A slowburn introspective look at a complex friendships between two women in the 60s and 70s perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid when it comes to writerly tone, and girlies obsessed with the Babitz/Didion dynamic.

Well... I did finish this book, but it did take me longer than usual and I wasn't as keen on picking it up at every opportunity, mainly as I completely failed to connect to any of the main characters and found the pacing to be far too slow for me.
We start in the 70s with Lane Warren who is writing a new book, supposedly about the life of her frenemy Gala Margolis. But she is keeping it on the down low, for many reasons, but probably mainly cos at the time we start the story, Gala has been missing for months.
We then go back in time to the 60s to follow both Lane and Gala as their lives intersect and then meander around each other and they are repetitively draw back together. How decisions they make affect the other and eventually, how one major decision Lane makes changes both their lives...
As already mentioned this book was oh so slow. It took absolutely ages to get anywhere, the two main characters meandering around and about each other but at the same time not really going anywhere. Even flitting between the two timelines didn't progress the narrative enough for me. That said, I am glad that I persevered and eventually got to the end, but I do fear that maybe the book could lose a few readers along the way.
Apparently, and I found this out after finishing, the story contained herein mirrors that of real life people. If you know, you know, and if you don't it probably won't hurt you not knowing. If that makes sense.
What I did like is the toxicity of the relationship between the two women. And the fact that even though they were as chalk and cheese as you can get, they still attracted each other as moths to the flame. It didn't help that they also made some way bad choices along the way that I actually thought were beneath them and somewhat out of character and, and I have to be brutal here, I actually really hated Charlie.
Being a very character driven novel and with characters that I failed to connect with properly, we were on a hiding to nothing, and never going to have fun. But I did finish and it was well written, and did end well. But overall I definitely prefer her previous book The Comeback, and I will be looking out for her next book. Just this one obviously wasn't for me.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped. I couldn't connect to the characters but I did finish it as I was intrigued how it would end.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this as much as I wished, considering i adored the comeback. Something about it just...fell flat for me

This novel is described as electrifying and that is definitely an apt description. Once I started I could not put this book down.

Definitely highly recommended

3.85 stars

L.A. Women by Ella Berman is a character-driven novel set in 1960s and 1970s Los Angeles, centered on the complicated and often toxic relationship between two female writers. Lane Warren is a once-successful author trying to reclaim her career. Gala Margolis is a charismatic, free-spirited socialite who has mysteriously gone missing.

The story alternates between the past, starting in 1965, and the present, in 1975. It explores the evolution of their connection, which teeters between rivalry and fascination. Though never true friends, Lane and Gala are drawn to each other by ambition and artistic desire, even as jealousy and self-interest drive them apart. Lane secures a new book deal based on Gala’s life, despite Gala’s disappearance and their fractured past.

Set against the backdrop of iconic Hollywood landmarks such as Laurel Canyon, the Chateau Marmont and the Troubadour, the novel paints a vivid picture of a glamorous but shallow scene driven by fame, addiction and manipulation. Lane and Gala are often seen as deeply flawed and unlikeable, but their emotional complexity is part of what makes the story engrossing. Charlie McCloud, Lane’s closeted gay friend and Hollywood fixer, adds an empathetic counterpoint.

The novel is more introspective than plot-heavy, focusing on ambition, motherhood, friendship and identity through a sharply observational lens. While the nonlinear structure sometimes lacks smooth transitions, the ending was noted as particularly strong.

LA Women tells the story of a complicated friendship between Type A, writer Lane and larger-than-life, party girl Gala. Lane is disturbed when Gala suddenly goes missing. The novel runs on two timelines to explore the events of their unlikely friendship and Lane’s determination to find out what happened to Gala.

Having read a few of Ella Berman’s books, one of my favourite things is the rich, nostalgic tone. It’s a tone that is similar to Taylor Jenkins Reed’s books, so I think fans of her will like this author if you haven’t read her before. I enjoyed the plot and the clash of the high paced and sometimes LA rock ‘n’ roll/celeb style with the softer feeling of nostalgia, with references to Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra.

However, I did struggle with Gala and Lane’s friendship. I appreciate the opposites attract principle and the ‘frenemy’ trope, but I didn’t quite buy into Lane’s devotion to finding her friend based on the interactions between the characters in the ‘throw-back’ scenes. I felt like there was a vulnerability missing between the characters that fuelled Lane’s desire to find Gala.

Overall, I enjoyed but not my favourite of Ella Berman’s work.

I really struggled to connect to the characters in this book. They got on my nerves, and it is really important for me to connect to the characters. It ended up affecting the way I perceived my thoughts on this book. Liked it but couldn't say I loved it.

4.25 rounded down for goodreads and netgalley.
It was my second book by this author (the first was The comeback and I absolutely loved it) and it did not disappoint me at all. The beginning was a bit slow but the build-up was quite intriguing and got more and more suspenseful as the story went on. The characters are not likeable at all but to me it felt like it was the point: they were flawed and frustrating. Most of their choices were questionable. I liked the historical aspect of the story, it was compelling and atmospheric.
The main force of this book is its storytelling: the author has a wonderful writing style, and she managed to convey many emotions through words. It was beautiful, lyrical, powerful. It reminded me a lot of Taylor Jenkins Reid and from me, it definitely is a compliment.
It absolutely is one of my favorite reads of the year and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Loved the characters, especially Lane and the storyline. I would love to party with Lane and get to know her more

Well written

I really enjoyed this book, Ella’s writing was beautiful throughout! I’m not sure either Lane or Gala, or any of the characters are extremely likeable to be honest but they are all individually complex and that’s why this was so good. Really recommend it and love the different povs and timelines.

This book reminded me of those polar opposite friendships and I kept picturing the likes of a Kate Hudson or Christina Applegate as Gala!! The mystery of what happened to Gala for much of the book kept my interest and intrigue… I was gutted to hear about some of the tragic events leading up to her disappearance… but she is most definitely a free spirit!

An enjoyable free-spirited read with some psychedelic cultural rebellion thrown in for good substance.

Shall post on social media nearer the publication date .

LA Women explores fame, friendship, and ambition with a moody, atmospheric style. I liked the setting and the complex dynamic between the characters, but I struggled to stay emotionally invested. A solid read overall, just didn’t fully click for me.

this. was. everything. i love books that deep dive into hollywood it's always such a fun read and i love the drama so much and this did NOT disappoint. lane and gala are both such complex characters sometimes likeable and sometimes unlikeable but you can never say you didn't relate to both of them for even one moment. i loved the dynamic between charlie and lane and their friendship is so complex as well. and lane and gala.....oh my god where do i even begin about them?? they give a new meaning to homoeroticism, i mean lane literally imagined gala in the corner of her room RIGHT after having sex with her husband and she still had the audacity to tell charlie that she's just a friend like HELLO??? their relationship is so beyond complex i don't even know whether they were friends or rivals or some secret third thing. all i know is that they were insane🙏🏻 i loved all the topics dealt in this book as well, especially motherhood. truly think there's so much i could talk about this book but i will stop here and say that this was absolutely amazing, give me fourteen of them right now.

I really enjoyed this and practically didn't put it down until I'd finished. It felt like you were truly there in the LA party scene in the 60s and 70s, Lane and Gala's characters felt like real people who weren't always likeable but it made them all the more real. The writing was superb and kept me gripped throughout

unfortunately i can't really read this as the format doesn't want to work on my kindle and it's just too difficult💔but i will look for a copy when it is officially released! thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc

This is a brilliant, electric and powerful read. I never knew what was going to happen next and I love that. Gala and Lane are such different people, but they are bonded not only through a complicated, fraught friendship, but also through their own personal experiences of love and loss. I liked the change in perspectives, time changes and the exploration of Gala’s relationship with Gabriel and Lane’s own with Scotty Lane’s struggle with motherhood was delicately written and poignant.

Five stars. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I loved the backdrop of this book set in the LA party scene during the 60s and 70s. The authors descriptions were so atmospheric and the book very character driven. I found both female characters, Lane and Gala, to be strong and free characters of their time. I however found it very difficult to connect with them as I did not find them very likeable and perhaps that is part of the charm. This book explores female relationships that maybe aren’t truly friendships in an engaging and emotive way. It covers topics such as friendship, motherhood and addiction with very complex relationships throughout. I think it’s a book that you definitely reflect upon once you’ve finished reading.

3.5⭐️

This book had so much potential but I struggled with the characters. I hardly liked any of them, to be honest. It took me some chapters to really get into the story. I had to get used to the author's writing style.

Yet, it was very interesting to learn more about women's life at this time.

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.