows her whole, burned-out history professor Philippa Flynn takes it as a wake-up call. Leaving her carefully planned but unfulfilling life behind, she moves into an old seaside house she inherited from her grandmother, a bestselling author of swashbuckling romances. Philippa expects the clutter, disrepair, proximity to the family she deliberately moved away from, and reclusive writer she’ll be sharing the house with. She doesn’t expect that writer to also be the cover model who personified Iris Flynn’s bare-chested, cavalier-booted pirate king.

While navigating their awkward cohabitation and searching for creative inspiration, the pair discovers the outlines for six more novels they could work on together. But Philippa’s used to facts, Dylan has writer’s block, and neither can craft a love scene while real sparks are flying.

To write the story on the page, Philippa will have to embrace the one she’s living, even if it means swapping tenure for treasure maps and plans for pirate kings.

Quick Thoughts: Marlowe Banks, Redesigned by Jacqueline Firkins

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned

by Jacqueline Firkins

October 25, 2022

Goodreads Summary:

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.

Review: How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueline Firkins

How Not to Fall in Love

by Jacqueline Firkins

December 21, 2021

Goodreads Summary:

A hardened cynic and a hopeless romantic teach each other about love in this swoony and heartfelt contemporary romance that's perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and The Upside of Falling.

Harper works in her mom’s wedding shop, altering dresses for petulant and picky brides who are more focused on hemlines than love. After years of watching squabbles break out over wedding plans, Harper thinks romance is a marketing tool. Nothing more. Her best friend Theo is her opposite. One date and he’s already dreaming of happily ever afters. He also plays the accordion, makes chain mail for Ren Festers, hangs out in a windmill-shaped tree house, cries over rom-coms, and takes his word-of-the-day calendar very seriously.

When Theo’s shocked to find himself nursing his umpteenth heartbreak, Harper offers to teach him how not to fall in love. Theo agrees to the lessons, as long as Harper proves she can date without falling in love. As the lessons progress and Theo takes them to heart, Harper has a harder time upholding her end of the bargain. She’s also checking out her window to see if Theo’s home from his latest date yet. She's even watching rom-coms. If she confesses her feelings, she’ll undermine everything she’s taught him. Or was he the one teaching her?

Event Recap: Raincoast Books present TeensRead Fall 2019 Preview

 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the latest TeensRead Preview from Raincoast Books! It was such a fun time filled with book announcements and awesome swags~ It was exciting to learn that Wattpad will be publishing books :D

We had special guest author Jacqueline Firkins there to talk about her debut novel Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things! She's a costume designer and it was so fun listening to her talk about the input she had in her cover design (the red sneakers is important!).
 

I'm looking forward to reading these titles (click on the cover for more info):

   

   

 

Here are all the titles that were presented (click on the picture to get a better view):

 

Which title(s) are you most excited for?

 

The ladies also came up with this neat idea of matching horoscopes to the upcoming releases (click on the picture to get a better view):

 

 

I'm a Scorpio and definitely excited to read Good Luck Girls which I actually got a copy of in my swag bag! I haven't had a chance to snap a picture of the goodies I received yet but I'll share that soon in a Stacking the Shelves post.

 

As always a huge thank you to the Raincoast team for an amazing time!! I'm already looking forward to the next one ;)