Customer Reviews
▪️Read this if you like:▫️historical fiction - 1960s & 70s Los Angeles▫️slow burn, character-driven stories▫️complicated & multilayered characters———3.5⭐️ I always enjoy a book with complex characters, and boy did this book sure have that.This was definitely a slower burn, which was nice at times and bored me a little at others. Character-driven stories are some of my favorites, and I enjoyed the deep dive we got with the two main characters. The book touched on women’s roles during the 60s and 70s, and all the ways their choices, ambitions, and lives can be affected by outside forces. I wouldn’t necessarily say these two women were lovable, but they were real, flawed, multilayered, and interesting.This story was told in a then/now format, and I liked that it switched back and forth as the story progressed; it created a bit of tension, which felt necessary in a character-driven story. There’s also a mystery element to the current day timeline, and the possibilities of what happened kept me engaged the whole time. I think the ending wraps up in a fitting way, and I felt satisfied with where we’re left off.This was one of those books that I enjoyed the further I got into it, and I think would be good for someone in the mood for a slower pace.Thank you Berkley for the free copy!
L.A. Women wasn't at all what I expected, and yet the rich, complex story that explored themes of feminism, motherhood, addiction, female friendship and fame turned out to be a powerful story, nonetheless.Set against the gritty and opulent backdrop of 1960s & '70s Hollywood, Berman paints the story of two women, Lane & Gala, who aren't quite friends, yet can't seem to avoid the pull of the other. Through alternating timelines, we learn about the ways in which their lives become intertwined. When Gala goes missing 1o years after the women meet, Lane becomes obsessed with finding her, and we begin to learn all the ways that both women's lives unravel.It's not a fast-paced story full of intrigue and plot twists by any means, but rather a slow-burn character study of women fighting against the roles and labels thrust upon them and struggling to be seen for more than who they're expected to be. I found myself highlighting phrases and paragraphs that resonated deeply as a mother and woman even in 2020s society.3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)Thank you to NetGalley, Ella Berman, and Berkley Publishing Group for this Advanced Reading Copy of L.A. Women
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Ella Berman. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!Two women, Lane and Gala, became friends during the 1960s party scene in LA. Both writers, they were drawn to each other, until Gala's star began to rise. Ten years later, Lane is back on top with a new book deal based on Gala's life. However, Gala has been missing for months and no one can find her.Ella Berman is great at writing female characters and their complicated relationships, with each other and with the men in their lives. This book is no exception. It's a bit of a slow burn, but I liked learning more about these women in a time when they were still viewed as less than men. There are some heavy topics here too - addiction, grief, struggles with motherhood - but it's the characters that shine. Charlie, Lane's friend, is another intriguing character. I liked the dual timelines of Then and Now to flesh out the backstories. Good read!
I enjoyed this book, a lot. It had the drama of Old Hollywood. The competition of who is better is still alive today but this book was set in the 1960’s and it had the feel of the 1960’s. Ella Berman stayed true to the time she was writing in and I found myself picture the world in that time. I could hear the music, see the clothing, and picture the houses/apartments. I could hear the voices of Gala and Lane as they competed with each other, supported each other, and stayed in each other’s lives in one way or another.Gala is what I picture when I hear talk about “old Hollywood” and the party girls, the drugs, the people just wanting to be in the orbit of what Hollywood means. She is a unique and interesting character. Lane is the one who wants to make it, she puts in the work but still struggles with life and the choices she made.I did not find this book to be a quick read. I never wanted to stop reading but I read it slowly. I did not want to miss a single word, I wanted to savor each page not missing a single detail. This is a great historical book.
MY BRILLIANT FRIEND meets DAISY JONES AND THE SIX in this immersive story of the friendship (and rivalry) between two female writers in ‘60s/‘70s Los Angeles. Berman is at her finest in this novel; these characters will live on in my imagination for years to come.
