This turbulent story takes place between ‘then 1965/66’ and ‘now 1975/76’ in sunny Los Angeles. We meet two ambitious women - Lane Warren, reserved and resilient who feels undeserving of love, and Gala Margolis, a true free spirit with a magnetic personalty.

Although it took until around the thirty-percent mark to truly captivate me, the story gradually deepened, becoming more atmospheric and emotionally resonant as it developed stronger connections with its characters.

Set amidst the shimmering facade and gritty underbelly of Hollywood, we explore how their fragile lives intertwine and how as two female journalists and writers, are pitted against one another. When suddenly Gala goes missing, Lane becomes consumed, emotionally unraveling more and more as time goes on without her. Difficult themes such as abortion, homophobia, and drug addiction are woven into the story with sensitivity, adding real weight and nuance to the narrative. (I also truly despised all of the men in this story)!

I really loved how the story ended, and how their characters weren’t compromised to conform to traditional relationships. Personally, I really enjoyed reading a story where women aren’t made to feel like their only role is to be a mother.

L.A. Women is a perfect testament of the risks and rewards of chasing success on one’s own terms - where free-spitted ambition collides with shifting expectations of womanhood, and where triumph is often shadowed by jealousy and sacrifice.

LA Women is set in LA with two different timelines – the 1960s and 70s.

Lane and Gala are two very different women caught up in the LA Party scene. Gala loves a good party and always seems to be in the thick of it whereas Lane is a writer and possibly considers herself above the party scene.

When Gala suddenly absents herself from the party scene Lane starts to reflect on her friendship and where her friend may have gone.
The plot is hard going and the characters go from dislikable to extremely dislikable. Lane is intelligent but emotionally unavailable; especially to her two children. Gala just likes to party and seems to only care about herself.

The conclusion as to why Gala went, I didn’t see coming and was left with some questions that were What? Why did you do that?

Not the best LA party scene novel around but this is a decent read all the same.

I originally requested this on NetGalley because I loved Before We Were Innocent.

I was in a bit of a slump when I went on holiday so started this and it was the perfect book to keep me interested.

The book focuses on 2 main characters Lane and Gala navigating womanhood in 60s/70s Los Angeles.
I looove all the glamour and the drama and the sex, drugs and rock and roll and the fact that it still felt raw and real.
I’ll tell you one thing Ella Berman is the best at is making an equally loveable yet insufferable character. Even the supporting characters are endearingly flawed.

I won’t say tooo much to avoid spoilers but I will say one thing that did disappoint me slightly is the ending but maybe it’s exactly how it’s meant to be…..

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this one. All opinions are my own.

LA Women, by Ella Berman, caught my attention for the description and for the fact that I had already read and loved another book by the author. However, this one was not my cup of tea and I ended up reading only 66% of it, although I feel I already know everything there is to know.

The book devolves around two female writers who are friends and rivals at the same time, making me feel like I was reading Yellowface once again (another book I didn’t love). The plot felt too superficial and I couldn’t feel their friendship, everything felt too swallow, which I know is a way to look at the Hollywood environment but prevented me to connect with the characters and their stories. I really didn’t care bout either one of them.

I felt like there was potential, with difficult topics being brought to the spotlight, such as abortion and homophobia, but their appearance in the book, once again, felt too superficial. The whole book felt like a mix of Yellowface with Less than Zero, not being particularly innovative or interesting. The story drags on the same situations for pages on end, I skipped more than ten pages at a time and continue reading about the same issue before skipping.

This gripping book explores the turbulent friendship between two ambitious writers in 1960s Los Angeles, a story marked by envy, betrayal, and the high stakes of artistic ambition. Lane Warren, once a fading literary star, is staging a comeback with a new book based on the life of her elusive former friend and muse, Gala Margolis, who has mysteriously disappeared.

Set against the glamour and grit of the L.A. party scene, the narrative delves into the complicated dynamics of rivalry and admiration. Lane’s decision to turn Gala’s life into a story forces both women onto paths that neither could have foreseen, with consequences that echo through a decade.

This book offers a powerful meditation on creativity, jealousy, and the costs of chasing success, making it a compelling read for those interested in the fragile nature of friendships entwined with art and ambition.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I will convey my thoughts on this book quite shortly because while i do have a lot to think about, i also don't really have much to say. This story is about two women who are writers, one living life on the edge and one who's much more meticulate about life. Everything feels both messy and articulate, both sorrowful and aggravating. I love following both of Gala and Lane's stories, and i find that i don't really have a side because both women messed up in their own ways, and they both want something from each other that it drove them to a tentative friendship and hatred. The way the author portrayed their complicated dynamic is so interesting, although i did wish we saw a little bit more of it. I quite understand where the daisy jones and the six reference coming from, however the stark difference is the fact that i wholeheartedly despise the men in this book as opposed to the tentative understanding i have with the other book.

The thing that made the rating for this book dropped to 4 is how the storyline was sort of a mess to read and the middle was somewhat boring and a bit hard for me to get through, but other than that i highly recommend this book if anyone wants a poignant yet still unserious book about rich people drama and womenhood

I enjoyed it but at times the two timelines felt like a struggle. I couldn’t lose myself in this as much as I wanted, which is a shame because I loved The Comeback.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy.

This is set in two timelines, 1965 and 1975 telling the amazing story of the lives of two women writers, Lane Warren and Gala Margolis,

I just loved this book. being of a certain age i was transported to the exciting times of when women came into their own and how they changed how women lived and were seen. Their bougee opinions and free spirits shone through. The author did a good job of bringing the story alive and I was engrossed.

L.A. Women is a slow-burning, atmospheric novel that explores the complexities of female friendship, ambition, and identity in 1960s and 70s Los Angeles. Through the contrasting lives of Gala Margolis and Lane Warren, the story moves between decades, tracing the evolution — and unraveling — of a bond shaped by desire, rivalry, and unmet expectations.

Berman captures the cultural backdrop with care, and the writing itself is rich and considered. While the novel didn’t immediately pull me in, it gradually built depth as the characters’ histories unfolded. Some parts felt emotionally distant or difficult to connect with, and not every character resonated, but the themes — particularly around womanhood, creativity, and the cost of reinvention — were handled with insight.

It’s not a light read, but it offers plenty to reflect on. A thought-provoking portrayal of fame, friendship, and the lives women lead when no one’s watching.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC.

Friendships can be complicated …

On the face of it, Gala Margolis and Lane Warren are two very different women. They meet in Los Angeles in the 1960s and despite their differences are drawn to each other. Gala is a free spirit, living life to the full until a romantic relationship complicates matters. Lane is a Hollywood outsider, carrying personal baggage and trying to find her place in the world as a writer.

The story shifts between the 1960s and the 1970s. In the 1970s Lane Warren’s literary star has been in steady decline. But then she secures a book deal based on the life of Gala. But Gala is missing.

I confess I did not like either of these women. Gala’s free spirit, while admirable at times, was too much for me. Lane’s insecurity, while understandable at times, was frustrating and her envy of Gala annoyed me, even before it seriously impacted on both of their lives. And yet, there was something in the complicated webs each wove around the other that captured and held my attention. In a world seemingly full of shallow people, I felt most for Lane’s friend Charlie whose need to adhere to various societal expectations blighted his life. As the story shifted between the 1960s and the 1970s, I could identify (and to some extent appreciate) some of the factors that shaped each life. I kept reading. Would Lane find the acceptance and balance she needed? And what happened to Gala?

While I did not enjoy this novel as much as ‘Before We Were Innocent’, I am still thinking about aspects of it.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I enjoyed this book about LA in the 70s and two women oscillating between friendship and rivalry. At times I thought the story was dragging a little bit though so I liked it but didn’t love it.

I read it! It took me a long time which should probably tell you a lot. The book was fine- the story was fairly interesting and the characters were pretty thought out. But I had so much trouble getting into it… just not my thing, I suppose

It took a little while for this book to grow on me but once the characters were established the story itself was mesmerising. you could get caught up in the rich layers of mystery of LA and the characters themselves. overall the book had a good but slightly bittersweet ending. the main characters lane and gala are direct contrasts of each other with lane being this realistic woman of the time, working but also struggling wit past issues, while gala was like this epiphany of freedom that drew everyone in. this book is filled with so much love and loss and i really think everyone should read it at least once in their lives

Having previously found this author's work a bit of a struggle to get into, I was hoping L.A Women would be more my cup of tea. But I think that it's just not for me. I found this book to be quite flat and I struggled with the dual narrative, the writing is good don't get me wrong, I just couldn't get into the story.

Thank you to Aria and Aries for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is set in L.A. and follows the very complicated friendship between two women Lane Warren and Gala Margolis, the book is set in two timelines Summer 1975 and Autumn 1965. Both women are writers, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was an upcoming author trying to find her place in the L.A. party scene. We follow both women over the years and the trajectory of their friendship until Lane’s betrayal. In the present day Autumn 1975 Gala is missing.


This book was a really hard read for me as I didn’t really warm up to any of the characters, I didn’t think any of them had any redeeming features about them. I did enjoy this book as it was a snapshot into what life was like for women in the 1960’s and 1970’s, I did feel for Lane as I think she had a rather severe case of postnatal depression and her wet drip of a husband wasn’t much support. I think this would be an interesting book to discuss for book club as there are a lot of heavy themes in this book, I will suggest it to my book club when it’s released and see what they say. Out of the two women I liked Gala better as I think she was more true to herself and wasn’t trying to be anything she wasn’t, where as Lane let others shape her and her choices, i.e. Charlie and her husband Scotty. Overall a very gripping depiction of the friendship of two women set against the backdrop of drop of L.A. party scene in 1960’s/1970’s. When I said I found this book a hard read, it’s because it’s what I call a thinking book, a book that challenges you to think about different ideas and perspectives when you are reading it. Overall I would recommend this book.

I tore through this account of two women in 60s and 70s LA that echoes the lives of Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. I likes the play on the title of Babitz's own book, LA Woman.
It works well as a character portrait of two complex and fascinating women as well as a depiction of a layered and fluctuating female friendship. The characters felt convincing and came alive.
It's an evocative and immersive story and it felt considered and well researched whilst also being readable and fast paced.
I've enjoyed all of this author's book and would recommend this.

Mixed feeling about this book, the story follows two main characters, Lane and Gala, both writers, both young women approaching life and LA in a very different way.
I must say I'm not a huge fan of books that go back and forth between 2 different timelines, even if the chapters title explained 'then' vs 'now' I still find it very confusing but I understand this is more my problem than the book or the narrative itself.

I struggled a bit to empathise with the characters, although I found Gala way more profound than Lane even if it seems as it's the latter that gets all the glory, and I wish we got to know more Charlie, Lane's best friend. Overall I loved how honest it felt when depicting life in LA in the 60s/70's, not everything was glamorous and life and fame were difficult, especially for women, I appreciated how the author approached Lane's relationship with motherhood as not all of us women are born or cut out to be mothers, but I also felt as we get to the end of the book understanding just a fraction of the main characters' nuances, their lives and their relationship. It gets better as the pages go on, but it wasn't an easy read, at least for me.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.