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.

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.