This book was super interesting and unique for me, and I really enjoyed it. Lane and Gala were both very interesting and flawed characters. This book was jam packed with tension!

This is definitely a different type of story. At times I couldn’t put it down and at times, I skipped a half of page or even a whole page. The story was about two women. One was Gala and she was a “wild child”. A groupie to several different bands, actors, anyone famous with lots of money to spend on her and her drugs, wild clothes. The other woman is Lane. She too is somewhat of a groupie but a higher class groupie- either self proclaimed or actually. Were they destined to be best friends or enemies? It was just different and I am still not sure if that is a good difference or not. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

A hard book to read, yet also a book that is hard to set down. What turn of the page would make Lane a better mother, a better wife, a better friend? How could Lane and Gala make their writing careers more successful without hurting each other? There were too many drugs, too much alcohol, too many friends who only wanted a party payoff for showing up. So as much as I read it without giving up, I can’t imagine telling someone it was an enjoyable read. It was about broken lives. Reading it to the end was hope. I wish there had been more, but can’t imagine how I thought it would arrive.

thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

i love ella berman's writing style and was excited to get this one. while it didn't come near her masterpiece the comeback for me, there are a lot of strong suits to this book. complex and believable characters, great prose, a propulsive plot that while not a thriller keeps you wanting to know what happens. the complicated relationship between lane and gala was extremely well-done and lived-in.

that said, they are not really likable characters! and reading this book filled me with a sense of dread that lingered until pretty much the last 5%. i also don't know that the ending felt completely earned, while simultaneously, i don't know what ending i would've wanted. none of these are necessarily flaws, but overall i'd give it a 3.5 or 3.75/5. it was missing something i can't put my finger on. overall though, this was a solid effort.

(side note to the publishers: there was a reference to rfk in this book that, while appropriate to the time period, left a bad taste in my mouth considering our current political landscape and his heinous, baseless comments about multiple things, most recently autism. i would encourage swapping it out)

The 1970s are a perfect place for an It girl rivalry set in the prime of Hollywood’s sleazy past. I’ll read anything Elle writes, and while this wasn’t my favorite of hers, I still adore her nuanced characters and engaging storylines.

The story of Gala and Lane, two writers living in Los Angeles. Gala has gone missing. One woman is on the way up, career wise, while the other falters. When Lane takes dramatic action both of their lives are forever altered.

Told in dual storylines of the 1960s and mid seventies, we get an intensive view of these two women. I was drawn to this book immediately as I lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade and was, in fact an LA Woman. Ella Berman writes in such breathtaking, lovely prose that I found myself stopping over and over to highlight the beautiful passages.

I found both of the main characters, not to mention side characters, to be nuanced and well written and the location absolutely popped off of the page. My only quibble with the book was it was too long and did feel plodding at points. I am rating this 3.5 stars (rounded to 4) for this dive into the lives of these LA ladies.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I1970 glitzy L.A.— The perfect place for a cool girl rivalry. This book serves as an inside look at old Hollywood, and the writers who helped paint that image. It felt like the ultimate showdown between the legends Babitz & Didion. It was chic, sharp, and down right witty.

LA Women follows two 1960s icons, Gala Margolis and Lane Warren, as their paths intersect over the years. Gala is a “pre-Raphaelite” beauty who prances through Hollywood, always the center of the room and the conversation. Life comes easy for Gala, she’s successful in everything. On the other hand, Lane is more stoic. She has built a name for herself as a reporter and writer, and seems to envy, despise and admire Gala, depending on the day or moment.

LA Women’s pacing is on the slower side, but the story moves. I appreciated the character development and how Gala and Lane’s path draw nearer and farther throughout the years LA Women pacing takes us through. There are things to like and dislike in both characters, including their seeming inability to actually support one another.

There’s a lot of sadness in this book. It showcases how two strong and fierce women, independent and successful, can crumble or lose themselves when hitching their lives to a man’s.

Overall, I enjoyed LA Women and recommend it. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lane Warren became the darling of the writing world when her first book was published. However, her second book wasn't well received so she is desperate to make her third book a hit. This book is about her frenemy, Gala Margolis, a free spirit and completely unlike Lane. Gala is also an aspiring writer and as her star begins to rise in the literary world, Lane becomes envious of her success and does something that she can never undo. However, Gala's messy life is unraveling, as is Lane's, and now Gala has been missing for months. No one can find her and as she searches for her, Lane's focus on Gala borders on obsession.

LA Women is set in Laurel Canyon between the 1960's-1970's. It has a strong sense of time and place and the author pulled me into the setting with a sharp focus on the time period with parties, sex, drugs and rock and roll. I liked the complicated relationship between these two sometimes unlikeable women and LA women was a quick read.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy. LA Women will be published on August 5, 2025.

This book is set in a time of complete debauchery where drugs flowed freely and people behaved in a manner of which they saw fit at that particular moment with no repercussions of where it could lead. However, there was a sense of emptiness as people felt the need to hide who they were based upon the persona of who they wanted to see them as which was clear in terms of Gala and her boisterous manner and Charlie who would not acknowledge his sexuality in public. Gala like her beloved gold cigarette case once owned by Marilyn Monroe was determined to die at 36 as a legacy. She only gave her heart to one person, Gabriel, who left her a shadow of herself as a result. She forgot how to live. I think that is one reason that her and Lane clung to each other as both were emotionally depraved and didn't know how to come out of it. They hid behind their writing as it was easier to tell stories than to face their own. Lane chose Scotty because of his stability but questioned herself as a mother due to Alys. Gala didn't want to see how she was actually living and barely existing. One of the most poignant parts of the book was when Lane and Charlie had a conversation that relationships may run its course as they serve a purpose for that time of which they existed. I think that message carried through the entirety of this book. A captivating read.

This character driven novel was about 2 women in LA from 1960-75. Gala was a native LA woman - a free spirited, self=absorbed party girl. The other main character was Lane - a successful author who had a miserable childhood where she was largely ignored by her parents, making her reserved and unsure of herself.
Initially the women were close friends but when Lane wrote a book with a main character who was similar to Gala, the two became frenemies. .
Add to women were the men they had relationships with including Lane's husband and their 2 children, Gala's partner from a rock band and Charlie, a gay man (at a time when few men came out of the closet),
I think that the author described the part/drug scene in LA at the time and described the characters well. However, I do think the story was a little too long for the material and at times I wasn't sure where the story was headed - maybe there were too many issues inherent in the life and times but I thought that they bogged down the story.
I did have a hard time relating to most of the characters, and thought that the drug/party scene in LA was overdone. I also thought the dual timelines were effective in moving the story along.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and the opinions expressed are my own.
My rating is 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Pre-Read notes

I really wanted to read this arc about two writers, Lane and Gala, professional rivals, who developed this absolutely bizarre relationship--author and subject of a tell-all, respectively– due to the actions of one of them. I'll let you guess which!

This is actually the first time I've been approved to read for Berkeley, who publishes so of my favorite authors, like Simone St. James, who writes creepy ghost stories (my review!). I'm pretty excited to be reading L.A. Women. Its already a story filled with irreverent humor and powerful statement about story-making and the ownership of content like "life stories".

Final Review to come

Lane felt the crushing weight of their fury as if she were still just a child, and she knew what they were asking her. Why did you write those things about us? And, alone in her hotel room at night, soaked with sweat and unable to sleep, Lane found she couldn’t remember. p101

Review summary and recommendations

I like several things about this book (covered in reading notes below), but the reason I will remember it instead of one of the other books I read this year is because it contains probably the best execution of meta fiction I've read in years. If meta is your bag, don't miss this one!

I otherwise recommend L.A. Women to fans of literary women's fiction and stories about women friends and professional rivals. For more stories that explore non-romantic relationships between women, try Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafari (my review!).

“Coping is a scale, not a binary[.]” p199

Reading Notes

Five things I loved:

1. His tone is soaked in disgust, and Lane remembers that Charlie dislikes anything that either depresses him or reminds him of his own mortality, but particularly when he thinks these things could have been avoided with either better planning or self-control. p47 I know people like this. I think we all do– like Elon Musk. I really love how Berman connects the text to the audience with little hooks like this.

2.“Not all famous people are wealthy,” Lane said. “Yeah, but the ones who are famous for doing nothing are,” Gala said. “And if they’re poor and well known, they’re usually infamous. Which is a very different thing.” p64 I love this snide logic, it speaks to my inner cynic!

3. From chest hair in eyelashes to bad moms, this book offers so many different shades of authentic.

4. I love the subplot of these women's friendship with each other. Sometimes, we all need to hear something like this from someone who knows us: “It’s okay , Lane,” Gala said. “I don’t think you’re a monster.” p199

5.“I’m not crazy,” Lane says, her voice louder than she intended. “I don’t need to be managed. And you’re not trying to protect me, you’re trying to control me. Why were you even together without me?” p207 Excellent mental illness representation, this is so authentic to that experience.

One thing I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Stories in which everyone has a six pack are not exactly my can of coke. I find this so unrealistic and inauthentic. And do people with six packs really sit around and joke with each other about their six packs?

Rating: 👠👠👠👠.5 /5 glam women
Recommend? Yes!
Finished: Apr 18 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🪶 literary fiction
💄 women's fiction
👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 women's friendships
💼 professional rivalry
🪞 metafiction

Thank you to the author Ella Berman, publishers Berkeley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of L.A Women. All views are mine.
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Really enjoyed this book. Very intense well written female characters. I like alternating timelines and the format worked really well here. I do think it was a tad bit longer than it should have been. I was all in for about 3/4 of it, but I think it could have benefited from some slight trimming.

Ella Berman does a great job capturing the glam and grit of the era, while digging into how complicated female friendships can be—full of loyalty, jealousy, and deep emotional ties. The story is character-driven, emotional, and full of vintage Hollywood vibes.

If you liked Daisy Jones & The Six or enjoy stories about creativity, friendship, and betrayal, this one’s worth the read.

L.A. Women is a story of two writers who call themselves friends but feel more like rivals caught in an unspoken competition. Told through dual POVs and time-hopping narration, the structure is thoughtfully crafted and gradually reveals the complexities of Lane and Gala’s shared history.

The portrayal of their friendship felt deeply toxic at times, and both characters were difficult for me to connect with. While the evolution of their relationship is poignant and well-written, the pacing was extraordinarily slow which made it hard to stay engaged. For a novel steeped in sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, the slow burn didn’t quite match the vibe I was expecting.

That said, the depiction of Los Angeles was a standout. It felt raw, magical, and gritty in all the right ways—very true to the city’s spirit. I also found the last 25% of the book more compelling, with the plot finally finding momentum.

In the end, while I appreciated the concept and certain elements of the writing, the story didn’t leave a lasting impact for me. 3.5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I remember a movie about Laurel Canyon years ago that I was intrigued by. I was please to read this book that takes place in the same community. The story is full of emotions and struggles. I think the writer portrayed the struggles in an authentic way. She made it enjoyable to read about. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sharp, moody, and layered with tension, L.A. Women dives into the messy friendship between two ambitious writers set against the glittering chaos of 1960s Los Angeles. Berman explores envy, betrayal, and the blurred lines between inspiration and exploitation with nuance and bite. Some plot threads drift, but the atmosphere and emotional complexity more than deliver. A compelling story about art, ambition, and the cost of both.

I found this book to be a rewarding slow burn. Lots of details and intertwined stories of two captivating women leads, told in a dual time period. A fascinating, descriptive look into LA and an under the microscope look at friendship, relationships, decisions and imperfections. I kept needing to know what would come of our main characters Lane and Gala and the ending was *chefs kiss*

I loved this! Much stronger than her prior books. Good discussions of female friendship and all its machinations.

This was like being a fly on the wall of those crazy 60’s era parties you see in the movies. The story follows the life of two women that were engrained in the LA scene in that era. These two women are polar opposites but yet find a friendship. The premise was fresh and fun to follow along.

Thank you to #netgalley and #EllaBerman for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.