I love a celebrity glamour and gossipy insider stories. I didn't find either of the main characters particularly likable and that made it harder for me to enjoy the book. I kept waiting for more to happen or a grand reveal and overall felt let down that there wasn't a there there.

I am probably in the minority on this, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you Netgalley & Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the advanced reader copy.

This was fine but didn't enthrall me like this author's first novel although it is better than her second... I was expecting so much with the blurb but this was really sad. I think it was well written and excellent commentary but as to how I felt while reading it . . . hollowed out, regretful, and sad. Hope you have better luck!!

L.A. Women comes out next week on August 5, 2025, and you can purchase HERE.
Put yourself in the (finest caviar leather) shoes of Lane Warren. Here, inside the glittering compound in the foothills of Laurel Canyon, she is the person everyone wants to meet-her house is filled with dear friends and shiny young things, and they'd all gut her in an instant if it would make them famous. Because isn't that why they all gather here every Sunday? To prove that they are also people to know? That they too have something to offer the world?
Janelle arrived at Tash's side, and Tash saw her spot The Colony fandom tattoo, also.
Janelle smiled placidly at the student. She offered the girl her pen.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book and really struggled to get through it at all. I think my main issue was just not liking or caring enough at the characters. For me it was a good swing but overall a miss.

I enjoyed the 70's Hollywood aspect of the story but I had a hard time with Lane's storyline. i didn't love her from the beginning. Gala was an interesting character.

4.5 stars!⭐ Thanks to @berkleypub for the advanced copy of this glitzy and gritty book.

📆 Publication date: August 5.

L.A. Women is a complex, atmospheric novel about two talented women circling each other through ambition, art, and betrayal in 1960s Los Angeles. Lane Warren, once a rising literary star, is trying to revive her career with a new book based on the life of her former friend (and now missing person), Gala Margolis, a socialite-turned-writer who’s as elusive as she is legendary. What unfolds is a tangled portrait of rivalry, artistic hunger, and the ways women both support and sabotage each other in a world built to shrink them.

Ella Berman nails the setting, especially Laurel Canyon. This version of L.A. is dazzling and decayed, equal parts chic and scuzzy. The parties, the drugs, the whisper networks of fame, the undercurrent of envy between women trying to take up space in a male-dominated creative world—it really pulled me in.

L.A. Women is layered with reflections on friendship, creativity, marriage, motherhood, queerness, addiction, family, and the weight of gendered expectations. What does it mean to want more than you’re allowed? To see another woman not just as a mirror but as a measuring stick? It’s about artistic identity, yes, but also how women are taught their worth lies in being inspiring to others, not in making something of their own.

Lane and Gala are complicated, often selfish, occasionally brilliant, but heartbreakingly human. Their decisions made perfect sense to me, even when they were terrible. This will likely be one of those books slammed for “unlikeable characters,” which, as I’ve said a million times, is the most I-have-no-reading-comprehension take out there. @ellamberman, I apologize in advance for the Goodreads reviews that will miss the point. Don’t listen to them, queen.

My only minor "complaint" is that it’s a bit long. But the pacing lets the atmosphere settle in. The dual timelines build momentum, and the immersive detail makes the setting feel like another main character.

If you love old-school L.A., female writers, and emotionally dense fiction about women who defy likability, this one’s for you.

This story is set between “then” and “now” in the mid- 60’s and mid’70’s. Lane and Gala are both writers who meet in Los Angeles. Their backgrounds and lifestyles are totally different. Lane is an outsider who writes a best seller and throws marvelous parties that attract the L.A. party scene. Gala is the flamboyant party girl who makes her own rules. They develop an unlikely friendship and as is the case with other relationships, it is complicated and challenging.

Thank you. NetGalley and Berkeley Publicity

“Thank you to the female artists and writers who chose to pursue lives of creativity at a time when it was considered selfish to do so.”

1960s/70s Hollywood frenemies story. Honestly thought this was very mid and kinda forgettable. Relationships and friendships didn’t quite make sense to me. Characters were unlikable. The parts that were supposed to be scandalous didn’t quite seem *that* scandalous to me. But, still entertaining.

This was a mix of Evelyn Hugo + Daisy Jones + Hollywood by Ryan Murphy + Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors + Yellowface by RF Kuang with a small splash of Bride Wars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was drawn to this book about two writers. Ella Berman does a great job In developing this complex and complicated friendship. The pace is smooth, making this a book to be enjoyed as a soothing dessert, slow and easy. I would love to read more of these two women and their friendship.

L.A. Women is a slow burn that sneaks up on you. Set in dual timelines (1965/66 and 1975/76), it follows Lane and Gala—two women whose friendship feels more like emotional warfare with a vintage filter.

Lane is introspective, self-doubting, and deeply relatable. Gala is chaotic, selfish, and hard to stomach (I cheered a little when she went missing). Their dynamic is messy, toxic, and totally engrossing.

Berman’s writing is sharp and observant, digging deep into identity, ambition, and the cost of female friendship. It’s more character study than plot-heavy drama, so patience is key—but the emotional payoff is worth it. And the hazy, glam-yet-lonely L.A. backdrop? Chef’s kiss.

Not everyone will love these characters, but that’s the point. This one lingers.

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

Despite absolutely LOVING this book, and adding it to my 2025 favorites list, I was a knucklehead and somehow never wrote a review.

So, now that it's almost five months later, am I extremely hazy on the details? Unfortunately, yes. HOWEVER, anyone who enjoyed Berman's last book (Before We Were Innocent) is in for a real treat because she's done an even more masterful job of capturing the highs and lows and drama of complicated female friendships, with an added bonus of glittery, gritty 60's Los Angeles. The parties! The backstabbing! The betrayals! The drugs!

Aaaaaand now I've convinced myself to pick this for one of my bookclubs the next time it's my turn because I want to read it again and think everyone will love it. Highly recommended for fans of the Taylor Jenkins Reid Cinematic Universe and anyone who likes stories about smart women making impossible choices. Excited to point people to this one in the bookstore!

DNF. Although I did not find this to be my particular glass of wine, those interested in the late 1960s to the mid-1970s may find this an interesting take on the history of the times.

I lived through these years, although I was very young at the time this book takes place (10-17), so my memories are sketchy at best.

What I did not like about this book at all was that it 'tried too hard' to be a literary novel, and the author tried too hard to emulate Truman Capote or other authors of his ilk. It did not work with Ms. Bermans' voice.

There was a lot of upheaval at the time, and Ms. Berman managed to pack all of the history and issues of this era into this one book.

I cared nothing for the main characters, and no matter how tried, I could not find myself caring enough about Gala, Lane, Charles, etc. to keep going.

*ARC supplied by the publisher, Berkley, the author, and NetGalley.

Having grown up in L.A. in the 70s, this was somewhat a trip down memory lane. I remember a lot of the places mentioned in the book. So for me this was a fun ride. While I definitely wasn’t old enough to be into the scene that the characters were, I can say I remember some of my friends’ parents being part of them.

Lane is a writer. She’s done very well as a journalist based in New York, but she wants to tackle a novel. Lane thinks that LA is the place to do it. Since she really won’t be leaving too much behind in NYC, it’s a fairly easy move.

But LA isn’t what Lane expected. She moves into a small apartment in the Hollywood area. A stone’s throw from Chateau Marmont and Laurel Canyon. When she is invited to a party by an acquaintance, she meets Gala. Gala is everything that screams ‘the scene’ in Los Angeles. Vibrant, wild, reckless all describe Gala. When Gala sees how closed off Lane is, she makes it her mission to break her out of her shell.

In comes Charlie. Charlie who is beautiful and rich and definitely not into women. But times as they are, Charlie can’t afford for anyone to know for certain that Charlie is gay. He and Lane strike up a friendship that is mutually beneficial. They are best friends. Charlie does everything he can to make Lane the talk of the town.

But as so true in Los Angeles, things are not always what they seem. Gala’s devil may care attitude may come back to bite her. Lane’s stoicism isn’t going to make her a lot of friends. And no matter how hard Charlie tries to hide his homosexuality, people are going to suspect. Life is going to speed off the rails for all of them, if they continue on their current trajectories.

The dynamics of the relationship between Gala and Lane is so fascinating. Not exactly competitive, at least not for Gala. Lane believes that there is only one right way to go, and it’s not Gala’s way. It’s a quite taut existence. Sometimes they are the best of friends, other times sworn enemies. I really liked the way that Berman was able to dive into the core of these two women. The remaining characters tend to be a bit more superficial, but the story does really focus on Lane, and her brokenness.

It was good. Slow to begin but works its way up to a pace that means you won’t want to put it down. There are plenty of fireworks to keep you engaged.

Reviews will be posted to:
BookwormishMe.com
LibraryThing: BookwormishMe
The StoryGraph: BookwormishMe
Goodreads: BookwormishMe

Reviews will be posted after publication to:
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

First off, thank you to NetGalley, Ella Berman, and Berkley Publishing Group for this Advanced Reading Copy of L.A. Women. I loved reading this book.

L.A. Women focuses on the intertwining lives of Lane and Gala and how sometimes friendships between females can be more like rivals than true friends. Neither of these characters is extremely likable, and both do things that make it hard to root for them. But you'll find yourself wanting to know what happened to Gala and why their friendship is so toxic.

The story starts off with how they first meet and how Lane is drawn to Gala. Ten years later, Gala goes missing while Lane is writing a book about her. Lane is struggling in your life and becomes obsessed with Gala and finding her.

This book features struggles with motherhood, addiction, dysfunctional families, finding your own identity, and complicated female friendships. It also features dual timelines and dual POVs switching between Land and Gala's viewpoints in the 1960s and the 1970s.

I really liked the struggle Lane goes through with not having a great example for a mother and then worrying that she is a bad mother like hers was. Lane was so scared to repeat history with her daughters that she withheld her love for them.

I loved the complicated relationship between Lane and her husband Scotty. Sometimes it doesn't seem like they enjoy each other and are both stuck in the past. Lane's best friend Charlie is a unique character. Sometimes the point of view is Charlie's which gives insight into being a gay man during the 1960s and the struggles he had to find love and be "open" and successful.

Overall, this book is great for anyone who loves reading a slow-burn literary fiction book with complicated female friendship between the main characters. Also, if you like a little bit of mystery in your books, you'll enjoy L.A. Women.

Book Review: L.A. Women by Ella Berman
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars, rounded up)

L.A. Women is a well-written and layered novel exploring the complexities of two women—Lane and Gala—whose lives are intertwined through ambition, betrayal, and a deep, toxic friendship. Told in dual timelines (1965/66 and 1975/76), the story moves between the glamorous, often grimy world of old Hollywood’s creative elite and the quiet, internal battles of two very different women trying to define themselves in a world not made for them.

I went into this expecting more of a mystery, but instead found a slow-burn character study steeped in themes like feminism, motherhood, addiction, closeted identity, and emotional dependency. While the glitzy L.A. setting and insider Hollywood life didn’t quite hold my interest as much as I’d hoped, I was drawn in by Ella Berman’s ability to write raw, complicated relationships.

Lane—reserved, self-doubting, and searching for belonging—felt far more compelling to me than Gala, whose self-centered recklessness often made her hard to sympathize with. I never fully understood the draw between them, but I did want to know how their story ended, and that kept me turning the pages. Charlie, Lane’s best friend, was a quiet standout—grounding, kind, and memorable.

The novel takes its time, and I’ll admit it was slow to start, but by the end, I appreciated what Berman was doing: unpacking the emotional cost of friendship, fame, and self-invention. Even when I didn’t connect deeply with the characters, I admired the way the story grew on me.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, and the author for the digital review copy.
📅 Publication Date: August 5, 2025
📚 Genre: Women’s Fiction / Literary Fiction

This was such an interesting story as the two main characters were essentially unlikeable but were so enthralling that this reader just had to see how the story ended. The story is told in dual timelines, 1965/1966 and 1975/76. In the past we learn about Lane and Gala’s backstory, how they met and the start of their friendship. Fast forward 10 years, Gala is missing, Lane is writing a book about Gala and the two women are more enemies and rivals vs friends. This is a heavy story and it covers everything from complex friendships, dysfunctional relationships, motherhood, addiction and family. The author shines a light on all the imperfections of life and the gritty, heavy drug use on the LA scene at this time. The author captures the Laurel Canyon atmosphere perfectly leaving the reader immersed in this era. It is a shame that at this particular time, when women were still fighting for their place in the world that these two women could not help each other succeed. An interesting subplot is the ownership of content for someone’s life story. Who has the right to write a story about someone’s life?
Overall, a character driven, slow burn story with a focus on the challenges of life, female friendship and being a woman during this era. This one is worth the read.

interesting book with a sense of style and a sense of unique writing. i generally think this one worked really well. however, i did find it occasionally a bit off in style. 4 stars tysm for the arc.

Berkley Publishing Group provided an early galley for review.

I was not familiar with the author's prior work, but the cover here was vibrant and eye-catching. With the characters being writers, I was also intrigued.

The story itself bounces between then (the 60's, past tense) and now (the 70's, present), often switching between Gala's and Lane's viewpoints within the same chapter. Normally this kind of narrative and style can be hit or miss for me. Berman does give both characters have very distinct voices, so I thought I would be okay. Turns out, I wasn't. I found Gala to be the more interesting of the two characters; Lane came across as needy and whiny. Also, the present day scenes took the wind out of the sails of the past scenes at several points. That is a big problem I have with this bouncing time period narrative structure that has become very popular in recent years' I find very few writers can pull it off successfully.

With the right readers, this story will work and resonate. I wasn't one of them.

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.

This one wasn't for me. The main characters weren't likable so I had trouble connecting with them, and then felt as if the story never lived up to its potential.